Aleiodes pseudicones, 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 : 178

Aleiodes pseudicones sp. nov.

( Fig. 145 )

Holotype ♀, Thailand, Chaiyaphum, Pa Hin Ngam NP, dry evergreen next to creek, 22.xii.2002, 15° 40.569’ N, 101° 26.705’ E, Katae Sa-nog & Buakaw Adnafai (voucher BCLDQ00759, Genbank JQ388392 ) ( QSBG).

Length of body 3.6 mm, of fore wing 3.2 mm and of antenna 3.6 mm.

Antenna with 30 flagellomeres. Terminal flagellomere strongly accuminate. Median flagellomeres approximately 2 x longer than wide. Occipital carina obliterated medio-dorsally, ventrally complete and joining hypostomal carina. Mesopleuron largely aciculate, rugulose anteriorly and dorsally, precoxal sulcus weakly impressed, rugulose, speculum quite large, anterior part with fine longitudinal grooves. Midlongitudinal propodeal carina rather irregular on posterior 0.6, joining semicircular carina posteriorly. Fore wing vein 2-CU1 2.5 x 1-CU1. Apex of fore wing subbasal cell evenly setose. Fore wing vein 3-SR 2.55 x vein r. Fore wing vein 2-SR+M 1.45 x vein r. Fore wing vein SR1 2.36 x vein 3-SR. Hind wing vein M+CU 1.4 x 1-M. Hind wing subbasal cell evenly setose.Hind wing vein m-cu represented by a short, weakly pigmented fold, marginally antefurcal. Apex of hind tibia without comb of modified setae medially. Claws with well developed pecten reaching to base of claw. Basal lobes of 1 st tergite not protruding. Midlongitudinal carina of 3 rd tergite not clearly differentiated from other longitudinal striation.

Etymology. From ‘pseudo’ and ‘ Yelicones ’ in reference to its superficial similarity to members of the latter genus.

Notes. The massive legs with short tarsi and well developed pecten are very reminiscent of Yelicones species and probably represent a convergent adaptation to attacking host caterpillars concealed within silk webbing.

Figures

FIGURE 145. A. pseudicones sp. nov. A, habitus; B, face; C, fore leg; D, anterior mesosoma, dorsal view; E, mesosoma lateral view; F, metasoma.