Micrepimera berentiana sp. n.

(Figs. 1–9)

Type material. Holotype male: MADAGASCAR, Berenty Reserve, 6.–16.v.1983, J.S. Noyes & M.C. Day (BMNH). Paratypes: 4 males with the same data (BMNH, HNHM, SMOC).

Diagnosis. Flagellomeres narrowing gradually towards the apex of antenna, the apical flagellomeres not markedly reduced as in M. pandastica (described below) or M. punctipennis. The first palpomere as long as broad, third palpomere longer than in M. pandastica (cf. Figs. 3 and 14). Apical third of wing without markings. Vein A1 strong, apically tapering, almost reaching wing margin. Gonocoxites completely fused.

Description. Male. Measurements in mm (holotype): body length 4.45, wing length 2.95, wing width 1.05 (ratio of length to width 2.8).

Head. Mostly dark brown. Compound eyes large, covering almost all the head from lateral view, shortly pubescent. Cerebral sclerite subcircular, with a sagittal furrow in posterior half and three ocelli in anterior half. Median ocellus directed forward, posterior ones laterally. Cerebral sclerite separated from the frons by a membraneous area reaching laterally above the eyes. Antenna (Fig. 7) with 14 unicolorous light brown flagellomeres. Scape and pedicel globular rather than cylindrical, scape broader than long, pedicel slightly longer than broad. Flagellomeres not compressed laterally, and narrowing rather gradually towards the apical flagellomere (Fig. 8). The apical flagellomeres are not markedly thin or reduced. No flagellar setae longer than the width of the flagellum. Palpus (Fig. 3) medium-long, with 4 palpomeres, the first palpomere globular, i.e. not longer than broad.

Thorax. Mostly dark brown. Scutum with two rows of dorsocentral setae and laterally with prealar and postalar setae. Scutellum dark brown, with a transverse row of fine subapical setae, without long apical bristles. Mediotergite and laterotergite bare. Anepisternum with several setae along the anterodorsal margin. Preepisternum 2 bare, brown except the upper fourth, which is pale. Anepimeron small, not reaching between preepisternum 2 and laterotergite. Haltere yellowish, slightly longer than the first abdominal tergite.

Wing. Hyaline, membrane covered with microtrichia, without macrotrichia. Apical third of wing without markings. A distinct dark convex band in the middle of wing, reaching from R4 to Cu-fork (Fig. 2). C produced beyond R5 to 3/5 of the distance of the tips of R5 and M1. Costa, R1 and R5 covered with macrotrichia. R1 ending in C at about half of the length of wing. Radio-median fusion faint but traceable. Basal portion of media developed. CuA1 approaching CuA2 bellow r-m fusion. CuP fold-like, thin, long but not reaching wing margin. Vein A1 strong, apically tapering, almost reaching wing margin.

Legs. Mid and hind legs missing in all type specimens. Coxae brownish yellow, darkened at basal half. Hind coxa widened towards the base. Fore tibia about as long as the first tarsomere. The apex of fore tibia widened, without distinct anteroapical depressed area. Fore tibia with one apical spur, as long as maximum tibial diameter.

Abdomen. Tergite 1 brown, laterally lighter, apically pointed. T2–T7 brown, with pale (less sclerotized) anterior band. Segment 8 and terminalia all dark.

Terminalia (Figs 4–6, 9). Terminalia rather small (compare scales on figures with M. pandastica). Tergite 9 (Fig. 4) much broader than long, shield-shaped, with sparse long setae on posterior third. Cerci and proctiger (Fig. 5) of a distinctive structure: with long anteriorly directed pair of processes and a pair of apical setae. Gonocoxites fused completely (Fig. 6). Gonocoxal apodeme well-developed (Fig. 9). Gonostylus (Fig. 6) rather thick with a short curved blunt apex. Inner genitalia (Fig. 9) with a pair of broad rounded posterolateral appendages on the transverse connecting sclerite.

Female. Unknown.

Biology. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific name (adjective) refers to the type locality (Berenty Reserve).