Raphiglossa lemuriae Giordani Soika, 1941

Raphiglossa lemuriae Giordani Soika, 1941 View in CoL

( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 , 52B View FIGURE 52 , 65P View FIGURE 65 )

Raphiglossa lemuriae Giordani Soika, 1941: 179 View in CoL , ♂, ♀ —“ Madagascar: Bekily ” ( type lost).

Leptomenes extremus Gusenleitner, 2005: 1177 View in CoL , 1182, figs 7–8, ♂ —“ Madagaskar, Fianarantsoa Prov., 40 km S Ambositra, Radia Rower, humid forest, 20°47'56"S 47°10'54"E ” (CAS). Junior subjective synonym of Raphiglossa lemuriae Giordani Soika, 1941 View in CoL according to Selis (2023: 590).

Distribution. Madagascar: Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga *, Toliara ( Giordani Soika 1941, 1973, 1974b; Borsato 1999; Gusenleitner 2005) ( Fig. 65P View FIGURE 65 ).

Genus Tuleara Gusenleitner, 2000

Tuleara Gusenleitner, 2000: 923 View in CoL , genus. Type species: Tuleara leptochiloides Gusenleitner, 2000 View in CoL , by original designation and monotypy.

Immutatus Gusenleitner, 2011: 423 View Cited Treatment , 431, genus. Type species: Odynerus sakalavus de Saussure, 1890 , by monotypy and original designation. Syn. nov.

Notes. Gusenleitner (2000) described the genus Tuleara View in CoL comparing it with Afrepipona Giordani Soika View in CoL and Acarepipona Giordani Soika (junior synonym of Allodynerus Blüthgen View in CoL ) due to the general appearance, and with Leptochilus de Saussure View in CoL , Stroudia Gribodo View in CoL and Eumenidiopsis Giordani Soika View in CoL due to the depressed apical area of T2. The comparison with the genera cited by Gusenleitner shows that there is no evident similarity with Allodynerus View in CoL , and also the comparison with Leptochilus View in CoL , Stroudia View in CoL and Eumenidiopsis View in CoL seems forced, as these three genera present a profoundly different structure of the apical area of T 2 in addition to numerous other important differences (e.g. wing venation). The comparison with Afrepipona View in CoL shows instead evident similarities in the structure of the mesosoma and of the first tergite, but also a series of important differences: vertical or very weakly oblique metanotum and with a protruding anterior margin, propodeum with a subtriangular sclerite at the dorsal end of the median line, submarginal carina not fused with the valvula and forming a long triangular lobe, free and rectangular propodeal valvula, apex of T2 deeply depressed and separated from the preceding surface (see Selis & Carpenter 2024 for a complete diagnosis of Afrepipona View in CoL ). Furthermore, the few males of Tuleara View in CoL examined have a thin mandible with a large fourth tooth perpendicular to the axis of the mandible (cf. Fig. 61A View FIGURE 61 ) and a different general structure of the genitalia.At the same time, the Malagasy species of both genera present some intermediate forms, such as the female of Tuleara nigrita which has a thick head observed in many Afrepipona View in CoL , or Afrepipona dilaticlypeus , A. misinjo and A. resoluta which on the contrary have a head morphology more similar to most Tuleara View in CoL than to other Afrepipona View in CoL . These intermediate forms, currently observed only in the Malagasy fauna and not in the continental species of Afrepipona View in CoL , make it difficult to define the two genera as distinct, therefore it could be proposed to consider Tuleara View in CoL a subgenus or synonym of Afrepipona View in CoL . However, no taxonomic action is being taken on this issue currently, leaving the matter to a phylogenetic study including the two genera.

Gusenleitner (2011: 431) described the monotypic genus Immutatus Gusenleitner for Odynerus sakalavus de Saussure, 1890 , comparing it with the genera Postepipona Giordani Soika , Leptochilus de Saussure and Tuleara Gusenleitner. As already reported for Tuleara , the comparison with Leptochilus is forced, since the morphology of the metanotum and the apex of T2 are deeply different. The comparison with Postepipona probably derives from the inclusion in this genus of Odynerus malagassus de Saussure (= Odynerus melanus de Saussure , see dedicated section) made by Borsato (1999), as this species shows a habitus vaguely similar to Odynerus sakalavus , but it is clearly differentiated by numerous diagnostic characters and in reality is not related to the type species of Postepipona (see under Antepipona for more details). Comparison with Tuleara is appropriate, since both Odynerus sakalavus and the various species of Tuleara share some important diagnostic characters: propodeum with small subtriangular basal sclerite, submarginal carina forming a long triangular lobe, free and rectangular propodeal valvula, deeply depressed apex of T2 separated from the preceding surface, thin male mandible with strongly developed fourth tooth. Furthermore, the differences reported as diagnostic of Immutatus compared to Tuleara (i.e. presence of epicnemial carina, vertical metanotum) are not supported by morphological examination, since the epicnemial carina and vertical metanotum are observed in various Tuleara species, including the type species T. leptochiloides . Given the evident morphological affinities and the inconsistency of the characters provided as diagnostic, the genus Immutatus is here synonymized under Tuleara , with Odynerus sakalavus in the new combination of Tuleara sakalava .

