Norbanus awi, Mitroiu, 2015

Norbanus awi View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figs 23–28 View FIGURES 23–28 )

Diagnosis. BOTH SEXES. Head and mesosoma mostly dark bluish-green; hind tibia yellow ( Figs 23–25, 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Head without distinct elevation between eye and posterior ocellus, in frontal view width about 1.2× height ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Clypeal margin slightly emarginate; clypeal striation usually reaching to lower margins of toruli ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 23–28 ). POL about 1.6× OOL. Temple about 0.2× as long as eye in dorsal view. Eye height about 1.5× length. Upper mesepimeron smooth ( Fig. 23 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Scutellum slightly convex ( Figs 23, 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Propodeum inclined ( Figs 23, 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ), spiracular sulci absent (cf. Fig. 11 View FIGURES 7–12 ). Marginal vein about 2.0–2.2× as long as stigmal vein; speculum large, reaching to stigmal vein; marginal fringe on apical margin present ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 23–28 ).

FEMALE. Metasoma yellow to brown, ovipositor sheaths black ( Figs 23, 24 View FIGURES 23–28 ); scape yellow; clava dark ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Antennae inserted about level with lower margins of eyes; scape exceeding vertex, about 1.1× longer than eye height (fig. 25); length of pedicel plus flagellum greater than head width; second anellus transverse, slightly longer than the first; fu6 longer than wide; clava slightly wider than fu6, ventrally abruptly narrowing before spicula, length about 2.7–2.8× width ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Metasoma at most slightly longer than head plus mesosoma ( Fig. 23 View FIGURES 23–28 ), length about 2.0–2.1× width. Posterior margin of gt1 slightly to moderately sinuous ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 23–28 , cf. Fig. 19 View FIGURES 19–22 ).

MALE. Scape and pedicel usually brownish-yellow, without metallic reflections and hence contrasting with the darker flagellum ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ); hind femur brownish ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Scape long, exceeding level of vertex by more than half scape length; funicular segments widened both proximally and distally, mostly with two whorls of long setae each, and separated from each other by long tubular connections; setae on funicular segments emerging at a virtually right angle to segment ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ); length of pedicel plus flagellum about 2.2× head width. Mesoscutum width about 1.9–2.1× length.

Material examined. Holotype ♀ ( BMNH). ZIMBABWE: “ZIMBABWE, Salisbury, xii. 81, A. Watsham ” [CPD, on rectangular card].

Allotype ♂. ZIMBABWE: “ZIMBABWE, Chishawasha, X. 1979, Y. Pans [Yellow Pan Traps], A. Watsham ” ( BMNH).

Additional paratypes. GAMBIA: 1 ♀ “W. AFR. GAMBIA, Gunjur, 29./I., 1978. L. Huggert ”, “ Norbanus ” [Bouček’s handwriting] ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “W. AFR. GAMBIA, Fajara, 24./I., 1978. L. Huggert ”, “ Norbanus ” [Bouček’s handwriting] ( BMNH) . NAMIBIA: 1 ♀ “SOUTH WEST AFRICA, Keetmanshoep, A. Watsham: 11:73” ( BMNH) . NIGER: 1 ♀ “ Niger Niamey, 1. III. 1988, malaise, J. Hollands ” ( RMNH) . SOUTH AFRICA: 2 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, O. F. S. Tussen Die Riviere Res. nr. Bethulie, 30.30S 26.12E, 30.iii.-3.iv.1987, G. L. Prinsloo ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Hans Strijdom Dam Prov. Nat. Res. nr. Ellisras, Tvl, i.1988, GL Prinsloo” “NATIONAL COLL OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria , South Africa ” ( SANC) ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, 10 km NW from Warmbad, Tvl., 17. i. 1983, NC Grobbelaar”, “swept from grass”, “NATIONAL COLL OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria , South Africa ” ( SANC) ; 1 ♀ “ S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1930-593.”, “ Cape Province, Somerset East. November 1930.” ( BMNH) . ZIMBABWE: 5 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF78, x.74” ( BMNH) ; 3 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF81, x.74” ( BMNH) ; 2 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF88, xi.74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WFU67, ix.74” ( BMNH) ; 2 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WFU62, viii.74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF74, ix.74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / 31/I/74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF87, xi.74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WFU46, (vi)74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WFU14, 2iii74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF.138, (iii)75” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF80, x.74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF.2, 20 i 74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF96, xii 74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF.93, xi.74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “ZIMBABWE, Chishawasha , xii. 1980, A. Watsham ” ( MICO) .

Other material: 1 ♀ “ RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF78, x.74” ( BMNH) (body parts detached, metasoma missing) .

Description. FEMALE (holotype). Colour. Head and mesosoma dark bluish-green, with slight bronze reflections ( Figs 23–25 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Metasoma light brown, ovipositor sheaths black ( Figs 23, 24 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Body pilosity short whitish ( Figs 24, 25 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Eyes red, ocelli whitish ( Figs 24, 25 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Mandibles reddish-yellow, teeth reddish-brown ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Antenna ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 23–28 ) with scape, pedicel and flagellum except clava yellow; clava brown. Wings hyaline, tegulae, venation and pilosity whitish. Legs ( Fig. 23 View FIGURES 23–28 ) with fore and mid coxae brown with slight metallic reflections, hind coxa as mesosoma except pale ventral surface; femora light brown, apices lighter; tibiae and tarsi whitish; last tarsal segment yellowish, arolia and claws brown.

