Cleruchus pluteus Enock.

The worldwide genus Cleruchus contains a variety of species known as parasitoids of Coleoptera (Triapitsyn et al. 2013, Barnes 2014). Bakkendorfia contains only one described species, B. musangae Mathot that Mathot (1966) treated as being related to Parallelaptera Enock (now a subgenus of Erythmelus Enock) based on a large hypopygium. While this is one defining feature of Erythmelus, Mathot’s species differs from Erythmelus in many other respects, particularly in the structure of the head and mandibles.

We examined the type series (Fig. 3, holotype slide) and found that Bakkendorfia matches Cleruchus in all its features. We therefore transfer the type species to Cleruchus as C. musangae (Mathot), comb. n., and illustrate it. Features that define Cleruchusinclude: posterior ocelli widely separated and close to the eye margins, forming a low ocellar triangle (Fig. 1); frenum transverse and somewhat oval in shape (Fig. 1); head in lateral view with a distinctly bulging face; and mandible with 2 teeth. Females have a short ovipositor (Fig. 2) and large clava almost as long as the relatively short funicle, the individual segments of which are usually more or less quadrate (Figs 1, 2, 4). The most obvious generic feature, a parallel-sided fore wing with few microtrichia on its surface and a slightly widened and curved stigmal vein (Fig. 5), is one that is not always present because the degree of wing development varies considerably among species of Cleruchus. Wingless species have been described (Yoshimoto 1971, Triapitsyn et al. 2013, Triapitsyn 2014a) and among fully winged species, the fore wing of C. biciliatus (Ferrière) has a greatly reduced surface and only two (or sometimes four) long marginal setae and the hind wing is greatly shortened, without marginal setae (Fig. 6).

Figures 1–3. 

Cleruchus musangae (Mathot), holotype habitus 1 dorsal 2 ventral, as seen through body from above 3 holotype slide. Scale bar: 500 μm.

Figures 4, 5. 

Cleruchus musangae (Mathot), holotype 4 antennae 5 fore wing. Scale bars: 200 μm.

Figure 6. 

Cleruchus biciliatus (Ferrière), paratype habitus. Scale bar: 500 μm.

A formal decision by ICZN on the correct type species to use is pending so the species in not named here. See petition by Huber et al. (2011) and comments and corrigendum (Huber 2014).

The worldwide genus Anaphes contains a variety of species known as parasitoids of several insect orders, summarized in Huber (1986). Features that define Anaphes include: fore wing with socketed seta present at apex of frenal fold; propodeum with a median longitudinal groove; petiole short, almost vertical, much wider than long crescent closely appressed to gt₁; and gt₁ longitudinally divided medially.

Holotype female (UCRC) on slide (Fig. 16) labelled: 1. “Anaphes quinquearticulatus Huber & Triapitsyn ♀ dorsal Holotype”. 2. “Rep. Congo: Pool Abio, Lesio-Louna Park, 3°6'1"S, 15°31'26"E 29.vii.2008 Sharkey MT”. 3.“Univ. Calif. Riverside Ent. Res. Museum UCRC Ent. 264592”. 4. “Mounted at UCR/ERM by V.V. Berezovskiy 2008 in Canada balsam”. Paratypes: 3 females. REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. Pool. Lesio-Louna Wildlife Reserve, Abio, 330 m, 3°06.020'S, 15°31.440'E, 29.vii.2008, M. Sharkey & Y. Braet, MT (1 female, UCRC); Iboubikro, 3°16'11"S, 15°28'16"E, 23.vii.2008, M. Sharkey, MT (2 females, CNC, UCRC).

Figures 7, 8. 

Anaphes quinquearticulatus, holotype 7 head + mesosoma 8 antennae. Scale bars: 100 μm.

Female. Funicle 5-segmented (Figs 8, 15), with 1 mps on fl₁–fl₄ and 2 mps on fl₅ (Fig. 8), the mps unusually wide (Figs 7, 8). Mandible with 5 teeth (Figs 9, 10).

Figures 9, 10. 

Anaphes quinquearticulatus, paratype 9 head, anterior showing other mandible 10 mouthparts. Scale bars: 50 μm.

