Pediobius afroteres Gumovsky, 2018

Gumovsky, Alex, 2018, New enigmatic species of the genus Pediobius (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from Afrotropics, with notes on related genera, Zootaxa 4438 (2), pp. 201-236 : 217-220

Pediobius afroteres Gumovsky , sp. n.

( Figs 8–10 )

Diagnosis. Head in dorsal view ( Fig. 9A ) about 3.4× as broad as long, totally smooth, medially convex, without frontal sutures, covered by sparse very short setae ( Figs 9B, C, D , 10A, D ); lower face notably narrowed: malar space about 0.7–0.8× as long as eye height, mouth slightly concealed in frontal view ( Fig. 9B, C, D ), about 0.5× as long as malar space; antennal toruli situated at about level of lower eye margins ( Figs 9C , 10A, D ); cutting edge of mandible reduced; occipital margin sharp and distinctly curved; antennal scape pale yellow; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum mostly with light sculpture, notauli marked by fine lines anteriorly and inconspicuous posteriorly ( Figs 8D, E , 9A ); entire dorsum with setae, which about as long as flagellar setae; mesoscutellum with one pair of setae; propodeum without distinct nucha, its submedian areas 1.3× as broad as long, submedian carinae subparallel or weakly diverging posteriorly ( Fig. 8D, E ); propodeal callus bare; metatibial spur as long as breadth of metatibia, about 0.6× as long as metabasitarsus; forewing speculum open, subcosta of submarginal vein with two very short setae, stigmal vein somewhat elongate, postmarginal vein reduced, fore wing with weak dark cloud under stigmal vein; WIP with wide blue-green field apically and altering red and green strips behind it ( Fig. 8C ); metasomal petiole robust, somewhat convex, its upper side coriaceous rugose, but underside reticulated; about 0.4× as long as propodeum; gaster elongate ovate, about 2.5× as long as broad; Gt7 elongate, slightly more than 2.0–2.5× as long as broad basally ( Fig. 8A–C ).

Type material. Holotype ♀, South Africa, Limpopo Province, nr. Phalaborwa town 06–09.XII. 2014, Palabora Copper Mine area , “ Dolerite road” site ( Fig. 1F ), 75 Moerike traps, DNA extract F3 (A. Gumovsky) (deposited in: BMNH) .

Paratypes: ♀, ♂, South Africa, Limpopo Province, Phalaborwa, Molengraaf Farm between Palabora Copper Mine and Phalaborwa town , 75 Moerike traps ( Fig. 1G ), 6–11.XII.2014 (A. Gumovsky & C. Davies); ibid., 25.V.2014 ; ♀, ♂, South Africa, Gauteng Province, nr. Carletonville, West Wits, “ Madala site” ( Fig. 1H, I ), Moerike traps near Tamarix trees, 01–08.XI.2015 (A. Gumovsky) ( SIZK) ; ♀, ibid., GAU, Roodeplaat: PPRI nr. Pretoria, 25.36S, 28.21E, collected by D-Vac from Acacia nilotica, 18.xii.1996 (Grobelaar / Sals / Stiller) ; ♂, ibid., Limpopo Province, TVL., Entabeni Forest Res., Soutpansberg, 23.00S 30.16E. 3–7. xi. 1980 (G.L. Prinsloo) ; ♂, ibid., “ South Africa, TVL, Mogol Nature Reserve, Ellistras Dist. , 23.58S, 27.45E, 27–29.ii.1984, G . L. Prinsloo ”, SANC Pretoria, Database No. HYMCO2811 ( SANC) ; ♂, Zimbabwe, Harare, “ Rhodesia, Salisbury, A. Watsham ”, WF. 234 (iii).76 ( BMNH) ; ♀, Malawi, “ MALAWI: Kasungu, Mtunthama , vii–ix.1983, J. Feehan ” ( BMNH) ; ♀, 2 ♂, Kenya, Nyanza Province, “ Kenya, Nyamage, Nyanza Prov. , 1.IV. [19]86, I.D. 12 on coffee cherry, CIE 18010” ( BMNH); 2 ♀, Uganda, Kibale, UG05-M09, SAM-HYM-P067824, P067825 ( SAMC); ♂, DRC, North Kivu Province, “ Congo belge: Kivu, Rutshuru ( Lubirizi ), 1235 m, 13-vii-1935, G.F. de Witte: 1644” ( RMCA); ♀, ibid., “ MUS. CONGO, Rutshuru , II-1938, J. Ghesquière ” ( RMCA); ♀, ibid., lturi Province , Djugu Territory , Mongbwalu mining headquarters, agroforestry behind “ Titanic ” building ( Fig. 1C ), sweeping, 01°56'29.82"N 30°02'19.17"E, 1224 m, 09.III.2015 (A. Gumovsky) ( SIZK); ♀, Cameroon, “ Cameroun: Mkoemvon, VII–VIII.1979. D. Jackson. Mal [aise]. Tr [ap].” ( BMNH); ♀, ibid., “ Koutaba, Piste Kounden, 10.X.1984” (G. Delvare) ( CIRAD).

