Meloboris pseudocollector, Haraldseide, 2021

Haraldseide, Håkon, 2021, Two new species of Meloboris Holmgren, 1859 (Campopleginae, Ichneumonidae, Hymenoptera) from Norway, Norwegian Journal of Entomology 68, pp. 193-202 : 199

Meloboris pseudocollector sp. n.

Figures 2D–G , 3B , 4A,F,J .

Characters relating to the holotype are shown in square brackets.

Material. Holotype: NORWAY: Rogaland: Karmøy: Skår (N59.287979, E5.264283) leg. Haraldseide, Håkon, coll. Zoologische Staatssammlung Munich (Munich, Germany): August 2018 1♀ (Bold Sample ID: CollHH2790) ; Paratypes: Same location/leg., coll. Haraldseide: June 2017 1♀ (Bold Sample ID: CollHH1308); July 2018 1♂ 1♀ (Bold Sample ID: CollHH2791) ; August 2020 1♂.

Etymology. The new species is named in reference to its close affinity to the Meloboris collector -group of species.

Diagnosis. The new species can be separated from other European species by the following combination of characters: Hind tibia without clear white basal and medial markings. Propodeum with complete areas. Rough(er) sculpture of mesopleuron and area petiolaris. Clypeus narrow, only about 0.5 times as wide as frons (female) and areolet sessile. M. pseudocollector sp. n. is undoubtedly very closely related M. proxima . Similarities can be seen in colour, rugosity, and characters of the male terminalia, but differ in important characters of the propodeum and (to a lesser degree) colour of the hind tibia.

Description. Female: Antenna with 26–27 [26] flagellomeres, filiform, first segment 4.6–5.6 [5] times as long as wide, preapical flagellomeres longer than wide. Head ( Figure 2E,F ) uniformly coriaceous with very faint transversal striae dorsally above antennal sockets and a shiny tubercle ventrally between these. Temple narrowed behind eyes, 0.5–0.6 [0.5] times as wide as eye in lateral view. Occipital carina complete, dorsally evenly curved, reaching the hypostomal carina at an acute angle some distance from base of mandible, neither much raised. Eyes weakly converging ventrad. Posterior interocellar distance 1–1.1 times and posterior ocellus to eye distance 1.1–1.2 times as long as diameter of ocellus. Clypeus narrow, about 0.5 times as wide as frons, with very faint punctures and a faint impression along anterior margin. Apical margin straight to weakly concave. Mandibles with a ventral lamellar carina, upper tooth slightly longer than lower.

Pronotum coriaceous, but somewhat shining, longitudinal striate in ventral part and along posterior margin and collar. Anterior and ventral border well defined, coriaceous anteriorly, polished ventrally. Epomia strong. Mesopleuron ( Figure 2G ) coriaceous, only speculum polished.A median longitudinal reticulate rugose area extends from the mesopleural furrow to the epicnemial carina via the episternal scrobe where it also extends dorsad anterior to the speculum to the subtegular ridge in the form of strong striae and reaches the epicnemial carina anteriorly. Sternaulus also with same rugosity more or less developed. Posterior transverse carina variable, strong but not complete in holotype. Mesoscutum coriaceous, notauli indistinct, but with faint widely spaced punctures anteriorly. Sculpture rougher along margins. Scuto-scutellar groove somewhat shiny, scutellum with faint punctures and strongly rugose or striae in apical declivous area. Propodeum coriaceous with almost indiscernible scattered punctures. Spiracles small, circular. Areas well defined. Area superomedia 1.5–1.6 [1.5] times as long as wide, open apically ( Figure 4F ). Area petiolaris rugose. Forewing 4 mm. Wings hyaline. Areolet sessile, nervulus (vein 1cu-a) postfurcal by 0.37–0.43 times its length, moderately slated, angle of inner anterior corner of first subdiscal cell 55°. Discoidella spectral.

Legs slender, hind femur 5.26–5.4 [5.4] times as long as wide, longest spur of hind tibia 0.55– 0.6 times as long as hind basitarsus. Claws with strong basal teeth.

Petiole laterally shiny and longitudinal striate anterior to well-developed glymmae ( Figure 4A ), coriaceous posterior to this. Postpetiole coriaceous. Metasoma slender, coriaceous but somewhat shiny. Thyridia large. First tergite 3 times as long as apically wide. Ovipositor sheaths clavate, approximately 0.3 times as long as hind tibia.

Colour: Antennae black/dark brown, scape and pedicel black, flagellum ventrally somewhat lighter, annellus red. Mandibles except for teeth yellow. Labrum yellow. Palps white, last segment of maxillary palps red. Mesosoma black, hind

Figures

FIGURE 2. A–C: Meloboris miae sp. n.: A. Habitus. B. Head, frontal C. Head, dorsal. D–G: Meloboris pseudocollector sp. n.: D. Habitus. E. Head, frontal. F. Head, dorsal. G. Mesopleuron.

FIGURE 3. Hind tibiae in anterior view. A. Meloboris miae sp. n.. B. Meloboris pseudocollector sp. n.. C. Meloboris proxima. D. Meloboris collector.

FIGURE 4. A–E: First metasomal tergites. A. Meloboris pseudocollector sp. n.. B. Meloboris miae sp. n.. C. Meloboris collector. D. Meloboris proxima. E. Meloboris alternans (Gravenhorst,1829). F–I: Area supeomedia. F. Meloboris pseudocollector sp. n.. G. Meloboris miae sp. n.. H. Meloboris collector. I. Meloboris proxima. J–L: Volsella and appendages (drawn from slides). J. Meloboris pseudocollector sp. n.. K. Meloboris proxima. L. Meloboris collector.