Revision of the Afrotropical genus Pulchrisolia Szabó (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae, Sceliotrachelinae)

Abstract

The genus Pulchrisolia Szabó is revised. Pulchrisolia maculata Szabó is redescribed and nine species are described as new: P. ankremos Lahey, sp. nov. (Ghana, Ivory Coast), P. asantesanavan Noort & Lahey, sp. nov. (South Africa), P. diehoekensis van Noort & Lahey, sp. nov. (South Africa), P. ellieae Lahey, sp. nov. (Madagascar), P. nephelae Lahey, sp. nov. (Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria), P. robynae van Noort & Lahey, sp. nov. (South Africa), P. sanbornei Lahey & Masner, sp. nov. (South Africa), P. teras Lahey, sp. nov. (Madagascar), and P. valerieae Polaszek & Lahey, sp. nov. (Zambia). The genus is diagnosed from Afrisolia Masner & Huggert, Isolia Förster, and Sceliotrachelus Brues, and a key is provided to the platygastrid genera of the Isolia-cluster.

Review of Afrotropical sceliotracheline parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae)

“…Comments. This species strongly resembles the genus Afrisolia, so much so that it was misidentified as a member of that genus in figure 3 of Lahey et al (2019b). Fidiobia celeritas is excluded from Afrisolia based on the apectinate fore tibial spur (without a comb).…”

“…Distribution. Endemic to the Afrotropical region: Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia (Lahey et al 2019b).…”

“…Sceliotrachelus shares morphological affinities with Afrisolia, Isolia and Pulchrisolia, together forming the Isolia-cluster, which is defined by the combed fore tibial spur. Additional putative synapomorphic characters centre on the foamy structures present on the propodeum in these four genera (Lahey et al 2019b;Veenakumari et al 2019). Pulchrisolia is hypothesized as being distinct from Sceliotrachelus by the presence of a short, tubular submarginal vein on the fore wing (but this is also present in S. karooensis sp.…”

“…The Afrotropical sceliotracheline fauna is currently represented by 35 described species (number listed in brackets following each genus) and numerous undescribed species contained in eight genera: Afrisolia Masner & Huggert, 1989 (1 species); Allotropa Förster, 1856 (7 species); Amitus Haldeman, 1850 (only undescribed species); Fidiobia Ashmead, 1894 (7 species); Isolia Förster, 1878 (1 species); Parabaeus Kieffer, 1910 (8 species); Pulchrisolia Szabó, 1959 (10 species); and Sceliotrachelus Brues, 1908 (1 species) (Vlug 1995;Buhl 1999Buhl , 2001Buhl , 2010Buhl , 2011Buhl , 2014Buhl , 2019Lahey et al 2019b). Of these, Amitus is represented in the Afrotropical region only by undescribed species, although Amitus hesperidum Silvestri, 1927, may possibly be present in the region.…”

“…Of these, Amitus is represented in the Afrotropical region only by undescribed species, although Amitus hesperidum Silvestri, 1927, may possibly be present in the region. The genera Pulchrisolia (African endemic) and Isolia were recently revised with nine and two new species being described from Africa and India, respectively (Lahey et al 2019b;Veenakumari et al 2019). The world fauna of Sceliotrachelinae comprises 28 genera, and the subfamily is represented by species occurring in all biogeographical regions, with the exception of the Antarctic (Vlug 1995).…”