Ophion golestanicus 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 : 175-177

Ophion golestanicus Johansson sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AEB51640-1574-481B-BD1B-6361497A3E81

Figs 12A‒B, E

Holotype: IRAN: ♀, Golestan Province, Dasht , 37˚21’N,56˚00’E, 1000 m.a.s., 11May 2009, A. Klimenko leg.( MR).

Paratypes: IRAN: 12♀♀, 3♂♂, same data as holotype, ( MR) .

Type depositories: The holotype is stored in ZSM, paratypes in MR according to original depository.

Etymology: The name refers to the fact that the type series was collected in Golestan.

Diagnosis: Similar to Ophion minutus Kriechbaumer, 1879 , but usually with less pale markings on the mesosoma and on average slightly larger. The temples and the face is narrower and the flagellomeres are longer. In all known specimens, the posterior transverse carina is complete, m-shaped, while it usually is partly or completely missing in Ophion minutus . Also similar to the other three species of the O. minutus aggregate described in this study, but with more yellow pale markings, whitish on the other species, and with the face considerably wider.

Description: Fore wing length 9‒10 mm. Body length 10‒12 mm. Antenna with 43‒46 flagellomeres. Temple buccate behind compound eyes, in lateral view about 0.7 × as long as compound eye in female and male ( Fig. 12B ). Space between compound eye and lateral ocellus narrow, about 0.2 × the diameter of ocellus in female and male. Face relatively narrow ( Fig. 12A ). Occipital carina centrally widely flattened. Face below antennal sockets with dense distinct punctures, the interstices between punctures about 0.2‒0.5 × the diameter of punctures. Malar space about 0.1 × as long as mandibular base in female and male. Mandibular gape slightly acute, without internal angles, but often worn. First flagellomere 4.0 × as long as wide. Central flagellomeres slender, about 2.0 × as long as wide. Apical flagellomeres approximately 2.0 × as long as wide ( Fig. 12E ). Mesoscutum polished with scarce punctures, space between punctures about 5.0 × their diameter. Mesopleuron weakly shagreened with distinct punctures, interstices between punctures about equal to their diameter Epicnemial carina, in antero-ventral view, with pleurosternal angles obtuse, distinctly anterior to sternal angles. Scutellum without lateral carinae. Propodeum polished with rugulose sculpture. Posterior transverse carina often complete, but in small specimens partly weakened. Sclerotised part of first sternite ending distinctly posterior to spiracle. Hind trochantellus shorter than wide in dorsal view. Hind femur slender, about 7.0‒8.0 × as long as wide. Inner spur of hind tibia long, about 0.4‒0.5 × as long as hind metatarsus. Wing membrane clear. Ramellus reaching 0.1‒0.2 of the width of the discosubmarginal cell. Radius very weakly sinuous, conspicuously bent and widened before junction with pterostigma. Nervellus broken in the middle or slightly below the middle by the discoidella.

Colouration: Body yellow reddish, with the following paler yellow: mandibles, clypeus, inner and outer orbits, subalar prominence, tegulae, scutellum and postskutellum diffusely, a larger diffuse spot in front of the epicnemial carina on mesopleuron, sometimes a small diffuse spot in the lower posterior part of mesoscutum and one small spot corresponding on metapleuron. Mandibular teeth black. Ovipositor sheath testaceous-brown, concolorous with posterior metasomal segments.

DNA Barcode: The DNA barcode sequence of one specimen of Ophion golestanicus sp. nov. is available at the BOLD systems database: sample id. NJP627, sequence id. LNU2463-21.

Remarks: The barcoded specimen of Ophion golestanicus Johansson sp. nov. shows a minimum sequence divergence of 3.35% from its closest neighbor, Ophion minutus in BOLD.

Figures

FIGURE 12. A) Ophion golestanicus Johansson sp. nov., holotype ♀ (ZSM), head anterior view; B) Ophion golestanicus sp. nov., holotype, mesosoma and head in lateral view; C) Ophion minutus Kriechbaumer (specimen from Iran, MR), head anterior view; D) Ophion minutus, mesosoma and head in lateral view; E) Ophion golestanicus sp. nov. female, apical flagellomeres; F) Ophion minutus female, apical flagellomeres. Photos: Niklas Johansson.