Stenarella natalina, Santos & Bordera, 2025

3.1.12. Stenarella natalina sp. nov.

Figures 2 A View Figure 2 , 15 View Figure 15 , 24 D View Figure 24 , 28 View Figure 28

Etymology.

Named after the KwaZulu-Natal province, where one of the paratypes was collected. From the Latinized adjective natalinus, - a, - um.

Diagnosis.

Stenarella natalina sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Stenarella species by the combination of the following characters: clypeus and face in lateral view with flat profile; mandible striated at basal half; mesoscutum smooth and shiny (Fig. 15 F View Figure 15 ); notaulus narrow with very fine dense transverse keels (Fig. 15 F View Figure 15 ); posterior area of propodeum finely rugulose strigose medially, strongly rugulose laterally (Fig. 2 A View Figure 2 ); propodeal spiracle elongated, SLW 2.6–2.75 (Fig. 15 C View Figure 15 ); areolet closed (Fig. 15 E View Figure 15 ); posterior end of S 1 placed posteriorly to spiracle of T 1 (Fig. 15 D View Figure 15 ); thyridium 2.25–2.4 times as long as wide (Fig. 15 D View Figure 15 ); mesosoma mostly dark orange (Fig. 15 C View Figure 15 ); wing hyaline or evenly infuscate (Fig. 15 A View Figure 15 ).

Description.

FEMALE. Fore wing 8.0– 11.3 mm long. — Head (Fig. 15 A – C, F View Figure 15 ): Mandible, clypeus and face moderately setose. Mandible striated, MLW 2.3–2.5. Malar space short, MSM 0.35–0.40. Clypeus smooth, CWL 2.6–2.9. Clypeus and face centrally mostly flat. Face centrally distinctly rugulose, elsewhere smooth and shiny. Frons sparsely punctate with interrupted longitudinal carina. Vertex smooth and shiny. Antenna with 32 flagellomeres (Missing). — Mesosoma (Figs 2 A View Figure 2 , 15 A, C, E, F View Figure 15 ): Pronotum mostly smooth, with short longitudinal striae along pronotal depression. Epomia strong, reaching pronotal depression. Mesoscutum almost entirely smooth and shiny. Notaulus reaching 0.70 of mesoscutum, with minute transverse striae. Scutellum with sparse, large shallow lateral punctures. Mesopleuron and metapleuron moderately setose. Mesopleuron mostly rugulose punctate, with short irregular striae on anterodorsal corner and bordering posterior part of epicnemium. Epicnemial carina weak (better seen in ventrolateral view), reaching 0.6 of distance to subtegular ridge. Sternaulus shallow and sinuous, reaching posterior rim of mesopleuron. Metapleuron rugulose punctate. Propodeum relatively long, dorsal profile in lateral view evenly convex and sloped. Anterior area of propodeum coarsely rugose punctate. Propodeal spiracle elliptic, SLW 2.6–2.75. Posterior area of propodeum finely rugulose strigose medially, strongly rugulose laterally. Posterior transverse carina of propodeum absent. Areolet small, closed distally by an unpigmented vein 3 rs-m, APH 0.4–0.45. Vein 2 m-cu antefurcal to vein 3 rs-m. Hind wing vein Cua distinctly longer than crossvein cu-a, HW 1 C 2.15–2.25. — Metasoma (Fig. 15 A, D, G View Figure 15 ): Posterior end of S 1 placed posteriorly to spiracle of T 1. T 1 LW 2.55–2.75; T 1 WW 2.15–2.3; T 2 LW 1.25–1.45; T 2 WW 2.05–2.2. Thyridium 2.25–2.4 times as long as wide. T 2 mostly punctate reticulate on a finely granulate background, anterior part finely granulate. Dorsal valve of ovipositor with 5 teeth. Ventral valve with 9 teeth. OST 4.50–4.9. — Color (Fig. 2 A View Figure 2 , 15 View Figure 15 ): Head black; labrum clypeus, mandibles except apex, mouthparts, spot on malar space, facial and frontal orbits and genal orbit dorsally, whitish; f 6 – f 12 dorsally white. Mesosoma dark orange; propleuron ventrally, pronotum anteroventrally mesosternum and metasternum, black. Fore and mid legs mostly brown; coxae dark brown; trochanters and partially trochantelli, whitish. Hind leg mostly dark brown; t 2 – t 3 whitish. Wing hyaline. Metasoma black. T 1 – T 2 with whitish mark on about 0.2 of their length, slightly visible on T 3; T 6 – T 7 dorsally whitish. — MALE. Unknown.

Hosts.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Afrotropical. Known records from South Africa and Tanzania (Fig. 24 D View Figure 24 ).

Material examined.

3 ♀♀. Holotype. SOUTH AFRICA • ♀ Bethel ; W. Capland Beste; 26368; Mesostenus tripartitus var. det. Brulle ( MFNB) . Dry pinned. Both antennae broken at first third; right hind tibia and tarsus missing. — Paratypes. SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♀; Natal (= KwaZulu – Natal ); Purchased 1875; W. W. Saunders Coll. ( OXUM) . TANZANIA • 1 ♀; Lindi Region, Matumbi Highlands, Mwengei ; 1050 ft; – 8.3463889, 38.96; 25.XI.1989; R. B. Hynd collection / BMNH (E) 1998–129 ( NHMUK) .