Dinapsis planifrons Mita & Shaw, 2020

van Noort, Simon, Shaw, Scott Richard & Copeland, Robert S., 2022, Revision of the endemic African genus Dinapsis (Dinapsini, Megalyridae, Hymenoptera) with description of seven new species, ZooKeys 1112, pp. 27-122 : 27

Dinapsis planifrons Mita & Shaw, 2020

Material examined.

Holotype. Madagascar • ♀; Antsiranana; Ambato forest, 26.6 km 33°, NE Ambanja; 150 m; 8 December 2004; 1 3°27'52"S, 048°33'06"E; California Acad. of Sciences ; B.L. Fisher; rainforest; yellow pan trap; BLF11517 ; CASLOT 014881; SEM CAS . Paratype data listed in Mita and Shaw, 2020.

Additional specimens examined.

Madagascar • 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂, Antisirana Province , Makirovana Forest; 225 m a.s.l.; 28 Apr.-8 May 2011; 14°10'14"S, 049°57'15"E; California Acad. of Sciences; B.L. Fisher; rainforest; yellow pan trap; BLF26522 ; BLF27041 ; CASENT2237138, CASENT2237139, CASENT2237145, CASENT2237146; CAS • 1 ♂, Antisirana Province , SAVA Region , Vohemar District , Antsahabelela rain forest, 9 km SW Daraina Binara; 16-23 Feb. 2011; 13°15.03'S, 049°37.00'E; California Acad. of Sciences; M. Irwin, R. Harin’Hala leg.; Malaise; in humid forest; MG-58-20; CASENT2237021; CAS .

Distribution.

(Fig. 43 ) Madagascar.

Comments.

Dinapsis planifrons is known only from forests in western and northern Madagascar (Antisirana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, and Toliara provinces). Dinapsis planifrons is a very distinctive species, not likely to be confused with any other. It is the most common species of the Dinapsis hirtipes species group, known as "crested wasps" because of the smooth flat-faced head with the vertex conspicuously produced dorsally as a crested ridge. D. planifrons can be distinguished from all other species by having the hind tibia apex produced into an extended prong with long apical seta with spatulate tips. For a full species description and more information on its distribution and distinguishing characteristics, see Mita and Shaw (2020).

Figures

Figure 43. Distribution maps of Dinapsis species A country occurrences for the genus Dinapsis B specimen point data of described Dinapsis species plotted on a topographical relief map C Dinapsis species occurring in Madagascar and Mauritius, excluding the D. hirtipes species-group (specimen point data plotted on a topographical relief map) D Madagascan records of Dinapsis species in the D. hirtipes species group (specimen point data plotted on a topographical relief map).