Aphanogmus kretschmanni Moser & Ulmer & Kamp & Vasili & Renninger & Mikó & Krogmann 2023, sp. nov

Aphanogmus kretschmanni Moser sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8848B3FB-DC1D-465C-9E67-284EE86BB4CA Figs 1–3 Diagnosis (female) The female has seven conspicuous spines in two rows along the ventral edge of the 7 th metasomal sternite, with two spines next to each other in the 1st and 5th position. Etymology The specific name is a patronym for Winfried Kretschmann, the current Minister-President of the state of Baden-Württemberg (Germany), to honour his scientific curiosity and commitment to preserving biodiversity in his political environment. Type material Holotype GERMANY • ♀ (the holotype is missing the right fore- and mid-tarsus); Baden-Württemberg, Tübingen, Hirschau, Riedweingärten, plot number 4400; 48.504817° N, 8.985067° E; 375 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug.–12 Sep. 2014; Kothe T., Engelhardt M., Bartsch D. leg.; Malaise trap; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000227. The 3D model of the holotype, which serves as a cybertype, as well as the original CT image series are available online through MorphoSource (CT image series: https://doi.org/10.17602/M2/ M449721; full habitus mesh: https://doi.org/10.17602/M2/M449724; post-edited full habitus mesh https://doi.org/10.17602/M2/M449727). Paratypes GERMANY • 1 ♀ (in immaculate condition); Baden-Württemberg, Enzkreis, Königsbach-Stein, NSG 2.119 Beim Steiner Mittelberg; 48.970371° N, 8.659000° E; 181 m a.s.l.; 22 May–5 Jun. 2019; Entomologischer Verein Krefeld e. V. 1905 leg.; Malaise trap; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Hym_027509 • 1 ♀ (in immaculate condition); Baden-Württemberg, Tübingen, Hirschau, Oberes Tal, plot number 4244; 48.505033° N, 8.993467° E; 368 m a.s.l.; 17–31 Jul. 2014; Kothe T., Engelhardt M., Bartsch D. leg.; Malaise trap; ZFMK SMNS_Hym_Cer_000647 • 1 ♀ (in immaculate condition); Baden-Württemberg, Tübingen, Hirschau, Oberes Tal, plot number 4244; 48.505033° N, 8.993467° E; 368 m a.s.l.; 29 Aug.–12 Sep. 2014; Kothe T., Engelhardt M., Bartsch D. leg.; Malaise trap; ZSM SMNS_Hym_Cer_000648. Additional material examined GERMANY • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; 6–20 Jun. 2014; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000408 • 1 ♀; Baden-Württemberg, Tübingen, Hirschau, Oberes Tal, plot number 4244; 48.505033° N, 8.993467° E; 368 m a.s.l.; 17–31 Jul. 2014; Kothe T., Engelhardt M., Bartsch D. leg.; Malaise trap; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000425 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; BOLD Sample ID: SMNS_1179430; GenBank: OP722468; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000467 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; BOLD Sample ID: SMNS_1179432; GenBank: OP722465; SMNS SMNS_ Hym_Cer_000468 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; BOLD Sample ID: SMNS_1179434, GenBank: OP722466; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000470 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; BOLD Sample ID: SMNS_1179433; GenBank: OP722464; UNHP SMNS_Hym_Cer_000469 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; UNHP SMNS_Hym_Cer_000488 • 2 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 29 Aug.–12 Sep. 2014; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000440 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000464 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; BOLD Sample ID: SMNS_1179428; GenBank: OP722469; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000465 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; BOLD Sample ID: SMNS_1179429; GenBank: OP722462; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000466 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 12–26 Sep. 2014; BOLD Sample ID: SMNS_1177257; GenBank: OP722467; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000445 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000446 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 26 Sep.–9 Oct. 2014; BOLD Sample ID: SMNS_1177266; GenBank: OP722463; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000451 • 1 ♀; Baden-Württemberg, Karlsruhe, Östringen, NSG 2.217 Apfelberg, plot number 9836; 49.167541° N, 8.790300° E; 181 m a.s.l.; 16–30 Jul. 2019; Entomologischer Verein Krefeld e. V. 1905 leg.; Malaise trap; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000543 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 27 Aug.–10 Sep. 2019; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Hym_027357 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 10–24 Sep. 2019; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000571 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 24 Sep.