Norbanus africanus Subba Rao

Norbanus africanus Subba Rao View in CoL

( Figs 13–22 View FIGURES 13–18 View FIGURES 19–22 )

Norbanus africanus Subba Rao, 1973: 355–356 View in CoL .

Diagnosis. BOTH SEXES. Head and mesosoma usually dark blue-green ( Figs 13, 14 View FIGURES 13–18 , 20 View FIGURES 19–22 ). Head without distinct elevation between eye and posterior ocellus, in frontal view width about 1.2–1.3× height ( Figs 15 View FIGURES 13–18 , 21 View FIGURES 19–22 ). Clypeal margin slightly emarginate; clypeal striation mostly not extending to lower margins of toruli ( Figs 15 View FIGURES 13–18 , 21 View FIGURES 19–22 ). POL about 1.4–1.7× OOL ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Temple about 0.2–0.3× as long as eye in dorsal view ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Eye height about 1.4–1.5× length. Upper mesepimeron smooth ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 19–22 ). Scutellum moderately convex ( Figs 13 View FIGURES 13–18 , 20 View FIGURES 19–22 ). Propodeum inclined ( Figs 13 View FIGURES 13–18 , 20 View FIGURES 19–22 ), spiracular sulci absent (cf. Fig. 11 View FIGURES 7–12 ). Marginal vein about 1.8–2.8× as long as stigmal vein; speculum large, reaching to stigmal vein; marginal fringe on apical margin present ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 13–18 ).

FEMALE. Metasoma brown to blackish, in the latter case with some metallic reflections; last metasomal tergite and ovipositor sheaths same colour as rest of metasoma ( Figs 13, 14 View FIGURES 13–18 ); clava and sometimes fu6 dark ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 13–18 ); hind tibia usually yellowish ( Fig. 13 View FIGURES 13–18 ), rarely slightly infuscate medially. Antennae inserted about level with lower margins of eyes or slightly below; scape usually not exceeding median ocellus, virtually as long as eye height ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 13–18 ); length of pedicel plus flagellum at most very slightly greater than head width; second anellus transverse to almost quadrate; fu6 slightly longer than wide; clava slightly wider than fu6, ventrally abruptly narrowing before spicula, length about 2.7–2.8× width ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Metasoma at most slightly longer than head plus mesosoma ( Figs 13 View FIGURES 13–18 ), length about 1.9–2.5× width. Posterior margin of gt1 slightly to moderately sinuous ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 19–22 ).

MALE. Scape and pedicel usually dark brown to black, mostly with conspicuous metallic reflections and hence not contrasting with flagellum ( Figs 20, 22 View FIGURES 19–22 ). Scape usually exceeding level of vertex by about half scape length, rarely less ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 19–22 ); funicular segments widened both proximally and distally, mostly with two whorls of long setae each, and separated from each other by long tubular connections (fig. 22); length of pedicel plus flagellum about 1.7–2.1× head width. Mesoscutum width about 1.8–2.1× length.

Material examined. Holotype ♀ ( BMNH). MALAWI: “ Holotype ”, “NYASALAND. Fort Johnston. Em. 24.xii.23, Dr. W.A. Lamborn. 673”, ” Norbanus africanus sp. n. ♀, B.R. Subba Rao det. 1973”, ”Pres by Com Inst Ent BM 1974-I ” [on rectangular card].

Paratypes. MALAWI: 11 ♀, 1 ♂, all specimens with the same data as holotype ( BMNH) .

