Muhaka icipe, an enigmatic new genus and species of Kleidotomini (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae) from an East African coastal forest

Abstract

A remarkable new eucoiline genus and species, Muhaka icipe, is described herein. The genus is clearly a Kleidotomini, but is distinguished from other genera in the tribe by a unique head and scutellar morphology. The genus belongs to the 'wedge-head'-syndrome group of species that, to date, is unique to Afrotropical eucoilines. The new genus and species is reminiscent of Stentorceps Quinlan and Nanocthulhu Buffington, but is readily distinguished from these genera. Muhaka was collected from a threatened kaya (sacred forest) of coastal Kenya. The biological importance of this and other kaya forests, as well as their protection, is discussed.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6918ED2C-69A4-48FC-A1E4-2B5DFF58E876

Revision of the Polynema dikobraz species-group with description of a remarkable new species from South Africa (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Mymaridae)

“…The latter option appears to have driven evolution of various types of facial protrusions, which at least in the case of the ichneumonid genus Genaemirum Heinrich, 1936, has led to the hypothesis that the highly modified spade-like protrusions of the clypeus and genae are used in a shoveling manner to facilitate negotiation of the frass-filled tunnels created by the wood-boring host moth caterpillar, in order to reach the pupae for oviposition (Rousse et al 2016). A number of species in other parasitoid wasp groups (Chalcidoidea, Diaprioidea, Figitidae, Platygastroidea, Protrotrupidae) also have facial protrusions, for which a functional hypothesis has yet to be postulated (Nielsen and Buffington 2011, Buffington and Copeland 2015, Buffington et al in press). In terms of evolution of an elongate external ovipositor, logically it would be expected that natural selection will drive evolutionary adaptation to an optimal morphological configuration to attain a functional balance between successful host access for oviposition, and efficient flight without hindrance by a cumbersome ovipositor.…”