Friday, July 6, 2018

[Entomology • 2018] Afrocampe prinslooi • A New Genus of Tetracampidae (Hymenoptera) from South Africa


Afrocampe prinslooi
 Gumovsky, 2018


Abstract
Afrocampe gen. nov. is described for its only species, Afrocampe prinslooi gen. et sp. nov., from Eastern and Western Cape, South Africa. This new genus is recognized as a member of the subfamily Tetracampinae Förster, 1856 of Tetracampidae Förster, 1856 based on the possession of 5-segmented tarsi in females and 4-segmented tarsi in males, the short straight calcar, the mesoscutum with distinct notauli, the mesoscutellum with two pairs of setae, the reduced mesopleural suture and the short stigmal and long postmarginal veins of the fore wing. Afrocampe gen. nov. is characterized by a large mesosoma, a non-convex first gastral tergite, an evenly acute calcar, a 5-segmented antennal funicle, a head lacking occipital carina and facial grooves and a long fore wing with distinctly delimited speculum, a bare admarginal area with a distinct admarginal row of setae on the underside and with 3 setal tracks (hair rows) radiating from the apex of the stigmal vein. The combination of these characters suggests a special status of the new genus within the subfamily Tetracampinae. Moreover, Afrocampe gen. nov. bears some resemblance to the Australian tetracampine genus Niticampe Bouček, 1988. The position of the latter in Tetracampinae, as well as habitus features of the former, are discussed.

Keywords: Afrotropical; Chalcidoidea; parasitoids; new genus; taxonomy


Fig. 1. Afrocampe prinslooi gen. et sp. nov., paratype (arrows), ♀, in a sample from the Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve (Western Cape, South Africa) among other chalcidoid wasps. General view.

Fig. 2. Afrocampe prinslooi gen. et sp. nov., holotype (color imaging), ♀.
A. Habitus in lateral view. B. Face. C. Habitus in ventro-lateral view. D. Head and anterior part of mesosoma. E. Habitus in dorsal view. F. Head and mesosoma in dorsal view.


Class Insecta Linnaeus, 1758
 Order Hymenoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Superfamily Chalcidoidea Latreille, 1817

Family Tetracampidae Förster, 1856
Subfamily Tetracampinae Förster, 1856

Afrocampe gen. nov.   

Type species Afrocampe prinslooi gen. et sp. nov., by present designation and monotypy.

Diagnosis Foretibial spur (calcar) short and evenly acute, tarsi 5-segmented in female (Fig. 2A), 4-segmented in male (Fig. 4D), antennal funicle 5-segmented in both sexes (Figs 2B, 3A, D–E, 4E), head lacking facial grooves (Fig. 2B) and occipital carina (Fig. 2D), mesoscutum with complete notauli (Fig. 2D, F), mesoscutellum with two pairs of setae (Figs 2F, 3B), fore wing poorly setose basally, its disc and speculum distinctly delimited, admarginal row of setae distinct and situated on underside of bare area along MV, PMV about 3.0× as long as short STV, with 3 hair rows radiating from it (Figs 2A, C, E, 4A, C); Gt1 not swollen (Figs 1B, 2A, 4A).

 Etymology The specific epithet is a combination of Afro- (reflecting the Afrotropical distribution of the genus) and -campe (from Tetracampe). Gender feminine.


Afrocampe prinslooi  gen. et sp. nov. 

Etymology The species is named after Gerhard Prinsloo, a famous expert on South African Chalcidoidea, who collected part of the type series and also first noticed and sorted out the SANC specimens as unusual tetracampids.

Distribution:
 South Africa: Eastern and Western Cape.


Alex Gumovsky. 2018. A New Genus of Tetracampidae (Hymenoptera) from South Africa. European Journal of Taxonomy. 447; 1–13.   DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2018.447