Plumarius malaris Diez & Roig-Alsina

Diez, Patricia A. & Roig-Alsina, Arturo, 2016, Revision of Plumarius Philippi 1873 (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea, Plumariidae) from Argentina north of Patagonia, with description of eighteen new species, Zootaxa 4098 (3), pp. 442-470 : 453-455

Plumarius malaris Diez & Roig-Alsina , sp. nov.

( Figs 8 A–F)

Diagnosis. This species is related to P. divergens sp. nov. and P. no a sp. nov. by the long, apically tapering marginal cell of the fore wing, and the anterior ocellus crossed by the supra-torular line. It is distinguished from these two species by the straight, long malar areas, longer than the apical width of F1, and the swollen propodeum behind the spiracle.

Description. Holotype, ♂. Body length 11.5 mm (paratypes 9.8–12.7 mm). Color. Dark brown, with head and mesosoma darker.

Head. 1.2 × wider than high in frontal view; wider in dorsal view than width of scutum between tegulae (5.9:5.4). OOD 1.0 × diameter of lateral ocellus; POD 1.4 × OOD. Antennocular distance 0.6 × diameter of torulus; interantennal distance 3.7 × antennocular distance. Vertex reticulated, without striae and moderately punctate between lateral ocelli (punctures separated by 1.5 × puncture diameter). Torulus closer to lateral ocellus than to clypeus (8.0:16). Lateral ocelli in frontal view below upper margin of head. Median ocellus crossed by supratorular line ( Fig. 8 A). Genal carina present, distinct. Length of area between preoccipital carina and suboral swelling subequal to length of suboral swelling (0.9:1.0); this area with a median longitudinal carina; lower area of genal bridge close to mandibular articulation with weak carinae and without punctures ( Fig. 8 B). Malar area longer than apical width of F1 (0.6:0.4), striate anteriorly. Supraclypeal area punctate on frontal area; with lateral striae; weakly rounded in lateral view ( Fig. 8 C). Epistomal suture evident. Clypeus 1.4 × wider than high, middle basal region punctate, with lateral striae joining medially; apex pointed, not truncate. Proportion of lengths of segments of maxillary palp, from base to apex: 7:7:9:11:8:10. Scape without swelling or projection. F1 5.5 × as long as its apical width, subequal to scape and pedicel combined (2.6:2.5).

Mesosoma . Area anterior to pronotal lobe with striae; pronotal lateral carina distinct, forming a weak lower pocket. Notaulus weakly marked, as long as admedian line. Anterior surface of scutum densely punctate. Propleuron scarcely punctate; mesopleuron densely punctate. Metapostnotum with weak longitudinal striae, reaching to posterior margin. Propodeum transverse, swollen behind spiracle; with carina anterior to spiracle. Fore wing: marginal cell with anterior margin 2.8 × as long as posterior margin; vein Rs3 shorter than length of Rs4 (3.5:3.9); vein M separated from vein cu-a by 0.3 × length of cu-a; discal cell rectangular. Hind wing: veins M and cu-a interstitial. Protarsomere 1 with four outer lateral spines, approximately. Length of mesotarsomere 1 longer than metatarsomere 1 (4.2:3.9); inner metatibial spur 1.5 × as long as outer spur.

Metasoma. T7 triangular, densely punctate, with apex rounded. Genitalia as in Figs 8 D–F, with paramere truncated apically.

Examined material. Holotype, ♂: ARGENTINA, Catamarca, Campo El Arenal, 14.I.1981, col Roig-Alsina ( MACN). Paratypes: 13 ♂, same data of holotype ( MACN); 1 ♂, Los Nacimientos de Abajo, 1–15.X.1968, col Willink, Terán, Stange (Malaise) ( IFML); 1 ♂, Los Nacimientos de Abajo, 16–31.X.1968, col Willink, Terán, Stange (Malaise) ( IFML); 1 ♂, ca. Saujil (Fiambalá), 23.XI.2005, col Porter, Fidalgo P., Diez ( MACN). La Rioja, 1 ♂, Patquia, col Breyer ( MACN); 1 ♂, Guayapa, Patquia, 14.X.1954, col Haywará ( IFML); 1 ♂, Guayapa, Patquia, 18.X.1954, col Haywará ( IFML); 1 ♂, 2 km S Pinchas, 10.X.2005, Fidalgo P., Fidalgo G. ( MACN). Mendoza, 9 ♂, Ñacuñán, XII.1979, col Roig ( MACN); 4 ♂, Sta. Rosa Ñacuñán, 10.X.1996, col Debandi (IADIZA); 8 ♂, Ñacuñán, 7.X.1996, col Roig S. (IADIZA); 3 ♂, Ñacuñán, I–II.1997, col Debandi (IADIZA); 2 ♂, San Rafael, 6 km N Punta del Agua, 14.XII.1998, col Flores, Roig ( MACN); 1 ♂, 8 km S Malargue, 17.I.2006, Col Fidalgo P. ( MLP). Tucumán, 4 ♂, entre Amaicha y Sta. María, 28.XI.2005, col Torréns, Fidalgo P. ( MACN).

Distribution. Argentina (Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja, Mendoza).

Variation. Specimens from Ñacuñán (XII.1979) have the clypeus with lateral striae not joining on the middle basal region, which is weakly punctated; these specimens have the coloration lighter.

Etymology. The specific epithet, malaris is Latin, refers to the large malar area of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Plumarius malaris, sp. nov., ♂. A, Head, frontal view; B, Head, ventral view; C, Head, lateral view; D, Genital capsule, lateral view; E – F; Genital capsule, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.