Mesa, Kimsey, 2011

Kimsey, Lynn S., 2011, Tiphiidae wasps of Madagascar (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 22, pp. 45-68 : 50-51

Genus Mesa Saussure Fig. 4

Mesa Saussure 1890: 244.

Type species:

Mesa heterogamia Saussure 1890, designated by Krombein 1937.

Discussion.

The genus Mesa is found from the Afrotropical Region, including Madagascar, north and east into Iran and Myanmar. Mesa males are characterized by having metasomal segment I more than three times as long as broad and the terga without a transverse subbasal carina or ridge. Hosts are unknown for the genus.

Although Bartalucci (2005) removed Mesa hova (Turner) from synonymy under Mesa nodosa ( Guérin de Meneville 1837) he did not clearly describe the male and it is unclear, which male is associated with the female type of Mesa hova .

Key to species of Mesa (males)

1	Metasomal sternum I basally with narrow punctate groove, margined with longitudinal carinae; clypeal apex and some metasomal terga with whitish markings	Mesa saussurei (Turner)
-	Metasomal tergum I basally evenly convex, without longitudinal carinae or groove; clypeus and metasoma entirely black	2
2	Tegula and tibiae with some whitish markings; body 13 mm long or shorter; propodeal posterior face densely punctuate, not rugose	Mesa nodosa ( Guérin de Meneville)
-	Tegula and tibiae without whitish markings; body longer than 15 mm; propodeal posterior face rugosopunctate	3
3	Paramere broadest apically, apically truncate; cuspis inner surface with scale-like setae	Mesa krombeini Bartalucci
-	Paramere broadest submedially or subapically, tapering apically; cuspis inner surface without scale-like setae	4
4	Pygidium delimited by lateral carina extending two-thirds distance from apex to exposed base; metepimeron rugulose; paramere apically hooked	Mesa tandrona Krombein
-	Pygidium delimited by lateral carina extending less than half distance from apex to exposed base; metepimeron smooth; paramere not apically hooked	5
5	Pygidium apical emargination shallow, broad, twice as wide as deep; foretibia reddish, with whitish marks basally and apically	Mesa marovatana Krombein
-	Pygidium apical emargination deep, narrow, nearly as deep as wide; foretibia red, without whitish markings	Mesa madecassa Krombein

Checklist of Mesa species

1. Mesa hova (Turner) 1908:504. ( Plesia ). Holotype female; Madagascar: Tamatave (LONDON). Synonymized by Krombein 1949. Removed from synonymy under Mesa nodosa by Bartalucci 2005. Distribution: Antsiranana, Finanarantsoa, Mahajanga and Toliara Provinces.

2. Mesa krombeini Bartalucci 2005:1086. Holotype male; Madagascar: Tananarive (ITHACA). Based on paratype males of Mesa seyrigi Krombein 1949. Distribution: Antanarivo and Toliara Provinces.

3. Mesa madecassa Krombein 1949:66. Holotype male; Madagascar: Bekily (ITHACA). Distribution: Fianarantsoa Prov.

4. Mesa marovatana Krombein 1949:68. Holotype male; Madagascar: Tananarive (ITHACA). Distribution: Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toliara Provinces.

5. Mesa nodosa ( Guérin Méneville) 1837:584. ( Myzine ). Lectotype male (designated by Bartalucci 2005); Madagascar, Goudot (PARIS). Distribution: Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa Provinces.

6. Mesa saussurei (Turner) 1910:394. ( Plesia ). Holotype female; Madagascar: Tananarive (BERLIN). Distribution: Diego Suarez, Mahajanga, Toamasina and Toliara Provinces.

7. Mesa tandrona Krombein 1949:69. Holotype male; Madagascar: Vallée de Rivière Sambirano (ITHACA). Distribution: Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa and Toliara Provinces.

Figures

Figures 1 - 6. Lateral view of males. 1 Methocha 2 Anthobosca 3 Tiphia (uncus obscured by genital capsule shown in inset) 4 Mesa 5 Meria 6 Myzinella.