Aptesis minor, Watanabe, 2025

Aptesis minor sp. nov.

[New SJN: Kasumi-togari-himebachi]

( Figs. 14A–G, 78K)

Type series. Holotype: JAPAN, KPM-NK 103003 ,

F, Hokkaido, Yubari City , Oyubari Natural Forest, 31. VIII. – 13. IX. 2007, A. Ueda leg. (MsT). Paratype: JAPAN: [Hokkaido] KPM-NK 81212 , 91324 , 103002 , 3 F, same data of holotype. [Honshu] KPM-NK 103000 , F , Kanagawa Pref., Manazuru Town , Manazuru, 30. VI. 2013, K. Watanabe leg.

Description. Female (n = 5). Body punctate and polished; covered with setae; body length 2.6–3.5 (HT: 3.4) mm.

Head 0.6 × as long as wide in dorsal view. Clypeus 2.05– 2.4 (HT: 2.2) × as wide as long; slightly convex in lateral view; sparsely punctate dorsally; smooth ventrally; lower margin subtruncate in frontal view, sharp in lateral view. Face 0.45 × as long as minimum width; weakly convex medially; punctate; ISP matt. Frons sparsely punctate with weakly coriaceous ISP; with large matt area above antennal sockets. POL 1.4–1.8 (HT: 1.5) × as OD. OOL 2.0–2.4 (HT: 2.0) × as OD. Dorsal profile of gena rounded in dorsal view; width gradually narrowing posteriorly ( Fig. 14E). Occipital carina complete. Malar space 1.0–1.2 (HT: 1.0) × as long as basal width of mandible. Mandible flat at base; lower tooth equal in length of upper tooth. Antenna with 18–20 (HT: 19) flagellomeres; not flattened and tapped. FL I 1.55–2.2 (HT: 1.55) × as long as maximum depth in lateral view, 1.1–1.25 (HT: 1.25) × as long as FL II.

Mesosoma. Pronotum nearly entirely rugulose. Epomia absent. Mesoscutum with short and weak notaulus; densely punctate; some punctures on median part united into longitudinal foveola. Scutellum flat. Mesopleuron longitudinally reticulate rugose except for punctate area around speculum ( Fig. 14F). Epicnemial carina present laterally and ventrally. Sternaulus deep in anterior 0.3 of mesopleuron. Metapleuron rugose; with partly indistinct juxtacoxal carina. Propodeum rugose or rugulose; with all carinae except for anterior transverse carina absent; area superomedia defined except for anterior margin, ca. as long as maximum width; apophysis weak and obtuse; area postero longitudinally concave medially; spiracle round. Fore wing length 2.7–3.1 (HT: 3.1) mm. Areolet as long as maximum width; width gradually narrowing anteriorly; received vein 2m-cu at slightly at near middle ( Fig. 14G). Fore wing vein 1cu-a interstitial to or slightly postfurcal to vein M&RS ( Fig. 14G). Nervellus subvertical; intercepted near posterior end of vein. Hind coxa partly reticulate rugose. Hind femur reticulate coriaceous; 3.7–4.0 (HT: 3.7) × as long as maximum depth in lateral view. Tarsal claws simple.

Metasoma. T I 1.55–2.15 (HT: 2.15) × as long as maximum width; latero-median carina absent; dorso-lateral carina complete; smooth. T II smooth with few hairs laterally; 0.55–0.65 (HT: 0.6) × as long as maximum width. Thyridium present; close to anterior margin of T II; slightly depressed; ca. 2.0 × as wide as length. T III and T IV largely smooth. T V and T VI finely and sparsely punctate. Ovipositor sheath 1.0–1.05 (HT: 1.0) × as long as hind tibia, 1.55–1.8 (HT: 1.55) × as long as T I. Ovipositor straight; apex sharp; apex of lower valve with teeth ( Fig. 78K).

Colouration ( Figs. 14A–G). Body (excluding wings) black to blackish-brown. Setae silver. Face, clypeus, mandible except for teeth, malar space, frontal orbit, scape, pedicel, palpi, fore and mid tibiae and tarsi, hind tibial spurs, membranous part of metasomal sternites, and ovipositor yellow to yellowish-brown. Fore and mid legs except for tibiae and tarsi, hind leg except for tibial spurs, collar, scutellum, and metasomal tergites partly or entirely brown to reddish-brown. Base and apex of hind femur narrowly tinged with yellow. FL VI to FL IX with white markings. Wings hyaline. Veins and pterostigma brown except for yellowish-brown to yellow wing base.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Japan (Hokkaido and Honshu).

Etymology. The specific name is from the Latin “ minor ” (smaller), referring to the relatively smaller size of this species in the genus.

Bionomics. Unknown.

Remarks. This species resembles Ap. minutor Aubert, 1968 in the small-sized body with polished metasomal tergites but can be distinguished by the yellow face (black in Ap. minutor ), the mesopleuron longitudinally reticulate rugose (without such rugae in Ap. minutor ), and the reddish-brown scutellum (black in Ap. minutor ).