Platyplectrus meruensis ( Delucchi, 1962 )

Yefremova, Zoya A. & Copeland, Robert S., 2023, African Platyplectrus Ferrière (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from Kenya, with description of nine new species, Zootaxa 5360 (3), pp. 355-384 : 365-367

8. Platyplectrus meruensis ( Delucchi, 1962)

Figs 31–34

Euplectromorpha meruensis Delucchi, 1962:364 .

Platyplectrus meruensis (Delucchi) : Baur, 2001: 57, 78.

Holotype: Female, Tanganyika Terr., Mt. Meru, Versant N.O., Olkokola , 2500–2600m, 3–8 July 1957, leg. P. Basilewsky et N. Leleup ( MRAC, Electronic examination). Type locality: Tanganyika.

Diagnosis. Pronotum with transverse carina. Occiput without well-developed carina, post-occipital carina present ( Fig. 33 ). Scutellum smooth. POL 1.7× as long as OOL. Antenna. F1 1.2× as long as pedicel and 1.5× as long as F2, F4 1.1× as wide as long. Petiole 2.7–3.0× as long as wide. Face brown with black clypeus and genae. Legs yellow except hind coxae black. Male. F1 1.4× as long as pedicel and 1.4× as long as F2, F4 1.1× as wide as long.

Redescription. Female. Body size 2.7–2.8 mm.

Colour ( Figs 31–33 ): Body mostly black, head black including clypeus, eyes light pink, ocelli light yellow; scape and pedicel yellow, funicle brownish, gaster yellow on Gt 2–4, base of Gt 1 brown. Legs yellow, hind coxae black.

Head: Malar sulcus present. Mandibles membranous. Several long pairs of setae present on frons and vertex ( Fig. 34 ). Eyes asetose. POL 1.7× as long as OOL. Antennae inserted above the level of the lower margin of the eyes. Scape 3.3× as long as wide. Pedicel 1.78× as long as wide with 4 long, brown setae. Flagellomeres 1 – 4. F1 1.5× as long as F2, F2=F3=F4. Clava 3-segmented 2.2× as long as wide and 1.8× as long as F4

Mesosoma: Pronotum with transverse carina. Mesoscutum strongly reticulate, scutellum, axillae, and propodeum smooth. Propodeum with strong median carina, callus with 6 long setae in marginal row and 3 in first row. Fore wing 2.3× as long as wide. SMV with 4 long setae. Speculum small along 1/5 of MV.SMV (27): MV (38): PMV (16): STV (9). Costal cell with 7 short setae in single marginal row. Hind wing rounded apically. Hind tibiae with two spurs; TS1 1.1× as long as 1 st tarsomere and 1.4× as long as TS2. Petiole 2.7–3.0× as long as wide, reticulate.

Gaster1.6–1.8× as long as wide.

Male. Body size 2.1 mm.

Antenna: Scape 3.5× as long as wide. Pedicel 2.2× as long as wide. Flagellomeres 1 – 4. F1 1.5–1.6× as long as F2, F2 =F3=F4. Clava 3-segmented 1.7× as long as wide and as long as F4. Petiole 2.8× as long as wide, reticulate. Gaster 1.6× as long as wide. Genitalia: Digitus with two spines.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. Tanzania ( Delucchi, 1962); * Kenya.

