Ophion xrafstra 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 : 196

Ophion xrafstra Johansson sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FCCABB31-30E6-4C3C-8DB2-9622323C7935

Figs 22A‒E

Holotype: IRAN: ♀, Khorasan Province, Shomali-Ghuchan-Chakane, dga/ Pahne , 1780 m. a. s., 11‒12 Jun. 2009, Mof. leg. ( HMIM)

Paratype: 1♀, same data as the holotype .

Type depositories: The holotype is stored in HMIM and the paratype is stored in NHRS.

Etymology: The name refer to xrafstra, which are evil, usually nocturnal spirits in Persian mythology that entered the human world, sometimes disguised as wasps.

Diagnosis: Similar to Ophion turcomanicus , but with narrower face and fewer teeth on the hind tarsal claws.

Description: Male unknown. Fore wing length 15 mm. Body length 18 mm.Antenna with 44‒45 flagellomeres. Temples in lateral view buccate, about 0.8 × as long as compound eye. Gap between lateral ocelli and inner margin of compound eye wide, about 0.2‒0.3 × the diameter of ocellus ( Fig. 22C ). Face relatively narrow ( Fig. 22E ). Occipital carina centrally evenly rounded. Face below antennal sockets strongly polished with weak very scarce punctures. Malar space about 0.1 × as long as mandibular base. Mandibular gape strongly acute and mandibular teeth very long ( Fig. 22E ). First flagellomere 4.0 × 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 strongly polished with quite dense, but very weak and irregular punctuation. Mesopleuron polished with very weak punctures, space between punctures about two × their diameter. Epicnemial carina, in antero-ventral view, with pleurosternal angles strongly obtuse and indistinct, distinctly anterior to sternal angles. Scutellum without lateral carinae. Propodeum quite polished with only the anterior transverse carina distinct throughout its length. Posterior transverse carina widely interrupted centrally ( Fig. 22B ). Two short parallel carinae present centrally at the indicated junction with the posterior transverse carina. Sclerotised part of first sternite ending level to spiracle. Hind trochantellus shorter than wide in dorsal view. Hind femur about 6.0 × as long as wide. Inner spur of hind tibia about 0.3 × as long as hind metatarsus, outer spur 0.6 × as long as outer spur. Hind tarsal claws with about six spines with quite large insterstices ( Fig. 22D ). Wing membrane clear. Ramellus reaching 0.2 × the width of the discosubmarginal cell. Radius weakly sinuous in outer part, straight before junction with pterostigma. Nervellus broken in the middle or slightly below the middle by the discoidella.

Colouration: Body pale yellowish with typical coloration of desert species ( Fig. 22A ). Mandibular teeth black.

Figures

FIGURE 22. Ophion xrafstra Johansson sp. nov. holotype ♀ (HMIM). A) habitus, lateral view; B) scutellum and propodeum, dorsal view; C) head, dorsal view; D) hind tarsal claws; E) head, anterior view. Photos: Niklas Johansson.