Other material. BOTSWANA: 2 ♀ “BOTSWANA: Serowe Farmer’s Brigade , IX.1987 MT, P. Forchhammer ” ( CNC) . CAPE VERDE: 1 ♀ “CABO VERDE, SAO TIAGO, Sao Jorge ”, “ III 1984, A. v. Harten ” ( RMNH) ; 2 ♀ “CABO VERDE, SAO TIAGO, A. v. Harten ”, “ Sao Jorge , suction trap, IV 1984 ” ( RMNH) ; 1 ♀ “CABO VERDE, SAO TIAGO, A. v. Harten ”, “ Sao Jorge , suction trap, V 1984 ” ( RMNH) ; 1 ♀ “CABO VERDE, SAO TIAGO, A. v. Harten ”, “Sao Jorge, suction trap, 26/7-18/8 1983” ( RMNH) ; 7 ♀ “CABO VERDE, SAO TIAGO, A. v. Harten ”, “ Sao Jorge , yellow pan trap, V 1984 ” ( RMNH) ; 4 ♂ “CABO VERDE, SAO TIAGO, A. v. Harten ”, “ Sao Jorge , yellow pan trap, V 1983 ” ( RMNH) . D. R. CONGO: 2 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/me/10, 12- xi-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2744” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/id/8, 17-xi-1951, H. De Saeger. 2765” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, I/o/3 aval, 29-ix-1950, Réc. G. Demoulin. 853” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, PFSK.5/3, 20-vi-52, H. De Saeger. 3656” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, Pp. K/55/d/8, 19-xi-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2768” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/f, 22-xii-1950, Réc. J. Verschuren. 1000” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fd/11, 21-v-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 1770” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/gd/4, 5-xii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2862” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fd/4, 24-x-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2668” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♀ and 6 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fc/5, 26-viii-52, H. De Saeger. 3982” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fc/18, 12-x-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2652” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, PpK, 90/115, 3-xii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2860” ( MRAC) ; 4 ♀ and 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/fd/4, 3-vi-1952, H. De Saeger. 3694” ( MRAC) ; 6 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/gd/4, 8-v-1952, H. De Saeger. 3449” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, I/o/3 aval, 29-ix-1950, Réc. G. Demoulin. 853” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/fc/4, 22-ix-1952, H. De Saeger. 4078” ( MRAC) ; 3 ♀ and 5 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/fc/4, 30-viii- 1952, H. De Saeger. 3997” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/gc/10, 11-xi-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2882” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/gd/4, 5-xii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2862” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fd/10, 20-xii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2935” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/gd/4, 23-viii-52, H. De Saeger. 3967” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/gd/8, 24-ix-1952, H. De Saeger. 4085” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, Mabanga , 23-ix-1952, Réc. H. De Saeger. 4070” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/hd/6, 30-v-1952, H. De Saeger. 3567” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fc/18, 12-x-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2653” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/fc/6, 26-xii-1951, J. Verschuren. 2941” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/gd/ 6, 2-ix-1952, H. De Saeger. 4023” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, Utukuru/4, 22-vii-52, H. De Saeger. 3811” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/gd/7, 8-vi-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 1887” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/gc/11, 5-x-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2521” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ and 4 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/gd/4, 8-viii-1952, H. De Saeger. 3923” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/fd/18, 3-iii-1952, H. De Saeger. 3158” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fd/17, 14-xii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2910” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, I/o/1, 25-ix-1950, Réc. G. Demoulin. 845” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, PpK.15, 24-xii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2945” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fc/14, 10-xii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2881” ( MRAC) ; 4 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, Napokomweli , 13-x-1950, Rec. G. Demoulin. 888 ( MRAC) ; 2 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/gd/4, 23-ix-1952, H. De Saeger. 4082” ( MRAC) ; 3 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fd/15, 24-v- 1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 1798” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fd/17, 27-viii-52, H. De Saeger. 3983” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fd/18, 6-ix-1952, H. De Saeger. 4038” ( MRAC); 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge: Kivu Sake ( Lac Kivu), 1460m. 19/ 22-ii-1934, G. F. de Witte: 253” ( MRAC); 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, Napukumweli, 6-ix-1950, Réc. G. Demoulin. 806” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, I/b/2, 27-ix-1950, Réc. G. Demoulin. 848” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss. H. De Saeger, II/gd/4, 6-vii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2050” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fc/6, 25-vii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2157” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fd/4, 16-viii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2264” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/dd/8, 6-ix-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2383”, “Pteromalid” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/id/10, 11-ix-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2419” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/gd/7”, 20-ix-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2448” ( MRAC); 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, Pp.K. 52g, 16-x-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2615” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/hd/4, 6-xii-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 2861” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss. H. De Saeger , II/fd/12, 10-iii- 1952, H. De Saeger. 3178” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss. H. De Saeger, Pali /8, 24-iii-1952, H. De Saeger. 3219” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss. H. De Saeger , II/fc/6, 28-vii-1952, H. De Saeger. 3861” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♂ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/gd/4, 18-ix-1952, H. De Saeger. 4077” ( MRAC) . ETHIOPIA: 3 ♀ and 1 ♂ “ETHIOPIA: Assebot (A. Zewdu) 11.xii.96 PAR 016 Ex Chilo partellus / sorghum, IIE 23814”, “ Norbanus sp. A . Polaszek det. 1998” ( BMNH) . GAMBIA: 2 ♀ “W. AFR., GAMBIA, Bakau, 19/i.78. L. Huggert ” ( BMNH) . IVORY COAST: 2 ♀ “ Côte d’Ivoire, Katiola-Coton , 23.IV.1981 malaise, J.W. Everts c.s.” ( RMNH). KENYA: 7 ♀ (two teratological) “KENYA, MACHAKOS DIS., KIBOKO, 1000 m, ex larva Chilo sp .

