Lissonota ardentis Johansson & Hunter, 2026, sp. nov.

Lissonota ardentis sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CCDE7FE9-C90C-4756-9219-E02FA7E8475E Figure 1 Holotype: GREECE: 1♀, Thimiana (E26°08.19’ N38°19.36’), Chios, 26–28 Oct. 1998, Malaise trap, Mike Taylor leg. Accession number: LIV. 2025.6.3. Type depository: The holotype is stored in the Entomology collections of World Museum, Liverpool, United Kingdom. Etymology: ardentis adjective in feminine case from ardere = glow, burn in relation to the colour pattern of the species. Diagnosis: With its posteriorly closed mesosulcus and relatively few hamuli L. ardentis sp. nov. belongs to the vaguely defined subgenus Campocineta. It is superficially similar to other species with mostly black mesosoma and red metasoma, such as L. coracina (Gmelin, 1790) and L. subaciculata Bridgman, 1886. In particular it is similar to the latter but differs in the shape of the head and clypeus in anterior view, the more elongate mesosoma in lateral view and the shape and sculpture of the basal tergites (particularly the second tergite), as well as the obvious differences in colour pattern. Lissonota albihamata Johansson, 2024, recently described from Iran is very similar in size, shape and sculpture to the species described here but has stouter and fewer flagellomeres and extensive yellow markings on the head and mesosoma. Colour pattern aside it is also very similar to L. corsicator Aubert, 1972, a widely distributed species in the Mediterranean area. However, L. corsicator has fewer flagellomeres (27–28) and the mesosoma and metasoma are almost entirely black. Notably, the right mandible in the holotype of the new species is infuscate and the left yellow, indicating some kind of aberration. One can also expect the extension of the reddish markings on the mesosoma to be variable. In the key to species presented by Johansson (2024), the holotype will run out at couplet 54 as L. ruforientor Aubert, 1977, which has stouter habitus and the mesoscutum and scutellum largely red. Presumed specimens of L. ardentis sp. nov. with mostly black mesosoma will run out somewhere around the couplets 89–93 depending on characters used, but will be distinguished by the more numerous and slenderer flagellomeres, the sculpture of the basal tergites and the absence of vertex spots. Description: Body length about 6.5 mm. Temples notably narrow in lateral view, centrally about 0.3 × as wide as the compound eye. Malar space as long as the width of the mandible base. Clypeus about 2.1 × as wide as high. First flagellomere 4.5 × as long as wide. Antenna with 37 flagellomeres. Second and third flagellomeres 3.5 × as long as wide. Subapical flagellomeres approximately as long as wide. Mesoscutum weakly shining with strong micro sculpture and distinct punctures (punctures mixed with transverse rugae anteriorly), interstices between punctures on dorsum of mesoscutum about equal to their diameter, denser in central posterior part. Scutellum shining, dorsally shagreened with a few scattered punctures, (punctures stronger laterally and posteriorly). Pleura with similar sculpture as mesoscutum. Speculum smooth. Mesosulcus shallow, weakly crenulate, weakly excavate posteriorly and closed by a transverse carina. Propodeum with a strong transverse carina, posteriorly with a few irregular longitudinal rugae, with irregular rugulose polished sculpture centrally in front of carina, and a pair of central irregular longitudinal carina (vaguely reminiscent of L. mutator Aubert, 1969). Lateral dorsal parts, fading into regular punctures with distinct rugose microsculpture between punctures (metapleuron with rugosity weaker and punctures denser). Fore wing areolet closed. Number of hamuli 6. Metasoma elongate, almost parallel sided. First tergite about 1.5 × as long as apically wide. Second and third tergites about as long as wide. Tergites quite polished and tergites 1–3 with reticulate micro sculpture. Sculpture becoming gradually weaker from tergite 4 onwards. First and second tergites with a weak transverse furrow posteriorly (continues postero-laterally), these are covered in irregular longitudinal striae which curves inwards dorso-laterally. Ovipositor about as long as metasoma, gradually expanding dorso-ventrally in apical half, proximally about as wide as hind basitarsus. Legs of normal shape, hind femur about 5.5 × as long as centrally wide. Claws short, slightly longer than arolium, without teeth. Ground colour black. Apical 0.8 of clypeus and left mandible yellow. Yellow vertex mark absent. Antenna black, ventrally fading to dark brown. Mesosoma with hind corner of pronotum, sutures lateral to scutellum and postscutellum marked with orangish-red. Propodeum with posterior parts including area immediately in front of transverse carina and ventral 0.4 of metapleuron fading to red. Tegula white. Tergites 1–4 entirely red. Legs pale reddish. Pterostigma dark brown (paler basally). Male unknown. Ecology: The specimen was collected in Thymiana (Thimiana), a small town in the South-East of the Island of Xios (Chios). We have been unable to find any specific notes relating to the collection of the specimen but according to Google Maps, the co-ordinates on label (E26°08.19’ N38°19.36’) appear to be the edge of a field, or grove of trees. The specimen was collected toward the end of October. Distribution: So far only known from Greece but the species can be expected to occur at least in the western part of Mediterranean basin. Discussion. Johansson (2024) states: “As could be expected, considering the large number of potential hosts, the Mediterranean basin is home to numerous species seemingly associated with open or semi-open xerothermic grasslands and forests. Given the relatively low collecting effort in the region, the number of new species per collection event indicates that several species remain to be discovered and described, especially from the mountains of southeastern Europe and adjacent areas.” The new described species herein confirms that hypothesis and further studies of the ichneumonid fauna of this highly interesting biogeographical region, to map its true biodiversity would be desirable. Lissonota ardentis sp. nov. is characterised by some morphological characters which indicate that it is possibly closely related to some species with their main distribution in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East such as L. corsicator and L. albihamata. This paper, along with the recent discovery of a new Lissonota from central Turkey (Johansson et al. 2025) and the relatively high number of species known from single specimens or single localities in the Mediterranean area, for example L. barbator Aubert, 1972; L. clypearis Costa, 1886; L. jordanica Johansson, 2024 & L. sternalis Costa, 1886 indicates that the region likely houses more undescribed species.