Aotearoazeus Khalaim & Ward, 2018

Khalaim, Andrey I. & Ward, Darren F., 2018, Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from New Zealand. Part 1. Generic key and three new genera, Zootaxa 4425 (1), pp. 41-77 : 46-47

Genus Aotearoazeus Khalaim & Ward , gen. nov.

Type species: Aotearoazeus probles Khalaim & Ward , sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Head rounded behind eyes in dorsal view; genae long, 0.75–0.85× as long as eye width. Antennae inserted near level of centre of head in lateral view. Flagellum with 21 or more flagellomeres, filiform or weakly tapered towards apex, basally very slender. Clypeus more or less lenticular (sometimes with lower margin laterally impressed) separated from face by a sharp furrow. Mandibles slender, not twisted, with upper tooth longer than lower tooth. Hypostomal carina absent. Notaulus long and usually extending more than 0.5 of length of mesoscutum, usually rather deep anterolaterally and shallow posteriorly. Epicnemial carina reaching up about halfway with upper end abruptly curved to reach anterior margin of mesopleuron. Foveate groove of mesopleuron from shallow to deep, moderately curved, usually rather sharp and thin, sometimes very long. Propodeum mediodorsally with basal keel which is often indistinct, weak longitudinal wrinkles, or furrow with irregular wrinkles; apical area very broad; transverse carina usually well-developed, widely arcuate anteriorly, complete or sometimes laterally vanishing. Fore wing with 2m-cu proximal to 2rs-m; 2rs-m moderately long to virtually obliterated; Rs+2 r straight , longer than width of pterostigma. Hind wing with cu1&cu-a vertical to weakly reclivous. Legs slender, tarsal claws not pectinate. First tergite weakly broadened posteriorly in dorsal view, extensively striate or granulate, with isolated glymma near or before its middle. Thyridial depression shallow, long, 2.0–4.0× as long as broad. Ovipositor with a narrow to moderately broad subapical notch, and with a slight swelling on lower valve just before the narrowed apex. Males have malar space somewhat shorter, base of metasoma slenderer and tergite 2 more depressed than females; genital capsule not enlarged.

Comparison. Aotearoazeus structurally resembles the Holarctic genus Allophroides Horstmann as both have the first tergite extensively striate and with the glymma at, or before the middle, but differs in having long filiform antennae (in both sexes), vein 2m-cu proximal to 2rs-m, tarsal claws not pectinate, and eyes not enlarged in males.

In New Zealand, Aotearoazeus may be distinguished from all other tersilochine genera by the following combination of features: fore wing with 2m-cu proximal to 2rs-m ( Figs 10, 11 ); propodeum with apical area very broad ( Figs 41 , 47 , 55 ); and ovipositor with a narrow to moderately broad subapical notch, and with a slight swelling on lower valve just before the narrowed apex ( Figs 43 , 51 , 57 ).

All species of this genus are relatively large with body length 4.0– 4.7 mm, possess a rather long and slender flagellum with 21–27 flagellomeres and tend (especially males) to have tergite 2 more strongly depressed than other genera in New Zealand ( Figs 44 , 58 ).

Etymology. From Aotearoa, the Maori name of New Zealand. Gender masculine.

Remarks. Aotearoazeus is endemic to New Zealand where it is represented by three species. Seven unidentified males of Aotearoazeus are grouped to three morphospecies which may represent an additional two or three undescribed species.

Figures

FIGURES 10–15. Wings of Tersilochinae, females: 10—Aotearoazeus coronetus sp. nov.; 11—A. probles sp. nov.; 12— Barycnellus aucklandellus sp. nov.; 13—B. conlisus sp. nov.; 14—B. cuvierensis sp. nov.; 15—B. globosus sp. nov.

FIGURES 38–44. Aotearoazeus bullivantus sp. nov., paratype, female (38–43) and male (44): 38—head with antenna, lateral; 39—head, front; 40—mesosoma and first tergite, lateral; 41—propodeum, dorso-postero-lateral; 42—hind leg, lateral; 43— ovipositor, lateral; 44—metasoma, lateral.

FIGURES 45–51. Aotearoazeus coronetus sp. nov., paratype, female: 45—head with antenna, lateral; 46—head, front; 47— mesosoma, dorsal; 48—mesosoma, ventrolateral; 49—apex of mesosoma and base of metasoma, lateral; 50—hind leg, lateral; 51—ovipositor, lateral.

FIGURES 52–58. Aotearoazeus probles sp. nov., paratype, female (52–57) and male (58): 52—head with antenna, lateral; 53—head, front; 54—mesosoma and first tergite, ventrolateral; 55—propodeum, dorsolateral; 56—hind leg, lateral; 57—apex of metasoma with ovipositor, lateral; 58—mesosoma and metasoma, lateral.