Trichopria lewisi Nixon, 1940: 59

Notton, David G., 2014, A catalogue of the types of Diapriinae (Hymenoptera, Diapriidae) at the Natural History Museum, London, European Journal of Taxonomy 75, pp. 1-123 : 93

Trichopria lewisi Nixon, 1940: 59 , fig. 1a-d.

Valid name

Trichopria lewisi Nixon, 1940 .

Summary of types

Holotype ♀, BMNH number 9.706, by original designation . Paratypes 24♀♀, ♂.

Primary type data

Type; Kenya Colony/ Kabete/ Ex Glossina / brevipalpis &/ G. fuscipleuris/ Dr E.A.Lewis; Trichopria / lewisi Nixon / ♀ type 1940; Pres. by/ Imp. Inst. Ent./ B.M.1940-181.

Type locality

Kenya, Kabete.

Remarks

Although Nixon mentioned 24 ♀♀ and 1 ♂ as paratypes, there are 63 ♀♀ and 3 ♂♂ specimens labelled as paratypes, so it is not clear which are Nixon’s original paratypes. While the error in labelling paratypes is unfortunate, it is not likely to be a problem, as the holotype is certainly recognised and all the type specimens appear to be the same species. Nixon’s preparation of the male genitalia is missing. The holotype is mounted on a card point and is entire. It is worth noting a singular feature of the male of this species which was not recorded by Nixon: the male head is truncate behind, and the genal pubescence is long, and, unlike other Trichopria , turned back to form a row from the top to the bottom of the gena, defining a vertical channel behind each gena, between the back of the head and the pronotum. By analogy with the observed mating behaviour of other Trichopria it is predicted that this channel is used to constrain the female antenna during courtship.