Notanisus clavatus Bouček, 1961

Notanisus clavatus Bouček, 1961 View in CoL

Figs 1, 2

Material examined. 49 ♀♀, 24 ♂♂: IRAN, West-Azarbaijan Province , Naqadeh, Solduz Wetland, 37º02′ N, 45º35′ E GoogleMaps , 1277 m a.s.l., 21 July 2020; 29 April 2021, Y. Karimpour leg., ex Calamagrostis epigejos .

Diagnosis (abstracted from Bouček 1961; Lotfalizadeh et al. 2019). Female ( Fig. 1A): body color generally rufous with green luster and violet discal regions; gaster with basal tergites rufous, remaining tergites metallic green to nearly black with violet tinge ( Fig. 1A); antennal anellus quadrate; funicle gradually widening, with preclaval funicular segment tapered apically into spicule extending along clava ( Fig. 1F); clava 2.5× as long as broad ( Fig. 1F); scutellum finely, densely reticulate; propodeum distinctly reticulate with complete median carina; petiole transverse ( Fig. 1B); fore wing narrow, with two broad fuscous bands covered with modified scale-like dark brown setae but hyaline areas with whitish setae; marginal vein about 4.5× length of stigmal vein, and postmarginal vein subequal to stigmal vein ( Fig. 1C,D); gaster clavate, basal half flat, posterior half convex ( Fig. 1A,C).

Females differ from those of N. versicolor Walker, 1837 in head proportions, antennal anellus shape, finer scutellar reticulation, complete propodeal carina, shorter marginal vein, and more distinctly clavate gaster.

Male ( Fig. 2A): body color metallic green with violet or brassy luster; gaster rufous anteriorly and metallic green posteriorly ( Fig. 2A); wings hyaline ( Fig. 2A,E); antenna ramose, with five subequally long flagellar rami uniformly covered with brown setae ( Fig. 2A–C); petiole longer than broad.

Remarks. Males of N. clavatus have not previously been described, but the males obtained in our study are most likely attributable to this species. These specimens were initially identified as N. versicolor using available keys, which is unsurprising given their very close morphological similarity. However, based on our rearings we conclude the two sexes obtained represent a single species. It is plausible that males of N. clavatus are essentially indistinguishable from those of N. versicolor , explaining why they have remained unrecognized until now. Such sexual dimorphism, where females are morphologically distinct but males are cryptic or nearly identical across species, is not unusual within chalcidoid taxa. In our case, the rearing of both sexes directly from what likely is the primary host ( Tetramesa ) rather than by sweep-netting strengthens the likelihood that they represent the true males of N. clavatus . Therefore, our finding constitutes the first formal report of males of N. clavatus worldwide. Nevertheless, the ambiguity cannot be resolved through morphology alone and molecular evidence is needed to test this hypothesis. Voucher specimens have been preserved at Urmia University for future genetic work, which will be essential to validate species boundaries and confirm the conspecificity of males and females in N. clavatus .

Distribution. IRAN: West Azarbaijan Province ( Lotfalizadeh et al. 2019). EXTRALIMITAL: China, Europe, Kazakhstan, Transcaucasus ( UCD Community, 2023).

Biological association. Hosts are unknown so far; the specimens were swept from grassy vegetation by Mitroiu and Andreiscu (2008). The authors’ field observations, coupled with the consistent co-occurrence of this species and Tetramesa Walker, 1848 ( Eurytomidae ) on this host plant―along with analogous associations between other Tetramesa species and gramineous plants―suggest this species is a parasitoid of Tetramesa wasps within gramineous plant ecosystems.