Odontochrydium irregulare ( Mocsáry, 1914 )

Rosa, Paolo, 2018, Review of Odontochrydium Brauns (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae) with description of two species from the Palaearctic and Oriental regions, Zootaxa 4450 (4), pp. 445-457 : 447-448

Odontochrydium irregulare ( Mocsáry, 1914)

( Figs 1A–1B , 2A–2F , 4A–4F , 5A–5F )

Chrysis (Pentachrysis) irregularis Mocsáry, 1914: 60 . Holotype ♀; Malawi: Lilongwe (NHMUK) (examined).

Odontochrydium irregulare: Kimsey & Bohart 1991: 516 (fig. 127), 517 (figs 128a-e), 519 (tax., Malawi (not Tanzania), South Africa, cat.); Madl & Rosa 2012: 107.

Odontochrydium Trautmanni Brauns, 1928: 389 . Syntypes ♂, ♀; South Africa, Natal Province, Malvern (Ditsong) (examined), synonymized by Kimsey & Bohart (1991: 519).

Chrysis (Trichrysis) trautmanni: Edney 1952: 406 (tax.); Edney 1953: 532 (key, tax., descr., South Africa, Zimbabwe), pl. 1 (fig. e).

Material examined. ANGOLA (new record): 1♀, Mocamedes Distr.: Bruco , 26.II.-2.III.1972, Southern African Exp. British Museum 1972-I, NHMUK010812298 ( NHMUK) . DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (new record): 2♀, Kapanga ( NHMW) . MALAWI: 1♀, holotype, ( Central Angoniland ) Lilongwe Distr., 4,000–5,000 ft, 28.V–2.VI.1910, leg. S.A. Neave, NHMUK010812294 ( NHMUK) ; 1♂, ( Nyasaland) Mlanje [currently Mulanje], 29.IV.1913, leg. S.A. Neave, NHMUK010812295 ( NHMUK) . NAMIBIA (new record): 1♀, Waterberg , 15– 17.I.1993, leg. F. Koch ( MfN) ; 1♀, Waterberg, Main-Camp, 9–11.II.2007, 20°30’S / 17°14’E, leg. F. Koch (MfN); 1♀, Popa Falls , Kavango, 2.III.1994, 18°07’S / 21°35’E, leg. H. Schumann ( MfN) ; 1♀, East Caprivi, Katima Mulilo , 17°29’S / 24°17’E, 4–7.III.1992, leg. F. Koch ( MfN) . SOUTH AFRICA: 1♀, Western Transvaal Retief's Kloof Nature Reserve , 30.III.1960, Empey Collection ( NMLS) ; 1♀, Limpopo, Modimolle , 30.XII.2008, leg. Snižek ( PRPC) ; 1♀, Western Cape, S of Barrydale , 16.XII.2002, leg. Snižek ( GLAC) ; 1♂, Cape Prov., Worcester. I.1934, leg. R.E. Turner (Brit. Mus. 1934-106), NHMUK010812296 ( NHMUK) ; 1♂, 1♀, Mpumalanga, Blyde River Canyon Reserve, 24°39’S / 30°50’E, 1–3.IV.2001, leg. F. Koch ( MfN) . UGANDA: 1♀, Pro. Tero Forest , S.E. Buddu 3,800ft, 26–30.IX.1911, leg. S.A. Neave ( NMLS) . ZIMBABWE: 1♂, S . Rhodesia Umtali Christmas Pass , V.1932, leg. J. Ogilvie ( NMLS) ; 1♀, same data, NHMUK010812297 ( NHMUK) ; 1♂, Mavhuradonha, 15 km SE Muzarabani , 17.12.1998, leg. M. Halada ( GLAC).

Diagnosis. Odontochrydium irregulare ( Figs 1A, 1B ) differs from O. bicristatum sp. nov. ( Figs 1C, 1D ) by

having the unmodified median mesoscutal area (with two longitudinal ridges in O. bicristatum ( Fig. 6D , 7D )), the mesoscutum evenly punctate (vs. reticulate-foveate, with enlarged foveae medially on median area of mesoscutum); the metasoma evenly punctate, with mid-sized punctures ( Figs 2A , 4A , 5A ) (vs. with scattered, large punctures ( Figs 6A , 7A )). It differs from the Indian O. xui sp. nov. by having the metasomal tergite 3 surface in lateral view evenly bent (vs. forming a concave angle at pit row level in O. xui ) and longer MS (1.5 – 1.6 × MOD) (vs. 1 × MOD).

Distribution. Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Remarks. Odontochrydium irregulare is widespread in the south-eastern Afrotropical Region ( Kimsey & Bohart 1991; Madl & Rosa 2012). The species is rather variable in colour and shape of the apical teeth on metasomal tergite 3 ( Kimsey & Bohart 1991). In particular, the coloration varies from blue to green or purple, and the median apical tooth may be stouter with a trace of a median longitudinal carina ( Fig. 2F ) or acute with a median carina ( Fig. 4F ) (form described as O. trautmanni , synonymised by Kimsey & Bohart 1991). I observed a third variation (specimen from the Democratic Republic of Congo) with median tooth distinctly longer and wider than the lateral teeth. O. irregulare , although widespread, is quite an uncommon species, seemingly known through a limited number of specimens. It is therefore difficult to evaluate whether the described variations match with the range of variability of O. irregulare , or conversely represent different, closely related species. A future investigation based on more material is required.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. Odontochrydium xui sp. nov., holotype female. B. O. bicristatum sp. nov., female; C. O. bicristatum sp. nov., holotype male; D. O. irregulare (Mocsáry), male from Zimbabwe; E. O. irregulare, female from South Africa, lateral view.

FIGURE 2. Odontochrydium irregulare (Mocsáry), holotype female. A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. head, frontal view; C. Mesosoma, lateral view; D. Mesosoma, frontal view; E. Metasoma, lateral view; F. Metasomal tergite 3, posterior view. Photo courtesy of The Natural History Museum, London ©.

FIGURE 4. Odontochrydium irregulare (Mocsáry), female. A. Metasoma, dorso-lateral view; B. Head, frontal view; C. Mesosoma, lateral view; D. Mesosoma, dorsal view; E. Metasoma, postero-lateral view; F. Metasomal tergite 3, posterior view.

FIGURE 5. Odontochrydium irregulare (Mocsáry), male. A. Metasoma, dorso-lateral view; B. Head, frontal view; C. Mesosoma, lateral view; D. Mesosoma, dorsal view; E. Metasoma, postero-lateral view; F. Metasomal tergite 3, posterior view.

FIGURE 6. Odontochrydium bicristatum sp. nov., holotype male. A. Metasoma, dorso-lateral view; B. Head, frontal view; C. Mesosoma, lateral view; D. Mesosoma, detail; E. Metasoma, lateral view; F. Metasomal tergite 3, posterior view.

FIGURE 7.Odontochrydium bicristatum sp. nov., female. A. Metasoma, dorso-lateral view; B. Head, frontal view; C. Mesosoma, lateral view; D. Mesosoma, detail; E. Metasoma, lateral view; F. Metasomal tergite 3, posterior view.