Material examined. Kenya, 2 ♀, Coast Prov., Taita Hills, Ngangao forest , 1750 m, 3.37º S, 38.34º E, Malaise trap, 2–16Aug 1999, Taita Biodiversity Project ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, Eastern Prov., Nyambene Hills , Itieni forest, at bottom, 2142 m, 0.24433º N, 37.87016º E, Malaise trap, edge of indigenous forest, near forest station, 18 Sep–2 Oct 2011, R. Copeland ( NMK) , 1 ♀, same data except 26 May–8 Jun 2011, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, same data except 26 Jun–10 Jul 2011, R. Copeland ( SMNH-TAU) ; 1 ♀, same data except 16–30 Oct 2011, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♁, same data except 13–27 Nov 2011, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♁, Rift Valley Prov., Oloitokitok , 1853 m, 2.94456º S, 37.50714º E, Malaise trap, indigenous forest edge, 28 Oct–11 Nov 2011, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 2 ♀, same data except 9–23 Dec 2011, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, Coast Prov., Taita Hills , Vuria forest, 3.41428º S, 38.29178º E, 2162 m, Malaise trap, just inside indigenous forest, 8–22 Feb 2011, R. Copeland ( SMNH-TAU) ; 4 ♀, Coast Prov., Taita Hills , Chawia forest, 1614 m, 3.47908º S, 38.34162º E, Malaise trap, next to small forest pond, 13–27 Nov 2011, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♁, same data except 22 Mar–5 Apr 2012, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, Coast Prov., Taita Hills , Ngangao forest, 1848 m, 3.36100º S, 38.34186º E, Malaise trap, indigenous forest, 29 May–12 Jun 2011, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 11 ♀, 1 ♁, same data except 27 Dec 2011 – 10 Jan 2012, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♁, same data except 3–17 Oct 2012, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 3 ♀, same data except 22 Aug–5 Sep 2012, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 6 ♀, 1 ♁, same data except 18 Sept–2 Oct 2012, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, same data except 11–25 Jul 2012, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♁, Coast Prov., Taita Hills, Vuria Forest , 2162 m, 3.41428º S, 38.29178º E, Malaise trap, indigenous forest, 11–25 Jan 2012, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, same data except 25 Jan–8 Feb 2012, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, Coast Prov., Taita Hills, Ngangao forest , 1750 m, 3.37º S, 38.34º E, Malaise trap, 2–9 Mar 1998, Taita Biodiversity Project ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, Rift Valley Prov. Chorlim, base of Mt. Elgon , 1882 m, 1.03149° N, 34.84780° E, Malaise trap in Acacia riverine woodland, 8–22 Apr 2017, R. Copeland ; 1 ♀, same data except 22 Apr–6 May 2017, R. Copeland ; 1 ♀, same data except 6–20 May 2017, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, same data except 17 Jun–1 Jul 2017, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, 2 ♁, Rift Valley Prov., Matthews Range , 1006 m, 1.00661° N, 37.38631° E, Malaise trap, shrubland, 29 Nov–12 Dec 2015, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, same data except 15–29 Nov 2015, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, 1♁, same data except 12–26 Dec 2015, R. Copeland ; 1 ♀, same data except 26 Dec 2015 – 9 Jan 2016, R. Copeland ; 6 ♀, Rift Valley Prov., Matthews Range , 1459 m, 0.97984° N, 37.34599° E, Malaise trap, riverine forest near Wamba, 19 Apr–3 May 2016, R. Copeland ( SMNH-TAU) ; 4♀, 1 ♁, Rift Valley Prov., Matthews Range , 1006 m, 1.00661° N, 37.38631° E, Malaise trap, shrubland 3–17 May 2016, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, Rift Valley Prov., Matthews Range , 1006 m, 1.00661° N, 37.38631° E, Malaise trap, Sarara 12–26 Dec 2015. R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, Eastern Prov. , Kasaala area, 733 m, 2.07836° S, 38.22517° E, Malaise trap, inside isolated woodland patch, 3–17 Dec 2015, R. Copeland ( SMNH-TAU) ; 1 ♀, same data except 5–19 Nov 2015, R. Copeland ( SMNH-TAU) ; 1 ♀, Kenya, Coast Prov., Taita Hills , Mbololo Forest , 3.2000º S, 38.2685º E, 1550m, Malaise trap, 2–9 Sep 1998, Taita Biodiversity Project ; 1 ♁, Western Prov. , Khalaba village, 1365 m, 0.4306° N, 34.5468° E, Sweep net in and around homestead in farmland, 9–20 Jan 2016, J. Bukhebi ; 2 ♀, Coast Prov., Taita Hills, Macha Forest , 3.2681º S, 38.2176º E, 1550 m, Malaise trap, 8–15 Aug 1999, Taita Biodiversity Project ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♁, Western Prov., Kakamega forest, nr. Lukusi river , 1566 m, 0.25557° N, 34.87367° E, Malaise trap, 2.2 km NE of KFS HDQTRs, 2–16 May 2017, R. Copeland ; 1 ♀, Western Prov. , Kakamega forest, nr. KFS HDQTRs, 1620 m, 0.23742° N, 34.86607° E, Malaise trap, in indigenous forest, 30 May–12 Jun 2017, R. Copeland; 1 ♁, same data except 27 Jun–4 Jul 2017, R. Copeland; 1 ♁, 1 ♀, Eastern Prov., Mulu Musingila farm, 689 m, 2.11472º S, 38.23989º E, Malaise trap, farmland nr. small seasonally wet area, 30 Oct–13 Nov 2017, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, same data except 11–25 Dec 2017, R. Copeland ( SMNH-TAU) ; 1 ♁, same data except 27 Apr–11 May 2018, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 2 ♀, Nairobi Prov., ICIPE campus, Kasarani , 1.22312º S, 36.89738º E, 1600 m, Malaise trap, set over stream, next to bridge, 11–13 Dec 2018, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 2 ♀, Rift Valley Prov., Elsamere Conservation Centre , 1913 m, 0.81306° S, 36.31585° E, Malaise trap, shrubland, 22 Aug–5 Sep 2019, R. Copeland ( SMNH-TAU) ; 1 ♀, Rift Valley Prov., Loldaiga Ranch , 2061 m, 0.22121° N, 37.11998° E, Malaise trap, near small dam, 10–14 Dec 2013, R. Copeland ; 1 ♀, Central Prov., Mary Muriuki farm, 1457 m, 0.49250 ° S, 37.38822° E, YPT, farmland near Nyamindi River , 2 Jun–28 Jul. 2013, R. Copeland ( NMK) ; 1 ♀, Eastern Prov., Njuki –ini forest, 1471 m, 0.51663º S, 37.41852º E, Malaise trap, just inside indigenous forest, 19 Jul–1 Aug 2007, R. Copeland ( NMK) .

Figures

FIGURES 30–37. 30. P. marenjeensis sp. nov. Holotype. Female. 30. Head+antennae, frontal. 31–34. P. meruensis Delucchi. Kenya specimen. Female. 31. Lateral habitus. Male. 32. Lateral habitus. 33. Dorsal habitus. 34. Head+antennae, frontal. 35–37. P. mrimaensis sp. nov. Holotype. Female. 35. Lateral habitus. 36. Dorsal habitus. 37. Head+antennae, frontal.