Cotesia testacea Fujie, Shimizu & Fernandez-Triana, 2018

Fujie, Shunpei, Shimizu, So & Fernandez-Triana, Jose, 2018, A new species and a key to world species of the flavipes species-group of the genus Cotesia Cameron, 1891 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from Japan, Zootaxa 4527 (3), pp. 372-380 : 374-379

Cotesia testacea Fujie, Shimizu & Fernandez-Triana sp. nov.

( Figs 1 , 2 )

Type series. Holotype: ♀, “ JAPAN, Fukui Pref., Tsuruga City, marsh of Nakaikemi, 24. V.–17. VI. 2016, MsT. (1), Asato NOISHIKI leg.” ( NARO) . Paratypes: 1 ♂, “ Japan, Tokyo, Chiyoda Imperial Palace Dokan-Shinmichi 2010. 0 8. 24–2010. 0 8. 31 Malaise Trap ” ( NSMT) ; 1 ♀. “ JAPAN: Ishikawa Nomi, Mitsukuchi (paddy field) 22. IX.–5. X. 2011 H. Fukutomi ( MT) (13GR) R. Ishiguro “ ( MUNJ) ; 7 ♀, same data as holotype ( SEHU, NARO, OMNH) ; 6 ♀, same data except 17. VI.–10. VII. 2016, MsT. (3) ( OMNH) ; 1 ♀, same data except 10–31. VII. 2016, MsT. (3) ( OMNH) ; 1 ♀, same data except 31. VII–14. VIII. 2016, MsT. (3) ( OMNH) ; 3♂, same data except 14–30. VIII. 2016, MsT. (3) ( SEHU, NARO, OMNH) ; 10 ♀ and 2 ♂, same data except 30. VIII–19. IX. 2016, MsT. (3) ( SEHU, KPMNH, NARO, OMNH) ; 3 ♀ and 1 ♂, same data except 19. IX–16. X. 2016, MsT. (3) ( OMNH) ; 1 ♀ and 2 ♂, “ Japan, Osaka Pref., Osaka City , Higashiyodogawa Ward , Kunijima , Right bank of Yodo River , 34.721° N, 135.505° E, 17. V. 2015, Shunpei FUJIE leg.” ( OMNH) ; 1 ♀, “ Japan: Ibaraki Prefecture, Shishizuka-Oike, Tsuchiura , Marsh , Malaise trap, 27. X–13. XI. 1989, coll. K. Konishi, Voucher code: CNC656324” ( CNC) ; 1 ♀, “ Japan, Honshu, Ibaraki Prefecture, Tsuchiura , forest, pan trap, 2–16.x.1989, coll. M.J. Sharkey, Voucher code: CNC661174” ( CNC) .

Diagnosis. The new species is distinguishable from all other species of the flavipes species-group (except C. ferruginea ) based on its lighter color (including mesosoma with extensive areas orange-yellow, red-yellow, or light brown-yellow) and relatively longer antenna (about the same length than body length, with all flagellomeres longer than wide, especially the first few, which are around twice as long as wide). Also, it can be distinguished from C. ferruginea based on the following characters; its narrower T1, weakly sculptured T2, completely or mostly smooth T3, head and mesopleuron entirely pale-coloured (orange-yellow or light brown) and anteromesoscutum mostly smooth on posterior half (as compared to wider T1, T2 and T3 more strongly sculptured, and head and mesopleuron mostly dark brown to black in C. ferruginea ).

Description. FEMALE (n = 7). Body color mostly honey-yellow to orange-yellow, with darker areas which can be dark red-brown to black (especially on stemmaticum, metascutellum, T5+ and most laterotergites; but also sometimes on parts of head, propleuron, small spots on mesopleuron, most of metapleuron, propodeum, scutellum and anterior half of T1). Antenna brown. Legs orange-yellow to honey-yellow. Most wing veins white to transparent (very few veins light brown); pterostigma light brown with white spot at base present or absent. Head with relatively small eyes, resulting in large malar line and enlarged gena. Head frontally relatively smooth, but with large setae on lower 0.3 of head (mostly around lower face, clypeus, labrum, and malar space). Head dorsally mostly smooth, ocelli in a relatively low triangle. Ocular ocellar line much larger than diameter of posterior ocellus. Mesosoma relatively depressed, in lateral view, mesosoma maximum length about twice mesosoma maximum height. Anteromesoscutum with sparse, relatively shallow punctures on anterior half, mostly smooth and shiny on posterior half. Scutoscutellar sulcus relatively wide and with strong crenulae. Scutellar disc smooth. Mesopleuron mostly smooth but with deeply marked and striated sternaulus. Metapleuron smooth on anterior half, strongly sculptured on posterior half. Propodeum covered by reticulated sculpture, but with median longitudinal carinae clearly defined. Metafemur relatively very thin, its length 4.0× its maximum width. Metatibial spurs of equal size and less than 0.5× length of first segment of metatarsus. T1 widening towards posterior margin (widest part around 0.7 T1 length), with posterior margin rounded. T1 mostly coarsely sculptured. T2 with a median subtriangular to trapezoidal area, defined and separated from lateral areas because it is covered by sculpture (longitudinal striae), whereas the lateral areas are smooth. T3 longer than T2. T3 smooth or slightly sculptured anteriorly. T4+ smooth and unsculptured. Hypopygium more or less acute at apex, and slightly surpassing the last tergites. Ovipositor strongly tapering towards apex, ovipositor sheaths very short (around 0.2× metatibia length) and with few, scattered setae.