This species is unique among Anaphes in having only five funicle segments, instead of six as in all other described species. Otherwise, A. quinquearticulatus has all the diagnostic features (listed above) of Anaphes. Because fl₁ bears a distinct mps and is as long as any of the remaining segments it is almost certain that the first funicle segment in A. quinquearticulatus, not some other segment, was lost, i.e., fl₁ in this species is equivalent to fl₂ in any other Anaphes species. This is because fl₁ in females of all other Anaphes never have mps and is almost always distinctly shorter than fl₂ or any other segment. The fore wing almost devoid of surface microtrichia is also unique; the single line of microtrichia present represents the line that separates the marginal from the medial spaces in any other Anaphes species. The narrow evenly curved fore wing is also interesting; it is most similar to undescribed Anaphes species found near water in the Oriental region.

Figures 11–13. 

Anaphes quinquearticulatus. 11 holotype mesosoma + metasomadorsal 12 holotype mesosoma + metasoma, ventral as seen through body 13 paratype wings. Scale bars: 100 μm (11, 12) , 200 μm (13).

Female. Body length 255–358 (n=4, slide specimens) (dry length of one paratype before slide mounting 264). Dark brown (presumably), appendages apparently lighter in colour (cleared specimens so colour not really known). Fore wing margin in apical half narrowly but distinctly margined with brown, otherwise with faint uniform brown suffusion over most of surface except partly behind venation.

Head. Head width 123–135 (n=3). Face with 7 setae on each side (Fig. 9) and with faint reticulate sculpture. Mouthparts (Figs 9, 10) with mandible about as long as maxilla and with 5 teeth, the two ventral ones large, the 3 dorsal ones small and in one specimen a small tooth between the large ventral ones (Figs 9, 10). Occiput with vertexal suture (= supraorbital suture extension onto occiput) long and in line with supraorbital trabecula, only weakly diverging from posterior eye margin.

Antenna. Scape on inner surface and pedicel with longitudinally reticulate sculpture; funicle 5-segmented, with 1 mps on fl₁–fl₄ and 2 mps on fl₅ (Fig. 8, 15), the mps unusually wide (Figs 7, 8); clava with 6 mps. Measurements (length/width, n = 3 or 4) of antennal segments: scape 53–60/12–16, pedicel 29–34/20–22, fl₁ 35–37/11–12, fl₂ 33–35/10–12, fl₃ 32–34/10–11, fl₄ 33–35/10–12, fl₅ 38–42/13–16, clava 79–86/19–23. Length/width ratios of antennal segments: scape 3.29–4.26, pedicel 1.52–1.66, fl₁ 3.10–3.41, fl₂ 3.19–3.63, fl₃ 3.04–3.44, fl₄ 3.04–3.48, fl₅ 2.60–2.79, clava ≈3.69–4.55 (clava not always oriented in perfect lateral view).

Mesosoma. Mesoscutum width 82–90 (n=3), with coarse reticulate sculpture, the cells irregularly shaped but more longitudinally stretched on midlobe, more isodiametric anteriorly on lateral lobe (Fig. 7); scutellum with coarse reticulate sculpture, the cells smaller on anterior scutellum, larger and more transversally stretched on frenum (Fig. 7); dorsellum apparently smooth (Figs 11, 12; propodeum with sculpture as on frenum (Figs 11, 12). Mesoscutal midlobe and axilla with relatively long setae.

Wings. Fore wing narrow, beyond level of venation with evenly concave posterior margin and surface with one row of about 10 microtrichia extending from stigmal vein almost to wing apex and a second row extending proximally from socketed seta at apex of frenal fold to just past base of parastigma (Fig. 13). Hind wing without microtrichia on surface between the usual anterior and posterior rows. Fore wing length (n=4) 394–428, width 30–33, length/width 13.0–13.5, longest marginal setae ≈106–127. Hind wing length 376–414, width 13–15, longest marginal setae 86–94.

Legs. Metatarsomere 1 0.78–0.92 × as long as metatarsomere 2 (Fig. 14).

Metasoma. Ovipositor length 124–129 (n=4), 1.13–1.20 × as long as metatibia length (104–114) and extending slightly forward of junction between mesosoma and metasoma (Fig. 14, gaster slightly crushed and poorly oriented).

Male. Unknown.

Figures 14–16. 

