Diaparsis (Diaparsis) epsilon Khalaim & Villemant, 2021

Khalaim, Andrey I. & Villemant, Claire, 2021, Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Papua New Guinea: genus Diaparsis Förster, part 2. Species with notaulus, Zootaxa 5016 (1), pp. 56-80 : 63-64

4. Diaparsis (Diaparsis) epsilon Khalaim & Villemant , sp. nov.

( Figs 20–25 , 61 )

Material examined. Holotype female ( MNHN) PNG, Madang Prov., Mt. Wilhelm (-5.720874, 145.2695), 1200 m, 7–8.XI.2012, leg. Philip, Alois, Novotny & Leponce, Plot 4, understorey; MAL-MW1200D-14/16-d14, P1839- 11355.

Paratypes. PNG, Madang Prov.: 1 ♀ ( ZISP) same data as holotype . 1 ♀ ( MNHN) Mt. Wilhelm (-5.731961, 145.2522), 700 m, 15–16.V.2013, leg. Sam et al., Plot 2, understorey; MAL-MW0700’B-03/16-d03, P4719- 20823 .

Description. Female. Body length about 6.0 mm. Fore wing length 4.1 mm.

Head strongly rounded behind eyes in dorsal view ( Fig. 20 ); gena half as long as eye width. Clypeus small, about 2.4× as broad as long and 0.8× as broad as face (shortest distance between inner eye margins) ( Fig. 61 ), almost flat, with shallow transverse impression in lower 0.3–0.4, separated from face by broad impression, smooth, with fine and sparse punctures in upper 0.6. Mandible robust, strongly constricted in basal 0.7, twisted apically; upper tooth almost twice as long as lower tooth. Malar space almost as long as basal mandibular width. Antennal flagellum ( Fig. 24 ) slightly clavate, with 21–23 flagellomeres (23 in holotype); subbasal flagellomeres 1.5–1.7× as long as broad, subapical flagellomere as long as broad or slightly transverse; flagellomeres 4 to 6 bearing small subapical finger-shaped structures on outer surface. Face very weakly convex. Face and frons with fine and dense punctures on very finely granulate or nearly smooth, dull or weakly shining background. Vertex and gena with fine and sparse punctures on smooth and shining background. Occipital carina complete, weakly and evenly arcuate in dorsal view ( Fig. 20 ), distinctly concave (dipped) mediodorsally in posterior view. Hypostomal carina present, almost reaching occipital carina (weak or vanishing in lower part).

Mesoscutum, mesopleuron and dorsolateral area of propodeum finely but distinctly punctate on more or less smooth background (punctures dorsolateral area of propodeum sometimes weak). Notaulus weakly impressed, with fine longitudinal wrinkle on anterolateral side of mesoscutum. Scutellum with lateral longitudinal carinae present in basal 0.3–0.4. Foveate groove deep and broad, situated in front half of mesopleuron, not reaching epicnemial carina, oblique, with coarse transverse wrinkles ( Fig. 25 ). Propodeum with all carinae strong; basal keel 0.5–0.6× as long as apical area ( Fig. 21 ). Propodeal spiracle somewhat enlarged, separated from pleural carina by 1.5× diameter of spiracle. Apical area almost flat, slightly impressed along midline, more or less rounded anteriorly ( Fig. 21 ).

Fore wing with second recurrent vein (2m-cu) postfurcal, weakly pigmented in anterior half and distinct posteriorly. First abscissa of radius (Rs+2r) straight, longer than width of pterostigma. First and second sections of radius (Rs+2r and Rs) meeting at slightly acute angle. Intercubitus (2rs-m) thickened, somewhat longer than abscissa of cubitus between intercubitus and second recurrent vein (abscissa of M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu). Metacarpus (R1) not reaching tip of the wing ( Fig. 23 ). Second abscissa of postnervulus (Cu&2cu-a) present. Hind wing with nervellus (cu1&cu-a) weakly reclivous. Legs slender; tarsal claws not pectinate.

First tergite slender, about 5.0× as long as posteriorly broad, slightly trapeziform in cross-section centrally, smooth, with very slight striae laterally; in dorsal view, postpetiole widened at base, 1.8× wider than petiole and clearly separated from it; upper margin of tergite, in lateral view, slightly convex in basal 0.4 and strongly arcuate in apical 0.6, with weak concavity in basal 0.4 ( Fig. 23 ). Glymma distinct, elongated, situated in centre of tergite in holotype, and vestigial in paratypes. Second tergite about 2.8× as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression about 4.0× as long as broad, separated from base of second tergite. Ovipositor very long, flexible, strongly bent upwards over its total length, with weak dorsal subapical depression and sinuate apically ( Fig. 22 ); sheath about 4.0× as long as first tergite.

Head, mesosoma and first tergite black. Palpi yellow. Mandible (teeth reddish black) and lower 0.4 of clypeus dark reddish yellow. Scape and pedicel of antenna yellow-brown, dorsally darkened with brown; flagellum black. Tegula dark brown, with yellowish spot at distal end. Pterostigma dark brown. Wings weakly infumate with brown. Fore and mid legs ( Fig. 23 ) brownish yellow to yellow-brown, with coxae, tibiae and tarsi sometimes infuscate. Hind leg predominantly dark brown. Metasoma posterior to first tergite predominantly dark brown, with posterior margins of all tergites and ventrally brownish yellow ( Fig. 23 ).

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. The species is named after the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (epsilon).

Distribution. Papua New Guinea.

Comparison. Diaparsis epsilon sp. nov. is a very distinct species which easily differs from all its Oriental and Oceanic congeners by the combination of small clypeus ( Fig. 61 ), short and strongly rounded genae ( Fig. 20 ), and very long flexible ovipositor with sinuate apex ( Fig. 22 ).

Figures

FIGURES 17–22. Diaparsis delta sp. nov., holotype, female (17, 18) and male (19): 17—head and mesosoma, lateral; 18— apex of ovipositor, lateral; 19—habitus (without wing apices), lateral. Diaparsis epsilon sp. nov., holotype, female: 20—head and mesoscutum, dorsal; 21—propodeum, dorsal; 22—apex of ovipositor, lateral.

FIGURES 23–25. Diaparsis epsilon sp. nov., holotype, female: 23—habitus, lateral; 24—head with antennae, lateral; 25— head and mesosoma, ventro-lateral.

FIGURES 60–62. Diaparsis beta sp. nov., holotype, female: 60—first tergite, dorsal. Diaparsis epsilon sp. nov., holotype, female: 61—head, front. Diaparsis eta sp. nov., holotype, female: 62—veins of fore wing.