in Maize stem, coll. 26.ix.1990, M.J.W. COCK” ( BMNH); 3 ♀ (on the same card) “KENYA, KENDUBA, 16- II.89”, “EX BUSSEOLA ON SORG BT NYAMBO ”, “8”, “KENYA: S. Nyanza Kendu Bay 16.xi.89, B.T. Nyambo 8” ( BMNH) . MALAWI: 5 ♀ and 1 ♂, same data as type material ( BMNH) . NAMIBIA: 1 ♂ “SOUTH WEST AFRICA (W22), Kuiseb river canyon, 22-23.i.1972. Riverside vegetation” ( BMNH) . NIGERIA: 1 ♀ “P.39. N. NIGERIA, Samaru , 14.III.1957, K.M. Harris ”, “Ex larva of guineacorn stemborer”, “C.I.E. COLL. NO. 16154”, “ Norbanus (= Picroscytus ) sp. ♀, G.J. Kerrich det. 1958”, “mentioned by Harris, 1962, A. Polaszek, 19” ( BMNH) . SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, TVL. Soutpan, Pretoria Dist. 25.24S 28.06E. 15.XI.1983, C. D. Eardley ”, “ Malaise trap ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC) Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Cobham Nat. Res. Drakensberg, Ntl., 6.-11. iv. 1993, M. Stiller ”, “ Norbanus ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC) Pretoria , South Africa ” ( SANC) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Tussen-die-Riviere, Nat. Res., OFS, nr.”, “ Bethulie , i. 1994, G. L. Prinsloo ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC) Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC); 1 ♀ SOUTH AFRICA, Percy Fyfe Prov Nature Res., Tvl, iii. 1980, G L Prinsloo”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC) Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) ; 2 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, TVL., Kruger Nat. Park, Skukuza, 24.59S 31.35E. 292m., 14-15.i.1985. G.L. Prinsloo ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, TVL., Mogol Nature Reserve, Ellisras Dist. 23.58S 27.45E. 27-29.ii.1984, G.L. Prinsloo ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, TVL., Kruger Nat. Park, Pretoriuskop, 25.09S 31.16E. 591m. 17.i.1985. N.C. Pienaar ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) GoogleMaps ; 2 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Entabeni Bos, Tvl. xi. 1978, GL Prinsloo”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria , South Africa ” ( SANC) ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Natal, Vernon Crookes Nat. Res., Umzinto , 30.17S 30.37E. 443m. 25- 26.iii.1985. G.L. Prinsloo ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) GoogleMaps ; 2 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Machadodorp, Tvl. xii. 1978, G L. Prinsloo ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC) Pretoria , South Africa ” ( SANC) ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Hennops River, Tvl. ii. 1978, Prinsloo”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC) Pretoria , South Africa ” ( SANC) ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA FS, Willem Pretorius Prov. Nat. Res., ii. 1999 GL Prinsloo”, “Collected by sweeping”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Tussen-die-Riviere, Nat. Res., OFS, nr.”, “ Bethulie , i. 1994, G. L. Prinsloo”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC) Pretoria , South Africa ” ( SANC) ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Tvl., D’Nyala