Epyris herschae Tribull

Tribull, Carly Melissa, 2016, Five new species and key for Australian Epyris Westwood (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae), Zootaxa 4105 (4), pp. 368-380 : 372

Epyris herschae Tribull , sp. nov.

( Figs 2 A– 2I)

Examined material. Holotype, ♀. Australia: Western Australia: W Cobra Station; Malaise across pool in wide rocky wash; 26.IV–10.V.2003; M.E. Irwin and F.D. Parker leg.; 360 m; 24°10.2'S, 116°23.0'E, #066949 [Originally stored at CNC, now at ANIC]. Paratype: 1 ♀, same locality as holotype, #066950 [ ANIC].

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Body length 3.44 mm; LFW: 2.23 mm.

Color. Head, pronotum, mesoscutum, and mesoscutellum dark blue (iridescent under light). Clypeus dark castaneous. Antennal scape dark castaneous, remainder castaneous. Mandible dark castaneous at base, teeth light castaneous. Palpi castaneous. Metasomal segments castaneous, except first and last segments light castaneous. Coxa, trochanter, and femur castaneous, tibia dark castaneous towards femur and light castaneous towards tarsi. Fore wing hyaline with veins castaneous and stigma somewhat darker castaneous ( Fig. 2 ).

Head. Lightly coriaceous, but shining and iridescent, with many pale setae; punctures small and evenly spaced about 3.0 × diameter apart. Mandible with long setae, three teeth progressing larger anteriorly to posteriorly; upper tooth possessing distinctive cleft, dividing tooth into two small points. Clypeus with rounded median lobe and sparse setae. Eye with short, erect setae, LH 2.4 × HE. Ratios of antennomeres 4.5:1.8:1.3:1.3:1.3:1.1:1.1:1.1: 1.0:1.1:1.1:1.3:2.1. LH 1.1 × WH, HE 1.0 × OOL, WF 2.6 × WOT, POL 1.1 × AOL.

Mesosoma. Pronotal disc 0.6 × as long as wide, sculptured in same manner as head. Mesoscutum coriaceous, 1.2 × length of mesoscutellum, posterior half with punctures as on head and pronotum; notaulus narrow anteriorly and divergent, broadening widely posteriorly and converging, each notaulus separated by 5.0 × posterior width. Mesoscutellum coriaceous with sparse pale setae; scutellar pit large, subrectangular, each pit separated by 0.1 × width, and very slightly slanting from center posteriorly towards lateral margin, possessing raised division that does not meet surface of the mesoscutellum so that scutellar pit does not appear fully divided. Dorsal view of metapectal-propodeal complex 0.72 × as long as wide, strongly reticulated on shining surface; metapostnotal median carina and each metapostnotal propodeal suture reaching transverse posterior carina; paraspiracular carina present but not reaching transverse posterior carina; posterolateral corner foveolate. Fore wing with transversemedian vein arching, convex posteriorly, and meeting anal vein.

Metasoma. Petiolate, smooth; T3–T7 with punctures sparse; setae sparse, pale.

Remarks. Unlike other species of Epyris described from Australia, E. herschae sp. nov. is dark blue on the head, pronotum, mesoscutum, and mesoscutellum. Its mandibles are also unique—under high magnification, it is possible to see that the upper tooth of the mandible is cleft.

Etymology. The species is named for Rebecca Hersch, who was instrumental in guiding the author (and many other graduate students) through learning molecular techniques at the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics at the American Museum of Natural History.

Distribution. Australia (Western Australia).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Epyris herschae sp. nov. A. Lateral habitus, B. Dorsal habitus, C. Lateral detail of mesosoma, D. Head, E. Lateral view of head, F. Drawing of mandible, G. Pronotum, H. Mesoscutellum, and I. Dorsal view of metapectal-propodeal complex. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.