Megaprosternum bayaka, Colombo & Azevedo, 2024

Colombo, Wesley D. & Azevedo, Celso O., 2024, Revision of the strongly flattened Megaprosternum Azevedo (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 958 (1), pp. 1-47 : 9-11

Megaprosternum bayaka sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B94DB4F2-C69D-4F8B-B32F-8B8F7E27BDD1

Fig. 3

Differential diagnosis

The females of this species are morphologically similar to those of M. kariri sp. nov., by having the malar space 0.3× HE, antenna with 10 flagellomeres, and the mesoscutum longer than mesoscutellum medially. However, M. bayaka sp. nov. has the mandibles with two apical teeth, and the probasisternum very large, with anterior margin strongly angulated, whereas M. kariri has the mandibles with four apical teeth, and the probasisternum large, with anterior margin weakly angulated.

Etymology

The epithet bayaka is derived from the Bayaka, an ethnic group inhabiting the southwestern Central African Republic.

Material examined

Holotype

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – Prefecture Sangha-Mbaéré • ♀; “Prefecture Sangha-Mbaéré, Parc. National de Dzanga-Ndoki , Mabéa Bai, 21.4km, 53°NE Bayanga, 3°02.01’N 16°24.57’E, 510m, 7.v.2001, S. van Noort, Sweep, CAR01-S96, lowland rainforest, marsh clearing”; SAMC, SAM-HYM P103670 .

Description

Female

MEASUREMENTS (mm). Body length 1.40; LH 0.33; WH 0.24; WF 0.20; WOT 0.06; surface of median clypeal lobe 0.09; HE 0.13; OOL 0.13; LFW 0.66.

COLOR ( Fig. 3A–B ). Head, mesosoma and metasoma light castaneous.

HEAD ( Fig. 3C ). Oval, in lateral view; sides almost parallel, in dorsal view; malar space 0.3× HE; median clypeal lobe incurved, shorter than lateral ones, with pair of lateral carinae, converging posteriorly, lobe delimitation distinct; mandible with two apical teeth; hypostoma rounded medially; antenna with 10 flagellomeres, pedicel longer than flagellomere I; eye glabrous, contour not protruding; frons weakly coriaceous; ocellar triangle with anterior angle obtuse, postocellar line shorter than DAO.

MESOSOMA ( Fig. 3D–E ). Pronotal flange polished, with posterior margin at most 1.5 × as wide as anterior one; dorsal pronotal area polished, posterior margin almost straight; probasisternum with anterior margin strongly angulated, posterior margin angled; epicnemium with anterior margin weakly incurved; mesoscutum longer than mesoscutellum medially; parapsidal signum absent; transscutal fissure conspicuous; mesoscuto-scutellar suture absent; mesopleuron with mesepimeral lobe not evident, anterior mesopleural fovea absent, mesopleural epicoxal lobe not evident, mesopleural pit present, upper mesopleural fovea absent; metapectal-propodeal disc longer than wide medially, with evident constriction at propodeal spiracle; transverse anterior carina present; lateral marginal carina absent; paraspiracular sulcus absent; paraspiracular carina absent; metapostnotal median carina absent; propodeal spiracle circular, on lateral surface of metapectal-propodeal complex; metadiscrimen absent; metafurcal pit absent; forewing with prestigmal abscissa of radial 1 oval, 2.0× as long as pterostigma, 3.0× as wide as Sc+R vein; prestigmal flexion line present; pterostigma small and oval; hind wing slender with three equidistant distal hamuli.

METASOMA. S2aa with anterior margin straight; S2pa wider than long medially, widening posterad; second abdominal spiracle circular; third abdominal sternum with anterior margin outcurved; abdominal tergum narrowing apicad.

Male

Unknown.

Host

Unknown.

Distribution

Central African Republic (Prefecture Sangha-Mbaéré).

Figures

Fig. 3. Megaprosternum bayaka sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (SAMC, SAM-HYM P103670). A–B. Habitus. A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Head, dorsal view. D–E. Mesosoma. D. Dorsal view. E. Ventral view. Scale bars: A = 250 μm; B–E = 125 μm.