Xanthopimpla minuta Cameron, 1905

Pham, Nhi Thi, Broad, Gavin R., Matsumoto, Rikio & Wägele, Wolfgang J., 2011, 3056, Zootaxa 3056, pp. 1-67 : 40

Xanthopimpla minuta Cameron, 1905

Xanthopimpla minuta Cameron, 1905 . Spolia Zeylanica, 3: 137. Holotype: ♀, Sri Lanka: Kandy (BMNH).

Diagnosis. Notaulus extending to posterior level of tegula; scutellum convex; hind wing with vein 1 A indistinct; propodeum with lateromedian longitudinal carina present behind basal transverse carina; tergites 2 and 6 entirely yellow; ovipositor sheath about 0.3x hind tibia.

Distribution. Townes & Chiu (1970) have previously recorded this species from Dak Lak Province (Central Highlands of Vietnam). Pham & Le (2007) have recently recorded this species from Nghe An Province (Central Vietnam). Outside Vietnam, this species was known from China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan ( Yu et al. 2005).

Remarks. Five subspecies are currently recognised, but they differ only in colour characters that can be expected to vary geographically. The nominate subspecies was described from a Sri Lanka specimen and was recognised by Townes & Chiu (1970) as occurring in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan. Patil & Nikam (1995) subsequently described X. minuta aurangabadensis from India. The nominate subspecies differs from X. minuta lita Townes & Chiu from Malaysia by its entirely yellow propodeum, apex of the hind tibia, tergites 2 and 6. Another subspecies, X. minuta lotipes Townes & Chiu , is recognised from the Philippines and Chao (1997) described a further subspecies, X. minuta quadrula , from Malaysia. Specimens from Vietnam are closer to the nominate subspecies but specimens from Central Vietnam have apically blackish hind tibiae. Probably all of these subspecies could readily be synonymised, but we are not sure of the identity of X. minuta aurangabadensis , X. minuta lotipes or X. minuta quadrula .

Material examined. Thua Thien-Hue, Phong Dien NR: 1♀ ( RMNH), 50–100 m a.s.l, 26.iii.2001 ; 1♀ ( RMNH), same locality, 29.iii.2006, C. v. Achterberg leg. ; Phu Tho, Xuan Son NP: 1♂ ( IEBR), 300 m a.s.l, 09.v.2005, N. T. Pham leg. ; Quang Tri, Huong Hoa, Huong Phung : 1♀ ( IEBR), 900–1000 m a.s.l, 04.vi.2006, N. T. Pham leg. ; Nghe An, Pu Mat NP: 1♀ ( IEBR), 400–500 m a.s.l, 16.vii.2006. H. X. Le leg.