Anaphes quinquearticulatus. 14 paratype, lateral habitus 15 antenna 16 holotype slide. Scale bars: 500 μm (14) , 100 μm (15).

Latin for five + articulated; an adjective referring to the unique 5-segmented funicle, the first Anaphes to be described with this reduced antennal segmentation.

Paranaphoidea egregia Girault.

Paranaphoidea contains several described species in Australia (Noyes & Valentine 1989) and one in New Zealand, P. mira (Gahan), that was supposedly reared from Melampsalta muta Fabricius (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) (Gahan 1927). The species name of P. (Idiocentrus) mira, which was transferred to Paranaphoidea by an implied combination at the time of generic synonymy of Idiocentrus by Lin et al. (2007), is an adjective and consequently is being treated here to properly match the feminine gender of Paranaphoidea. Features that define Paranaphoidea include: clava 2- or 3-segmented; face with subantennal groove extending ventrally from each torulus; occiput with a transverse curved groove from eye to eye and medially above foramen; ovipositor projecting anteriorly under mesosoma; and frenum medially divided by a shallow longitudinal groove. The fore wing apex is truncate or rounded and the hind wing is relatively wide in most, but not all, Australian species compared to the rounded fore wing apex and relatively narrow hind wing in the New Zealand species. The ovipositor projects forward under the mesosoma to varying degrees in Australian species and beyond the front of the head in the New Zealand species and also in one undescribed P. (Idiocentrus) sp. from Western Australia (UCRC). The two subgenera are most easily separated by the number of segments in the clava, either two in P. (Paranaphoidea), as in all the Australian species described so far, or three in P. (Idiocentrus), as in the single described New Zealand species.

Even taking into account two specimens (CNC) of an unidentified species of P. (Idiocentrus) from Thailand, the presence of a species of P. (Idiocentrus) in West Africa represents a huge extension in range of Paranaphoidea. We thought perhaps that the African specimen was either mislabelled or was accidentally introduced but these possibilities seem unlikely. Other cases of wide ranges in representatives of a genus initially known to occur only in one region are not uncommon in Mymaridae, e.g., Chrysoctonus Mathot (Huber & Triapitsyn 2015), and intensive collecting eventually results in more specimens of different (or sometimes the same) species from intervening areas being discovered. We treat the specimen below as a new species even though it is extremely similar to P. mira from New Zealand. The recorded host of P. mira, Melampsalta muta is now in Kikihia Dugdale, all of whose species are endemic to New Zealand. It would be interesting to discover the host(s) of Paranaphoidea species that occur outside of New Zealand.

Holotype female (UCRC) on slide (Fig. 17) labelled: 1. “Paranaphoidea africana Huber & Triapitsyn ♀ lateral Holotype”. 2. “Nigeria: Osun State Ile-Ife, 215m, MT Obafemi Awololo [sic] Univ. 7°31'16"N, 4°31'20"E”. 3. “UCRC Mounted by V.V. Berezovskiy 2015 in Canada balsam JDR 2016-818”.

Figures 17–19. 

Paranaphoidea africana holotype 17 holotype slide 18 habitus 19 wings. Scale bars: 1000 μm (18), 500 μm (19).

Female. Clava 3-segmented (division between segment 1 and 2 faint), fl₁ 1.54 × as long as fl₂ and without mps (Fig. 24). Paranaphoidea africana differs in claval segmentation from the Australian species of P. (Paranaphoidea), all of which have a 2-segmented clava. It is most similar to P. (Idiocentrus) mira from New Zealand. It differs from a non-type specimen (in CNC) of P. mira by its fore wing wider (narrower in P. mira, with length/width = 4.88), the hind wing uniformly narrow from apex of venation to just before wing apex and length/width = 16.3 (hind wing slightly wider towards apex, with length/width = 13.7 in P. mira).

Mesosoma + metasoma length 1180 (head mounted face view so its length cannot be measured). Body brown (presumably) except frenum yellowish; upper half of occiput, pedicel, and perhaps also pronotum laterally, propodeum laterally and metapleuron lighter brown; legs except coxae lighter than body (cleared specimen so colour not really known) (Figs 18, 22, 23). Fore wing margin narrowly but distinctly margined with brown, otherwise with faint uniform brown tinge behind submarginal vein and parastigma (except narrowly immediately behind submarginal vein) and along proximal third of hind margin. Hind wing with apical half slightly suffused with brown (Fig. 19).

