Gauldiana aspiringa Khalaim & Ward, sp. nov.

(Figs 17, 30, 94–97)

Comparison. The new species belongs to the group of three hard to discern species, and differs from two other species in this group, G. dubia and G. postfurcalis, mainly by the length of the ovipositor.

Description. Female. Body length 3.2 mm. Fore wing length 2.7 mm.

Head in dorsal view with gena about 0.9× as long as eye width. Clypeus lenticular, finely granulate, usually with a few scattered punctures in upper half (Fig. 94). Flagellum weakly clavate, with 16 flagellomeres in all specimens (Fig. 95). Mandible not twisted, with upper tooth much longer than lower tooth. Malar space 0.8–1.0× as long as basal mandibular width.

Notaulus absent or as very fine wrinkle. Propodeum with basal part as long as or slightly shorter than apical area (Fig. 96). Apical area narrow, about 1.5× as long as maximally broad.

Fore wing (Fig. 17) with vein R1 almost reaching apex of fore wing. Vein 2m-cu postfurcal. Hind wing with vein cu1&cu-a slightly reclivous.

First metasomal tergite slender, about 2.5× as long as posteriorly broad. Second tergite slightly elongate. Ovipositor apically somewhat stronger upcurved (Fig. 97); sheath 1.7–2.0× as long as hind tibia.

Head, mesosoma and first tergite brownish black to black. Mandible (teeth reddish black), palpi and tegula yellow. Clypeus brown in upper half and yellow in lower half. Antenna dark brown to black, scape and pedicel sometimes pale brown ventrally. Legs brownish yellow; hind coxa brownish black; tarsi more or less infuscate; sometimes hind leg extensively darkened with brown. Metasoma behind first tergite dark brown.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. Named from the type locality, Mt. Aspiring.

Material examined. Holotype. Female (NZAC), New Zealand, OL, Mt Aspiring, NP Makarora, Nothofagus / Podocarpus, sweep, 25.I.1981, J.S. Noyes & E.W. Valentine. NZAC04036045.

Paratypes. MB: 2 ♀ (NZAC, ZISP) Black Birch Ra, 4500 ft. (= 1370 m) , 17.II.1970, A.C. Eyles. NN: 1 ♀ (NZAC) Tahunanui, 4.II.1927, E.S. Gourlay. SI: 1 ♀ (NZAC) Stewart Island, Long Island, moor, Northern Knob, 200–600 ft. (= 60–185 m) , 7.XI.1968. SL: 1 ♀ (NZAC) Hedgehope summit, Hokonui Hills, 610 m, Malaise trap , 10.II.1976, L.L. Deitz. 1 ♀ (ZISP) Owaka, 15.I.1959, J.I. Townsend. Unknown: 1 ♀ (NZAC) “ Arthur Parrot Collection donated June 1983 ”, “28/51”.

Distribution. South Island: NN, MB, OL, SL. Stewart I.