–8 Oct. 2019; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000544 • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 8–22 Oct. 2019; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Hym_027358. • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Cer_000649 • 4 ♀; Baden-Württemberg, Enzkreis, Königsbach-Stein, NSG 2.119 Beim Steiner Mittelberg; 48.970371° N, 8.659000° E; 181 m a.s.l.; 3–17 Jul. 2019; Entomologischer Verein Krefeld e. V. 1905 leg.; Malaise trap; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Hym_027558. • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 17–31 Jul. 2019; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Hym_027726. • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 28 Aug.–11 Sep. 2019; SMNS SMNS_Hym_Hym_027685. For detailed description of localities, habitats and further material see Supp. file 3. Description COLOURATION. Head dark brown, almost black. Mesosoma dorsally concolourous with head, ventrally dark chestnut brown. Metasoma lighter brown. Scape, distal end of pedicel and tibiae light amber brown, tarsi pale ochre, flagellar segments brown, concolourous with femora, distal flagellar segments slightly darker. Wings entirely hyaline. Wing venation light brown, marginal vein darker, light brown stigmal vein with dark margin. MEASUREMENTS. Total body length is 0.7–1.1 mm (holotype: 1 mm). HEAD. Entire head with imbricate sculpture. Face, frons and eyes covered in short whitish pubescence. Oval in frontal view, 1.1–1.4 (1.3) times as broad as high. Head hypognathous. Truncated in lateral view with preoccipital carina delimiting sharply the deeply concave preoccipital lunula. Preoccipital carina medially interrupted by preoccipital furrow, which fades anteriorly ending inside the ocellar triangle posterior to the median ocellus. Preoccipital furrow as wide anteriorly as posteriorly and crenulate along its entire length. Crenulate occipital carina with continuous median flange. Eyes large, 0.6–0.7 (0.7) times as high as head. Ocellar triangle obtuse, POL:LOL: 1.25; OOL:POL: 0.8. Postocellar carina absent. Preocellar pit present. Anterior ocellar fovea extended ventrally into short facial sulcus reaching dorsal margin of frontal depression.Antennal scrobe present, ventrally delimited by intertorular carina. Clypeus convex and rectangular (1.5 times as broad as high). Supraclypeal depression, subtorular carina, carina delimiting antennal scrobe, frontal ledge and subantennal groove absent. Mandibles with two distinct teeth, without mandibular lancea. Mandible slender, length along ventral edge 3.3 times as long as height of mandible measured in the middle of its length. Maxillae with four palpomeres. ANTENNAE. Antennae with eight flagellar segments. Scape distally with flagellar scrobe. Scape 2.1–3.1 (2.5) times as long as pedicel. Pedicel 1.2 times as long as F1. Scape as long as pedicel, F1 and F2 combined. F1 significantly longer than any segments F2–F7 but shorter than F8; F2 to F7 of similar length. F8 significantly longer than other flagellar segments, longer than F6 and F7 combined. Maximum width of scape 1.6 times maximum width of pedicel. Width of flagellar segments F1–F8 increasing steadily, F8 almost as broad as scape. F1 cylindrical, twice as long as broad; F2 subquadrate, 1.3 times longer than broad; F3–F7 subquadrate; F8 cylindrical, twice as long as broad. MESOSOMA. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellar-axillar complex, pronotum and anterior mesopleural area with imbricate sculpture of flat scutes, lower half of mesometapleuron smooth, upper half with roughly strigate sculpture arising anteriorly from the anterior mesopleural sulcus and the mesometapleural sulcus. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with numerous short pale setae, axillular carina hemmed with one row of white axillular setae. Mesosoma laterally compressed, 1.2–1.8 (1.6) times as long as broad, 1.4–1.6 (1.5) times as high as broad. Mesoscutum broadest part of mesosoma, maximum mesoscutal width 2.1 times as wide as mesoscutellum. Pronotum triangular in lateral view with transverse pronotal sulcus extending halfway along pronotum. Ventral pronotal pit present. Anterior portion of mesoscutum steeply sloping in lateral view, anteriorly articulating with pronotum at an acute angle. Median mesoscutal sulcus complete and posteriorly reaching transscutal articulation, notauli absent. Mesoscutum posterolaterally delimited by pronounced parascutal carina.Axillar carina pronounced anteriorly but fading posteriorly. Interaxillar sulcus present, extending medially into scutoscutellar sulcus. Axillae distinct in dorsal view. Scutoscutellar sulcus broad and foveate, angled medially and reaching laterally the ventral margin of mesoscutellum. Circumscutellar carina sharply pronounced, lined with numerous axillular setae. Axillula very steep, almost vertical in relation to scutellar disc. Frenal area very short and