Stenarella victoriae ( Cameron, 1912 )

3.1.18. Stenarella victoriae ( Cameron, 1912) View in CoL

Figures 1 B View Figure 1 , 21 View Figure 21 , 22 F View Figure 22 , 25 D View Figure 25 , 28 View Figure 28

Mesostenus victoriae Cameron, 1912: 179. Holotype ♀ ( NHMUK, examined).

Parasilsila trilineata Cheesman, 1936: 368. Holotype ♀ ( NHMUK, examined). Synonymized by Townes et al. (1961).

Diagnosis.

Stenarella victoriae can be distinguished from all other Stenarella species by the combination of the following characters: mesoscutum densely punctate (Fig. 21 E View Figure 21 ); areolet usually open, vein 2 rs-m obliterated (Fig. 21 C View Figure 21 ); propodeum medially and posteriorly to anterior transverse carina coarsely transversely striate (Fig. 1 B View Figure 1 ); mesosoma black, with well defined whitish marks (Fig. 21 A, D, E View Figure 21 , 22 F View Figure 22 ); propodeum with one medial posterior large whitish mark (Figs 1 B View Figure 1 , 22 F View Figure 22 ).

Description.

FEMALE. Fore wing 10.0– 12.5 mm long. — Head (Fig. 21 A, B, D, E View Figure 21 ): Mandible, clypeus and face moderately setose. Mandible mostly sparsely punctate, MLW 2.1–2.25. Malar space short, MSM 0.40–0.45. Clypeus sparsely punctate, CWL 3.15–3.20. Clypeus slightly convex, face centrally distinctly convex. Face granulate – punctate, dorsomedially rougher, with median minute tubercle between antennal sockets. Frons and vertex mostly densely punctate, frons medially rugulose – punctate, with interrupted longitudinal carina. Antenna with 35–37 flagellomeres. — Mesosoma (Fig. 1 B View Figure 1 , 21 A, C – E View Figure 21 ): Pronotum mostly smooth, with distinct longitudinal striae along anterior depression and posterior margin, dorsal lateral part strongly and densely punctate. Epomia long and strong, ending distinctly on pronotal collar. Mesoscutum densely punctate. Notaulus reaching 0.80 of mesoscutum, with minute transverse striae. Scutellum mostly punctate with central part smooth. Mesopleuron and metapleuron moderately setose. Mesopleuron dorsally densely punctate, centrally strigose punctate, ventrally rugulose punctate. Epicnemial carina weak (better seen in ventrolateral view), reaching 0.4–0.5 of distance to subtegular ridge. Sternaulus deep and sinuous, reaching posterior rim of mesopleuron. Metapleuron posterodorsally rugose punctate, anteriorly rugulose punctate and posteroventrally strigose punctate. Propodeum relatively long, dorsal profile in lateral view evenly convex and sloped. Anterior area of propodeum densely punctate, with median longitudinal carina distinct. Propodeal spiracle elliptic, SLW 5.0–5.25. Posterior area of propodeum anteriorly rugulose reticulate, posteriorly and medially, coarsely striate transversally, laterally rugulose striate. Posterior transverse carina of propodeum absent. Areolet small, open distally, APH 0.4–0.45. Vein 2 rs-m obliterated. Hind wing vein Cua distinctly longer than crossvein cu-a, HW 1 C 2.75–2.85. — Metasoma (Fig. 21 A, F View Figure 21 ): Posterior end of S 1 placed anterior to or approximately opposite to spiracle of T 1; T 1 LW 2.8–3.2; T 1 WW 2.4–2.5; T 2 LW 1.1–1.15; T 2 WW 2.1–2.15. T 2 minutely punctate reticulate on a granulate background. Dorsal valve of ovipositor with 8 teeth. Ventral valve with 11 teeth. OST 3.4–3.5. — Color (Figs 1 B View Figure 1 , 21 View Figure 21 ): Head mostly black: labrum, clypeus, face centrally, mandibles except distal part and eye orbits, whitish and f 7–13 (14) dorsally white. Mesosoma mostly black; propleuron widely, dorsal lateral margin, spot on medial dorsal part and a ventral anterior spot on pronotum, subtegular ridge, spot between median anterior part of mesopleuron and median posterior part of epicnemium, posterior ventral corner of mesopleuron, mesepisternum, dorsal division of metapleuron, wide dorsal mark on posterior part of metapleuron, central spot on mesoscutum, tegula, scutellum laterally and dorsally, and a large medial posterior spot on propodeum, yellow cream. Legs mostly orange; distal part of hind femur and tibia, base of t 1, and t 5 dark brown; distal part of t 1 and t 2–4 whitish. Wing hyaline. Metasoma mostly dark brown to black, T 1 – T 8 posteriorly yellow cream banded. — MALE (Fig. 22 F View Figure 22 ). Fore wing 8.7–10.2 mm long. — Head: MLW 1.9–2.0; MSM about 0.36. CWL 2.6–2.7. Antenna with 32–37 flagellomeres. Tyloids on f 14 – f 18, sometimes on f 15–18 or f 13–19. — Mesosoma: SLW 5.5–6.0., HW 1 C 2.2–2.7. — Metasoma: Posterior end of S 1 placed posterior to spiracle of T 1; T 1 LW 4.9–5.1; T 1 WW 1.5–2.0; T 2 LW 1.4–1.8; T 2 WW 2.2–2.4. — Color: As female, but antenna with f 7 – f 19 dorsally white, first one and last one partially, some specimens without white band; face and mesosternum entirely whitish. Other characters as in female.

Comments

According to Gauld (1984), this species is “ fairly common in Queensland and New South Wales ”, and it is well-represented in Australian collections.

Hosts.

Auplopus sp. ( Hymenoptera ; Pompilidae ), Sceliphron sp. ( Hymenoptera ; Sphecidae ).

Distribution.

Australasian. Known records from Australia ( Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria) (Fig. 25 D View Figure 25 ).

Material examined.

10 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂. AUSTRALIA • 1 ♀; Queensland, Acadia Ridge ; 20. Dec. 1979, G. Gordhi ( USNM) • 1 ♀ 1 ♂; same data except 29. Dec. 1979 • 1 ♀; same date except 30. Dec. 1979 • 1 ♀; Queensland, Rockhampton ; 1870; Thozet, ( MNHN) • 1 ♀, Tasmania, Verreaux ; March 1947 ( MNHN) • 1 ♀ 1 ♂; Queensland, N. of Mt. Molloy, Kingfisher Park, Julatten , 14.XI.1996, G. R. Else • 1 ♀; Queensland, Brisvane, Gap , Ashgrove, August, F. G. Smith ( USUC) • 1 ♀; Queensland, Rockhampton ; Coll. Bingham ( MFNB) • 1 ♀; Victoria; Musk , 25.II–4.III.2016; A. Campoy Leg.; Rza. 1; Malaise trap ( CEUA) • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Victoria; same locality but 6–19.I.2017; A. Campoy Leg.; Rza. 24; Malaise trap ( CEUA) .