Description. Female. Body length about 1.8 mm. Body dark, with bright metallic luster in places ( Figs 8 , 9A ): face coppery ( Fig. 9B–D ), propodeum and Gt1 bright metallic green ( Fig. 8D ); antennal scape pale, rest of antenna dark, legs pale brown but with green metallic luster in reflected light, fore wing with weak dark cloud under stigmal vein, first three tarsomeres pale brown, terminal tarsomere much darker ( Fig. 8A–C ).

Head about 1.3× as broad as mesosoma ( Fig. 9A ), 3.4× as broad as long in dorsal view, totally smooth, only with scrobes traced as very shallow grooves, and covered by sparse very short setae. Occipital margin with a strong carina ( Fig. 9A ). POL about 2.0× OOL. Head in frontal view ( Fig. 9B–D ) about 1.4× broader than high. Eye nearly bare; its height 1.3× longer than malar space. Mouth opening slightly concealed under swollen lower face ( Figs 9C–D , 10A, D ), its breadth about 0.5× malar space; mandible without cutting edge. Upper margins of antennal toruli situated just slightly above level of lower eye margins. Combined length of pedicel and flagellum slightly longer than maximum head breadth (measured between outer eye margins). Scape 6.5–7.5× as long as broad, and about 0.7× as long as head height; pedicel nearly 2.0× as long as broad. Funicle with F1 about 3.5×, F2 and F3 about 3.0× as long as broad; clava about 3.5× as long as broad.

Mesosoma about 1.4× as long as broad ( Fig. 8D ). Pronotum relatively narrow, its collar situated notably lower than level of convex mesoscutum, so it is hardly visible in dorsal view, bearing a weakly developed transverse carina and somewhat bulged lateral shoulders ( Fig. 8D, E ). Mesoscutum notably convex in lateral view, with light reticulation, notaular depressions marked only anteriorly as light thin sutures, indistinct posteriorly ( Fig. 8D , 9A ). Transscutal line nearly straight ( Fig. 8D ). Mesoscutellum moderately convex, with light reticulation throughout. Axilla with lighter sculpture than mesoscutum and mesoscutellum, and with 1 short seta. Dorsellum short, subrectangular, with two shallow foveae anterolaterally. Propodeum smooth and shiny ( Fig. 8D, E ), with weak anterior groove; submedian carinae subparallel or weakly diverging posteriorly and ending with a short flange (not a distinct nucha); propodeal callus bare. Submedian areas of propodeum 1.3× as broad (measured between lateral plicae) as long (measured from anterior margin of propodeum to its posterior margin). Fore wing 2.4× as long as broad ( Fig. 8B, C ), with speculum open below (cubital fold with one short seta at underside of wing); subcosta of submarginal vein with two very short setae (as long as breadth of parastigma basally, hardly visible in dry specimens); admarginal setal line stretches along costal margin from stigmal vein nearly to submarginal break; marginal vein slightly longer than narrow costal cell, stigmal vein somewhat elongate, at least 2.0× longer than marginal vein in its broadest part, with uncus larger than stigma; postmarginal vein rather short, reduced in size. WIP with wide blue-green area apically and altering red and green bands behind it ( Fig. 8C ). Metatibial spur as long as breadth of metatibia, about 0.6× as long as metabasitarsus. Metatibia about 1.4× as long as metatarsus, metabasitarsus as long as breadth of hind tibia. Metasoma slightly longer than head plus mesosoma in dorsal view ( Fig. 8A ). Metasomal petiole about 0.4× as long as propodeum, robust, somewhat convex, its upper side coriaceous rugose, but underside reticulated. Gaster elongate ovate, about 2.0–2.5× as long as broad; Gt1 smooth, polished, occupying approximately 1/3 length of gaster, Gt7 elongate, slightly more than 2.0× longer than wide ( Figs 8A–C , 9E , 10B ).

