Meteorus sibyllae Stigenberg, 2011

Stigenberg, Julia & Ronquist, Fredrik, 2011, Revision of the Western Palearctic Meteorini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), with a molecular characterization of hidden Fennoscandian species diversity 3084, Zootaxa 3084 (1), pp. 1-95 : 69-70

Meteorus sibyllae Stigenberg sp nov.

Fig. 79E , 125

Diagnosis: Meteorus sibyllae is most similar to M. cespitator and M. jaculator . It is most easily separated from M. cespitator on the body size. Whilst M. sibyllae belongs to the smaller species in the genus (length <3.5 mm), M. cespitator is distinctly larger (length> 3.5 mm). The face of M. sibyllae is also more transverse and wider than that of M. cespitator (face 1.8 times as wide as high in the former, 1.5 times in the latter). M. jaculator is as small as M. sibyllae but has fewer antennal articles (18–22 in M. jaculator , 24–26 in M. sibyllae ).

Studied material: 3 ♀. Holotype: 1 ♀ SE. Sm. Nybro kommun. Alsterbro / Alsterån. 19.viii–05.ix.2006. (leg. SMTP), NHRS – HYME 5208 , DNA 172 . Paratype: 2 ♀ SE. Dr. Säters kommun. Säterdalen, Näsåkerspussen. 21.vii–04.viii.2003. (leg. SMTP), NHRS – HYME 5220 , NHRS – HYME 5218 is mounted for SEM.

Description: Body 3.0 mm, forewing 3.2 mm of holotype. Paratypes have 2.7–3.0 mm in body lengths.

Head: Length of eye equals the length of temple in dorsal aspect; eyes small, not convergent, slightly protuberant, smooth with punctation; width of face 1.8 times its height; OOL=3–3.5; clypeus distinctly shorter than the width of face, distinctly divided from face, convex, tentorial pits distinct; length of malar space 0.6 times basal width of mandible; mandibles stout and not twisted; antennal articles 24–26; 3rd antennal article 3.5 times longer than wide; all articles longer than wide, subapical articles 1.5 times longer than wide.

Mesosoma: Precoxal sulcus deep and narrow.

Wings: Fore wing: r/3–SR=0.4; C+SC+R/SR1=1.37; m–cu antefurcal; pterostigma brown with apical corner light. Hind wing: 1–M/cu–a=1.2;

Legs: Hind coxa rugose dorsally; hind femur 4.8 times longer than wide; tarsal claws small with no lobe.

Metasoma: Petiolar tergum apically 1.5 times longer than wide, 4.2 times as long as forewing; dorsope present; ventral folds of petiolar tergum not joined, dorsal aspect with no ridges, evenly curved with weak rugosity medially and striae laterally; ovipositor straight, slender; length of ovipositor 3.5–4.0 times that of petiolar tergum and 0.75 times forewing; propodeum with vague carina and reticulation.

Colour: Dark brown - black, clypeus yellow, legs yellow - brown, coxae dark brown.

Distribution: Sweden.

Biology: We found 3 specimens within the SMTP. They were caught in August in deciduous and mixed forests .

Etymology: This species is named after Ms Sibyllae Noack, a fellow PhD student.

Figures

FIGURE 79. Habitus images of the seven new species described in this paper. A) Meteorus artocercus, B) M. densipilosus, C) M. eklundi, D) M. longipilosus, E) M. sibyllae, F) M. stenomastax, G) M. subtilisulcus.

FIGURES 80–133. Anterior view of the head of Meteorus species (except for M. politutele, which is depicted in lateral view).