Alfredella auriel Lahey, 2021

Lahey, Zachary, Talamas, Elijah, Masner, Lubomir & Johnson, Norman F., 2021, Revision of the Australian genus Alfredella Masner & Huggert (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae, Sceliotrachelinae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 87, pp. 81-113 : 81

Alfredella auriel Lahey sp. nov.

Figs 3 , 5-8 , 9-10 , 34 , 38 , 42

Description.

Setation of mandibles: present. Setation of clypeal area: sparse. Shape of clypeus: acuminate. Anterior tentorial pits: small. Facial and malar striae: present, dorsal striations confluent with concentric sculpture of antennal scrobe. Central keel: absent. Setation of interantennal area: extending to dorsal margin of toruli. Sculpture of frons: reticulate dorsally and along inner orbits, reticulations fading medially, supplanted by concentric striations of antennal scrobe, punctation present near ocelli. Position of lateral ocellus: approximately 1 OD from inner margin of compound eye. Interocular space: 1.25 × length of compound eye. Occiput directly anterior to anteromedial portion of occipital carina: granulate. Sculpture of occiput: reticulate; granulate. Color of antennomeres: yellow-orange; concolorous with legs. Number of papillary sensilla on A6: 0; 1. Number of papillary sensilla on A7: 1. Glabrous patch on lateral propodeal area adjacent to spiracle: present. Shape of mesoscutellum in lateral view: flat. Shape of transepisternal line: weakly arched. Shape of mesoscutellum in dorsal view: pentagonal. Sculpture of posterior mesoscutellar sulcus: striate. Posterior mesoscutellar sulcus: complete. Setation of mesoscutum: absent posteromedially, dense lateral to notauli. Setation of mesoscutellum: present throughout. Path of notauli: converging posteriorly. Shape of notaulus: abruptly widening posteriorly. Setation of anteromedial T2: interrupted medially. Number of setae on lateral surface of T3: 3. Number of setae on lateral surface of T4: 4. Number of setae on lateral surface of T5: 5. Felt field on S2: 0.5 as long as lt2. Setation of laterotergites: present on lt2-lt5. Setation of dorsal surface of hind coxa: absent medially. Color of coxae: yellow-orange.

Diagnosis.

This species is easily recognized by the shape of the notauli, lack of setae on the mesoscutal midlobe, and sparsely setose clypeal area.

Distribution.

New South Wales, Tasmania.

Inhabited ecoregions

(bioregions). Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests (South Eastern Queensland, South East Corner, South Eastern Highlands, Tasmanian Southern Ranges).

Etymology.

Auriel is the Archangel of Hope from the Diablo video game franchise. The epithet is treated as a noun in apposition.

Material examined.

Holotype, female: Australia: NSW, New England N. P., 1300-1500 m, Feb. 13,1984, L. Masner, s. s., OSUC 698019 (deposited in ANIC) . Paratypes: Australia: 8 females, 6 males, OSUC 698007-698009, 698011-698012, 698014-698015, 698017-698018, 698020-698024 (CNCI) . Additional material: Australia: 1 female, USNMENT01197967 (USNM) .

Comments.

While most female specimens in the type series have a 4-merous clava, we examined four specimens (OSUC 698007-698009, USNMENT01197967) from Kosciuszko National Park (New South Wales) with 5 clavomeres. We treat these specimens under Al. auriel given a lack of additional characters that would warrant new species status.

Figures

Figure 3. Alfredella auriel Lahey, female (USNMENT 01197967), head, mesosoma, metasoma, dorsal view. Scale bar in millimeters.

Figures 5 - 8. Alfredella auriel Lahey, female holotype (OSUC 698019) 5 head, mesosoma, metasoma, dorsal view 6 head, mesosoma, metasoma, lateral view 7 mesosoma, posterodorsal view 8 head, anterior view. Scale bars in millimeters.

Figures 9, 10. Alfredella auriel Lahey, male paratype (OSUC 698020) 9 head, anterior view 10 head, mesosoma, metasoma, dorsal view. Scale bars in millimeters.

Figures 34 - 37. Clava and claval formulae of female Alfredella Masner & Huggert 34 Alfredella auriel Lahey, holotype (OSUC 698019), ventral view 35 Alfredella mephisto Lahey, holotype (OSUC 697984), ventral view 36 Alfredella tasmanica Masner & Huggert, paratype (OSUC 697975), lateral view 37 Alfredella teres (Buhl), (OSUC 697995), posterolateral view. Each arrow indicates a papillary sensillum. Scale bars in micrometers.

Figures 38 - 41. Tyloid morphology of male Alfredella Masner & Huggert 38 Alfredella auriel Lahey, paratype (OSUC 698020), lateral view 39 Alfredella mephisto Lahey, paratype (OSUC 697985), lateral view (tyloid OSUC 697978), lateral view 41 Alfredella teres (Buhl), (OSUC 697999), lateral view. Scale bars in micrometers.

Figures 42 - 45. Clypeal morphology of female Alfredella Masner & Huggert 42 Alfredella auriel Lahey, holotype (OSUC 698019), anterior view 43 Alfredella mephisto Lahey, holotype (OSUC 697984), anterolateral view 44 Alfredella tasmanica Masner & Huggert, paratype (OSUC 697975), anterior view 45 Alfredella teres (Buhl), (OSUC 697995), anterolateral view. Scale bars in micrometers.