Sania browni Sharkey, 2009

Sharkey, Michael, van Noort, Simon & Whitfield, James, 2009, Revision of Khoikhoiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), ZooKeys 20 (20), pp. 299-348 : 329-332

Sania browni Sharkey , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:035CFE8B-7302-4940-A085-1A58E9E99762

Holotype female. Body Length. 3.5 mm <3.4 – 4.4 mm>. Color. Mostly yellowish brown except as follows: head mostly black except ventrally; mesosoma including legs with most sclerites with some black infusions; metasoma mostly brownish black, with lateral areas of terga yellowish white, and pleural area of tergum 1 white; ovipositor sheath white basally, brown apically; <quite variable, from mostly black to mostly yellowish brown (Fig. 18); mesosoma always with extensive orangish brown; differing from most other species in that all specimens have extensive pale whitish yellow on all lateral terga (Fig. 18A)>. Forewing entirely infuscate (Fig. 19E). Head. Number of flagellomeres, 23 <23–25>. Scape not flared apicoanteriorly and lacking expanded apical surface (Fig. 18C,F). Antennal scrobe flat (Fig. 18F); entirely smooth with weak punctures. Clypeus mostly smooth with weak punctures (Fig. 18E); without median tooth (Fig. 18E, 19A). Gena mostly smooth with weak punctures (Fig. 18E,F). Face mostly punctate with some weak rugae especially dorsally (Fig. 18E). Area between antennal scrobe and inner orbit of eye without protuberance (Fig. 18E). Vertex with weak punctures (Fig. 18D). Posterior orbit of eye lacking distinct crenulate margin (Fig. 18C). Mesosoma. Middle lobe of scutum entirely smooth with punctures (Fig. 18D). Notauli entirely crenulate (Fig. 18D). Mesopleuron at least partly smooth with punctures (Fig. 18C, 19C). Sternaulus only present at midlength (Figs. 18C, 19C), or absent (Fig. 18C). Discrimen (median longitudinal ventral sulcus between mesopleura) smooth or with a few barely perceptible crenulae (Fig. 19B). Metapleuron partly rugose but with a large smooth lightly punctate area (Figs. 18C, 19C). Propodeum entirely rugose without smooth area posterolaterally (Figs. 18D, 19D). Metasoma. Median tergite 1 distinctly narrowed posteriorly ( Figs. 2B ,19D); mostly smooth with few rugae near midlength ( Figs. 2B , 19D). Hypopygium less than 1/3 length of metasoma (Figs. 1C, 18A); not extending past apical tergum (Fig. 1C). Ovipositor barely exserted, much shorter than metasoma (Figs. 1C, 18A). Length of setae of ovipositor sheath none longer than 2x width of ovipositor sheath (Fig. 1C).

Male. Antenna not sexually dimorphic.

Figure |8. Sania browni Sharkey , sp. n., female, paratype A habitus, lateral view B habitus, dorsal view C head, mesosoma, lateral view D head, mesosoma, dorsal view E head, anterior view F head, lateral view.

Diagnosis. Discrimen smooth or with a few barely perceptible crenulae (Fig. 19B); metapleuron partly rugose but with a large smooth lightly punctate area (Fig. 19C).

Material Examined. Holotype Female: South Africa, Western Cape, 15km N Citrusdal, Koedoeskop Farm, Malaise across hillside trail, 32°29’18”S, 18°57’30”E, 220m, 5–25.X.2004, ME Irwin, FD Parker. SA-34 ( SAMC)

Paratypes. South Africa, Western Cape: 2 females, 3 males, same data as holotype. 1 female, 9 males, 10 km S. Clanwilliam, Malaise on sandy hill, 32°13’39”S, 18°50’50”E, 140m, 5–25.X.2004, ME Irwin, FD Parker, M Hauser. 2 females, 1 male,

Figure |9. Sania browni Sharkey , sp. n., female, paratype A head ventral view B discrimen C mesosoma, lateral view D mesosoma & metasoma, dorsal view E wings F data labels.

14km NW Robertson@hwy R 60, Malaise in dry wash, 33°46.65’S 19°45.69’E, 270 m, 7.X.2002, ME Irwin, FD Parker, RSA-15 ( SAMC, AEI, HIC, CNCI, INHS).

Distribution. Distribution map is available at http://sharkeylab.org/sharkeylab/ Misc/generalmapper.php?table= khoikhoiinae &genus= Sania &species=browni.

Note: This species is referred to as Sania sp. n. 3 in the molecular study by Murphy et al. (2008).

Etymology. Named in honor of Brian Brown, a dipterist of outstanding repute and long time collaborator of the senior author.

Figures

Figure 2. Scanning electron micrographs A Khoikhoia anthelion Sharkey, sp. n., female, mesosoma and first two metasomal tergites, dorsal view B Sania browni Sharkey, sp. n., female, propodeum and first three metasomal tergites, dorsal view C Sania marjoriae Mason, 1983, female, propodeum and laterotergites, lateral view D Sania masneri Sharkey, sp. n., male, genitalia E Sania masoni Sharkey, sp. n., male, metasoma, lateral view, showing genitalia F Khoikhoia anthelion Sharkey, sp. n., female, ovipositor, lateral view.