Epirhyssa overlaeti Seyrig, 1937

Hopkins, Tapani, Roininen, Heikki, Noort, Simon van, Broad, Gavin R., Kaunisto, Kari & Saeaeksjaervi, Ilari E., 2019, Extensive sampling and thorough taxonomic assessment of Afrotropical Rhyssinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) reveals two new species and demonstrates the limitations of previous sampling efforts, ZooKeys 878, pp. 33-71 : 33

Epirhyssa overlaeti Seyrig, 1937 Figs 32-38

Material examined.

Non-type material: UGANDA:

• 1 ♀; Kibale National Park, Kanyawara, Site CC, Malaise trap CCT1; 0.5497N, 30.3673E (WGS84); alt. 1450 m (GPS, WGS84); 10 Mar. 2015-24 Mar. 2015; Tapani Hopkins leg.; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1249

• 1 ♀; same data as preceding; Site K31, Malaise trap K31T4; 0.5362N, 30.3486E (WGS84); alt. 1460 m (GPS, WGS84); 16 Jul. 2015-30 Jul. 2015; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.2291

• 1 ♀; same data as preceding; Site CC, Malaise trap CCT1; 0.5497N, 30.3673E (WGS84); alt. 1450 m (GPS, WGS84); 18 Nov. 2014-2 Dec. 2014; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5591

• 1 ♀; same data as preceding; Site R93, Malaise trap R93T2; 0.5654N, 30.3593E (WGS84); alt. 1510 m (GPS, WGS84); 20 May 2015-1 Jun. 2015; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5766

• 1 ♀; same data as preceding; Site HILL, Malaise trap HILLT1; 0.5486N, 30.3614E (WGS84); alt. 1520 m (GPS, WGS84); 30 Jul. 2015-13 Aug. 2015; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.6013

• 1 ♂; Kibale National Park, Kanyawara, Site K31, Malaise trap K31T2; 0.5427N, 30.3482E (WGS84); alt. 1460 m (GPS, WGS84); 9 Apr. 2015-23 Apr. 2015; Tapani Hopkins leg.; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1280

• 1 ♂; same data as preceding; Site CC, Malaise trap CCT1; 0.5497N, 30.3673E (WGS84); alt. 1450 m (GPS, WGS84); 24 Feb. 2015-10 Mar. 2015; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5738

• 1 ♂; same data as preceding; Site K31, Malaise trap K31T3; 0.5360N, 30.3469E (WGS84); alt. 1450 m (GPS, WGS84); 26 Aug. 2015-12 Sep. 2015; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5792.

Non-type material (only diagnostic characters checked): UGANDA:

• 56 ♀; Kibale National Park, Kanyawara; Tapani Hopkins leg.; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1261, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1262, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1270, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1336, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1337, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1338, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1345, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1364, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1721, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1761, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1762, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.1820, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.2056, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.2058, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.2161, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.2706, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.2724, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.2856, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.2985, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.3080, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.3092, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.3541, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.3737, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5595, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5600, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5626, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5630, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5640, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5645, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5658, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5672, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5674, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5675, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5697, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5704, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5720, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5727, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5728, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5729, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5741, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5742, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5749, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5752, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5773, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5781, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5783, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5784, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5789, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5791, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5793, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5798, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5814, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5815, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5818, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5822, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5839

• 14 ♂; Kibale National Park, Kanyawara; Tapani Hopkins leg.; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.2906, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.3086, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.3089, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.3642, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5622, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5652, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5758, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5767, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5771, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5785, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5790, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5832, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5838, http://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.5877

• 1 unknown sex; Kibale National Park, Kanyawara; Tapani Hopkins leg.; ZMUThttp://mus.utu.fi/ZMUT.6045.

Known material: 81 specimens (79 Ugandan, 2 other):

61 ♀, 17 ♂, 1 U; Ugandan specimens, data above and also in supplementary material ( Hopkins et al. 2019c).

1 ♀, holotype; see Rousse and van Noort (2014); Democratic Republic of Congo, Lulua [10°37'S 24°54'E], Kapanga; Apr. 1933; "F.G. Overlaet"; "R. Dét"; MRAC "F 3330".

1 ♀; see Rousse and van Noort (2014); Cameroon, Nkoemvon; Jul. 1980-Aug. 1980; "Ms. D. Jackson"; NHMUK.

Diagnosis.

This species can be distinguished from other Afrotropical Rhyssinae by the combination of converging median carinae on the frons, lateral carinae on the frons, and the absence of a lateral flange on the subalar prominence. In practice its unique colour pattern and large size make it instantly recognisable.

Head: frons with strong median carinae converging before continuing towards median ocellus, with lateral carinae curving towards lateral ocelli; hypostomal carina raised into an elevated flange, its height slightly greater than the maximum width of the second maxillary palp segment.

Mesosoma: subalar prominence without a lateral flange; mesopleuron with a raised flange along the dorsal margin; epicnemial carina reaches the approximate height of the mesopleural pit.

Metasoma: tip of apical horn almost circular in posterior view; tergite 3 mostly smooth.

Description (male).

Body length 16.4 mm– 25.1 mm. Males seem slightly smaller than females on average.

Head: Frons with strong median carinae converging before continuing towards median ocellus, with lateral carinae curving towards lateral ocelli, often with faint traces of lateral rugae. Occipital carina interrupted dorsally. Hypostomal carina raised into an elevated flange, its height slightly greater than maximum width of second maxillary palp segment. Face punctate. Clypeus punctate, without a clear median apical tubercle. Antenna with 38-40 flagellar segments.

Mesosoma: Subalar prominence without a lateral flange. Mesopleuron with a raised flange along dorsal margin. Epicnemial carina reaches approximate height of mesopleural pit. Fore wing with 2m-cu distal to rs-m.

Metasoma: Tergites 1-5 mostly smooth, 6-7 smooth or sparsely pubescent, tergite 1 1.8-2.2 times as long as apically wide.

Colour: General colour mottled dark testaceous, testaceous and pale yellow, pale yellow patches of tergites 1 and 2 are fused (cf. female). Antennae black. Wings hyaline, infuscate near apex.

Additional or updated characters. Apart from the diagnosis and description of the male, we provide the following additional or updated character traits to the description in Rousse and van Noort (2014).

Female. Body length 14.7 mm– 37.8 mm. Frons often with faint traces of lateral rugae. Face punctate, transversely rugulose-punctate or transversely striate. Antenna with 38-43 flagellar segments (38-41 in Ugandan specimens). Tergites 1-5 mostly smooth, 6-7 often pubescent, anterior margins of tergites 3-6 (sometimes only 4-5) sightly striate or punctate, tergite 1 1.4-1.8 times as long as apically wide. The colour patches vary in extent, with the pale yellow patches of tergite 1 fused in small individuals.

Distribution.

Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon. New record: Uganda.

Biology.

In Uganda, this species was mostly caught in primary forest near decaying wood ( Hopkins et al. 2019b). It has not been caught outside the forest.

Remarks.

Epirhyssa overlaeti was earlier known from only two females. We describe the male for the first time.

Figures

Figures 32 - 38. Epirhyssa overlaeti male (http: // mus. utu. fi / ZMUT. 1280) and female (34: http: // mus. utu. fi / ZMUT. 2291, 37: http: // mus. utu. fi / ZMUT. 5766), a species found in Uganda. 32 Habitus 33 face and clypeus 34 frons 35 hypostomal flange 36 mesopleuron dorsal margin 37 apical horn of metasoma 38 tergites 1 - 7. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (33 - 38), 1 mm (32).