Stenarella delicata, Santos & Bordera, 2025

3.1.4. Stenarella delicata sp. nov.

Figures 1 F View Figure 1 , 6 View Figure 6 , 23 D View Figure 23 , 28 View Figure 28

Etymology.

From the Latin adjective delicatus, - a, - um, meaning “ delicate ”, referencing the fact that this is the smallest of the Stenarella species.

Diagnosis.

Stenarella delicata sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Stenarella species by the combination of the following characters: vertex finely granulate with very sparse setiferous punctures (Fig. 6 E View Figure 6 ); mesoscutum densely and shallowly punctate (Fig. 6 E View Figure 6 ); propodeum relatively long, dorsal profile in lateral view evenly convex and sloped (Fig. 6 D View Figure 6 ); areolet closed (Fig. 6 C View Figure 6 ); vein 2 m-cu antefurcal to vein 3 rs-m (Fig. 6 C View Figure 6 ); genal orbit only dorsally yellow cream (Fig. 6 D View Figure 6 ); mesosoma mostly dark orange (Fig. 6 D, E View Figure 6 ); wings hyaline (Fig. 6 A, C View Figure 6 ).

Description.

FEMALE. Fore wing 6.3–7.8 mm long. — Head (Fig. 6 A, B, D, E View Figure 6 ): Mandible, clypeus and face moderately setose. Mandible punctate, MLW 2.3–2.5. Malar space short, MSM 0.50–0.55. Clypeus sparsely punctate, CWL 2.8–3.0. Clypeus and face centrally mostly flat. Face centrally weakly rugulose, elsewhere sparsely punctate on finely granulate background. Frons shiny, shallowly granulate and sparsely punctate, with complete but anteriorly faint longitudinal carina Vertex finely granulate with very sparse setiferous punctures. Antenna with 29–30 flagellomeres. — Mesosoma (Figs 1 F View Figure 1 , 6 A, C – E View Figure 6 ): Pronotum with distinct longitudinal striae, anterodorsal corner smooth. Epomia strong, reaching pronotal depression. Mesoscutum densely and shallowly punctate. Notaulus reaching 0.65 of mesoscutum with minute transverse striae. Scutellum with sparse, large shallow punctures. Mesopleuron and metapleuron moderately setose. Mesopleuron dorsally rugulose – strigose, ventrally finely rugulose. Epicnemial carina weak but complete through subtegular ridge. Sternaulus shallow and sinuous, reaching posterior rim of mesopleuron. Metapleuron rugulose. Propodeum relatively long, dorsal profile in lateral view evenly convex and sloped. Anterior area of propodeum rugulose. Propodeal spiracle elliptic, SLW 2.5–2.65. Posterior area of propodeum strongly rugulose. Posterior transverse carina of propodeum medially distinct as an M – shaped ridge, laterally absent, distance to anterior transverse carina 2 times the distance from anterior carina to anterior margin of propodeum. Areolet closed distally by an unpigmented vein 3 rs-m, APH 0.45–0.50. Vein 2 m-cu antefurcal to vein 3 rs-m. Hind wing vein Cua distinctly longer than crossvein cu-a, HW 1 C 2.0. — Metasoma (Fig. 6 A, F View Figure 6 ): Posterior end of S 1 placed approximately opposite to spiracle of T 1. T 1 LW 2.3–2.4; T 1 WW 2.05–2.2; T 2 LW 0.95–1.15; T 2 WW 2.3–2.35. Thyridium about 2 times as long as wide. T 2 mostly minutely punctate reticulate on a granulate background, small anterior dorsal portion granulate. Dorsal valve of ovipositor with 5 teeth. Ventral valve with 9 teeth. OST 2.85–3.0. — Color (Figs 1 F View Figure 1 , 6 View Figure 6 ): Head black: labrum, mandible except apex, mouthparts, facial and frontal orbits, genal orbit except ventral part and lateral spots on clypeus whitish; scape and pedicel yellowish ventrally. Antenna dark brown, f 7 – f 10 dorsally white, f 6 and f 11 only partially white. Mesosoma mostly dark orange: propleuron and ventral part of pronotum dark brown; dorsal lateral rim of pronotum yellow. Legs mostly dark orange; fore femur and tibia clearer. Wing hyaline. Metasoma black. T 1 brown; posterior bands on T 1 – T 2 and posterior part of T 5 – T 7 extensively, whitish. — MALE. Unknown.

Hosts.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Afrotropical. Known records from Nigeria and Uganda (Fig. 23 D View Figure 23 ).

Material examined.

3 ♀♀. Holotype. UGANDA • ♀; Kampala; X.1965; Denis F. Owen ( USUC). Dry pinned. Complete . — Paratypes. NIGERIA • 1 ♀, Oyo state, Ibadan; Oyo International Institute of Tropical Agriculture , 23–30.I.2007; bamboo thicket rainforest 230 m; 48666, 3.8901 ( USNM) . UGANDA • 1 ♀; Wakison district, Entebbe ; 11.IX.1909; C. A. Wiggins; No. 475 ( OXUM) .