Pristomerus merus Klopfstein, 2016, n. sp.

Pristomerus merus n. sp.

Figures 19, 26

Etymology. This species shares many characters of a group of species around P. bicinctus, which have extended smooth and shiny areas on the mesoscutum, propodeum and tergites 1 and 2. It also shares the colouration with many of these species and thus can be seen as a good representative of this—potentially Australian—radiation; it obtained the name 'merus' (latin for 'pure').

Description. Known from females only. Fore wing length 4.6–4.75 mm (holotype: 4.75 mm). Antenna with 34–36 (36) flagellomeres. Mesoscutum with only a few punctures along front margin and sometimes along notauli. Scutellum without punctures, all smooth and shining. Mesopleuron with strong and rather dense punctures, smooth in-between; below subtegular ridge smooth and with or without punctures. Metapleuron with juxacoxal carina absent or at most present as a short basal carina. Propodeal areas smooth with strong punctures. Hind coxa smooth and shining or sometimes weakly coriaceous, with distinct punctures. Hind femur length to width ratio 4.3–4.5 (4.5) in female, ventrally with a medium sized tooth almost as long as width of hind tibia at mid length. Hind tibia 1.85–1.95 (1.95) mm. Second tergite 2.3–2.7 (2.7) × longer than wide at base, smooth and shining. Ovipositor 2.25–2.35 (2.25) × as long as hind tibia.

Colouration. Antenna basally orange, remainder brown or black. Head orange, lighter orange or yellow on malar space. Mesosoma including propodeum orange. Hind femur orange, with apex yellow. Hind tibia orange with apex narrowly darkened. Fore wing strongly infuscate, smoky-brown. Tergite 1 orange at base, black or brown on remainder. Tergites 2 onwards black or brown with narrow light bands apically.

Material examined. Holotype ♀: Label data: '12.40S 143.00E—GPS; 13km E by S Weipa QLD; Malaise Trap; 16 Feb—20 Mar 1994; P.Zborowski & D. Khalu' / ' Pristomerus sp.; Det. Noack 2000'; at ANIC.

Paratypes: QLD— 13km E by S Weipa, Malaise trap, 12.40°S/143.00°E; 16.xii.1993 – 16.i.1994, leg. P.Zborowski, D. Khalu; 2 ♀, at ANIC. Same locality, 20.iii.–20.iv.1994, leg. P.Zborowski; 1 ♀, at ANIC. QLD— 4km NE Batavia Downs, Malaise trap, 12.39°S / 142.42°E; 11.xii.1992 – 17.i.1993, leg. P.Zborowski; 1 ♀, at ANIC.