Genus Paraclavelia Haupt, 1930

Paraclavelia Haupt, 1930: 728 (type species: Pompilus caffer Kohl, 1886, by original designation and monobasic).

Clavelia – Arnold, 1932: 47 [ Cl. decipiens Arnold, 1932 is transferred to Paraclavelia comb. nov.]

Diagnosis

This genus has most of the features of Ctenocerus, but differs from the latter in the following.

Female

Lower frons lateral to and ventral to antennal sockets deeply depressed, median area between antennal sockets steeply receding into lowermost transverse depression, hence frontal bridge absent (Figs 6A, D, G, J, 7D). Clypeus flat and polished with deep depression across whole width of its base, depression being broader laterally than medially. Pronotal collar usually situated slightly below level of dorsum (Figs 6C, F, I, L, 7H), but rather deeply depressed in Parac. somalica (Fig. 6N). Fore femur not swollen (Figs 6F, I, 7G).

Male

Supra-antennal area produced anteriorly into frontal ledge overhanging antennal radicle (Fig. 8C, F, I) Lowermost frons across its whole width depressed much below level of supra-antennal area, slightly below level of clypeus, lacking any trace of frontal bridge (Fig. 8A, D, G).

Description (as a complement to Haupt’s (1930) description, based on the type species)

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Small to fairly large wasps, 12 to 26 mm in length.

HEAD. Slightly wider than high. Vertex, in anterior view, moderately to strongly raised above level of eye tops (Figs 6A, D, G, J, 7D); juncture of anterior and posterior faces subacutely carinate medially (Figs 6B, E, K, 7B, E). Frons broad, its half much broader than eye, usually polished; surface of upper frons gently and longitudinally arched. Ocelli forming an obtuse-angled triangle (Figs 6B, E, H, J, 7E). Clypeus narrower than LID, lamelliform, its apical margin truncated, convex or concave (Figs 6A, D, G, J, 7D). Labrum small, partly concealed beneath clypeus, its apical margin truncate (Figs 6D, 7D). Malar space short (Figs 6C, F, I, L, 7H). Scape compressed laterally, curved outward with lateral face concave (Figs. 6B, E, K, P, 7E), mesal face usually with longitudinal carina (Fig. 6O, arrow). Mandible usually stout with anterior face flattened and polished (Figs 6A, D, 7D). Maxillary palpus short, palpomeres 4–6 not much shorter or longer than palpomere 3. Gena, in dorsal view, moderately developed but not swollen (Figs 6B, E, K, 7E). Occipital suture obsolete below, its uppermost portion situated immediately below vertex crest (Figs 6K, 7B).

MESOSOMA. Pronotum as long as, or longer than mesoscutum at middle (Fig. 7B); streptaulus obsolete dorsally; declivity usually short, gently or steeply sloping (Figs 6C, F, I, L, 7H) (somewhat long and almost vertical in Parac. somalica (Fig. 6N)); dorsum flattened medially, gradually sloping anteriorly, its lateral margin slightly convex (Figs 6B, E, H, K, 7B, E); juncture of dorsum and lateral face bluntly carinate; lateral face vertical, traversed by L-shaped groove (posterior part of streptaulus) (Figs 6C, F, I, L, N, 7H) as in Ctenocerus . Mesoscutum flattened above with parapsides narrowly raised posterolaterally; parapsidal sulcus distinct (Fig. 7B), divergent anteriorly. Scutellum scarcely raised above level of mesoscutum (Figs 6C, 7H). Propodeal dorsum with stigma from anterior margin of propodeum twice its own length or more (Fig. 7B); surface with transverse rugae, those becoming stronger posteriorly; declivity flattened, sometimes delimited from dorsum by carina (one of rugae); surface arcuately or obliquely rugose.

WINGS. FW with three SMCs (Fig. 7C). Pterostigma as long as or longer than cross-vein 2 r-rs at bottom. Marginal cell lanceolate, acute at apex. Second abscissa of vein M (basal vein) curved. Last abscissa of vein M not attaining outer wing margin. Discal cell 1 usually with indistinct membranous irregularity (fenestra) basally. Cross-vein cu-a originating distal to separation of vein M+CuA, oblique to vein A. HW cross-vein cu-a originating basal to, at (Fig. 7C), or distal to fork of vein M+CuA, confluent with vein A, forming smooth arc.