Head. Head width 236 (eyes collapsed so width should be slightly wider) (Figs 20, 21).

Figures 20, 21. 

Paranaphoidea africana holotype 20 head, anterior 21 head, posterior as seen through head. Scale bars: 100 μm.

Antenna. Funicle without mps on fl₁ and with 2 mps on fl₂–fl₆ (Fig. 24); clava with 7 mps, 2 each on segments 1 and 2, and 3 on segment 3 (Fig. 24). Measurements (length/width) of antennal segments: scape 100/30, pedicel 55/24, fl₁ ≈50/18, fl₂ 94/19, fl₃ 93/18, fl₄ 87/18, fl₅ 86/18, fl₆ 86/21, entire clava 181/50, with segments 1–3 (measured along dorsal margin) 40, 50, and 92, respectively. Length/width ratios of antennal segments: scape 3.33, pedicel 2.25, fl₁ 2.84, fl₂ 4.90, fl₃ 5.04, fl₄ 4.93, fl₅ 4.88, fl₆ 4.13, entire clava 3.65.

Figures 22–24. 

Paranaphoidea africana holotype 22 mesosoma + metasoma, lateral 23 mesosoma + base of metasoma, lateral 24 antenna. Scale bars: 500 μm.

Mesosoma. Frenum poorly sclerotized and collapsed inward (Figs 22, 23).

Wings. Fore wing with evenly rounded apex, without microtrichia behind and just beyond venation, then microtrichia evenly distributed to wing apex. Hind wing parallel-sided throughout its length beyond venation and apex pointed, with a few widely spaced proximally beyond venation then microtrichia more numerous in apical 0.4 of wing between the usual anterior and posterior rows (Fig. 19). Fore wing length 954, width 222, length/width 4.30, longest marginal setae 128. Hind wing length 872, width 47, longest marginal setae 118.

Metasoma. Ovipositor length 1300, 4.15 × as long as metatibia length (313) and extending anteriorly well forward of head (if it were attached and in its normal position) (Fig. 18).

Male. Unknown.

The species is named after the continent of Africa, because this is the first species of Paranaphoidea reported from there.

Allanagrus magniclava Noyes & Valentine.

Allanagrus contains three described species in Australia (Lin et al. 2007) and one in New Zealand (Noyes & Valentine 1989), but the genus also occurs in the Oriental region (Triapitsyn 2014b). Allanagrus species have the clava 3-segmented (or apparently so in some doubtful cases) and tarsi 4-segmented, both features shared by at least one species of 18 other genera: Allarescon Noyes & Valentine, Anaphes, Anneckia Subba Rao, Eustochus Haliday, Kompsomymar Lin & Huber, Krokella Huber, Neostethynium Ogloblin, Nesomymar Valentine, Nesopatasson Valentine, Notomymar Doutt & Yoshimoto, Paracmotemnus Noyes & Valentine, Paranaphoidea, Parastethynium Lin & Huber, Platystethynium Ogloblin, Polynemoidea Girault, Pseudanaphes Noyes & Valentine, Pseudocleruchus Donev & Huber, and Stethynium Enock. These genera are not necessarily related, however. Three genera, Nesomymar, Nesopatasson and Notomymar, are only known from wingless specimens whose relationships are uncertain—these genera may be represented also by winged species described in other genera. The genera most similar to Allanagrus appear to be Anneckia, Parastethynium (both in Australasian region) and Stethynium (almost worldwide) based on: face with subantennal grooves, and frenum weakly sclerotized and apparently divided medially by a longitudinal groove. The strongly oblique suture of the compact clava in Stethynium removes this genus from further consideration here. The new species described below differs from Anneckia in that the campaniform sensilla of the dorsellum abut the anterior margin, as in one of the two species of Parastethynium (well separated from anterior margin in Anneckia and in the type species of Parastethynium) and the mandible (female) is well developed and probably has 2 distinct ventral teeth (not clearly visible in holotype of new species) and a dorsal, serrated edge somewhat as in Parastethynium (1 tooth in the reduced mandible of Anneckia). It differs from Parastethynium in that the fore wing is fairly narrow with rounded apex, and the hind wing is narrow (fore wing wide and apically truncate and hind wing quite wide in Parastethynium) and eye is much less setose (eye with many setae in Parastethynium). On balance of features we tentatively place the new species in Allanagrus. A detailed study of all these genera is needed to clarify their relationships and determine if some should be synonymized under others or, conversely, more should be proposed.

