Nyxia shawi, Johansson, 2021

Johansson, Niklas, 2021, Contribution to the subfamily Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Southern Europe with the description of one new genus and 15 new species, Zootaxa 5023 (3), pp. 301-334 : 329-331

Nyxia shawi sp. nov.

Figs 19A–E , 20A–D

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5DA61A58-761E-4491-A5F7-0225C44C2E50

Holotype: PORTUGAL: 1♀, Serra Estrella (Serra da Estela), 40˚24’N, 07˚35’E, 1450 m. a. s., 16 Jul. 2009, V. Balták, ( OÖLM).

Etymology: The name shawi (masculine name in genitive case) in honour of Mark Shaw, Edinburgh for his contribution to the knowledge of parasitoid wasps.

Diagnosis: See generic diagnosis.

Description: Male unknown. Fore wing length 15 mm. Body length 19 mm. Antenna broken, longest stump with 44 flagellomeres. Temple narrowed behind compound eyes, in lateral view about 0.3 × as long as compound eye ( Fig. 19D ). Malar space short, virtually absent. Face narrow ( Figs 19C, D ). Clypeus wide and short, about 2.5 × as wide as high with the anterior margin weakly concave and convex in lateral view ( Fig 19C ). Lateral ocelli touching inner margin of compound eye. Occipital carina centrally evenly rounded, obliterated before the junction with hypostomal carina for a distance equal to the mandibular base. Face below antennal sockets strongly shagreened with dense, quite distinct punctures, the interstices between punctures about 0.5.1.0 × the diameter of punctures. Central area of face elevated by two parallel shallow furrows than emanates from the upper margin of the clypeus ending by the antennal scrobes. Mandibular gape right angled, without internal angles. First flagellomere 4.0 × as long as wide. Central flagellomeres slender, about 2.0 × as long as wide. Mesoscutum weakly shagreened with distinct punctures, space between punctures about equal to their diameter. Mesopleuron dorsally and ventrally polished with distinct punctures, interstices between punctures about equal to their diameter, centrally more shagreened, the punctures forming irregular striae. Epicnemial carina, in antero-ventral view, with pleurosternal angles obtuse, almost absent. Scutellum smooth, virtually impunctate, with lateral carinae, its margins converging posteriorly ( Fig. 19B ). Propodeum with an anterior transverse carina, anterior to the carina smooth with indistinct punctures, posteriorly irregularly rugulose ( Fig. 19B ). Sclerotised part of first sternite ending distinctly posterior to spiracle. 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. Wings with radius distinctly curved and widened before junction with pterostigma ( Fig. 20C ). Discocubitus strongly angulate and bent in its lower part. Ramellus and alar sclerites absent. Fore tibia spur without membranous flange ( Fig. 19E ). Claws very small with few short teeth ( Fig. 20D ). Nervellus broken distinctly below the middle by the discoidella.

Colouration: Body pale testaceous. Face and outer orbits yellow, stemmaticum, mandibular teeth, tergites 5–7 and ovipositor sheath black ( Figs 19A–E , 20A–D ).

Remarks: There is a sequence from a male specimen in Bold which corresponds with the here described species. The specimen was stored at the Centre for Biodiversity genomics in Canada and has the sample id is BI- OUG47970-F06 and the process id is KMPMO024-19. This specimen was collected in Limpopo in South Africa in a Malaise trap placed in a dry Savanna, November 30 th 2018, 386 m. a.s.l. The specimen was borrowed for study, but unfortunately it got lost during shipment and its current whereabouts are unknown. The picture in Bold does indeed show a striking resemblance to Nyxia gen. nov. and possibly this specimen represents the unknown male of Nyxia shawi sp. nov.

DNA Barcode: The DNA barcode sequence of one specimen of Nyxia shawi sp. nov. is available at the BOLD systems database: sample id. NJP738, sequence id. LNU2574-21. The additional possible male from South Africa has process id: KMPMO024-19 .

Figures

FIGURE 19. Nyxia shawi gen. et sp. nov. holotype female (OÖLM). A) Habitus, lateral view; B) scutellum and propodeum, dorsal view; C) head, anterior view; D) head, lateral view; E) fore tibia spur.

FIGURE 20. Nyxia shawi gen. et sp. nov. holotype female (OÖLM). A) Mandibles anterior view; B) postpectal carina, posteroventral view; C) central part of fore wing; D) hind tarsal claws.