Male ( Fig. 9F , 10D, E ). Very similar to female except for: antennal scape about 5.0× as long as broad; pedicel about 1.6–1.7× as long as broad, F1 about 3.2–3.3×, F2 1.7–1.8×, F3 about 1.5× as long as broad; clava about 3.0× as long as broad. Metasoma about 0.8× as long as head plus mesosoma. Metasomal petiole slightly longer than propodeum. Gaster subpentagonal, about 1.3× as long as broad.

Etymology. The specific epithet consists of afro – (reflecting distribution of the species in Africa) and – teres (Latin for “smooth, polished”) reflecting the unusual face of the species with neither frontal sutures, no sculpture.

Distribution. South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Cameroon.

Host. Unknown. Some considerations on possible hosts of this species are mentioned below in Discussion.

Comparative notes. The species is very recognizable as a representative of its species group in having the convex polished head and light dorsal sculpture. It could be confused with P. kafroteres ( Fig. 11 ), from which it differs by the shorter metasomal petiole and less convex mesoscutellum.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Some localities Where collections Were made: A, B, semi-deciduous rainforest betWeen Yedi and Uesa villages (Ituri Province, DRC): A, habitat, B, collecting; C, disturbed area at MongbWalu mining camP (“behind the Titanic block”) (Ituri Province, DRC); D, E, Yangambi, research Plot 1 of COBIMFO Project (Orientale Province, DRC): border betWeen abandoned shamba and secondary forest; F, G, Palabora reserve (LimPoPo Province, South Africa): F, “Dolerite road” site, G, Molengraaf farm; H, I, Tamarix trees at “Madala site” (Gauteng Province, South Africa): H, in APril, I, in November, under Windy Weather bringing dust from nearby mines; J, K, areas near Agnes Mine, vicinities of Barberton (MPumalanga Province, South Africa); A, B, the tyPe locality of P. nganga; C–I, localities Where P. afroteres Was collected (F, its tyPe locality); J, K, localities Where P. askari Was collected (J, its tyPe locality).

FIGURE 8. Pediobius afroteres. A–C, habitus (holotyPe, South Africa, BMNH): A, dorsal vieW, B, C, lateral vieW; D, head and mesosoma in dorsal vieW (holotyPe); E, Posterior Part of mesosoma and anterior Part of mesosoma in dorsal vieW (ParatyPe, Kenya, BMNH).

FIGURE 9. Pediobius afroteres. A–D, head and anterior Part of mesosoma (holotyPe, South Africa, SAMC): A, dorsal vieW; C, fronto-lateral vieW; B, D, frontal vieW; E, F, ParatyPes, lateral vieW (Kenya, reared from coffee berries, BMNH): E, female, F, male.

FIGURE 10. Pediobius afroteres, SEM. A–C, ParatyPe female (Kenya, reared from coffee berries, BMNH): A, head in frontal vieW, B, C, lateral vieW (B, habitus, C, head, mesosoma and base of metasoma); D, E, ParatyPe males: D, head in lateral vieW (South Africa, SANC), E, head, mesosoma and base of metasoma (Kenya, reared from coffee berries, BMNH).

FIGURE 11. Pediobius kafroteres. A, habitus (holotyPe male, Cameroon, SAMC): A, habitus; B, ProPodeum and Petiole in lateral vieW; C, head in lateral vieW; D, head in dorso-frontal vieW; E, mesosoma and base of metasoma.