Scopesis caucasica RIEDEL, 2024

Riedel, Matthias, H, Andres & Schmidt, Stefan, 2024, Revision of the Palaearctic species of Scopesis FÖRSTER (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ctenopelmatinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 56 (1), pp. 201-252 : 208-210

Scopesis caucasica RIEDEL nov. sp. (figs 2, 21, 55, 75, 94)

Holotype: (♀) SW Georgia, Kintrishi NP, 1634 m asl, 41.44535308°N 41.05384144°E, MT 12 , 10- 24.VIII.2018, leg. G. Japoshvili (Tbilisi).

Paratypes: (♀) SW Georgia, Kintrishi NP, 1634 m asl, 41.44535308°N 41.05384144°E, MT 12 , 10- 24.VIII.2018, leg. G. Japoshvili (coll. RIEDEL); (♀) SW Georgia, Kintrishi NP, 1264 m asl, 41.44388824°N 41.0502904°E, MT 4 , 13-27.VII.2018, leg. G. Japoshvili (Tbilisi); (♁) Georgien, Lagodekhi NP, H 4-5, 15-27.IX.2014 ; [green] BC-ZSM-HYM-27496-E01 ( ZSM); (♁) Georgien, Lagodekhi NP, H 4-5, 15-27.IX.2014 ; [green] BC-ZSM-HYM-27496-E03 ( ZSM); (♀ ♁) Georgien, Lagodekhi NP, H 4-5, 15-27.IX.2014 ; [green] BC-ZSM-HYM-27496-D08 ( ZSM); (♁) Georgien, Lagodekhi NP, H 4-5, 15-25.VII.2014 ; [green] BC-ZSM-HYM-27496-D06 ( ZSM).

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀. Body length 9.0– 9.5 mm. Flagellum with 36–39 segments; 1 st

flagellar segment 4.8–5.5× as long as wide and 1.8–1.9× as long as 2 nd segment; 2 nd

segment 2.8–2.9×, 3 rd segment 2.3–2.5× and preapical segment 1.6× as long as wide. Temple slightly and roundly narrowed behind eye. OED 1.5× ocellar diameter. Face granulated, with fine superficial punctures. Clypeus slightly convex, not bulging medially, with sparse punctures, shining; apical margin with small flat extensions laterally, slightly concave. Mandibular teeth of equal length. MI 0.4.

Mesoscutum granulate and superficially punctate, dull. Notaulus weakly impressed in frontal half of mesoscutum. Mesopleuron finely rugose and ± punctate ventrally and usually with distinct striae dorsally. Speculum with microsculpture, strongly shining. Area superomedia sometimes with weak but incomplete lateral carina. Area petiolaris with complete carina. Lateral longitudinal carina and pleural carina of propodeum distinct and complete. Hind femur 4.3–4.9× as long as wide. Hind tibia with numerous dark setae externally. Inner apical spur of hind tibia 0.60× as long as hind metatarsus. Vein 2rs-m 0.75× as long as vein M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu. Vein 1cu-a postfurcal by 1–2× its width. Nervellus of hind wing vertical or slightly inclivous, intercepted in its apical 0.7–0.8. 1 st tergite 1.5–1.6× as long as wide, without latero-median carina. 2 nd tergite 1.2–1.4× as wide as long

Color: black. Flagellum black, distal half ± reddish ventrally. Mandible black or reddish-brown centrally. Apical ½–3/4 of clypeus reddish or chestnut-brown. Tegula black. 1 st tergite ±, 2 nd to 4 th or 5 th tergites red, sometimes 6 th tergite reddish laterally. Coxae, trochanters and trochantelli black; legs otherwise red; hind femur red, not distinctly infuscate apically; hind tibia red, sometimes narrowly black basally, black in apical 0.2– 0.3; apical spurs of hind tibia reddish or brown; hind tarsus black. Pterostigma dark ochreous or brown. ♁. Body length 6.5–8.5 mm. Flagellum with 34–37 segments; 1st flagellar segment 5.5–

5.9× as long as wide and 1.9× as long as 2 nd flagellomere; 2 nd segment 2.9–3.1×, 3 rd segment 2.6× and preapical segment 1.8× as long as wide. Temple parallel or slightly and roundly narrowed behind eye. OED 1.5× and OOD 1.0× ocellar diameter. Face granulated, without distinct punctures. Clypeus moderately and transversely convex, not bulging medially, with sparse punctures, shining; apical margin with small flat extensions laterally, slightly concave. Ventral mandibular tooth slightly larger than dorsal tooth. MI 0.5.

Mesopleuron finely rugose and sometimes finely striate ventrally, usually with distinct striae dorsally. Speculum smooth or with microsculpture, strongly shining. Area superomedia sometimes with weak but incomplete lateral rugae in basal half. Area petiolaris with complete carina. Lateral longitudinal carina and pleural carina of propodeum distinct and complete. Hind femur 4.6–4.9× as long as wide. Hind tibia with numerous setae externally. Inner apical spur of hind tibia 0.50× as long as hind metatarsus. Vein 2rs-m 0.7–0.8× as long as vein M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu. Vein 1cu-a postfurcal by 1– 2× its width. Nervellus of hind wing vertical or slightly inclivous, intercepted in its apical 0.7–0.8. 1 st tergite 1.8–2.0× as long as wide, without latero-median carina. 2 nd tergite about as long as wide

Color: black. Flagellum black, distal 2/3 ± reddish ventrally. Mandible except teeth reddish-yellowish. Clypeus and lateral spots or complete face cream-yellow. Mesosoma black. Tegula black. Tergites black, 2 nd and 3 rd tergites with ± extended reddish suffusion. Coxae, trochanters and trochantelli black; legs otherwise red; hind femur red, sometimes slightly infuscate apically; hind tibia red, sometimes narrowly black basally, black in apical 0.2–0.3; hind tarsus black. Pterostigma ochreous, with darker margins.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: So far only known from Georgia.

Taxonomical remarks: The ♀ of this new species resembles Scopesis rufolabris (ZETTERSTEDT) , but differs by the darker coloration of flagellum, tegula and hind tibia, and numerous dark and stronger setae of hind tibia. The ♁ differs by the reduced red coloration of median tergites and cream-yellow facial coloration.