Ropalidia flavoscutellata Polašek, 2025

Ropalidia flavoscutellata Polašek sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2AE8E5B5-4650-4E42-A41D-E60CB8D6DBAB

Type specimens. Holotype: Uelleburg , Equatorial Guinea, 1♀ ( MFNB.06) . Paratypes: 2♀♀ with the same collection data as the holotype ( MFN); Ruwensori Fuss , DR Congo , 1♀ ( MFNB); Buamba , Uganda , 1♀ ( NHM); Bambesa , DR Congo , 1♀ ( RMCA); Likete , DR Congo , 1♀ ( RMCA); Abumombazi , DR Congo , 1♀ ( RMCA); Akoupe , DR Congo , 2♀♀ ( RMCA); Yangambi , DR Congo , 1♀ ( RMCA); Congo Belge , 1♀ ( NMW); Eala , DR Congo , 2♀♀, 1♂ ( RMCA); Dzanga-Sangha , Central African Republic , 1♂ ( AMNH _IZC_00179519); RÉserve Spéciale de Forét Dense de Dzanga-Sangha , Central African Republic , 1♂ ( SAM. A026699 View Materials ); Dzanga-Ndoki , Central African Republic , 1♂ ( AMNH _IZC_00179520); Eala (Mbandaka), DR Congo , 1♂ ( OLM). The total number of examined specimens : 15♀♀, 4♂♂.

Diagnosis. Defining features of this species include developed inferior propodeal carina with yellow rhomboid patch underneath, combined with weak superior propodeal carina and very trichose wings. In contrast to similar R. haladaorum sp. nov., this species has more yellow markings on the body, including almost entirely yellow scutellum and generally weaker punctures, especially on metapleuron and gena.

Description. Female. Wing length: 9.4–11.6 mm. Colour. Basal colour brown, with numerous yellow markings: clypeus (except basal brown line or bilateral brown spots), large spot on mandible base or entire mandible, inner orbit, interantennal area, large spot on gena ( Figure 24b View FIGURE 24 ); large dorso-medial spot on pronotum or entire pronotum, mesonotum dark brown (sometimes with two reddish lines that can be merged into quadratic area), one or two large yellow spots on mesopleuron ( Figure 24a View FIGURE 24 ), large area on metapleuron or entire metapleuron, two merged spots on scutellum (scutellum reddish in one specimen) and two diamond-shaped yellow spots underneath inferior propodeal carina ( Figure 23a View FIGURE 23 ). All three coxa pairs yellow, all three femora pairs with irregular yellow patches ( Figure 91a View FIGURE 91 ). Tibia ferruginous, tarsi darker, terminal tarsal segment ferruginous. Wings yellowish, stigma brown, semi-transparent ( Figure 23b View FIGURE 23 ). Metasoma with numerous yellow markings, including bilateral triangular spot on lateral side of T1 (merged medio-dorsally in one specimen), posterior band on T2 (sometimes be expanded into over half of tergum in yellow), posterior band on S2 ( Figure 91a View FIGURE 91 ). Antenna dark brown from above, scape yellow underneath, flagellomeres orange underneath ( Figure 24a View FIGURE 24 ).

Head. Clypeus pentagonal, with angled and almost straight lateral sides (oculo-clypeal angle very weak or missing; Figure 24b View FIGURE 24 ). Clypeus base with hardly discernible punctures that change into craters apically. Inner orbit with occasional poorly defined puncture, usually impunctate. Gena slightly thinner than eye ( Figure 24a View FIGURE 24 ), mostly shiny, with only small and poorly defined punctures close to inferior eye margin; posterior half of gena almost entirely impunctate. Frons with large and shallow punctures; ocelli acute forward, eye setae very short. Scape about as long as AF1, AF2 1.3–1.4 times as long as wide.

Mesosoma. Mesosoma with large and shallow punctures, especially posterior half of mesopleuron. Mesonotum with large, poorly defined and very shallow punctures; area lateral to parapsidal furrows with slightly sparser punctures. Metapleuron impunctate. Scutellum rounded, elevated, with median carina that usually extends along its entire length. Metanotum with very large shiny impunctate area, and only some punctures in upper lateral angles; median tooth not developed. Propodeum regularly striate, upper carina weak ( Figure 23a View FIGURE 23 ). Inferior propodeal carina triangular, well developed, and usually with hyaline rim ( Figure 23a View FIGURE 23 ). Wings densely trichose, with numerous overlapping black or brown setae ( Figure 23b View FIGURE 23 ).

Metasoma. T1 comparatively slender and elongated, with developed posterior constriction ( Figure 91a View FIGURE 91 ). T2 bell-shaped, with minimal terminal constriction. T2/S2 suture comparatively underdeveloped, not reaching more than third of segment length; T2 lamella whitish or yellowish, semi-transparent.

Males. Wing length: 10.4–10.7 mm. Colour. More yellow than females; clypeus, inner orbit and interantennal area completely yellow; gena with large yellow spot, tempora, frons and vertex brown ( Figure 59a View FIGURE 59 ). Mesosoma underside, including coxa I–III yellow ( Figure 59a View FIGURE 59 ). Scutellum yellow, metanotum either with bilateral yellow spot or completely yellow.

Head. Clypeus pentagonal, with rounded angles and slightly protruding apex; upes curved, OC angle not developed; clypeus with minute punctures, hardly discernible underneath pubescence ( Figure 60a View FIGURE 60 ). Gena about half of eye width, more coarsely punctate. Scape thicker than AF1, AF2 about 1.6–1.8 times as long as wide ( Figure 59b View FIGURE 59 ). AF1–11 with progressively broader matt tyloids. Terminal flagellomere long, curved and with obtuse apex ( Figure 59b View FIGURE 59 ).

Mesosoma. Tarsal I spur not developed.

Metasoma. S7 mildly concave.

Distribution. The Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, DR Congo, Uganda.

Etymology. The name is a combination of the Latin words flavus -a -um (“yellow”) and scutellum, with an adjectival ending, and refers to the yellow colour of the scutellum.

Similar species. R. haladaorum sp. nov., separated by numerous differences listed in the key to species.

Genetics. One specimen was partly genotyped, but the sequence was insufficient for the BIN assignment.