separated from mesoscutellum by a steeply plunging ridge. Metanotal-propodeal sulcus foveate. Anteromedian projection of the metanoto-propodeo-metapecto-mesopectal complex simple and straight, posteriorly extending the mesonotum. Metanotal-propodeal sulcus distinctly scrobiculate. Mesometapleuron roughly triangular, higher than long in lateral view. Posterior edge of mesometapleuron extends into blunt, down-curved spine at fusion point of metapleural carina and ventral metapleural carina. Dorsal mesometapleural carina along its length slightly undulate, interrupted by propodeal spiracle, posteriorly extending into posterior propodeal projection. Ventral metapleural carina distinctly raised, continuing ventrally into raised ventral mesopleural carina and dorsally into metapleural carina.Anterior mesopleural sulcus distinct, separating anterior mesopleural area from rest of mesopleuron. Mesometapleural sulcus extending halfway across mesometapleuron, fading posteriorly. Lateral propodeal carina distinct, crossing propodeal spiracle. Posterior propodeal projections pronounced and rounded. LEGS. Proximal articulation of metacoxa distinctly foveate. Medial side of hind tibia with dense bristles in distal half, first tarsal segment with two rows of bristles medially. Pro-, meso and metatrochanter of similar length. Femur size increasing from pro- to metafemur, mesofemur 1.1 times, metafemur 1.3 times as long as profemur. Metatibia 1.14 times as long as mesotibia and 1.47 times as long as protibia. 5 th tarsomere of hindleg 1.14 times as long as that of midleg and 1.29 times as long as that of foreleg. Tarsi of similar widths. Front and mid tarsal claws are of comparable size, hind tarsal claws slightly larger. WINGS. Forewing very long, 0.73–0.96 mm (0.81 mm), extending distinctly beyond metasoma. Forewing broad, 1.5 times as long as broad. Marginal setae at an acute angle (34.2°) to anterior wing margin. Posterior margin of forewing remarkably straight at level of stigmal vein, slightly sclerotised and without setation proximal to straight part of the wing margin. Marginal vein with triangular elements (sensu Mikó et al. 2018). Translucent break between marginal vein and linear stigma. Stigmal vein uniformly bent, slightly increasing in width posteriorly. Anterio-proximal part of marginal vein lined with jutting setae. Hindwing slender, 4.1 times as long as broad. Posterior margin of hind wing lined with setae, setae 0.23 times as long as maximum width of hind wing, these setae significantly longer than setae on forewing. No venation, wing slightly sclerotised below hamuli. Three hamuli present. WIP of forewing indicates highest thickness of wing membrane below distal portion of the marginal vein posterior to the costal notch and lowest thickness on distal posterior wing margin. WIP of hindwing with large elliptical area of low membrane thickness along the setose distal half of the posterior wing margin. METASOMA. Syntergum margined by transverse carina anteriorly. Syntergum with nine longitudinal striae, present only anteriorly and distributed with subequal distance over width of metasoma. Anterolateral margin of synsternum with distinct foveate carina that converges ventrally in a keel. Ventral edge of 7 th metasomal sternite with seven conspicuous spines in two rows, with two spines next to each other in the most ventral and 5 th position. Syntergum broadest tergite and slightly longer than all other tergites combined. WATERSTON’S EVAPORATORIUM. On metasomal T6 oblong, acrotergal calyx present, distal crenulate carina on T6 present on caudal setal row, submedian patches absent, campaniform sensillae absent, tergal apodeme with sclerotised ridge along inner margin that also transverses the base of the apodeme, tergal apodemes parallel, at most slightly diverging distally, evaporatorium without basomedial constriction. OVIPOSITOR. With a large distance between the anterior angle of the first valvifer (ang) and the intervalvifer articulation (iva). First valvifer angled at the tergo-valvifer articulation (tva), therefore appearing convex. First valvifer not subdivided. Tva situated approximately in the middle of the posterior margin of the first valvifer (1vf). Basal line of the second valvifer sharply defined. Dorsal projection of second valvifer shorter than length of anterior area of second valvifer. Anterior and posterior section of the dorsal flange of the second valvifer sharply defined. Venom gland reservoir present, surrounded by second valvifer. First valvula tapers distally in lateral view. Anterior area of the second valvifer more than 2.0 times as high as bulb in lateral view. Apodemes of S7 without apparent modifications. Variation The brown colouration of the mesosoma and the anterior part of the metasoma including the synsternum and syntergum of SMNS_Hym_Cer_000446 is considerably