Nat. Res., Ellisras District ”, “ 23.45S 27.49E, 10–14.xi.1986, G.L. Prinsloo ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) GoogleMaps ; 2 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Tvl., D’Nyala Nat. Res., Ellisras District ”, “ 23.45S 27.49E, 24–26.ix.1990, O. C. Nesser ”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA FS, Wonderwater Colliery 26.46S 27.46E 5.v.1998, marginal vein Stiller”, “Collected by D-Vac from grass”, “NATIONAL COLL. OF INSECTS ( SANC), Pretoria, South Africa ” ( SANC) GoogleMaps ; 1 ♀ “S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1923-547.”, “ Port St. John , Pondoland. Oct. 1923 ” ( BMNH) ; 3 ♀ (one teratological, see Popovici et al. 2014) “S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1924-289.”, “ Port St. John , Pondoland. May 1924.” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1924- 213.”, “ Port St. John , Pondoland. 1–15. April 1924.” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1926-499.”, “ Natal : Van Reenen. Drakensberg. Nov.1926.” ( BMNH) ; 2 ♀ “S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1925-210.”, “ Cape Province, Ceres. April 1925.” ( BMNH) ; 2 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Hekpoort (i)74, A. Watsham” ( BMNH) ; 2 ♀ “SOUTH AFRICA, Witwatersberg, A. Watsham I/74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1927- 54.”, “ Natal : Van Reenen. Drakensberg. 1–22.i.1927.” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1923- 140.”, “ Queenstown , Cape Province. 3,500 ft. 16.i.–10.ii.1923 ” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ “S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1923-189.”, “ Umtata , Transkei. 18.ii–18.iii.1923.” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂ “S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1931-102.”, “ Cape Province, Somerset East. 27–31.i.1931.” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂ “ Zululand: Eshowe. June 1926.”, “S. Africa. R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1926-277” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂ “S. Africa, R.E. Turner. Brit. Mus. 1923-332.”, “ Port St. John , Pondoland. May 15–31. 1923 ” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂ “Pietermaritzburg, Natal, River bank, 20.xi.63 Haeselb.” ( BMNH) . SUDAN: 1 ♀ “SUDAN: Wad Medani 26.ii.93, A. Polaszek”, “ex old maize cane infested with Sesamia cretica ”, “gregarious ectoparasitoid” ( BMNH). ZIMBABWE: 1 ♀, “ZIMBABWE Rekomitjie Res. Stat. malaise 16 10’ s. 29 25’ e. alt. 500– 600 m GoogleMaps .” ( RMNH); 2 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF.68, IX.74” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / (iv)75” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF.204, x75” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF.207, (x)75” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “ZIMBABWE: Chishawasha, xii.1980, A. Watsham ” ( BMNH); 1 ♀, 1 ♂ “ZIMBABWE: Chishawasha , ii.1979, A. Watsham ” ( BMNH) ; 2 ♀ “RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF.194, (viii)75” ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀ “RHODESIA,

Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF.97, xii74” ( BMNH); 1 ♀ “ RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WFU32, iv74” ( BMNH); 1 ♀ “ RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WFU68, ix74”, “R253” ( BMNH); 1 ♀ “ RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WF88, xi.74” ( BMNH); 1 ♀ “ RHODESIA, Salisbury, A. Watsham / WFU62, viii.74” ( BMNH); 1 ♀ “ RHODESIA, Makumbi m., A. Watsham / WFU36, (v)74” ( BMNH); 1 ♀ “ RHODESIA, Makumbi M. (v)74, A. Watsham ” ( BMNH); 1 ♀, 1 ♂ “ ZIMBABWE: Chishawasha , ii.1979, A. Watsham ” ( MICO) .

The following specimens (their localities not represented on the map) most likely represent a different form of N. africanus ; they differ from the specimens listed above mainly in the colour of the flagellum, which is uniformly dark brown: BENIN: 1 ♀ “BENIN Calavi , Ferme F.S.A. U.N.B., 22.I–11.II.1999, Piège malaise, Leg. Y. Jongema” ( RMNH) . D. R. CONGO: 2 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, I/o/3 aval, 29-ix-1950, Réc. G. Demoulin. 853” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fd/15, 24-v-1951, Réc. H. De Saeger. 1798” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/fc/4, 22-ix-1952, H. De Saeger. 4078” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/gd/6, 19-viii-52, H. De Saeger. 3952” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/gd/4, 8-viii-1952, H. De Saeger. 3923” ( MRAC) ; 3 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, I/b/2, 27-ix-1950, Réc. G. Demoulin. 848” ( MRAC) ; 2 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, II/fc/5, 26-viii-52, H. De Saeger. 3982” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, I/b/2, 22- ii-1950, Réc. H. De Saeger. 214” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/gd/4, 9-x-1951, H. De Saeger. 2560” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger , II/gd/4, 18-ix-1952, H. De Saeger. 4077” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo Belge, P. N.G., Miss H. De Saeger, Napukumweli , 26-viii-1950, Réc. G. Demoulin. 789” ( MRAC) ; 1 ♀ “ Congo belge, P.N.A., 23-iii-1954, P. Vanschuytbroeck & H. Synave 7705-12”, “Secteur Tshiaberimu, riv. Talia Nord, 2340 m ” ( MRAC) . IVORY COAST: 1 ♀ “ Côte d’Ivoire, Adiopodoumé , 19.II.1990, P. Albers ” ( RMNH) .

Redescription. FEMALE. Colour. Head and mesosoma usually dark blue-green, rarely with some coppery-green reflections ( Figs 13–16 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Metasoma from brown, with little or no metallic reflections, to blackish and conspicuous, usually greenish or violet reflections ( Figs 13, 14 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Body pilosity short whitish ( Figs 15, 16 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Eyes reddish, ocelli light brown ( Figs 15, 16 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Mandibles light brown, teeth reddish-brown. Antenna ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 13–18 ) with scape and pedicel reddish-brown to dark brown, occasionally with some metallic reflections; flagellum reddish-brown to brown, except fu6 and clava, which are dark brown to black; fu6 sometimes not darker than rest of funicular segments. Wings hyaline, tegulae, venation and pilosity pale yellow to light brown ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Legs ( Fig. 13 View FIGURES 13–18 ) with fore and mid coxae dark brown to the same colour as mesosoma; hind coxa as mesosoma; trochanters light brown; femora dark brown; fore tibia and tarsus light brown; mid and hind tibiae and tarsi whitish to dark yellow except last tarsal segments light brown, arolia and claws dark brown; hind tibia occasionally slightly brownish in the middle.

Body length. 2.25–4.00 mm.

Head without distinct elevation between eye and posterior ocellus, reticulate except lower face finely striated, striation not reaching toruli ( Figs 15, 16 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Head width about 2.1–2.3× length in dorsal view and width about 1.2– 1.3× height in frontal view. Clypeal margin shallowly emarginate ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Eye ovate, anterior and posterior margins not sinuous, height about 1.4–1.5× length ( Fig. 13 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Gena with a weak lamina near mouth corner. Malar space about 0.55–0.60× eye height, about equal to or slightly shorter than eye length. POL about 1.4–1.7× as long as OOL ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Temple about 0.2–0.3× as long as eye in dorsal view. Scrobes very shallow, barely visible in dorsal view of head ( Fig. 16 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Toruli with lower margins from about level with lower margins of eyes to slightly below ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Antenna ( Fig. 17 View FIGURES 13–18 ) with scape virtually as long as eye height, not reaching vertex level (usually reaching lower edge of median ocellus) ( Fig. 15 View FIGURES 13–18 ); pedicel length about 1.8–2.0× width, shorter than fu1; length of pedicel plus flagellum from slightly less to slightly more than head width; first anellus strongly transverse, the second from strongly transverse to almost quadrate; funicular segments longer than wide, decreasing in length towards clava, mostly with two or three irregular rows of sensilla; fu1 length about 2.60–2.75× width, basally about as wide as second anellus; fu6 length about 1.2–1.3× width; clava slightly wider than fu6, length about 2.7–2.8× width, 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.

