Trisecodes africanum Gumovsky, sp. n.
Creators: name: Gumovsky, Alex
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Eulophidae
Trisecodes
Trisecodes africanum

description: Trisecodes africanum Gumovsky, sp. n.
(Figs 1–3)
Comparative notes. This species is similar to the type-species of the genus, T. agromyzae, but differs in having the mesosoma distinctly strigate dorsally (Fig. 2) with tiny elongate ridges forming virtually linear rather than circular meshes (in contrast, the mesosoma is alveolate dorsally in T. agromyzae, Fig. 4 C), and the mesoscutum and scutellum lack a longitudinal median groove (Fig. 2) (groove present in T. agromyzae, Figs 4 B, C). In addition, the scutellum has only 1 pair of setae posteriorly (3 pairs of setae in T. agromyzae), the disc of the fore wing is darkened in its basal three-fifths (Figs 1 E, F and 2A) as opposed to transparent in T. agromyzae (Fig. 4), and the metapleuron is evenly reticulate and not clearly delimited from the propodeum (metapleuron smooth and delimited from propodeum by a broad, shallow groove in T. agromyzae).
Description. Female (Figs 1 A, B, F and 2, 3). Length 0.70–0.85 mm. Body dark, antennae brownish, tips of all tibiae and tarsi (except for darker pretarsi) pale (Figs 1 A, B). Wings transparent except for somewhat darker, pale brown area covering basal 3/5 (more discernible in reflected light, Fig. 1 F, and under SEM, Fig. 2 A). Veins dark brown (Fig. 1 B).
Head in dorsal view 2.5× as long as broad, in frontal view (Fig. 3 A) 1.2× as broad as high. POL approximately 3× OOL, MDO as long as OOL and twice as long as OCL, compound eye approximately 1.66× as high as broad. Mouth opening wider than length of malar space. Inner margin of eyes subparallel. Genae nearly straight. Frons with V-shaped frontal sulcus and suture-shaped scrobal grooves. Subtorular grooves long, extending from torulus to lateral edge of mouth opening (Figs 3 B, C). Mandibles bidentate (Figs 3 B, F). Malar suture sulcus-like, slightly curved basally and terminally (Fig. 3 F). Lower edge of antennal toruli situated slightly below lower eye margin (Fig. 3 A). Upper frons and areas near frontal sulcus with strigate sculpture (similar to dorsum of mesosoma, Fig. 3 A), areas near scrobal grooves finely alveolate and lower face alutaceous with sculpture of broader meshes (Fig. 3 B).
Antenna (Figs 3 C–E). Scape 4.5–5.0× as long as wide. Pedicel about as long as broad. F1 very transverse, ringlike, F2 and F3 somewhat longer (Figs 3 D, E). Clava 2-segmented, its first segment subquadrate, second segment longer than wide, with terminal spine comprising approximately 1/3 length of segment (Figs 3 D, E). All flagellar segments with curved, multiporous plate sensilla and mushroom-shaped sensilla. Multiporous plate sensilla fused to surface of respective segments in their basal 1/3 (Figs 3 D, E).
Mesosoma about 1.3× as long as broad, strigate dorsally (Fig. 2). Mesoscutum about 1.8× as broad as long, scutellum slightly longer than mesoscutum and as long as broad, without a furrow in mid part. Mesoscutum with 3 pairs of setae on midlobe; posterior end of scutellum with 1 pair of setae. Axillula present as a short, blunt projection. Spur of fore tibia (calcar) short and straight, fore basitarsus with a row of 5 large and 1 small paddlelike setae ventrally.
Metanotum with dorsellum appearing as a narrow reticulate bar with reticulate lateral panels. Propodeum and metapleuron not clearly separated and evenly reticulate. Lower and upper mesepimeron alutaceous, transepimeral sulcus traceable as a curved line.
Fore wing approximately 1.88× as long as broad. Submarginal vein broken where subcosta meets parastigma; subcosta with 1 dorsal seta. Marginal vein approximately 1.75× as long as costal cell, slightly more than half wing breadth. Stigmal vein very short, stigma sessile, postmarginal vein mostly reduced. Disc with a line of about 13 setae originating near uncus of stigmal vein and extending apically; another line of about 25 setae originating from stigma and extending to anterior margin of fore wing; and another row of about 14 setae connecting base of parastigma with stigmal vein (Figs 1 A, B). Basal and cubital folds complete setose (speculum closed), subcubital fold along retinaculum as a row of 6 or 7 short setae. Marginal fringe slightly longer than breadth of marginal vein in its broadest part (Figs 1 A, B).
Metasoma (Figs 1 A, B, F, 2A) as long as or slightly longer than mesosoma; petiole reduced, transverse. Gaster about 1.4×–1.7× as long as wide. Tergite 2 with a row of 4 or 5 hairs laterally. Each of following tergites with one dorsal line of hairs. Basal end of ovipositor nearly reaching base of gaster. Cercal setae short, situated on small tubercles.
Male (Figs 1 C–E). Length 0.6–0.8 mm. All characters identical to female except antennal flagellar segments longer (Fig. 1 D), mostly with one ring-like multiporous plate sensilla each. Fore wing infumation paler than in female, traceable in reflected light (Fig. 1 E); marginal fringe 2–3× longer than breadth of marginal vein in its broadest part (Fig. 1 E). Gaster rectangular in dorsal view, 1.4× as long as broad.
Type material. Holotype ♀, Uganda, Semuliki National Park, N 0°50'30.77", E 30°06'14.17", 19.III.2013; semi-deciduous forest with moister areas near cut logs; altitude 670 m (A. Gumovsky) (BMNH).
Paratypes: 2 ♂, same data as holotype (BMNH, RMCA); 2 ♀, Uganda, near Najembe, Mabira forest, N 0°23'24.49", E 33°1'5.41", logged patch in the forest, 22-23.II.2013 (A. Gumovsky) (BMNH, RMCA); 3 ♂; Guinea (Conakry), Nimba Mountain, Gouan Camp, Gallery forest of Zie, nr. “Station de Pompage Zie”, canopy of trees, under-story shrub layer, Fogging 01, Mt Nimba, Zié forest, N 07°40'23'' W 08°22'24'' 1250 m, 3.X.2011 (A. Hernard & D. Van den Spiegel) (RMCA); 1 ♀, Cameroon, Nkoemvone, 30.III-19.IV.1980 (D. Jackson) (BMNH).
Biology. Unknown. In Guinea, specimens were collected from the forest canopy by fogging. In both localities in Uganda, numerous sweepings were conducted under forest canopy, but only those in recent clearings produced specimens. It is possible that the species is normally a canopy inhabitant and the collection of specimens in lower forest levels was associated with recently felled trees.
Distribution. Uganda (Semuliki forest, Mabira forest), Cameroon (Nkoemvone), Guinea (Nimba Mountain).
Etymology. Named for its distribution.
description: Published as part of Gumovsky, Alex, 2014, A new species of Trisecodes from the Afrotropics (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), pp. 553-561 in Zootaxa 3852 (5) on pages 554-555, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3852.5.3, http://zenodo.org/record/251817