Methocha robusta, Kimsey, 2011

Kimsey, Lynn S., 2011, Tiphiidae wasps of Madagascar (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 22, pp. 45-68 : 59

Methocha robusta sp. n. Figs 1 14 17, 19, 29

Holotype male:

Fianarantsoa Prov., Parc Natl. Ranomafana, radio tower at forest edge, 1130 m 14-21/i/2002, 21°15'05S, 47°24'43E, R. Harin’Hala, malaise, mixed tropical forest, MA-02-09B-12 (SAN FRANCISCO).

Paratypes

(4 males): 1 male: 15-27/iv/2003, MA-02-09B-58; 1 male: Belle Vue at Talatakely, 1020 m, 10-14/i/2002, 21°15'99S, 47°25'21E, R. Harin’Hala, malaise, secondary tropical forest, MA-02-09C-11; 1 male: 23/v-3/vi/2002, 21°15'99S, 47°25'21E, R. Harin’Hala, malaise, secondary tropical forest, MA-02-09C-30; 1 male: Toamasina Prov., botanic garden nr entrance to Andasibe Natl. Park, 1-7/xi/2001, 18°55'58S, 48°24'47E, R. Harin’Hala, MT-tropical forest ,1025 m, MA-01-08B-18 (DAVIS, SAN FRANCISCO).

Diagnosis.

Methocha robusta is one of two species with a medial depressed pronotal disk. It can be distinguished from the other species, Methocha depressa , by the frons concave between the antennal lobes and the strongly convex clypeus. In addition, the pronotal depression lacks the longitudinal medial elevation seen in Methocha depressa .

Description.

Male.

Body length. 10-13 mm.

Head. Clypeus elevated medially into two broad submedial tubercles ( Fig. 17 ) strongly convex in profile ( Fig. 14 ), apex emarginate, with densely shagreened patch on either side of emargination ( Fig. 17 ); antennal lobes elevated with obtuse depression between; frons without medial projection or lobe above antennal sockets; frons and vertex punctures separated by 1 puncture diameters, becoming nearly impunctate behind ocelli; scapal ridge half scapal length; flagellomere I 2.5 × as long as broad; flagellomere II 3 × as long as broad; flagellomeres III-X arcuate; flagellomere XI 7-8 × as long as broad.

Mesosoma. Pronotal disk transversely depressed medially, anterior margin elevated in lateral view, shoulders angulate ( Fig. 19 ); scutal and mesopleural punctures separated by 1 puncture diameter; scutellar punctation sparser, 2-3 puncture diameters apart; propodeum completely coarsely areolate.

Metasoma. Terga polished, punctures small separated by 2-4 puncture diameters; sterna I and VI with punctures large, 0.5-1.0 puncture diameters apart; sterna II-V basal area with punctures 0.5-1.0 puncture diameters apart, separated from convex posterior part by punctulate groove, posterior part with punctures tiny and 2-4 puncture diameters apart.

Genitalia ( Fig. 29 ). Paramere breadth at medial angle 2.5 × breadth at halfway point between apex and medial angle, paramere length versus breadth at submedial angle 4.7 ×.

Coloration. Black, mandibles, scapal carina and palpi red; parategula black, legs black to dark brown fore; wing membrane untinted.

Vestiture. Sparse erect, silvery.

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.

Figures 7 - 15. Front view of face. 8 Lateral view genital capsule 9 - 15 Lateral view of head and pronotum.

Figures 16 - 30. Methocha species. 16, 17 Front view of face 18, 21 Dorsal view of head 19, 20 Dorsal view of pronotum 22, 23, 26 - 30 Lateral view of genital capsule 24, 25 Posterior view of propodeum.