Tylosema ronquisti Buffington

Noort, Van, 2007, A world revision of the Pycnostigminae (Cynipoidea: Figitidae) with descriptions of seven new species, Zootaxa 1392, pp. 1-30 : 19-21

Tylosema ronquisti Buffington & van Noort

( Fig. 9 )

Description. FEMALE. Head. Shiny on vertex and cheeks ( Fig. 9 C), shagreened on frons and occiput ( Fig. 9 E); setae only present on frons and occiput, area around ocelli glabrous. Antenna entirely dark brown/black, scape 1.8x length of radicle, short appressed setae present on all flagellomeres, 10 flagellomeres present, moniliform.

Mesosoma. Lateral aspect of pronotum entirely smooth, shiny, glabrous ( Fig. 9 B). Mesopleuron entirely smooth; mesopleural carina comprised of a series of striations (not a single distinct carina); dorsal and ventral margins of mesopleural triangle clearly visible, setose ( Fig. 9 B). Mesoscutum entirely shiny (lacking microsculpture) with few scattered setae present anteriorly between notaulices; notaulices incomplete anteriorly, parascutal impression obsolete; area between posterior junction of notaulices delineated by narrow impression ( Fig. 9 C). Disk of scutellum smooth in center, gradually becoming more punctate and rugose around periphery; margin of disk with well-defined carina; disk gradually sloping ventrally ( Fig. 9 C).

Metapleural-propodeal complex. Dorsal half of metapleuron with few long setae, ventral half glabrous ( Fig. 9 B). Propodeum crenulate, sparsely covered by moderately long setae; area between propodeal carinae glabrous, smooth and shiny. Nucha smooth dorsally, slightly crenulate laterally, slightly protruding posteriorly.

Metasoma. Petiole striate no setae visible; obscured anteriorly by syntergum. Syntergum smooth and shiny; posterior portion lacking setae ( Fig. 9 A). Entire metasoma, in lateral view, about as long as deep.

Wings. Pseudostigma strongly sclerotised such that no marginal cell is visible ( Fig. 9 D).

Legs. Coxae and femora setose, dark brown/black; remaining portion of legs orange, evenly setose entirely to claws ( Fig. 9 A).

MALE. Unknown.

Diagnosis. Separated from T. dayae by having rugulose sculpture around lateral and posterior margins (entirely smooth in T. dayae ) and the disk of the scutellum possessing a distinct posterior margin bounded by a carina (no carina in T. dayae ) and from T. nigerrimum by having a smoother lateral aspect of pronotum (areolate and rugulose in T. nigerrimum ).

Etymology. Named in honor of Fredrik Ronquist (Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA).

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] 22–30 Sep 2004, S van Noort, Malaise trap LW02-N2-M323, sand plain fynbos, [third label] SAM-HYM P0024401, [fourth label] holotype designation label. The holotype is a female mounted on a black card point. The holotype is in good condition. Deposited in SAMC.

Image deposition. A MorphBank collection of images of T. ronquisti can be accessed via http://morphbank.net/Show/?id= 110339.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Tylosema ronquisti 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.