Aphaereta hararensis Peris-Felipo, 2015

Peris-Felipo, Francisco Javier, 2015, Review of the genus Aphaereta Foerster, 1863 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from the Afrotropical region, with description of three new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 42, pp. 1-20 : 8

Aphaereta hararensis Peris-Felipo sp. n.

Figs 5 , 6

Etymology.

Named after Harare, the type locality of this new species.

Type material.

Holotype: female, Zimbabwe, nr Harare, vii.1982 (Watsham leg.) (BMNH). Paratypes: 2 females, same data as holotype (BMNH).

Description.

Female (holotype).

Head entirely smooth; in dorsal view 1.8 times as wide as median length, 1.3 times as wide as mesoscutum, with rounded gena behind eye. Eye in lateral view as high as wide and 1.75 times as wide as temple medially. POL 1.5 times OD; OOL 3.0 times OD. Face 1.45 times as wide as high; inner margins of eyes subparallel. Clypeus slightly curved ventrally, 3.0 times as wide as high; its upper margin crenulate. Mandible widened towards apex, 1.5 times as long as its maximum width. Upper tooth of mandible longer than lower tooth; middle tooth wide basally and narrowed towards apex, rounded apically; lower tooth shorter than upper tooth, rounded apically. Antenna shorter than body, 19-segmented. Scape 1.5 times as long as pedicel. First flagellar segment 3.4 times as long as its apical width; second segment 4.7 times as long as its maximum width; 1.5 times as long as first segment. Third flagellar segment 2.9 times as long as its width. Fourth to sixth flagellar segments 2.7 times, seventh to tenth segments 2.4-2.5 times, eleventh to eighteenth segments 1.5-1.6 times, and nineteenth (apical) segment 3.6 times as long as their maximum width accordingly.

Mesosoma 1.2 times as long as high (lateral view). Mesoscutum 1.2 times as long as its maximum width. Notauli mainly absent on vertical surface of mesoscutum. Mesoscutal midpit absent. Prescutellar depression smooth, with lateral carinae. Precoxal suture present, reaching anterior margin of mesopectus and not reaching posterior margin of mesopectus. Mesepimeral sulcus crenulate below. Propodeum sculptured, with long median longitudinal carina, with apical half densely sculptured. Propodeal spiracle relatively small.

Wings. Length of fore wing 2.6 times its maximum width. Marginal cell reaching apex of wing, 3.4 times as long as its maximum width. Vein 3RSa 1.6 times as long as 2RS, 3.75 times as long as r, 0.45 times as long as 3RSb. Second submarginal cell 2.3 times as long as maximum width. Hind wing 5.1 times as long as its maximum width.

Legs. Hind femur 4.6 times as long as its maximum width. Hind tibia weakly widened towards apex, about 8.0 times as long as its maximum subapical width, as long as hind tarsus. First segment of hind tarsus (basitarsus) 2.25 times as long as second segment.

Metasoma distinctly compressed. First tergite striated in middle part, weakly widened towards apex, 1.25 times as long as its apical width. Ovipositor 2.9 times as long as first tergite, distinctly shorter than metasoma, 1.6 times as long as hind femur.

Colour. Head and mesosoma dark brown. Antenna and metasoma brown. Scape, pedicel, mandible, legs and ovipositor light brown to yellow. In dorsal view, head, mesosoma and first metasomal tergite dark brown; second and third tergites brown. First metasomal tergiter darker than second and third tergites. Wings hyaline. Pterostigma light brown to brown.

Body length 3.3 mm; fore wing length 3.2 mm.

Variation. Body length 3.3-3.4 mm; fore wing length 3.2-3.3 mm. Antenna 18-19-segmented. Vein 3RSa 1.5-1.6 times as long as 2RS, 3.7-3.8 times as long as r, 0.4-0.5 times as long as 3RSb.

Male. Unknown.

Comparative diagnosis.

This new species is similar to A. mosselensis Peris-Felipo, sp. n. but differs in having the head, mesosoma and first metasomal tergite with similar colour; second and third metasomal tergites paler than head, mesosoma and first tergite (head, mesosoma and first, second and third metasomal tergites with same colour in A. mosselensis ), first flagellar segment 3.4 times as long as its maximum width (2.75 times in A. mosselensis ); second segment 4.7 times (4.0 times in A. mosselensis ), hind femur 4.6 times as long as its maximum width (5.0 times in A. mosselensis ), head in dorsal view 1.8 times as wide as median length (1.5 times in A. mosselensis ), eye in lateral view 1.75 times as wide as temple medially (1.15-1.20 times in A. mosselensis ), clypeus 3.0 times as wide as high (4.0 times in A. mosselensis ), Mesepimeral sulcus crenulate below (smooth in A. mosselensis ), prescutellar depression with lateral carinae (without in A. mosselensis ), and ovipositor 2.9 times as long as first tergite (2.15 times in A. mosselensis ).

Figures

Figure 5. Aphaereta hararensis Peris-Felipo, sp. n. (female) A Habitus, lateral view B Head, lateral view C Mandible D Antenna E Basal segments of antenna F Head, dorsal view.

Figure 6. Aphaereta hararensis Peris-Felipo, sp. n. (female) A Mesosoma, lateral view B Propodeum, dorsal view C First metasomal tergite D Metasoma, hind leg and ovipositor, lateral view E Habitus, dorsal view F Fore and hind wings.