14 antennal segments
sub-antennal groove present
pronotum: absent dorsally, extensive laterally; surrounding the exposed anterior spiracle; prepectus absent
axillae large, narrowly separated
forewing: stigma absent; costal cell present
hind wing venation reduced
cerci digitiform
forewing (removed, and under coverslip)
forewing (removed, and under coverslip)
body length
3.9mm
body colour
body
black
legs
orange-brown, with: coxae black; femora infused black
antennae
black, with: pedicel, F1 & F2 orange-brown
wing colour
hyaline basally; very light infumation in irregular blotches elsewhere. No discrete, dark medial band.
sparse setae
no dense patches of setae
longest setae are on the coxae
head shape
strongly transverse: width/length = 1.62
note that I assume the eyes are considered part of the head, and that therefore the maximum width (in this species) is quite anterior on the vertex
ocellar arrangement
POL/OOL = 1.45
head shape: genae
Genae: much shorter than compound eye (in dorsal view); not bulging, narrower than head width across eyes
mesoscutum shape
wide: length/width = 0.68
basal flagellomeres: shape
length/width: F1 (yellow) = 6.1; F2 (pink) = 6.7
width measured at "approximate midpoint of segment", as per Shaw (1990)
basal flagellomeres: relative lengths
F1 (yellow)/F2 (pink) = 1.0
forewing venation
M+Cu1 & Cu1 spectral; 1mu & Rs apex absent
hindwing venation
Rs: basal 1/3 tubular/sclerotised; apical 2/3 infumate-spectral, tapering out before reaching wing margin
hindwing hamuli
1 long, 2 short
antennal shape
slightly wider apically than basally
Note: antenna removed and imaged under coverslip to ensure planar view. Note too that the width of F1 is just slightly greater than F2 at the midpoint, but narrower at the extreme base. It is unclear exactly where Shaw (1990) took the measurements reported.
frons shape & occipital carina
frons projecting above antennal sockets (pink arrow)
occipital carina basally curving towards mandible (green arrows)
frontal carina; mandibles
transverse carina present above antennal sockets, with pair of blunt projections either side of midline (stars)
base of mandibles with transverse sulcus, flanked by series of longitudinal striae. Naumann (1987) notes this as feature in male, but not female, M. troglodytes.
mandibles
base of mandibles with transverse sulcus, flanked by series of longitudinal striae. Naumann (1987) notes this as feature in male, but not female, M. troglodytes.
mouthparts, head viewed ventrally
base of mandibles with transverse sulcus, flanked by series of longitudinal striae. Naumann (1987) notes this as feature in male, but not female, M. troglodytes.
subantennal groove bordered dorsally by a sharp carina
metasoma shape
shiny, sparse setae, pointed apically
dorsal overview (all wings removed)
I made the decision to remove the wings in order to fully view the propodeum and basal metasomal segments. This may have been a bit rash ... this may end up being quite a special (ie rarely-collected) male, and should be lodged with a museum. Anyway, done now. All four wings were mounted on glass slides (dry) and imaged under cover slips.
propodeal sculpture and structures
The heavily reticulate surface of the propodeum makes recognition of carinae and furrows a challenge. There is a median row of fovea (dashed arrow) ... would Shaw have called this a furrow, I wonder (?). The solid arrows indicate the location of putative lateral carinae. Again, I'm not confident that these would be considered carinae ... but see the dorso-lateral view.
propodeum, dorsolateral view
The dashed arrow indicates the midline, and the medial row of fovea. It is not deeply impressed, so I assume this would not be considered a furrow.
The solid arrows show a suggestion of lateral carinae ... most evident on the right side in this image.
T1-T3 microsculpture (dorsolateral view)
T1: smooth and shiny, with very spares, tiny punctures
T2 & T3: fine coriaceous ('shagreened') texture, with sparse, tiny punctures
holotype (headless)
Megalyra minuta, megalyrid wasp, dorsal view. Holotype. Registration no. T 6828. Photographer: Lucinda Gibson. Source: Museums Victoria
https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/specimens/1009227
holotype (headless)
Megalyra minuta, megalyrid wasp, lateral view. Holotype. Registration no. T 6828. Photographer: Lucinda Gibson. Source: Museums Victoria
https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/specimens/1009227
body length
5.7mm
body colour
body
black
legs
orange-brown, with: coxae black; hind femur black in apical half
antennae
black, with: scape, pedicel, F1 & F2 orange-brown
wing colour
slightly darkened medial band, indistinct posteriorly
blotch apically, posterior to vein Rs
wing colour
slightly darkened, indistinct medial band, although patchy and not reaching posterior margin of wing
blotch apically, posterior to vein Rs
setae of metasoma
sparse, long setae on metasoma; arranged in rows, not patches
long, silky setae
most of body bears long, silvery setae, but nowhere forming dense patches that obscure the underlying cuticular structure
head shape
near spherical: width/length = 1.29
ocellar arrangement
POL/OOL = 1.15
head shape: genae
genae: relatively long, 3/4 length of compound eye (in dorsal view); head as wide across genae as across eyes
mesoscutum shape
near square: length/width = 0.87
mesoscutum shape: corners
anterolateral edge of mesoscutum curves posteriorly; corners small, not prominent
basal flagellomeres: shape
length/width: F1 (yellow) = 6.1; F2 (pink) = 7.4
width measured at "approximate midpoint of segment", as per Shaw (1990)
basal flagellomeres: relative lengths
F1 (yellow)/F2 (pink)) = 0.87
forewing venation
M+ Cu1 & Rs infumate; Cu1 very lightly infumate - spectral; 1mcu absent
hindwing: venation & hamuli
Rs: basal 1/4 tubular/sclerotised; apical 3/4 strongly infumate, almost reaching wing margin
hamuli: 1 long, 2 short
frons shape & occipital carina
frons evenly rounded above antennal sockets (pink arrows)
occipital carina basally curving towards mandible (green arrows)
subantennal groove bordered dorsally by a sharp carina (yellow dashed arrows)
base of mandibles with transverse sulcus, flanked by series of longitudinal striae. Naumann (1987) notes this as a feature in male, but not female, M. troglodytes.
metasoma shape
shiny, sparse setae, pointed apically
metasoma shape
shiny, sparse setae, pointed apically
propodeum sculpture
dorsal surface coarsely areolate
metasomal sculpture
T1 smooth & shiny; T2 & T3 punctate basally, smooth apically