Mesosoma dorsally coarsely reticulate ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13–18 ), length about 1.25–1.50× width, length about 1.4–1.5× height. Mesoscutum width about 1.8–2.1×length ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Notauli hardly visible, reaching about middle of mesoscutum ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Upper mesepimeron smooth. Scutellum slightly wider than long, moderately convex ( Fig. 13 View FIGURES 13–18 ), frenal line absent, but reticulation slightly coarser on frenal area. Metapleuron and dorsellum uniformly reticulate. Propodeum about half length of scutellum, inclined, uniformly reticulate except two small depressions near its anterior edge submedially, and sometimes slightly depressed mesally; spiracles oval, spiracular sulci absent (cf. Fig. 11 View FIGURES 7–12 ). Fore wing ( Fig. 18 View FIGURES 13–18 ) length about 2.4× width; basal cell and basal fold glabrous; costal cell with several rows of setae on ventral surface; speculum moderate, reaching stigmal vein, but narrow beyond middle of marginal vein; wing pilosity including marginal fringe short; marginal vein about 1.8–2.8× as long as stigmal vein; postmarginal vein slightly shorter than marginal vein; stigma hardly capitate.

Metasoma ovate, apex acuminate, length about 1.9–2.5× width, from about as long as head plus mesosoma to slightly longer, dorsally mostly finely reticulate-imbricate (alveolae wider than long) except for gt1 which is mainly smooth ( Figs 13, 14 View FIGURES 13–18 ). Posterior margin of gt1 conspicuously sinuous, not incised ( Fig. 19 View FIGURES 19–22 ); gt1 length about 0.2× metasoma length; gt7 width about 1.6–1.8× length. Ovipositor sheaths short, hardly visible in dorsal view ( Fig. 14 View FIGURES 13–18 ).

MALE. Differs from the female holotype mainly as follows. Body length: 1.80–2.75 mm. Metasoma brown to dark brown except extensively yellowish dorsally and ventrally in proximal 1/2 to 2/3; extreme base of gt1 brownish ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 19–22 ); scape (except base) and pedicel usually dark brown to black, usually with some metallic reflections; base of scape light brown; flagellum dark brown ( Figs 21, 22 View FIGURES 19–22 ). Toruli much closer to median ocellus than to clypeal margin ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 19–22 ). Scape usually exceeding level of vertex by about half scape length, or slightly less ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 19–22 ); funicular segments widened both proximally and distally, mostly with two whorls of long whitish setae each, and separated from each other by long tubular connections; setae on funicular segments emerging mostly at an acute angle to segment ( Fig. 22 View FIGURES 19–22 ); length of pedicel plus flagellum about 1.7–2.1× head width. Metasoma oval, length about 1.8–2.4× width, shorter than head plus mesosoma and usually narrower than mesosoma ( Fig. 20 View FIGURES 19–22 ).

Comments. This species can be separated from similar ones using the characters given in the key and diagnosis. Small females, which have a narrower mesosoma and metasoma, somewhat resemble females of N. seyrigi , but can be separated from the latter by the lower antennal insertion and usually conspicuously dark clava. Initially described only from Malawi, this is apparently one of the most common and variable species of Norbanus in the Afrotropical region. Intraspecific variability consists mainly of the relative length of the marginal vein compared with the stigmal vein. The continuous variation of this character and the fact that no additional features could be identified in order to support the separation of several species seem to indicate a continuous gene flow between populations. A future molecular analysis of freshly collected specimens throughout Africa could reveal if a complex of morphologically sibling species is present. This is particularly important since the species has potential in the biological control of several insect pests (see below).

Distribution. Malawi ( Subba Rao, 1973); Botswana, Cape Verde, D. R. Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Zimbabwe (new records) (Map 1).

MAP 1. Distribution of N. aequus and N. africanus

Hosts. Norbanus africanus apparently attacks at least three species of moths ( Lepidoptera ) associated with maize and sorghum crops. Specimens from Kenya have been reared from Chilo sp. ( Crambidae ) larvae in maize stems, and Busseola sp. ( Noctuidae ) on sorghum, while specimens from Ethiopia have been reared from the Spotted Stalk Borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) on sorghum. The female from Nigeria was reared from the “larva of guineacorn stemborer” (a common name given to several moths). The female from Sudan was reared from the Maize Pink Borer, Sesamia cretica Lederer ( Noctuidae ), and was mentioned and illustrated by Polaszek (1998) as Norbanus sp.