Astata nigricans, CAMERON, 1889, CAMERON, 1889

Hans-J, 2023, Astata nigricans CAMERON, 1889 in Laos with description of the hitherto unknown female (Hymenoptera, Astatidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 54 (2), pp. 517-521 : 518-519

Redescription of male and first description of female

Material examined: 1♂, 3♀♀ " Laos c., Khamnouan prov., Ban Khoun Ngeun , 18°07'N 104°29'E, XI.2000, leg. E. Jendek " (coll. Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum Linz).

M a l e: Figures 1-4, 8. 1 dorsal view, 2 lateral view, 3 head frontal, 4 antenna, 8 metasoma ventral.

Color: Head and mesosoma black Figs 1, 2). Mandibles black, reddish in the middle. Metasoma black, lateral and posterior margin of tergites I-V brownish. Legs black, tarsi dark brown. Fore wings pale yellowish hyaline, veins brown.

Morphology: Clypeus and frons irregularly punctate, vertex and gena nearly without punctures, smooth and shining (Fig. 3). Antennomeres 6‒10 with flat tyloids, straight in profile (Fig. 4). Pronotum smooth with shallow punctures on the distal half, without transverse stripes. Scutum shining, densely punctate on the proximal half (distances between punctures narrower or as wide as puncture diameter), less dense on the distal half (distances between punctures distinctly wider than puncture diameter). Scutellum smooth, densely punctate distally and laterally. Dorsal area of propodeum glabrous, reticulated, with distinct oblique longitudinal striae. Prepectus densely punctate, central and distal part of mesopleuron and metapleuron with scattered punctures (distances between punctures distinctly wider than puncture diameter), smooth and shiny. Lateral parts of propodeum proximally smooth and shiny, without punctures; distally shiny with dense punctures. Declivity of propodeum on the upper part with triangular smooth impression, otherwise with irregular punctures. Tergites with microscopical oblique striae, without distinct punctures. Sternites with microscopical punctures; the proximal ones scattered, the distal ones denser. Sternites IV-VII with median impression distally, covered with short setae. Sternites II‒V with long greyish setae along the posterior margin (Fig. 8). Occiput, mesosoma except dorsal area of propodeum, tergite I and fore femora with long erect whitish setae. Tergites II‒VI with short white setae laterally. Mid and hind femora with short white setae, shorter than diameter of femur. Body length 8 mm.

F e m a l e: Figures 5-7. 5 dorsal view, 6 lateral view, 7 head frontal.

Color: Head and mesosoma black (Figs 5, 6). Mandibles black, yellowish red in the middle. Metasoma dark brown, often hind margin of tergites I-V brownish (Figs 5, 6). Tergite VI and pygidial plate basally yellowish brown, the latter with brownish tip; sometimes metasoma completely black. Coxae and trochanters black, femora dark brown, tibiae and tarsi paler brown; sometimes legs black. Fore wings pale hyaline, veins brown.

Morphology: Antennomere 3 about as long as 4. Clypeus with short lamella, front margin straight (Fig. 7). Lower half of frons above the antennal insertion with coarse punctures and stiff upturned white bristles, remaining parts of the head shiny, smooth and without punctures. Occiput with long white setae. Pronotum smooth, with scattered fine punctures. Scutum shiny, on the basal quarter with coarse punctures and stiff white erect setae; the posterior part smooth and glabrous, without punctures. Scutellum and metanotum shiny, smooth and glabrous. Prepectus punctate-reticulate. Mesopleuron smooth and shiny, anterior upper part without punctures, posterior and lower part with very scattered fine punctures bearing white setae. Propodeum dorsally glabrous, reticulated, moderately shiny. Lateral parts of propodeum shiny, smooth, distally with some rugae; declivity irregularly reticulate-rugose. Fore basitarsus with four rake spines. Spines on the underside of fore basitarsus evenly extended to the tip, with fine cilia between the spines along the full length. Tergites of metasoma with microscopical oblique striae, IV-V with few scattered punctures. Pygidial area with concave lateral margins. Lateral parts of mesosoma and legs with long erect white setae. Body length 6‒7 mm.