Norbanus polaszeki, Mitroiu, 2015

Mitroiu, Mircea-Dan, 2015, Revision of the Afrotropical species of Norbanus Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Zootaxa 3969 (1), pp. 1-103 : 78-81

Norbanus polaszeki sp. nov.

( Figs 159–166 )

Diagnosis. BOTH SEXES. Head and mesosoma usually blackish, with dark bronze and violet reflections ( Figs 159–161, 163, 164, 166 ). Tibiae medially dark ( Figs 159, 166 ). Head without distinct elevation between eye and posterior ocellus ( Fig. 161 ). POL about 1.1–1.3× as long as OOL. Clypeal margin slightly emarginate ( Fig. 161 ). Scutellum moderately convex, not globose ( Figs 159, 166 ). Upper mesepimeron smooth ( Fig. 163 ). Propodeum inclined, lateral surface as coarsely reticulate as metapleuron; spiracular sulci absent ( Figs 163, 164 ). Fore wing length about 2.6× width; speculum absent to very small ( Fig. 165 ).

FEMALE. Metasoma brownish-black, with the last 2–3 tergites orange ( Figs 159, 160 ); flagellum with fu1–4 brown, fu5–6 and clava except tip dark brown ( Fig. 162 ). Eye length at least slightly greater than malar space. Antenna filiform, clava only slightly wider than distal funicular segments, spicula short ( Fig. 162 ); scape almost reaching level of vertex; second anellus transverse ( Fig. 162 ). Fore wing disc pilosity dense ( Fig. 165 ). Metasoma longer than head plus mesosoma, mostly reticulate-imbricate, alveolae much wider than long ( Figs 159, 160 ). Posterior margin of gt1 slightly sinuous ( Fig. 160 ).

MALE. Metasoma with large pale spot, base of gt1 dark ( Fig. 166 ). Each funicular segment of uniform width, long and thin, with several rows of moderately long setae, and separated from each other by almost indistinct tubular connections ( Fig. 166 ).

Material examined. Holotype ♀ ( BMNH). KENYA: “Kenya: Coast Kwale or Kilifi Distr. 8.xii.92, J. Mbaiplla ”, “ex Chilo partellus on maize. ICIPE coll. 85”, “ Norbanus A. Polaszek 1993 ” [on triangular card].

Allotype ♂. MADAGASCAR: “MADAGASCAR: Lac Alaotra, Stn Cala. col. 03.x.88, ecl. 03.xi.88, 9/34”, “sur chaumes de riz”, “ Norbanus , det. G. Delvare 1991” ( BMNH).

Additional paratypes. BOTSWANA: 1 ♀ “Botswana (B7), Kuke Pan 2100, 15.iv.1972 ”, “Southern African Exp. B. M. 1972-1”, “Swept Poolside vegetation” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “Botswana (B7), Kuke Pan, 20°59’S, 22°25’E, 14–15.iv.1972 ”, “Southern African Exp. B. M. 1972-1” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “BOTSWANA: Serowe Farmer’s Brigade, III. 1987 MT, P. Forchhammer” ( CNC) . KENYA: 1 ♀ (parasitoid pupal exuvia glued aside) “Mangwei, 25.2.94”, “Wild Sorg, Unkn. P.”, “ Norbanus Polaszek det. 1994” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “Kenya coast, Kilifi ”, “Maize Mtwapa”, “7266, 6.x.92” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ (parasitoid and host pupal exuviae glued aside) “Kenya, Msabaha Res. Stn., 4 Dec. 1981, R. H. Markham ”, “ Reared from Chilo pupa ex maize, W. R. Ingram ”, “ Id. No. 28”, “ Norbanus sp. ♀, det. B. R. Subba Rao, 1982”, followed by a blue disc ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “KENYA Mtapa near Mombasa, malaise trap, XI/ XII-1992, Paul Lammers”, “Maize/Sorghum”, “BE.37899” ( RMNH) . SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA: Univ. Natal Ukulinga Res. Frm. 10 km SE. Pietermaritzburg. 8–12.II.1986, R.M. Miller, grassland”, “ Norbanus det Z. Bouček 1993” ( CNC) ; 1 ♀ “REPUBLIC SOUTH AFRICA, Transvaal, Hongony 500 m, 28–31.XII.1985, W.R. Mason ” ( CNC) .

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Colour. Head and mesosoma black, with a mixture of dark green, bronze and blue-violet metallic reflections, the latter more conspicuous on lateral surfaces of mesosoma ( Figs 159–161, 164, 166 , cf. Fig. 163 ); metasoma brownish-black, the last two tergites orange, ovipositor sheaths black ( Figs 159, 160 ). Body pilosity short whitish ( Fig. 161 , cf. Fig. 163 ). Eyes red, ocelli brown ( Fig. 161 ). Mandibles brown, teeth darker ( Fig. 161 ). Antenna ( Figs 161, 162 ) with scape (except base), pedicel, anelli and fu1–4 brown, fu5–6 and clava (except tip) dark brown; base of scape whitish, apex of clava and spicula light brown. Wings hyaline, tegulae light brown, venation darker ( Fig. 165 ). Legs ( Fig. 159 ) with coxae and hind femur as mesosoma; trochanters brown; fore and mid femora brown; fore tibia brown with light yellow knee and a strip of the same colour on kickface; mid tibia more extensively whitish to yellowish, the strip narrower; hind tibia with strip effaced, only with a brown band around middle of segment, partly effaced on foreface; fore tarsus light brown, mid and hind tarsi whitish to yellowish, distal half to entire last segment and claws light brown; arolia dark brown.

Body length. 9 mm.

