Netomocera rufa Hedqvist, 1971

Figs 157–166

Netomocera rufa Hedqvist, 1971: 241 (holotype (♂) in BMNH, examined).

Diagnosis

Male

Head orange and mesosoma dark brown, without metallic reflections (Figs 157–158), or both head and mesosoma orange with distinct greenish metallic reflections dorsally (Figs 159, 162). Clypeal margin slightly produced (Fig. 160). Pronotal collar long, 0.75–0.80× as long as mesoscutum and wide, about 0.8× as wide as mesoscutum (Figs 162–164). MV 2.7–2.9 × SV. Visible part of petiole transverse to quadrate, without distinct longitudinal rugae (Fig. 165).

Material examined

Holotype SOUTH AFRICA • ♂; “Holotype”; “ Port St. John, Pondoland. July 10 -31.1923.”; “S. Africa. R. E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1923-398”; “HOLOTYPUS Netomocera rufa sp. n. ♂, K-J Hedqvist det. 1971”; “B.M. TYPE HYM. 5.2257”; BMNH 5.2257.

Other material

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; “ Port St. John, Pondoland. Dec. 1923 ”; “S.Africa. R. E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1924- 54 ”; NMPC .

ZIMBABWE • 1 ♂; “Rhodesia, Mazoe (i)75, A. Watsham ”; “78”; NMPC .

Description

Male (habitus: Figs 157, 162)

COLOUR. Head (Figs 158–159) orange, occasionally gradually darker towards vertex, which then has distinct blue-green metallic reflections. Mandibles orange, teeth reddish-brown. Antenna (Fig. 161) with scape orange, pedicel and flagellum brown. Mesosoma (Figs 162–165) usually reddish-brown with pronotum lighter, but occasionally mesosoma dorsally, except reddish-brown propodeum, with distinct green reflections. Legs light brown, except hind coxa usually lighter. Wings (Fig. 166) hyaline, venation light brown; setation brown. Metasoma with petiole reddish-brown (Fig. 165). Gaster (Figs 157, 162) dark brown to black. Body setation light brown except for several large, symmetrically arranged, dark brown setae.

BODY LENGTH. 1.1–2.0 mm.

HEAD. Clypeus almost smooth; apical margin slightly produced (Fig. 160). Upper face including shallow scrobes and adjacent areas weakly reticulate, with reticulation becoming denser towards vertex (Fig. 159). Occiput smooth; margin blunt (Fig. 159). Toruli with lower margins slightly above or level with lower margins of eyes (Fig. 158). Upper face and vertex with eight large setae. Head in dorsal view with width 2.0–2.2 × length and in frontal view about 1.2× height. POL 1.5–1.6 × OOL. Eye height 1.3–1.4 × length, 1.4–1.7 × malar space and 0.75–0.80 × scape length. Flagellum very long, without differentiated clava (Fig. 161); combined length of pedicel plus flagellum about 2.4 × head width. Fu1 length 1.7–2.3× width; fu10 length 3.3–3.8 × width.

MESOSOMA. Pronotal collar narrower than mesoscutum, with four large setae (Figs 162, 164). Mesonotum moderately setose (Fig. 164). Mesoscutum and axillae with dense but superficial reticulation (Figs 162, 164). Scutellar disc densely but superficially reticulate and irregularly longitudinally striate on frenal area (Figs 162, 164). Mesepisternum densely reticulate, with several costulae posteriorly (Fig. 163). Mesepimeron mainly striate; mesepimeral sulcus conspicuous (Fig. 163). Propodeum mainly smooth, with intricate pattern of carinae (Fig. 163). Macropterous; fore wing uniformly and densely setose except for small, elongate bare region (Fig. 166). Mesosoma length 1.4–1.5 × width, width about 1.1× height. Pronotal collar 0.75–0.80× as long as mesoscutum and about 0.8× as wide as mesoscutum. Mesoscutum width 2.60–2.75 × length. Scutellum length about 1.1× width. Propodeum length 0.6–0.7× scutellum length. Fore wing length 2.3–2.4× width; MV 2.7–2.9 × SV and 2.7–3.6 × PV.

METASOMA. Petiole short, quadrate to slightly transverse, mainly rugose (Fig. 165). Gaster ovate, length about 1.2–1.5 × width; gt1 large, covering all other tergites, with hind margin straight (Fig. 162).

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

South Africa; Zimbabwe (new record).

Remarks

Previously known only from the male holotype. Presumably, females also have a large pronotal collar, making them similar to females of N. setifera .