Body length. 3 mm.

Head without distinct elevation between eye and posterior ocellus, reticulate except lower face finely striated, striation reaching toruli ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Clypeal margin very shallowly emarginate ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Eye ovate, anterior and posterior margins not sinuous ( Fig. 23 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Gena with a weak lamina near mouth corner. Scrobes very shallow, barely visible in dorsal view of the head ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Toruli with lower margins about level with lower margins of eyes ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Antenna ( Fig. 26 View FIGURES 23–28 ) with scape reaching above level of vertex ( Fig. 25 View FIGURES 23–28 ); both anelli transverse, the second slightly longer than the first; funicular segments longer than wide; clava in lateral view abruptly narrowing before the well developed spicula, sutures hardly visible, oblique; micropilosity area occupying less than 1/3 length of claval body. Relative measurements—head length: 24, width: 50, height: 42; POL: 10; OOL: 6.5; eye height: 25, length: 17; IOD: 28; eye length dorsally: 17; temple length dorsally: 3; malar space: 16; distance between clypeal margin and toruli: 16; scape length: 27; pedicel length: 5, width: 2.5; pedicel plus flagellum: 57; fu1 length: 7, width: 3; fu6 length: 5, width: 3.5; clava length: 13, width: 4.

Mesosoma dorsally coarsely reticulate ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Notauli hardly visible, reaching about middle of mesoscutum ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Scutellum slightly convex ( Fig. 23 View FIGURES 23–28 ), frenal line absent, but frenal area with finer reticulation than rest of scutellum. Upper mesepimeron smooth ( Fig. 23 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Metapleuron and dorsellum uniformly reticulate. Propodeum inclined ( Fig. 23 View FIGURES 23–28 ), uniformly reticulate except two small depressions near its anterior margin submedially; spiracles oval, spiracular sulci absent (cf. Fig. 11 View FIGURES 7–12 ). Fore wing ( Fig. 27 View FIGURES 23–28 ) with basal cell and basal fold glabrous; costal cell with several rows of setae on ventral surface; speculum large, extending to stigmal vein; wing pilosity including marginal fringe short; stigma hardly capitate. Relative measurements—mesosomal length: 50, width: 40, height: 36; mesoscutum length: 19; scutellum length: 19, width: 20; propodeum length: 9; fore wing length: 106, width: 44; M: 19; S: 9.5; P: 17.

Metasoma ovate, about 1.2× as long as head plus mesosoma, reticulate-imbricate dorsally (alveolae wider than long) except for gt1 which is mainly smooth ( Figs 23, 24 View FIGURES 23–28 , cf. Fig. 19 View FIGURES 19–22 ). Posterior margin of gt1 sinuous, not incised ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 23–28 , cf. Fig. 19 View FIGURES 19–22 ). Ovipositor sheaths short, hardly visible in dorsal view ( Fig. 24 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Relative measurements— metasomal length: 86, width: 42; gt1 length: 15; gt7 length: 6, width: 11.

MALE (allotype). Differs from the female holotype mainly as follows. Body length: 2 mm. Metasoma brownish except extensively yellowish dorsally and ventrally in proximal 2/3; extreme base of gt1 brownish ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ); flagellum dark reddish-brown ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Toruli much closer to median ocellus than to clypeal margin ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ). Scape exceeding level of vertex by more than half scape length; funicular segments widened both proximally and distally, mostly with two whorls of long setae each, and separated from each other by long tubular connections; setae on funicular segments emerging at a virtually right angle to segment ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ); length of pedicel plus flagellum about 2.2× head width. Metasoma oval, length about 3× width, slightly shorter than head plus mesosoma and narrower than mesosoma ( Fig. 28 View FIGURES 23–28 ).

MAP 2. Distribution of N. awi and N. brevicephalus

Variation. FEMALES. Body length: 2.75–3.75 mm. Colour of metasoma varying from yellow to dark brown; in the latter case, all coxae as mesosoma. Combined length of pedicel and flagellum about 1.1–1.3× as long as head width. Mesoscutum width about 1.9–2.1× length. Marginal vein about 2.0–2.2 × as long as stigmal vein. Metasoma length about 2.0–2.2 ×width.

MALES. Body length: 1.75–2.30 mm. Length of pedicel plus flagellum about 2.2–2.4× head width. Metasoma length about 2–3× width, from distinctly shorter to almost equal to head plus mesosoma, the pale spot occupying from about 1/2 to about 2/3 length of metasoma.

Comments. The females of N. awi can be distinguished from females of similar species mainly by the longer scape and lighter colour of the metasoma. Darker female specimens are especially prone to be confused with females of N. africanus . The males can be distinguished from males of similar species mainly by the longer scapes and setae on funicular segments, which emerge at a virtually right angle. One female is excluded from the type series because of the fragmented and missing body parts.

Etymology. The name is formed by the initials of Rev. Anthony Watsham to whom the new species is dedicated. He collected a large number of specimens that are now in the collection of BMNH.

Distribution. Gambia, Namibia, Niger, South Africa, Zimbabwe (Map 2).

Hosts. Unknown.