Body measurements (mm). Body L: 2.45 (2.13–2.75); fore wing L: 2.50 (2.23–2.65); F2 L: 0.20 (0.18–0.21); F3 L: 0.20 (0.16–0.20); F14 L: 0.11 (0.09–0.11); F15 L: 0.10 (0.09–0.10); OOL: 0.14 (0.13–0.14); POL: 0.10 (0.08–0.10); OD: 0.05 (0.05–0.06); malar space: 0.09 (0.08–0.09); metafemur L: 0.75 (0.66–0.75); metafemur W: 0.19 (0.16–0.19); metatibia L: 0.92 (0.81–0.93); metatibia inner spur L: 0.19 (0.14–0.19); metatibia outer spur L: 0.19 (0.14–0.19); 1st metatarsus L: 0.43 (0.34–0.44); T1 W at base: 0.20 (0.18–0.21); T1 W at apex: 0.28 (0.19– 0.28); T1 maximum W: 0.33 (0.29–0.35); T2 median L: 0.19 (0.17–0.21); T2 W at posterior margin: 0.45 (0.38– 0.50); T3 median L: 0.20 (0.20–0.26); fore wing vein R1 L: 0.69 (0.62–0.69); pterostigma L: 0.58 (0.50–0.58); pterostigma W: 0.16 (0.15–0.17).

MALE ( Fig. 1B ). As female.

Distribution. Japan and Korea ( Fig. 4 ).

Biology. Although no host species are known, almost all specimens were collected in marshes, and it is speculated that it should be parasitizing caterpillars living on reeds there. Paler-colored specimens tend to be more prevalent in summer.

Etymology. From Latin “testaceous” (dull brick-red color, or any of the several light colors of bricks) referring to the color of the body.

Remarks. This species closely resembles C. ferruginea in having relatively longer antenna and mesosoma with extensive paler-colored areas. Both species are certainly related, but the morphological differences (color and sculpture of anteromesoscutum, shape and sculpture of T1–3) are strong enough as to consider them as separate species. In his studies on Braconidae wasps from Korea, Papp (1990: 91) reported a single female specimen of Cotesia (collected in South Pyongang Province, Nampo, Wauto, netted on bulrush and reed on a spot inundated by brackish water) which he identified as C. ferruginea ; however, he also mentioned that the specimen was much lighter colored than typical representatives of that species. Based on our studies on this group, we consider here that the specimen identified by Papp (1990) as C. ferruginea actually belongs to C. testacea . Additionally, there is a reference to C. ferruginea occurring in Russian Far East, in Primorsky Krai ( Kotenko 2007); although we have not been able to examine that material, it is also likely that the species is C. testacea . Thus, we postulate here that the distribution range of C. ferruginea is restricted to the Western Palaearctic, whereas C. testacea is present in the Eastern Palaearctic.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cotesia testacea female holotype (A, C–G) and male paratype (B). A and B—habitus, lateral; C—wings; Dhead, frontal; E—head, dorsal; F—propodeum and metasoma, dorsal; G—head and mesosoma (partially), dorsal.

FIGURE 2. Cotesia testacea female paratype. A—habitus, lateral; B—head, fronto-ventral; C—head, frontal; D—wings; Epropodeum and metasoma, dorsal; F—head and mesosoma, dorsal.

FIGURE 4. Distribution map of Cotesia testacea in Japan and Korea. The red circles show species distribution based on examined specimens (or revised literature); the yellow circle denotes likely distribution (based on literature) that could not be checked for this paper.