Leiophron (Leiophron) sarahae Rousse et Braet

Rousse, Pascal & Braet, Yves, 2012, Braconid wasps (Hymenoptera) of Reunion. 1. Euphorinae (including Meteorini): key to species and description of six new species, Zootaxa 3449, pp. 26-46 : 34-36

Leiophron (Leiophron) sarahae Rousse et Braet sp. nov.

( Fig. 6 )

Diagnosis. Black and testaceous species highly characterized by the subcubic and somewhat prognathous head with about horizontal eyes in profile view. The fore telotarsi are distinctly swollen.

Description. FEMALE: B: 2.0; F: 1.6; O: 0.1.

Head. Head subcubical in dorsal view, strongly transverse in frontal view. Eyes swollen, nearly horizontal and protruding in profile view. Entire head smooth and shining. Vertex flattened. Temples long, head not constricted behind eyes. Ocelli small. Occipital carina weak, dorsally absent, joining hypostomal carina ventrally. Antenna with at least 13 flagellomeres (both apices broken), scape elongate and slightly curved. Face strongly convex in profile. Clypeus transverse, 3.0x wider than high. Malar line 1.5x as long as mandibular basal width. Subocular sulcus deep. Mandibles thin and long, upper tooth twice as long than lower tooth.

Mesosoma. Pronotum with transverse striations. Mesopleuron smooth and shining, sternaulus absent. Metapleuron finely reticulate. Mesonotum smooth and shining without notaulus, scuto-scutellar groove shallow with a median transverse carina. Propodeum rugose reticulate without carina. Forewing with most of venation absent: only A, 1cu-a, M and apex of 2/RS tubular and pigmented, 3/Rs tubular but totally unpigmented. Hind wing without pigmented veins, only R delimited by tubular veins. Legs somewhat stout. Fore leg with tarsomeres 2–4 wider than high and tarsomere 5 distinctly swollen.

Metasoma. Metasoma strongly petiolate, widened beyond tergite I. Tergite I tubular, half as wide as propodeum, as wide apically than basally, 4.0x longer than wide, with longitudinal striations, glymma deep, ventral margins separated and subparallel on their entire length. Following tergites smooth and shining. Tergites II and III fused without distinct suture dorsally. Tergites IV to VII visible but short. Ovipositor very short, sheath hardly protruding.

Color. Head testaceous with face, clypeus and mouthparts yellow. Mesosoma testaceous with propodeum and metapleuron blackish. Tergite I black, the following blackish testaceous. Legs yellow with claws black.

MALE. Unknown.

Comments. All other Leiophron spp. reported in the studied area have a fully pigmented vein Rs.

Distribution records. Reunion.

Etymology. To Sarah Rousse-Rochefeuille.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE Ƥ ( MNHN EY 6639) Verbatim label data: St Pierre / Bassin Martin, Station Armeflhor, alt. 290m, parcelle expérimentale AB, Piège Malaise, coll. Cirad (Deguine/Ramage); apical flagellomeres lacking.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Leiophron sarahae sp. nov. habitus.