Diplazon flixi, Klopfstein, Seraina, 2014

Klopfstein, Seraina, 2014, Revision of the Western Palaearctic Diplazontinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), Zootaxa 3801 (1), pp. 1-143 : 39-40

Diplazon flixi sp. nov.

Etymology. This species is named after it type locality, the Alp Flix in the Swiss Alps. This alp was extensively studied for its biodiversity, and a Malaise trap survey over three years recovered about 40% of the European species of Diplazontinae in an area of less than 1 km 2 ( Klopfstein 2007).

Diagnosis. Fore wing length 3.9–5.1 mm. Antenna in females with 16–17, in males with 17 flagellomeres. Face with punctures clearly distinct from the background sculpture at least centrally. Mesopleuron smooth and polished and strongly punctate also along anterior margin on upper half. Propodeum with a full set of carinae enclosing basal and petiolar areas, lateral areas often not fully enclosed. Tergite 1 0.95–1.15, tergite 2 0.55–0.75 times as long as wide; tergites 2 and 3 with large, distinct punctures on a rugose or on tergite 3 smooth and polished background, punctures with distinct margins, rugose sculpture not extending across transverse impressions. Transverse impressions deep on tergites 1 to 3, in males also distinct on tergite 4. Female metasoma progressively laterally compressed posterior to third segment, strongly compressed towards apex.

Description. Antenna with multiporous plate sensilla evenly distributed also on ventral surface of the flagellomeres. Face centrally only weakly elevated, without vertical depressions; strongly coriaceous but also distinctly punctate at least centrally. Clypeus separated from face by a distinct groove, elevated basally, remainder flat to slightly concave, bilobed, coriaceous basally, rather smooth and shining centrally. Head strongly constricted behind compound eyes. Mesoscutum smooth and shining between strong punctures, with short but strongly impressed notauli; scutellum smooth and punctate, with lateral carinae only present basally. Mesopleuron smooth and shining, at most with some coriaceous areas on lower half, strongly punctate over lower half and along anterior margin on upper half, sternaulus weakly impressed, epicnemial carina complete ventrally. Metapleuron mainly smooth and punctate but often coriaceous on lower part. Propodeum with a full set of strong carinae, but lateral longitudinal carinae often weak, especially basally; areas between carinae strongly rugose. Fore wing areolet open, vein 1cu-a opposite to slightly distad of vein M; hind wing with three basal hamuli, vein CU+cu-a broken slightly to clearly below middle. Metasoma laterally compressed behind third segment, apical segments strongly so, hind margins of all tergites straight or convex; tergite 1 with longitudinal carinae distinct on about basal half, with a deep transverse impression, rugose and punctate over entire surface; tergite 2 rugose with some punctures and sometimes some coriaceous areas, tergite 3 smoother between distinct punctures, both tergites smooth and punctate behind the distinct transverse impressions, tergite 4 weakly punctate basally and usually smoother behind the indistinct transverse impression, remaining tergites smooth. Second and third tergites with spiracles dorsal, above lateral folds. Ovipositor sheaths slightly upcurved, tapered, rather stout, with tip closed apically; smooth and shining, with some setae around tip and ventrally.

Colouration of females. Antenna dark brown, sometimes paler below. Head and mesosoma black, face with yellow along inner orbits, without yellow central face patch, yellow at least centrally on clypeus and mouthparts, hind corner of pronotum, tegula, often subtegular ridge, small shoulder mark, upper mesepimeron; scutellum at least with yellow tip, sometimes largely yellow. Legs orange, coxae black, fore coxa often with a yellow apex, trochanters black with yellow apex; femora orange, marked with black below to largely black; fore and mid tibia sometimes dark on the outside, hind tibia black-white-black banded, apical band often turning to orange or brown apically, hind tarsus dark. Metasoma black.

Colouration of males. As in females but with yellow ventrally on scape and pedicel, central yellow face patch or entire face. Fore and mid coxae and trochanters often largely yellow. Fore and mid legs often yellow.

Similar species. This species is most similar to D. annulatus , D. multicolor and D. varicoxa but is unique in terms of the extensive dark colouration of the legs and the laterally compressed female metasoma.

Type material. Holotype ♀, at NMBE: Switzerland, Grisons, Sur , Alp Flix , SE Vauastg , Dafora , 1920m, N46°31.482’ E9°38.755’, Malaise trap, leg. H.Baur, 16.–23. VI. 2003. Labels: “Malaise-F. 2, FO-Nr. 626; CH/GR Sur, SE Vauastg, Dafora 1920m 769.343/; 154.982 leg. H.Baur; 16.6.–23.6 2003”, “Extraction plate 4; 4-H1”, “Individual Number; Ichn-0556 ; label S.Klopfstein 2009”, “Holotype; Diplazon ♀; flixi n.sp.; det. S.Klopfstein 2012” . Paratypes: same as holotype but 23.–30.VI.2003 (1♀) and 9.–16.VI.2003 (1♀); Switzerland, Grisons, Sur , Alp Flix , Clavenia , 1987m, N46°32.005’ E8°55.135’, Malaise trap, leg. H.Baur: 16.–23. VI. 2003 (2♀), 23.–30. VI. 2003 (1♀) ; Switzerland, Grisons, Sur , Alp Flix , NE Sur, 1770m, N46°31.451’ E9°38.055’, Malaise trap, leg. H.Baur and S.Klopfstein, 15.–20.VII. 2006 (2♀, 3♂) ; all at NMBE.

Additional material. New for France: Col du Lautaret, N45.0225, E06.2142, 5.VIII.1982. 1♂, at ZSM. New for Sweden: Lapland, leg. Boheman.4♀, at NRM.

France (2), Sweden (4), Switzerland (40).

Distribution. Western Palaearctic.

Figures. Male terminal sternite and tergites ( Figs 10 E, 10F), habitus ( Fig. 28 F).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Terminal sternites and tergites of male representatives of the three genus groups of Diplazontinae. A, C, E: twelfth sternite. B, D, F: ninth and tenth tergites, which can be fused to form a syntergum (B, F), or present as separate sclerites (D). A, B: Sussaba aciculata of the Sussaba genus group. C, D: Homotropus nigritarsus of the Syrphoctonus genus group. E, F: Diplazon flixi of the Diplazon genus group.

FIGURE 28. Habitus of Diplazontinae species. A. Bioblapsis cultiformis. B. Bioblapsis polita. C. Campocraspedon caudatus. D. Daschia brevitarsis. E. Diplazon annulatus. E. Diplazon flixi sp. nov..