Diaparsis (Diaparsis) interstitialis, Khalaim, 2013

Khalaim, Andrey I., 2013, Afrotropical species of Diaparsis Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae), African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 127-127 : 137-139

Diaparsis (Diaparsis) interstitialis sp. n.

Figs 15–20

Etymology: Named after its interstitial second recurrent vein.

Diagnosis: It is the only species of the genus in which the flagellum of the female has a conspicuous pale band. The new species also differs from other Afrotropical species of Diaparsis in having the second recurrent vein interstitial, dorsolateral area of propodeum densely punctate over finely granulate, dull surface (a similar densely punctate propodeum is present only in D. mostovskii sp. n.), and short malar space.

Description:

Female.

Body length about 6.0 mm.

Head strongly rounded behind eyes in dorsal view; temple half as long as eye width. Flagellum of antenna filiform, with 25–27 segments (26 segments in holotype); subbasal and mid flagellomeres about 1.2–1.5× as long as broad, subapical flagellomeres slightly elongate or quadrate. Mandible slender, with upper tooth much longer than lower tooth. Malar space short, about 0.4× as long as basal width of mandible. Clypeus lenticular, 2.6× as broad as long, smooth in lower half, punctate in upper half. Face and frons with very dense, sharp punctures, dull. Vertex finely and densely punctate, dull. Temple weakly shining, with fine and moderately dense punctures. Occipital carina complete. Hypostomal carina absent, surface polished.

Mesosoma with mesoscutum very densely punctate, dull. Notaulus substituted by a short wrinkle. Mesopleuron very densely punctate, centrally weakly shining between punctures, peripherally dull. Foveate groove in anterior part of mesopleuron, strongly oblique, moderately impressed, with transverse wrinkles. Propodeal spiracle separated from pleural carina by about 1.5 diameters of spiracle. Propodeum with distinct basal keel which is 0.57× as long as apical area; dorsolateral area very densely punctate, dull; apical area rounded anteriorly, uneven, without distinct punctures; apical longitudinal carinae weak anteriorly and usually not reaching transverse carina.

Fore wing length 4.1 mm. First abscissa of radius curved, longer than width of pterostigma. Metacarp reaching apex of fore wing. Second recurrent vein interstitial. Intercubitus rather long. Hind wing with nervellus somewhat reclivous.

Legs slender. Hind femur 4.6× as long as broad and 0.88× as long as tibia. Spurs of hind tibia slender, almost straight. Tarsal claws long and slender, rather strongly curved, not pectinate.

Tergite 1 of metasoma slender, entirely smooth, 3.7× as long as broad posteriorly, with small but distinct glymma in its apical 0.5–0.55. Second tergite 1.8× as long as broad anteriorly; thyridial depression more than 3.0× as long as broad. Ovipositor upcurved, with very shallow dorsal subapical depression; sheath 1.8× as long as hind tibia and first tergite.

Head and mesosoma predominantly black. Flagellum blackish, basally yellowish and with median 6 to 7 flagellomeres white. Palpi, mandible (except for blackish teeth), scape and pedicel of antenna, lower 0.8–0.9 of clypeus, tegula and legs yellow or brownish yellow. Propleuron and anterior margin of pronotum brownish yellow to reddish brown. Pterostigma brown. Tergite 1 of metasoma black or brownish black. Metasoma behind tergite 1 yellow to brownish yellow, tergites 2–4 dorsally more or less brown.

Male. Flagellum black, without pale band, distinctly narrowed towards apex, with 32 flagellomeres; all flagellomeres, except the basal and apical ones, about 1.3× as long as broad. Malar space very short. Otherwise, similar to female.

Holotype: ♀ SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu­Natal: Eshowe , garden, 28°54'S 31°28'E, 21–23.iii.2005, V. Kolyada, yellow pan trap ( SAMC).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu­Natal: 5♀ 1♂ Ramsgate, Butterfly Sanctuary , 30°53.3'S 30°20.4'E, 1.xi–2.xii.2004, M. Mostovski, Malaise trap (2♀ SAMC, 3♀ 1♂ ZISP) ; 6♀ same data, but 8.i.2005 (2♀ BMNH, 2♀ ZSM, 2♀ ZISP) ; 1♀ Ngoye Forest , Malaise trap, ix.2005 – i.2006, G. Davies ( SAMC) .

Figures

Figs 15–20. Diaparsis interstitialis sp. n., ♀: (15–17, 19) holotype: (15) habitus, lateral view, (16) antenna, lateral view, (17) head, frontal view, (19) apex of fore wing; (18, 20) paratype: (18) head, dorsal view, (20) scutellum and propodeum, dorsolateral view.