Ophion angustigena Johansson, 2021

Johansson, Niklas, Ameri, Ali, Riedel, Matthias, Talebi, Ali Asghar & Ebrahimi, Ebrahim, 2021, Contribution to the Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Iran with the description of 16 new species and an illustrated key to the Eremotylus of the Western Palaearctic, Zootaxa 5023 (2), pp. 151-206 : 170-172

Ophion angustigena Johansson sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:556A9109-DD41-4B4C-961F-776F3702A512

Figs 10A‒C .

Holotype: IRAN: ♀, Hormozgan province, Minab, Raveng , 27˚4’37.36"N, 57˚10’22.09"E, 34 m. a. s., 4 May 2016, Afsari / Mozh. leg. ( HMIM).

Type depository: The holotype is housed in HMIM.

Etymology: The name refers to the narrow temples of this species.

Diagnosis: Ophion angustigena Johansson sp. nov. ( Fig. 10A‒C ) is easily distinguished by the very narrow temples, the narrow face, the large ocelli and the small mandibles. Potentially the species could be confused with Ophion pteridis Kriechbaumer, 1897 , which have carinated scutellum, the face wider and the sclerotised part of first sternite ending distincly posterior to spiracle.

Description: Male unknown. Fore wing length 15 mm. Body length 17 mm. Antenna with 56 flagellomeres. Temples strongly narrowed, in lateral view 0.1‒0.2 × as long as compound eye in female ( Fig. 10C ). Space between compound eye and lateral ocellus absent. Face very narrow and clypeus small ( Fig. 10B ). Occipital carina centrally evenly rounded. Face below antennal sockets polished laterally with distinct but quite sarce punctures, centrally shagreened with punctures almost dissolving. Malar space absent. Mandibular gape almost right angled, with weak indications of internal angles. Mandibles slightly worn in the holotype. First flagellomere 3.5 × as long as wide. Central flagellomeres stout, about 1.4‒1.5 × as long as wide. Apical flagellomeres approximately 1.6 × as long as wide. Mesoscutum polished with very weak indistinct punctures. Mesopleuron with indistinct very small punctures, space between punctures about 3.0 × their diameter. Epicnemial carina, in antero-ventral view, with pleurosternal angles slightly obtuse, distinctly anterior to sternal angles. Scutellum without lateral carinae. Propodeum very weak rugulose sculpture, polished. Anterior transverse carina complete, angled backwards. Posterior transverse carina present laterally. Longitudinal carinae almost totally absent, only weakly indicated centrally. Sclerotised part of first sternite ending slighty posterior to spiracle. Hind trochantellus almost as long wide in dorsal view. Hind femur slender, about 8.0 × as long as wide. Inner spur of hind tibia long, about 0.4 × as long as hind metatarsus. Wing membrane clear. Ramellus distinct, reaching 0.3 × the width of the discosubmarginal cell. Radius sinuous, its inner part straight before junction with pterostigma. Nervellus broken slightly below the middle by the discoidella.

Colouration: Body brownish yellow with extensive yellow markings, in distribution reminiscent of the members of the O. obscuratus aggregate, but much more indistinct. The following areas have pale markings: head apart from central part, four stripes on mesoscutum, scutellum laterally, subalar prominence, large crescent on mesopleuron, lower posterior part of metapleuron and posterior part of propodeum, legs except coxae, petioles and irregular spots on tergites 2‒3. Mandibular teeth black. Ovipositor sheath orange, concolorous with posterior metasomal segments.

Remarks: A couple of males from Iran in HMIM have similar characteristics as the here described female, but differ in some respects, e.g. the carination of propodeum and the shape of the mandibles. It is possible that they represent the male sex of O. angustigena , but due to these differences, they are not included in the type series.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Ophion angustigena Johansson sp. nov., holotype ♀ (HMIM). A) Habitus, lateral view; B) head, anterior view; C) head, lateral view. Photos: Niklas Johansson.