3.1.17.

Figures 1 L, 20, 22E, 25 C, 28

Etymology.

Named after hymenopterist Simon van Noort (SAMC), who collected the holotype of this species and as a homage to his extraordinary 33 - year effort to document and understand the Afrotropical entomofauna, including many invaluable contributions to the systematics of Ichneumonidae. Noun in genitive case.

Diagnosis.

Stenarella vannoorti sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Stenarella species by the combination of the following characters: mandible striated at basal half (Fig. 20 C); mesoscutum mostly smooth and shiny (Fig. 20 F); notaulus conspicuously wide with coarse spaced transverse keels (Fig. 20 F); posterior area of propodeum rugulose strigose (Fig. 1 L); propodeal spiracle short, SLW 1.4–1.45 (Fig. 20 E). Additionally, female has clypeus and face concave in lateral profile; areolet open (Fig. 20 D), and mesosoma mostly orange (Fig. 20 E). Male has clypeus and face in lateral profile almost flat; propodeum and metapleuron black and all coxae dark brown to black (Fig. 22 E).

Description.

FEMALE. Fore wing 8.1 mm long. — Head (Fig. 20 A – C, E, F): Mandible, clypeus and face moderately setose. Mandible distinctly striate, MLW 2.2. Malar space moderately long, MSM 0.7. Clypeus sparsely punctate, CWL 2.45. Clypeus and face centrally slightly but distinctly concave. Face centrally weakly rugulose, elsewhere granulate. Frons shiny, granulate and wrinkled posteriorly to antennal sockets, with only traces of longitudinal carina. Vertex granulate with sparse punctures. Antenna with 32 flagellomeres. — Mesosoma (Fig. 1 L, 20 A, D – F): Pronotum mostly smooth, with distinct punctures along dorsal margin, dorsally and ventrally with longitudinal striae on pronotal depression; anterior rim rugulose punctate. Epomia long and strong, reaching pronotal depression. Mesoscutum mostly smooth and shiny, with dense and shallow punctures on anterior part of median lobe. Notaulus conspicuously wide, reaching 0.65 of mesoscutum with strong transverse striae. Scutellum rugulose punctate. Mesopleuron and metapleuron moderately setose. Mesopleuron mostly rugulose, with short longitudinal striae along epicnemial carina. Epicnemial carina weak but complete through subtegular ridge. Sternaulus deep 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 weakly rugulose. Propodeal spiracle elliptic, SLW 1.4–1.45. Posterior area of propodeum rugulose strigose. Posterior transverse carina of propodeum medially indistinct, sublaterally present but weakly discernible from other propodeal striae, distance to anterior transverse carina 1.5 times the distance from anterior carina to anterior margin of propodeum. Areolet very small, open distally, APH 0.35. Hind wing vein Cua distinctly longer crossvein cu-a, HW 1 C 2.0. — Metasoma (Fig. 20 A, G): Posterior end of S 1 placed approximately opposite to spiracle of T 1; T 1 LW 2.9; T 1 WW 1.9; T 2 LW 1.3; T 2 WW 2.55. Thyridium about 2 times as long as wide. T 2 mostly punctate reticulate on a granulate background, except for small granulate portion on anterior part. Dorsal valve of ovipositor with 4 teeth. Ventral valve with 10 teeth. OST 5.4. — Color (Figs 1 L, 20): Head black; clypeus, face, frons and vertex, partially bright orange. Antenna dark brown, f 6 – f 10 dorsally white. Mesosoma mostly orange; propleuron, pronotum anteriorly, sternal groove and posterior part of mesosternum, metasternum and ventral part of metapleuron black. Legs mostly dark brown; fore femur tibia and tarsus clearer. Wing hyaline slightly obscured distally. Metasoma mostly black, T 5 – T 8 posteriorly white. — MALE (Fig. 22 E). Fore wing about 8 mm long. — Head: Face and clypeus flat in lateral profile; malar space short, MSM 0.35; CWL 2.5. Frons smooth and shiny, with fine sparse punctures and weak longitudinal carina. Vertex smooth with sparse punctures. Antenna with 32 flagellomeres, tyloids on f 14 – f 16. — Mesosoma: Pronotum mostly smooth, with strong longitudinal striae along pronotal depression, weaker on posterior rim. Scutellum punctate. Anterior area of propodeum rugulose punctate. SLW 1.45. Areolet short, closed distally, APH 0.45. Hind wing vein Cua distinctly longer than crossvein cu-a, HW 1 C about 1.3. — Metasoma: Posterior end of S 1 placed posterior to spiracle of T 1; T 1 LW 3.3; T 1 WW 2.35; T 2 LW 2.35; T 2 WW 1.55. Thyridium about 2.25 times as long as wide. — Color: Antenna dark brown, f 8 – f 16 dorsally white, f 17 partially. Mesosoma mostly orange; propleuron, pronotum anteriorly, mesosternum, posterior part of mesopleuron, posterior axillae, metapleuron and propodeum, black. Legs mostly dark brown; fore and mid femurs and tibiae orange; hind t 2 – t 4 white. Wing hyaline. Metasoma mostly black, T 1 – T 5 posteriorly white. T 6 – T 8 widely white. Other characters as in female.

Hosts.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Afrotropical. Known records from South Africa (Fig. 25 C).

Material examined.

1 ♀, 1 ♂. Holotype. SOUTH AFRICA ♀ • Eastern Cape, Asante Sana Game Reserve; 32°163762′S 24°57.309′E; 1186 m; Southern Karoo riviere, riverine woodland; 23.II–7.IV.2010; S. van Noort leg.; Malaise; ASA 09 – WOO 1 – M 06 / SAM–HYM–P 049958 (SAMC). Dry pinned. Distal flagellomeres from f 6 of left antenna, mid and hind left legs, missing; flagellomeres from f 2 of right antenna and left ovipositor sheath glued on cardboard label. — Paratype. SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; KwalaZulu – Natal, Pietermaritzburg; 27.X.1970; H. & M. Townes (USUC).