Holotype female (BMNH) on slide (Fig. 31) labelled: 1. “Allanagrus occidentalis Huber & Triapitsyn ♀ dorsal Holotype”. 2. “Gabon, Forêt de la Mondah, 15–25 km N of Libreville, 25.xi-3.xii.1987 J.S. Noyes. MT”. 3. “Mounted by V. Berezovskiy 1999 Canada balsam”.

Figures 25, 26. 

Paranaphoidea occidentalis holotype 25 head, anterior + crushed pronotum 26 antenna. Scale bars: 100 μm.

Features that together distinguish A. occidentalis from other described species of Allanagrus (all of which occur in the Australian or Oriental regions) are: body small; fl₁ and fl₂ together shorter than either pedicel or fl₃ (Fig. 26); and ovipositor shorter than metatibia and scarcely exserted beyond apex of gaster.

Female. Body length 450 (mesosoma + metasoma only). Head, midlobe of mesoscutum and metasoma brown; mesosoma mostly, antenna, and legs light brown or yellowish; wings mostly with faint brown suffusion except fore wing with oval hyaline area in about apical third.

Head. Head width 210. Subantennal groove ventral to each torulus present but apparently faint (Fig. 25). Mandible apparently with 2 distinct ventral teeth and a dorsal serrated edge.

Antenna. Funicle without mps on fl₁ and fl_2, and with 1 mps on fl₃–fl₆ (Fig. 26); clava with at least 3 mps, apparently 1 on each of segments 1–3 (possibly more on each segment but clava mounted in dorsal view and not clearly visible). Scape with row of several setae along ventral margin. Measurements (length/width) of antennal segments: scape 68/18, pedicel 38/21, fl₁ 15/9, fl₂ 17/10, fl₃ 37/13, fl₄ 36/13, fl₅ 34/13, fl₆ 34/14, entire clava 100/≈18 (clava oriented in mostly dorsal view so appears narrow) with segments 1–3 (measured along dorsal margin) 39, 24, and 41, respectively. Length/width ratios of antennal segments: scape 3.84, pedicel 1.81, fl₁ 1.65, fl₂ 1.72, fl₃ 2.91, fl₄ 2.70, fl₅ 2.61, fl₆ 2.47, entire clava ≈5.53.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutum with oblique reticulate sculpture on lateral lobe and most of midlobe except posteromedially where sculpture is longitudinal. Scutellum with mainly oblique sculpture on anterior scutellum and with longitudinal reticulate sculpture on frenum. Dorsellum with campaniform sensilla in contact with anterior margin (Fig. 27, arrows indicate sensilla) and with a seta on each side at lateral margin.

Figures 27, 28. 

Paranaphoidea occidentalis holotype 27 mesosoma + base of metasoma 28 part of mesosoma and metasoma, and wings. Scale bars: 100 μm (27), 200 μm (28).

Wings. Fore wing with microtrichia somewhat scattered, present behind parastigma and more evenly distributed in apical 0.4, but absent just beyond apex of venation and in the middle of the hyaline oval area (Fig. 28). Hind wing with a few microtrichia on surface near wing between the usual anterior and posterior rows. Fore wing length 463, width 75, length/width 6.16, longest marginal setae 146. Hind wing length 443, width 20, longest marginal setae 103.

Metasoma. Ovipositor length 134, 0.79 × as long as metatibia length (168) and barely exserted beyond apex of gaster (Figs 29, 30).

Male. Unknown.

Figures 29–31. 

Paranaphoidea occidentalis holotype 29 apex of mesosma + metasoma, dorsal 30 apex of mesosma + metasoma as seen through body 31 holotype slide. Scale bars: 100 μm.

The species is the first Allanagrus reported from Africa and is named from Latin, occidens -tis meaning west, because it is by far the most westerly occurring species known for the genus.