Head without distinct elevation between eye and posterior ocellus, mostly with shallow reticulation except lower face extensively and finely striated (striation not reaching toruli) and strongly reticulated scrobes ( Fig. 161 ); area around posterior ocelli shiny. Clypeal margin shallowly emarginate ( Fig. 161 ). Eye ovate, anterior and posterior margins not sinuous ( Fig. 159 ). Gena with a weak lamina near mouth corner. Scrobes well defined, clearly visible both in dorsal and frontal view of the head ( Fig. 161 ). Toruli with lower margins above lower margins of eyes ( Fig. 161 ). Antenna ( Fig. 162 ) with scape almost reaching vertex; both anelli transverse, equal in length; funicular segments longer than wide; clava gradually narrowing before the short spicula, sutures hardly visible, oblique; micropilosity area occupying more than half length of claval body. Relative measurements—head length: 37, width: 71, height: 55; POL: 11; OOL: 10; eye height: 33, length: 25; IOD: 40; eye length dorsally: 23; temple length dorsally: 8; malar space: 20; mouth width: 35; distance between clypeal margin and toruli: 26; scape length: 30; pedicel length: 5, width: 3; pedicel plus flagellum: 81; fu1 length: 15, width: 3.5; fu6 length: 6, width: 4.5; clava length: 13, width: 5.

Mesosoma dorsally coarsely reticulate ( Fig. 160 ). Notauli clearly visible, reaching about 2/3 length of mesoscutum ( Fig. 160 ). Scutellum moderately convex ( Fig. 159 ), frenal line absent, but frenal area with finer reticulation than rest of scutellum. Upper mesepimeron smooth (cf. Fig. 163 ). Metapleuron and dorsellum uniformly reticulate ( Fig. 164 ). Propodeum inclined, uniformly reticulate except two small elongated depressions near its anterior margin submedially; spiracles large and elongate, spiracular sulci absent ( Fig. 164 ); lateral surface of propodeum as coarsely reticulate as metapleuron (cf. Fig. 163 ). Fore wing ( Fig. 165 ) with basal cell and basal fold glabrous; costal cell with several rows of pilosity on ventral surface; speculum small, not reaching beyond distal end of submarginal vein; disc covered with dense pilosity, area between stigmal vein and postmarginal vein pilose; wing pilosity including marginal fringe short; stigma hardly capitate. Relative measurements—mesosomal length: 81, width: 60, height: 61; mesoscutum length: 34; scutellum length: 30, width: 36; propodeum length: 15; fore wing length: 145, width: 55; M: 27; S: 11; P: 23.

Metasoma acuminate ( Figs 159, 160 ), about 1.2× as long as head plus mesosoma, dorsally mostly reticulate-imbricate (alveolae wider than long) except for gt1 which is mainly smooth ( Fig. 160 ). Posterior margin of gt1 slightly sinuous ( Fig. 160 ). Ovipositor sheaths short, hardly visible in dorsal view ( Fig. 160 ). Relative measurements—metasomal length: 145, width: 63; gt1 length: 21; gt7 length: 19, width: 16.

MALE (allotype). Differs from the female holotype mainly as follows. Body length: 5 mm. Head and mesosoma lighter, with more distinct greenish and violet reflections ( Fig. 166 ). Tibiae more extensively brown ( Fig. 166 ). Metasoma brown except extensively yellow dorsally and ventrally in proximal 2/3; extreme base of gt1 brownish ( Fig. 166 ). Flagellum black ( Fig. 166 ). Toruli much closer to median ocellus than to clypeal margin ( Fig. 166 ). Each funicular segment of uniform width, long and thin, with several rows of moderately long setae, and separated from each other by almost indistinct tubular connections ( Fig. 166 ); pedicel plus flagellum about 1.9× head width; fu1 length about 4.8× width; clava not defined, distance between segments not shorter than distance between funicular segments ( Fig. 166 ). Metasoma length about 2.1× width, narrower and shorter than mesosoma ( Fig. 166 ).

Variation. FEMALES. Body length: 5.25–9.00 mm. One female from Botswana has the mesosoma more bluish-green than usual. Head width about 1.9–2.1× length in dorsal view. POL about 1.1–1.3× as long as OOL. Fu1 length about 3.2–4.3× width; fu6 length 1.2–1.4× width; clava length about 2.4–2.8× width. In small specimens mesosoma is more elongated, notauli less distinct, and fore wings less densely pilose. Mesoscutum width about 1.6–1.9× length. Speculum from virtually absent to very small, extending at most to parastigma. Marginal vein about 2.2–2.5× as long as stigmal vein. Metasoma brownish-black, last 2–3 tergites orange, length about 2.2–2.5× width. Gt7 length from slightly shorter to slightly greater than maximum width.

Comments. This species most closely resembles N. ingens , from which it differs mainly in body colour, and sculpture of metapleuron, lateral surfaces of propodeum and gastral tergites.

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Andy Polaszek, world specialist of Aphelinidae ( Hymenoptera : Chalcidoidea ).

Distribution. Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, South Africa (Map 11).

Hosts. The Spotted Stalk Borer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) ( Lepidoptera : Crambidae ) on maize; also associated with an unknown species on wild sorghum ( Poaceae ).

Figures

FIGURES 159–166. Norbanus polaszeki. 159–162, holotype ♀: 159, habitus, lateral view; 160, habitus, dorsal view; 161, head, frontal view; 162, antenna, lateral view. 163, paratype ♀, Kenya, mesosoma, lateral view, detail. 164 and 165, holotype ♀: 164, propodeum, dorsal view; 165, fore and hind wings, dorsal view. 166, allotype ♂, habitus, lateral view.