Aleiodes antescutum, Quicke & Butcher, 2012

Butcher, Buntika Areekul, Smith, M. Alex, Sharkey, Mike J. & Quicke, Donald L. J., 2012, A turbo-taxonomic study of Thai Aleiodes (Aleiodes) and Aleiodes (Arcaleiodes) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) based largely on COI barcoded specimens, with rapid descriptions of 179 new species, Zootaxa 3457, pp. 1-232 : 40-41

Aleiodes antescutum sp. nov.

( Fig. 16 )

Holotype ♀, Thailand, Loei Province, Phu Ruea NP, reservoir, 19.i.2007, 17° 28.826’ N, 101° 21.330’ E, 1000m, P Tumtip (voucher BCLDQ00210, Genbank JF962536 ) ( QSBG).

Paratypes: 2 ♀, Thailand, Lampang Province, Chae Son NP, spa/roadside, 21.i.2008, 18° 50.064' N, 99° 28.568' E, 450m, B Kwannui & A Sutpeng (voucher BCLDQ01611, Genbank JQ388356 ; voucher BCLDQ01516, Genbank JN278272 ) ( BMNH and QSBG respectively) ; 2 ♀, same as previous except, nursery, 14–21.xi.2007, 18° 49.939' N, 99° 28.126' E, 485m (voucher BCLDQ01497; no sequence data) ( QSBG, HEC) ; 2 ♂, Thailand, Phetchabun Province, Khao Kho [Petchaboon, Khao Khor, sic], 30.viii.1985, “ex larva of Cabbage looper” (so sequence data) ( BMNH) .

Body length 7.0 mm, fore wing length 6.4 mm and antenna length 7.5 mm.

Antenna with 53 flagellomeres. Terminal flagellomere acuminate. Median flagellomeres as long as wide. Occipital carina complete mediodorsally, ventrally weak and confused with other sculpture, not joining hypostomal carina. Maxillary palps somewhat swollen. Mesopleuron largely punctate rugose, anteriorly longitudinally striate, precoxal sulcus deep and vertically striate, with very large speculum. Midlongitudinal carina of propodeum complete. Propodeum foveate rugose with very well developed posterolateral ridge-like protuberances. Fore wing vein 2-CU1 2.9 x 1-CU1. Fore wing subbasal cell and basal and anterior parts of subdiscal cell largely glabrous. Fore wing vein 3-SR 2.1 x vein r. Fore wing vein 2-SR+M 0.8 x vein r. Fore wing vein SR1 2.9 x vein 3-SR. Hind wing vein M+CU 1.1 x 1-M. Hind wing basal cell with markedly reduced setosity, subbasal cell largely glabrous. Hind wing vein m-cu absent, its position indicated by small clump of dense setae. Vein SR running more or less parallel to wing margin. Claws with pecten of 5 large, thick, black teeth extening to gap between basal lobe and claw proper. Apex of hind tibia without comb of specialised adpressed setae. Basal lobes of 1 st tergite strongly protruding, angular, posteriorly steeply concave. 3 rd tergite without midlongitudinal carina.

Maxillary palp segments 1–4 dark brown, distal ones white.

Etymology. In reference to the large antescutal depression.

Note. This is the only reared species of Thai Aleiodes known to us, the reared specimens being mounted on the same card point as the mummy of it’s cabbage looper ( Trichoplusia ni ( Noctuidae )) host.

Figures

FIGURE 16. A. antescutum sp. nov. A, habitus; B, head and anterior mesosoma, dorsal view; C, paratype with associated mummified host caterpillar remains; D, metasoma; E, head and mesosoma, lateral view.