brighter than in the holotype and the anteromedian projection of the metanoto-propodeo-metapecto-mesopectal complex is almost clear in this specimen. COI barcodes confirmed that this specimen belongs to A. kretschmanni sp. nov. Discussion Taxonomic placement of Aphanogmus kretschmanni Moser sp. nov. In the Palearctic, the family Ceraphronidae contains 112 species in 6 genera. Aphanogmus Thomson, 1858 is the most species-rich genus with 52 described species (Johnson & Musetti 2004; Buhl et al. 2010; Matsuo 2016), whilst four other genera comprise no more than six species. Aphanogmus is characterised mainly by a laterally compressed mesosoma, which is taller than broad (Figs 1, 3A–D) as well as trapezoidal flagellar segments on the male antennae with sensillae at least as long as the width of the flagellar segments. Currently, Aphanogmus is separated into three species groups (Evans et al. 2005). Morphologically, A. kretschmanni sp. nov. falls into the fumipennis species group based on a complete mesoscutal median sulcus and the presence of a gastral basal carina. In Hellén’s key, the new species keys to A. fumipennis Thomson, 1858 (Hellén 1966). However, A. kretschmanni is easily distinguishable from A. fumipennis by the distinct spines on S7 as well as the lack of prominent tufts of dense hairs along the outer margin of the hind coxae that are diagnostic for A. fumipennis. Further, this new species resembles several species within the Aphanogmus hakonensis complex, i.e., A. amoratus Dessart & Alekseev, 1982; A. captiosus Poasszek & Dessart, 1996, A. goniozi Dessart, 1988; A. hakonensis Ashmead, 1904; A. jarvensis (Girault, 1917); A. manilae (Ashmead, 1904) and A. thylax Polaszek & Dessart, 1996. Shared morphological characters are found mainly on the mesosoma, particularly the sharp circumscutellar carina, the carinate metanotal-propodeal sulcus, the prominent anteromedian projection of the metanoto-propodeo-metapecto-mesopectal complex as well as the paired posterior propodeal projections and the lateral striations on the mesopleuron. All species within the hakonensis complex have an Indo-Australian distribution with a few occurrences in the westernmost Palearctic. They are hyperparasitoids of Hymenoptera that parasitize Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758 and can only be determined to species level through male genitalia (Polaszek & Dessart 1996). Recently, the Waterston’s evaporatorium on the 6 th metasomal tergite was discovered to be a taxonomically significant character complex in Ceraphronidae (Ulmer et al. 2021). Major differences in the structure of the Waterston’s evaporatoria of Aphanogmus and Ceraphron Jurine, 1807 were found and are supported by a cladistic analysis, which returned a monophyletic Aphanogmus group and a paraphyletic Ceraphron group (Ulmer et al. 2021). Apart from Aphanogmus s. str., the Aphanogmus group includes the smaller genera Synarsis Foerster, 1878, Gnathoceraphron Dessart & Bin, 1981 and Elysoceraphron Szelényi, 1936 based on striking similarities of the Waterston’s evaporatoria of these taxa. The Waterston’s evaporatorium of the newly described A. kretschmanni sp. nov. lacks campaniform sensilla on T5 and T6 (Fig. 2D), a character that is considered an autapomorphy of Elysoceraphron by Ulmer et al. (2021). However, there are several differences in external morphology that contradict the placement of the newly described species into Elysoceraphron: (1) the mesoscutellum of A. kretschmanni is rounded posteriorly rather than subrectangular, which is the diagnostic character for Elysoceraphron; (2) the head of A. kretschmanni is significantly more transverse, a character shared by most species of Aphanogmus, than that of the Palearctic E. hungaricus Szelényi, 1936 or of the Oriental E. aadi Bijoy & Rajmohana, 2021 with the interocular distance being larger than the eye width (A. kretschmanni: 158:146 µm; E. hungaricus: 152:228 µm; E. aadi: 146:222 µm); (3) the anteromedian projection of the metanoto-propodeo-metapecto-mesopectal complex is straight in A. kretschmanni whereas it is upcurved in Elysoceraphron. The genus Elysoceraphron was first described based on two female specimens of Elysoceraphron hungaricus Szelényi, 1936 collected in Hungary (Szelényi 1936). The male was described two decades later from Czechoslovakia (Masner 1957). Since then, the genus has not received much attention. It appears only briefly in a report adding findings from Sweden and Siberia (Dessart & Alekseev 1980), a few remarks on the taxonomic status of the genus (Masner 1957; Dessart 1975), a short mention in two catalogues (Muesebeck & Walkley 1956; Johnson & Musetti 2004) as well as in keys (Dessart 1962; Alekseev 1978a, 1978b, 1995; Dessart & Cancemi 1987). Recently, a second species, Elysoceraphron aadi, was described from India (Bijoy & Rajmohana 2021). There has