Habritella Girault & Dodd 1915
Creators: name: Mitroiu, Mircea-Dan
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Pteromalidae
Habritella

description: Genus Habritella Girault & Dodd, 1915
Habritella Girault & Dodd, 1915 in Girault, 1915: 191 (type species: H. graciliventris Girault & Dodd, 1915, by monotypy).
Cairnsia Bouček, 1988: 421–422 (type species: C. stylifera Bouček, 1988, by original designation and monotypy).
Ezgia Koçak & Kemal, 2008: 3–7 (replacement name for Cairnsia Bouček, 1988), syn. nov.
Neocairnsia Darilmaz & Özdikmen, 2009: 37–42 (unnecessary replacement name for Cairnsia Bouček, 1988).
Diagnosis
Clypeal margin moderately to deeply emarginate, hence appearing bidentate or bilobed (Figs 1C, 3C, 4C), rarely virtually straight (Fig. 2C); toruli above middle of face, hence scape usually reaching above level of vertex (Figs 1C, 3C, 4C); female antenna 11353 (Figs 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G), male antenna 11263 (Figs 1H, 2H, 3H, 4H); clava in both sexes more or less pointed, with a spicula or small terminal process (Figs 1H, 2G, 2H, 3H) or without (Figs 1G, 3G, 4G–H); pronotal collar much narrower than mesoscutum, anterior margin rounded, angled or very finely carinate; notauli incomplete; propodeum short on sides but with large reticulate nucha and sinuate plicae, without median carina or costula (Figs 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D); stigmal vein usually strongly capitate (Figs 2F, 3F, 4F); metasoma sessile, narrow (Figs 1E, 2E, 3E, 4E).
Redescription
BODY. Gracile, with at least some distinct metallic reflections (Figs 1A–B, 2A–B, 3A–B, 4A–B). Body setation at least partly whitish, conspicuous at least on the face (Figs 2C, 3C, 4C).
HEAD. Wider than high in frontal view, genae quite strongly converging and vertex not high (Figs 1C, 2C, 3C, 4C). Clypeus more or less well delimited (Figs 1C, 2C, 3C, 4C). Clypeal margin symmetric, usually moderately to strongly emarginate or incised in the middle hence appearing bidentate or bilobed (Figs 1C, 3C, 4C), or virtually straight (Fig. 2C). Tentorial pits absent. Scrobal depression at least slightly visible. Gena usually not hollowed at mouth corner (Figs 1C, 3C, 4C), but sometimes with large depression (Fig. 2C). Genal carina absent. Malar sulcus present as a fine line. Eyes normal to slightly enlarged. Temples distinct, strongly convergent. Occiput without carina.Antennal insertion clearly above middle of face, sometimes very high (Figs 1C, 3C). Antennal formula 11353 in female (Figs 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G) and 11263 in male (Figs 1H, 2H, 3H, 4H). Anelli transverse. Antennal scape normal. Female antennal clava with ventral area of micropilosity confined to distal segment, apex in both sexes more or less pointed, with a spicula or small terminal process (Figs 1H, 2G, 2H, 3H) or without (Figs 1G, 3G, 4G, 4H). Mandibles 4:3, normal (Fig. 4C) or slightly to distinctly enlarged (Figs 1C, 2C, 3C).
MESOSOMA. Convex. Pronotum short conical. Pronotal collar with anterior margin rounded, angled or very finely carinate. Mesoscutum short. Notauli incomplete, superficial. Axillae slightly advanced. Mesoscutum separated from scutellum by rather deep groove (Figs 1D, 4D). Scutellum convex. Frenal line absent. Dorsellum usually very short. Propodeum (Figs 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D) much narrower laterally than medially. Propodeal plicae sinuate and reaching nuchal sides. Median carina and costula absent. Nucha large, with almost parallel sides. Callus sparsely setose. Propodeal hind corners not prominent. Propodeal spiracles large, elongate, close to metanotum. Prepectus not carinate, about as long as tegula. Mesopleuron partly smooth. Mesosternum without transverse carina. Metapleuron with a distinct groove in posterior part. Legs slender. Hind coxa dorsally bare, fairly long. Hind tibia with one spur. Wings hyaline. Fore wing (Figs 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F) extensively bare basally. Ventral side of fore wing with at least one row of admarginal setae under marginal vein. Marginal vein slender. Stigmal vein shorter than both marginal and postmarginal veins. Stigma usually strongly capitate (Figs 2F, 3F, 4F), sometimes only moderately so (Fig. 1F). Postmarginal vein shorter than marginal vein.
METASOMA. Lanceolate in females, much narrower than mesosoma and longer than head plus mesosoma (Figs 1E, 2E, 3E, 4E). Short petiole concealed under nucha. All gastral tergites normal (Figs 2E, 4E); or one or more of gt1, 2 or 3 with their posterior margin medially emarginate or incised (Fig. 3E); or gt3 or 4 distinctly enlarged (Fig. 1E). Gt2 always much shorter than either gt1 or gt3. Cercal setae equal. Ovipositor sheaths short but visible in dorsal view.
Taxonomic comments
Bouček (1988: 235) separated females of Ezgia (= Cairnsia) from females of Habritella (males previously unknown for both genera) as follows:
“[...] Clava with asymmetrically placed awl-like spicula [...]; gastral tergites normal, dorsally collapsing, the third not larger than the fourth tergite …[...] Cairnsia gen. n.
– Clava normal, without spicula [...]; third tergite in female convex and greatly enlarged [...] so that it covers more than a third of gastral surface, margin of second tergite deeply excised in middle but the first angulately produced …[...] Habritella Girault & Dodd ”.
