Pycnostigmus incognito, Noort, Van, 2007

Noort, Van, 2007, A world revision of the Pycnostigminae (Cynipoidea: Figitidae) with descriptions of seven new species, Zootaxa 1392, pp. 1-30 : 11-13

Pycnostigmus incognito n. sp. Buffington & van Noort

( Fig. 5 )

Description. FEMALE. Head. Shiny without microsculpture around ocelli and on vertex ( Fig. 5 C); frons shagreened ( Fig. 5 E), cheeks weakly striate; setae only present on frons and occiput. Antenna entirely dark brown/black; scape 1.25x length of radicle, short appressed setae present on all 14 flagellomeres, filiform. Mesosoma. Lateral aspect of pronotum entirely smooth to weakly rugulose, shiny, with few sparse, long setae ( Fig. 5 B). Mesopleuron entirely smooth except for faint striations at anterior end of mesopleural carina; dorsal and ventral margins of mesopleural triangle clearly visible, setose ( Fig. 5 B). Mesoscutum entirely shiny (lacking microsculpture) with several scattered setae present over entire surface; notaulices complete, originating at anterior end of parascutal impression; area between posterior junction of notaulices delineated by teardropshaped impression ( Fig. 5 C). Disk of scutellum weakly carinate in center, remaining surface strongly rugulose; margin of disk well defined by raised, sharp carina ( Fig. 5 C).

Metapleural-propodeal complex. Metapleuron with longer, fine setae on dorsal half, glabrous on ventral half ( Fig. 5 B). Propodeum crenulate, varying from sparsely setose to entirely glabrous; area between propodeal carinae weakly carinate, glabrous ( Figs 5 B & 5C). Nucha crenulate, not striate, protruding posteriorly ( Fig. 5 B).

Metasoma. Petiole striate without visible setae; petiole obscured anteriorly by syntergum. Syntergum smooth and shiny; posterior margin of syntergum, as well as T4, with a few long setae ( Fig. 5 A). Entire metasoma, in lateral view, about as long as deep.

Wings. Pseudostigma strongly sclerotised, marginal cell faintly visible ( Fig. 5 D).

Legs. Coxae and femora setose, dark brown/black, non metallic; remaining portion of legs brown except for orange, non metallic joints; legs evenly covered with long, non appressed setae entirely to claws ( Fig. 5 A).

MALE. As in female except: 15 antennal flagellomeres present; metasoma two-thirds longer than deep.

Diagnosis. Separated from P. mastersonae by the head and mesosoma being non-metallic; from P. fossilensis by having the disk of the scutellum weakly carinate (center smooth in P. fossilensis ) and from P. rostratus and P. hoerikwaggoensis by having the mesopleuron almost entirely smooth (striate in P. rostratus and P. hoerikwaggoensis ).

Etymology. Name refers to the mask-like shagreened surface sculpturing on frons and clypeal region.

Distribution. South Africa: Western Cape ( Fig. 13 ).

Material examined. Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape Province. [first label] Langberg Farm, (3km 270o W Langebaanweg), 32o58.461'S 18o07.344'E, [second label] 1–8 Sep 2004, S van Noort, Malaisetrap LW02-N2-M317, sand plain fynbos, [third label] SAM-HYM P0024400. The holotype is a male mounted on a black card point. Deposited in SAMC.

Additional material. PARATYPES: SOUTH AFRICA. Western Cape Province. Koeberg Nature Reserve, 33°37.622'S 18°24.259'E, 8 Aug–5 Sept 1997, S van Noort, Malaise trap KO97-M08, West Coast Strandveld, SAM-HYM P0024714 (1 male) [ SAMC]; Koeberg Nature Reserve, 33°37.622'S 18°24.259'E, 5 Sept–3 Oct 1997, S van Noort, Malaise trap KO97-M09, West Coast Strandveld, SAM-HYM P0024715 (2 females) [ SAMC, USNM]; Koeberg Nature Reserve, 33°37.622'S 18°24.259'E, 5 Sept–3 Oct 1997, S van Noort, Malaise trap KO97-M10, West Coast Strandveld, SAM-HYM P0024716 (2 females, 2 males) [ SAMC, ULMZ]; Langberg Farm, (3km 270o W Langebaanweg), 32o58.461'S 18o07.344'E, 1–8 Sep 2004, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-N2-M317, sand plain fynbos, SAM-HYM P0024400 (1 male) [ SAMC]; Koeberg Nature Reserve, 33o37.52’S 18o25.33’E, 8 August 1997, S. van Noort, sweep 1, Metalasia muricata and Restio sp., Sand plain fynbos, SAM-HYM P0024395 (1 male) [ SAMC]; West Coast Fossil Park, (4 km 270° W Langebaanweg) 32°58.483'S 18°06.884'E, 11–18 Sept 2002, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-N5-M24, Fynbos on Limestone, SAM-HYM P0024416 (2 males) [ SAMC].

Image deposition. A MorphBank collection of images of P. incognito can be accessed via http://morphbank.net/Show/?id= 110335.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Pycnostigmus incognito Buffington & van Noort, holotype specimen, female. A, habitus. B, head and mesosoma, lateral view. C, head and mesosoma, dorsal view. D, left forewing. E, head, anterior view.

FIGURE 13. Distribution map of South African Pycnostigmus and Tylosema species. Solid dots: Pycnostigmus; open squares: Tylosema.