Key to the species of Tuleara View in CoL

1. Large-sized species, body length over 10 mm. Metanotum entirely vertical and flattened, with projecting and acute anterior margin. Apical lamella of T2 very long and almost vertical, about as high as two ocellar diameters. S2 strongly bulging basally and deeply furrowed in the middle. Whole body with large and spaced deep punctures. Black with some dark-red blotches, metasoma entirely yellow starting from apex of T2 and whole S2 ( Fig. 58A View FIGURE 58 )................... T. sakalava (de Saussure)

- Medium to small-sized species, body length under 10 mm. Metanotum not with the above combination of characters, either sloping, convex or with blunt anterior margin ( Figs 54E View FIGURE 54 , 56D View FIGURE 56 ). Apical lamella of T2 shorter and oblique, at most slightly longer than one ocellar diameter ( Figs 56E View FIGURE 56 , 57E View FIGURE 57 ). S2 variably convex basally but not strongly bulging, furrow absent or shallow. Sculpture different, with denser and/or shallower punctures. Pattern not as above, at least T1 with a thin apical band....... 2

2. Body entirely covered in dense silvery pubescence; underlying surface almost completely hidden ( Fig. 53B View FIGURE 53 ). Epicnemial carina present but blunt, weakly developed ( Fig. 53C View FIGURE 53 ). Black with red clypeus and few subtle white-green markings; legs with dark green tinge ( Figs 53A, B View FIGURE 53 )............................................................... T. alboviridis sp. nov.

- Pubescence variable but not dense and brightly metallic as above; underlying surface well visible ( Figs 54B View FIGURE 54 , 55 View FIGURE 55 , 56B View FIGURE 56 , 57B View FIGURE 57 ). Epicnemial carina absent or strongly developed ( Figs 54D View FIGURE 54 , 57D View FIGURE 57 ). Variable pattern but never with white-green; legs green only in one species........................................................................................ 3

3. Pronotal carina developed in a high translucent lamella. Epicnemial carina absent, transition to epicnemium indicated by different sculpture only. Anterior margin of metanotum produced in a sharp margin ( Fig. 56D View FIGURE 56 ). Posterolateral angles of propodeum angled and acute ( Fig. 56C View FIGURE 56 ; not evidently in the male). T2 with small and dense punctures, of regular size from base to apex ( Fig. 56E View FIGURE 56 ). Largely marked with orange-yellow on head and mesosoma; male with green legs ( Figs 56A, B View FIGURE 56 )...................................................................................... T. nigrita Gusenleitner

- Pronotal carina shortly lamellate, either translucent or not. Epicnemial carina present and strong, at least in upper half ( Figs 54D View FIGURE 54 , 57D View FIGURE 57 ). Anterior margin of metanotum not produced or blunt ( Fig. 54C View FIGURE 54 ). Posterolateral angles of propodeum rounded ( Fig. 54E View FIGURE 54 ). T2 with sparser punctures, larger basally and becoming smaller apically ( Fig. 57E View FIGURE 57 ). Less richly marked than above, mesosoma at most with narrow line bordering pronotal carina; legs never green.................................... 4

4. Elongate appearance, head elongate in frontal view, mesosoma 1.5× as long as wide ( Figs 54A, B View FIGURE 54 ); pronotum in lateral view strongly projecting anteriorly ( Figs 54B, C View FIGURE 54 ). Epicnemial carina strong and visible in upper half only ( Fig. 54D View FIGURE 54 ). Metanotum sloping and strongly convex, without bulging anterior margin ( Fig. 54E View FIGURE 54 ).......................... T. elongata sp. nov.

- Stockier appearance, head subcircular to wide in frontal view, mesosoma 1.4× as long as wide or shorter ( Figs 55 View FIGURE 55 ; 57A, B View FIGURE 57 ); pronotum in lateral view weakly projecting, almost subtruncate anteriorly ( Fig. 57B View FIGURE 57 ). Epicnemial carina weaker but extending on ventral half ( Fig. 57D View FIGURE 57 ). Metanotum vertical with weakly convex surface, anterior margin distinctly bulging........... 5

5. Epicnemial carina stronger and bordered by scattered pubescence. S 2 in lateral view more strongly bulging basally, somewhat depressed posteriorly. Head and mesosoma very densely punctate, interspaces very narrow and ridge-like, some punctures touching and forming short series; punctures on metasoma larger, especially in male. Pubescence of head and mesosoma very sparse, little visible............................................................. T. leptochiloides Gusenleitner View in CoL

- Epicnemial carina weaker and bordered by a dense line of silvery pubescence ( Fig. 57D View FIGURE 57 ). S 2 in lateral view less strongly bulging basally, flattened posteriorly ( Fig. 57F View FIGURE 57 ). Head and mesosoma more sparsely punctate, interspaces narrow but flattened, only isolate punctures arranged in pairs ( Fig. 57C View FIGURE 57 ); punctures on metasoma smaller ( Fig. 57E View FIGURE 57 ). Pubescence on head and mesosoma dense, well visible ( Fig. 57C View FIGURE 57 ).................................................... T. pruinosa sp. nov.