Aleiodes pteppicymoni, 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 : 179-180

Aleiodes pteppicymoni sp. nov.

( Fig. 146 )

Holotype ♀, Thailand, Nakhon Nayok Province, Khao Yai NP, secondary forest trail near training center 4.iii.2003, 14° 24.522’ N, 101° 22.434’ E, 750m, Pong Sandao (voucher BCLDQ00750, Genbank JQ388400 ) ( QSBG).

Body length 4.3 mm, fore wing length 3.5 mm and antenna length 3.5 mm.

Antenna with 42 flagellomeres. Terminal flagellomere strongly acuminate. Median flagellomeres approximately 2 x longer than wide. Occipital carina with dorsal arms curving strongly anteriorly, nearly but not quite joining medially. Mesopleuron almost entirely aciculate, with faint rugulose sculpture anteriorly, precoxal sulcus weak, faintly rugulose, speculum absent. Midlongitudinal carina of propodeum complete. Fore wing vein 2- CU1 1.3 x 1-CU1. Apex of fore wing subbasal cell with glabrous zone. Fore wing vein 3-SR 1.4 x vein r. Fore wing vein 2-SR+M 0.75 x vein r. Fore wing vein SR1 2.8 x vein 3-SR. Hind wing vein M+CU 1.7 x 1-M. Hind wing subbasal cell evenly setose. Hind wing vein m-cu short, tubular, weakly antefurcal. Apex of hind tibia with comb of modified setae medially. Claws with well-developed comb-like pecten on basal lobe, the individual setae closely spaced and diverging. Basal lobes of 1 st tergite weakly protruding, subtriangular. Midlongitudinal carina of 3 rd tergite complete.

Etymology. Named after the assassin character ‘His Greatness the King Pteppicymon XXVIII, Lord of the Heavens …’ from the Terry Pratchett Discworld novel, in reference to lethal parasitoid biology of the wasp.

Figures

FIGURE 146. A. pteppycomi sp. nov. A, habitus; B, face; C, head and anterior mesosoma, lateral view; D, head and anterior mesosoma, dorsal view; E, fore wing; F, metasoma.