Tycherus flavofacies, Riedel & Diller & Japoshvili, 2018

Riedel, Matthias, Diller, Erich & Japoshvili, George, 2018, The Ichneumonid fauna (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Lagodekhi Reserve, Sakartvelo (Georgia), with descriptions of four new species, Linzer biologische Beiträge 50 (2), pp. 1447-1507 : 1497-1499

Tycherus flavofacies nov.sp. ( figs 1-5 )

Holotype: (♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi 1902 m, N41.53135 E46.19447, M. T., 15-25.VI.2014 (Tbilisi).

Paratypes: (♀♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi , 1841m, N41.52964 E46.19311, M. T., 15-25. V.2014; (♀♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi , 1841m, N41.52964 E46.19311, M. T., 25. V.-4. VI.2014; (♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi , 1351 m, N41.52288 E46.19311, M. T., 5-15. V.2014; (♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi , 1351 m, N41.52288 E46.19311, M. T., 5-15.VII.2014; (♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi , 1351 m, N41.52288 E46.19311, M. T., 23.IV.-4. V.2014; (♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi , 1351 m, N41.52288 E46.19311, M. T., 15-25. V.2014; (♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi , 666 m, N41.51149 E46.17.266, M. T., 5-15. V.2014; (♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi , 666 m, N41.51149 E46.17.266, M. T., 23.IV.-4. V.2014; (♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi , 666 m, N41.51149 E46.17.266, M. T., 12- 23.IV.2014; (♀) Georgia, Mt. Lagodekhi , 666 m, N41.51149 E46.17.266, M. T., 15-25. V.2014 (Tbilisi and ZSM Munich) .

R e m a r k: This new species is closely related to Tycherus cephalotes (WESMAEL, 1845) ♀ and can be separated by the following combination of characters: area superomedia longer than wide (about square in T. cephalotes ), base of 2 nd tergite coriaceous and opaque (with longitudinal rugae in T. cephalotes ), coxa and trochanters reddish (black in T. cephalotes ), tegula yellow (black in T. cephalotes ), and 6 th and 7 th tergites black (reddish in T. cephalotes ).

Description: ♀: Body length 7-9 mm. Flagellum filiform, with 21-22 flagellomeres, 1 st flagellomere 1.6x longer than wide, 2 nd flagellomere 1.8x longer than wide and 1.2x longer than 1 st flagellomere; combined length of both flagellomeres 0.45x of eye length. Head with whitish hairs, smooth, with coarse and rather dense punctures. Temple parallel behind eye and slightly narrowed apically, c.0.75-0.8x as wide as the eye ( fig 5 ). Distance of lateral ocellus to eye 1.2-1.4x its diameter, and distance between lateral ocelli 1.4x their diameter. Central face sometimes with fine transverse rugae. Clypeus wide, c.3x wider than long, with scattered punctures; apical margin blunt, slightly rounded ( fig 4 ). Labrum with long apical hairs. Mandible coarsely punctate, lower tooth distinctly smaller and shorter than the upper one. Malar space c.0.25x as long as width of mandibular base. Genal carina reaching the hypostomal carina far from mandibular base, hypostomal carina not elevated.

Mesosoma with pale hairs. Epomia strong; side of pronotum punctate dorsally and with irregular striae ventrally. Notaulus distinctly impressed in the frontal 1/3-1/2 of mesoscutum; mesoscutum with coarse and dense punctures, smooth and shining between punctures. Mesopleuron with coarse dense punctures, sometimes partly rugose, speculum smooth. Epicnemial carina narrow, reaching the subtegular ridge; sternaulus strongly impressed in frontal half of mesopleuron, with fine transversal ribs. Metapleuron punctate or rugose-punctate, coxal carina distinct. Scutellum slightly elevated and slightly longer than wide, with scattered punctures, not carinate laterally. Propodeum completely carinate, spiracles roundish. Area basalis trapezoid, slightly wider than long, with strong median tubercle; area superomedia hexagonal, c.1.2x longer than wide, finely rugose; costula in its frontal 0.35 ( fig 3 ). Area petiolaris impressed centrally, with fine transverse rugae. Hind coxa densely punctate, without scopa, ridges or teeth. Hind femur with superficial punctures, c.3.2-3.3x longer than wide; hind tibia without denticular spurs externally. Claws not pectinate. Areolet pentagonal, frontal distance of intercubiti c.5x their width; 2nd recurrent vein in its middle; nervulus postfurcal (by 3x its width). Nervellus of hind wing interstitial, intercepted in its 0.6-0.7.

Metasoma oxypygous, covered with rather scattered and fine pale hairs. Postpetiolus moderately widened, with fine longitudinal rugae, without dorsal carina, median field not differentiated. Gastrocoelus slightly impressed and with some fine oblique ridges; thyridium transverse, slightly impressed, 1.0-1.2x wider than the interval ( fig 4 ). 2 nd tergite about as long as wide; 3 rd tergite 1.4x wider than long. 2 nd to 5 th tergites granulate, matte, with scattered superficial punctures; 6 th and 7 th tergites almost smooth. Seen from dorsal, ovipositor sheath reaching beyond metasomal apex by about the length of 7 th tergite.

Color: Black. Stripes on flagellomeres 5/6-12 ivory. Yellow-red or pale reddish are mandible without teeth, sides of clypeus and wide facial orbit ( fig 1 ); reddish are base of mandible, clypeus, sometimes face medially, and ventral spot on the scapus. Hind edge of pronotum and sometimes collare reddish; tegula and wing base more or less ivory. Postpetiolus and 2 nd to 5 th tergites red. Legs including coxae and trochanters red; hind coxa black basally, more or less reddish externally and apically; hind femur completely red or narrowly infuscate apically; hind tibia narrowly black at apex, sometimes also basally; hind tarsus reddish or more or less brownish; distal tarsomeres of mid and hind legs blackish. Wings slightly infuscate, pterostigma dark brown.

♂ unknown.

Figures

Figs 1-3: Tycherus flavofacies nov.sp. holotype: (1) Habitus, (2) propodeum, (3) basal metasoma.

Figs 4-5: Tycherus flavofacies nov.sp. holotype: (4) face, (5) head from dorsal.