LEGS. Apical margin of fore tibia usually with short, stout, decurved spine mesally (Figs 6M, 7F, arrow) (apical spines short, stout, but not decurved in Parac. caffer). Fore tarsomeres 2-4 combined much shorter than fore tarsomere 1. Mid and hind femora with distinct basal ring. Mid tibia with short spines dorsally. Hind tibia with spines short or rudimentary dorsally and latero- and dorsoapically (Fig. 7J). Tarsomere 5 with several short, irregularly arranged spines, one or two spines, or lacking spines beneath. Orbicula small, narrower than 0.6 × width of tarsomere 5, with orbicular pecten consisting of a few rather strong, straight setulae, some of them being as long as, or longer than orbicula itself. All tarsal claws bifid.

METASOMA. T1 not petiolate, abruptly narrowing anteriorly or barely petiolate (Fig. 7A). S2 with transverse groove, this being sometimes fine and almost obsolete (Fig. 7I). S6 compressed laterally with or without median carina.

Male

MEASUREMENTS. Much smaller and slenderer than female, 6–15 mm.

HEAD. Broader than long. Vertex strongly convex above level of eye tops, chevron-shaped (Fig. 8A, D, G); juncture of anterior and posterior faces broadly rounded (Fig. 8B, E, H). Frons with numerous long pubescence and setae. Clypeus distinctly narrower than LID (Fig. 8A, G), trapezoid or rectangular, its surface convex, covered with long pubescence and setae. Malar space longer than in female. Scape short (Fig. 8B, F, H–I), not compressed laterally, with numerous setae, those on ventral side longer and denser than elsewhere. Flagellum uni- or biramous (Fig. 8F, K), catenulate (Fig. 8J), or in a few species, basal and apical ends of each flagellomere contiguous all round (Arnold 1932: 67). Mandible short (Fig. 8A) with small tooth subapically on inner margin; anterior face flattened and polished. Occipital suture complete (Fig. 8E), its uppermost portion situated immediately or rather deeply below vertex crest.

MESOSOMA. Pronotum shorter than mesoscutum at midline (Fig. 8E); collar situated deeply below level of dorsum (Fig. 8C, F, I); streptaulus present (Fig. 8E); declivity not short, flattened and vertical, its juncture with dorsum narrowly rounded; dorsum transversely convex and declivous, usually gradually narrowing anteriorly (Fig. 8B, E, H), truncate anteromedially, with numerous long pubescence and setae, its juncture with lateral vertical face rounded; L-shaped groove on lateral face sometime obscure. Mesoscutum with parapsides narrowly reflexed posterolaterally. Disc of scutellum triangular, slightly raised above level of mesoscutum. Metanotum declivous. Metapostnotum longer than in female. Propodeum densely punctate, sometimes finely and transversely rugulose or minutely reticulate-rugulose, and covered with long pubescence; dorsum much longer than declivity, parallel-sided, gradually sloping posteriorly; declivity not delimited from dorsum.

WINGS. HW cross-vein cu-a originating usually at or distal to separation of vein M+CuA, confluent with vein A, forming long smooth arc.

LEGS. Apical margin of fore tibia without short, stout, decurved spine mesally. Fore femur slender (Fig. 8F, I), thinner than mid femur. Fore tarsomeres 2–4 combined as long as or shorter than fore tarsomere 1. Fore, mid and hind orbiculae similar to those of female, or hind orbicula remarkably small, its pecten indistinct. Fore and mid tarsal claws bifid; hind tarsal claw bifid or edentate, rectangularly bent subapically, and both claws parallel to each other or slightly divergent.

METASOMA. T1 not petiolate, gradually narrowing anteriorly. S2 without transverse groove. S6 with small lateral hook posterolaterally. Subgenital plate comparatively large, not compressed laterally.

Distribution

Africa (Afrotropical Region) and the Arabian Peninsula (Oman).