In Table 1 the previously described species of Ezgia and Habritella, as well as the newly described species are compared regarding the characters listed above.
Table 1 shows these characters are not constant within the two genera and are grouped in various combinations within the six known species. Moreover, many other morphological features are shared by all these species and are rather uniform: the shape of clypeus (except in H. mandibulata sp. nov.); the level of toruli; the antennal formula and shape of funiculars; the shape of propodeum; the venation; and the general shape of metasoma. At the same time, the claval spicula present in the females of Ezgia stylifera (Bouček 1988: 486, fig. 735) and H. mandibulata (Fig. 2G) is much more developed than the small terminal process found in the males of H. africana sp. nov., H. mandibulata and H. noyesi sp. nov. The latter structure is somewhat similar to the ‘terminal button’ which is commonly found in many pteromalids. However, in these species this structure is more developed and narrower than a typical ‘terminal button’. As it is practically impossible to separate the above mentioned six species in two distinct genera due to the overlap of characters, Ezgia is regarded as a synonym of Habritella, syn. nov., and consequently its only species is transferred to the latter genus as Habritella stylifera comb. nov.
Key to the Afrotropical species of Habritella
1. Both sexes: gena hollowed near mouth corner (Fig. 2C); clypeus reticulate, well delimited laterally (Fig. 2C); clypeal margin without any median incision or emargination (Fig. 2C); mandibles very large (Fig. 2C); scape not reaching level of vertex (Fig. 2C). Female: claval apex with spicula (Fig. 2F); all gastral tergites normally developed, each with posterior margin entire (Fig. 2E). Male: clava with short spike-like terminal process (Figs 2H); metasoma brown, with a dorsal pale spot ... ...................................................................................................................... H. mandibulata sp. nov.
– Both sexes: gena not hollowed near mouth corner (Figs 1C, 3C, 4C); clypeus striate, not well delimited (Figs 1C, 3C, 4C); clypeal margin with median incision or emargination (Figs 1C, 3C, 4C); mandibles smaller than in alternative (Figs 1C, 3C, 4C); scape reaching above level of vertex (Figs 1C, 3C, 4C). Female: claval apex without spicula (Figs 1F, 3F, 4F); part of gastral tergites usually either enlarged or with posterior margin incised or emarginated (Figs 1E, 3E). Male: clava sometimes without spike-like terminal process (Fig. 4H); metasoma variable ................................ 2
2. Both sexes: clypeal margin with small lobes separated by shallow emargination (Fig. 4C); scutellum shorter than mesoscutum; toruli above centre of face but less high than in alternative (Fig. 4C); fore wing (Fig. 4F) densely setose, speculum smaller than in alternative, not reaching stigmal vein thus admarginal setae on ventral side of wing not easily visible; stigma very large, its height at least equal to minimum distance from stigma to PMV; fore and mid coxae not metallic (Fig. 4A–B). Female: all gastral tergites normally developed, each with its posterior margin entire (Fig. 4E); head in frontal view with contrasting colours, bright green below toruli and blackish above (Fig. 4C); metasoma mainly brown (Fig. 4E). Male: clava without terminal spike-like terminal process (Fig. 3H); metasoma brown, with a dorsal pale spot ........................................................ E. viridifrons sp. nov.
– Both sexes: clypeal margin with two large lobes separated by deep incision (Figs 1C, 3C); scutellum longer than mesoscutum; toruli much higher than centre of face (Figs 1C, 3C); fore wing (Figs 1F, 3F) sparsely setose, speculum large, reaching stigmal vein thus making admarginal setae on ventral side of wing easily visible; stigma sometimes smaller; all coxae metallic (Figs 1A–B, 3A). Female: at least one gastral tergite with posterior margin medially emarginate or incised, or distinctly enlarged (Figs 1E, 3E); head in frontal view without contrasting colours, gradually becoming darker above toruli (Figs 1C, 3C); metasoma bluish or violet (Figs 1E, 3E). Male: clava with short spike-like terminal process (Figs 1H, 3H); metasoma dark, without a dorsal pale spot ................................... 3
3. Both sexes: pronotal collar with anterior margin very finely carinate (Fig. 1A, G); hind femur dark, with some metallic reflections (Fig. 1A–B); stigma not very large, its height less than minimum distance from stigma to PMV (Fig. 1F). Female: gt1 and gt3 with their posterior margin not emarginate or incised (Fig. 1E); gt4 distinctly enlarged, much larger than gt3 (Fig. 1E); metasoma mostly violet (Fig. 1E); body setation mostly light brown, not conspicuous (Fig. 1A, C). Male: flagellar setae erect (Fig. 1H) .............................................................................. H. africana sp. nov.
– Both sexes: pronotal collar with anterior margin rounded, not carinate (Fig. 3A–B); hind femur yellowish-brown, without metallic reflections (Fig. 3A–B); stigma very large, its height about equal to minimum distance from stigma to PMV (Fig. 3F). Female: gt1 and gt3 with posterior margin emarginate or incised, respectively (Fig. 3E); gt4 not distinctly enlarged, not larger than gt3 (Fig. 3E); metasoma mostly blue (Fig. 3E); body setation white, conspicuous (Fig. 3A, C). Male: flagellar setae depressed (Fig. 3H) .......................................................................... H. noyesi sp. nov.
description: Published as part of Mitroiu, Mircea-Dan, 2022, The Afrotropical species of Habritella Girault & Dodd (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), pp. 155-172 in European Journal of Taxonomy 813 (1) on pages 157-159, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.813.1743, http://zenodo.org/record/6468090