Poecilotiphia hoplomera, Boni, 2008

Boni, M., 2008, Contribution to the knowledge of the Palaearctic Meriini (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae, Myzininae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (2), pp. 1367-1397 : 1381

Poecilotiphia hoplomera nov.sp.

Holotypus - Tunisia = / Tunisia Tataouine 11.4.2000 leg. M. Halada/, OLML. Paratypus - Tunisia = / Tunisia Tataouine 11.4.2000 leg. M. Halada/, OLML.

Male. Holotype. Figs 87-96 . Measurements (mm): body length = 12,5.

Black, Brown, pale yellow.

Brown or semitransparent brown: most of mouthparts, apex of mandibles, palpi, ventral edge of clypeus, veins and pterostigma, dark portion of the legs, but coxae which are black, lateroventral 7 th tergum. Flagellum is dark brown.

Pale yellow: most of mandibles and clypeus; two large lateral and one median spots on N 1 disk, confluent to the subapical stripe; two spots on Sc 1 and two on Sc 2; one small on postscutellar area; one larger spot on Es 2; tegulae; basal veins of the forewing; most of the legs; apical stripe with waving fore edge on 2 nd to 6 th terga; two lateral spots on 7 th tergum; apical stripes, laterally widely indented to become almost tripartite on 2 nd sternum; stripes with two inner lateral brown stains on 3 rd to 6 th sterna.

Normally impressed p. with interspaces as large as about their diameter on the head, mesosoma and 1 st sternum. Smooth areas around ocelli, on Sc 2 and anteroventral lateral P. Denser p. on lower frons and P. Surface of terga shining with sparse p.

Placoids at the base of the last four flagellomeri. Flagellomeri (but 1 st) more than 2.5 times longer than thick. N 1 disk without keel along fore border. Propleurae just a bit convex. Em 3 with horizontal wrinkles interrupted medially. Es 3 small but detectable and completely wrinkled. Ventral inner edge of the X 1 and X 3 with a longitudinal strong keel (the inner surface of X 3 is concave). 3 rd to 6 th sterna with a median transversal groove, delimited anteriorly by a sort of gradulus.

V a r i a b i l i t y:Theparatypediffersinthesmallersize(10.5mm)andabitsmaller spots on N 1 disk.

Female. Unknown.

E c o l o g y: Unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: The typical locality.

D e r i v a t i o n o m i n i s:FromtheGreekοπλον = arm and µηρος = coxa (thigh) because of the keel on 1 st and 3 rd coxa.

D i s c u s s i o n: These specimens differs from all others taxa of the genus in the strong longitudinal laminated keel along the inner ventral edge of the X 1 and X 3. Its other unique autapomorphy is the volsellar process partially covering digitus in lateral aspect. It belongs to the group of P. aegyptiaca (BONI BARTALUCCI 2004), but its slender flagellum looks like that of the group of P. nigripes. It has a remarkable very transversal N 1.

Figures

Figs 87-96: Poecilotiphia hoplomera nov.sp. Holotype. (87) head, frontal aspect; (88) head, dorsal aspect; (89) flagellum; (90) pronotum dorsal aspect; (91) pronotum, lateral aspect; (92) basal metameri, dorsal aspect; (93) 7th tergum, dorsal aspect; (94) 7th tergum, lateral aspect; (95) volella and gonostylus; (96) aedeagus.