Facitorus nasseri Ranjith & Quicke

Butcher, Buntika A., Quicke, Donald L. J., Shreevihar, Santhosh & Ranjith, Avunjikkattu Parambil, 2016, Major range extensions for two genera of the parasitoid subtribe Facitorina, with a new generic synonymy (Braconidae, Rogadinae, Yeliconini), ZooKeys 584, pp. 109-120 : 112-115

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Braconidae

Facitorus nasseri Ranjith & Quicke sp. n. Figures 7-12, 13-15

Material examined.

Holotype, female, "India, Kerala, Malappuram, Calicut University Botanical Garden, 14-21.xii.2015, Malaise Trap, ex. Ranjith, A.P."

Diagnosis.

Facitorus nasseri sp. n. is distinguished from Facitorus brevicornis van Achterberg and Facitorus superus van Achterberg in having occipital carina complete, mesoscutum covered by long setae and scutellum with sub-posterior depression. Facitorus nasseri sp. n. comes close to Facitorus tamdaoensis Belokobylskij & Long, by its smooth metasomal tergite 2, but it differs from Facitorus tamdaoensis by the following characters; mesoscutum sculptured antero-laterally (smooth in Facitorus tamdaoensis ), frons without shallow pit medially (frons with shallow pit medially in Facitorus tamdaoensis ), propodeum with ‘H’ shaped carina posteriorly (smooth in Facitorus tamdaoensis ), pterostigma 2.9 × longer than maximum wide (3.6 × in Facitorus tamdaoensis ) and second tergite entirely smooth (densely striate basally in Facitorus tamdaoensis ). It differs from Facitorus granulosus and Facitorus amamioshimus by first flagellomere 2.1 × as long as apically wide (3.5-4.2 × in Facitorus granulosus and 3.5-4.0 × in Facitorus amamioshimus ), second metasomal suture not crenulate (crenulate in Facitorus granulosus and Facitorus amamioshimus ), third metasomal tergite entirely smooth (distinctly sculptured at least baso-laterally in Facitorus granulosus and Facitorus amamioshimus ). A key for the identification of Facitorus species is presented below.

Description (female).

Holotype, female (♀), length of body 1.7 mm and fore wing 1.35 mm.

Head. Antennae with 18 segments. First flagellomere 1.2 × as long as second and third respectively, 2.1 × longer than apically wide, distinctly expanded from base to apex. Terminal flagellomere acute, 3.1 × as long as its maximum width. Width of head: width of face: height of eye = 13.4: 6.8: 7.1. Frons and occiput smooth with long setae. Eyes glabrous, with a straight groove between antennal socket and eye margin. Distance between posterior ocelli: transverse diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 13.5: 10.25: 18.8. Occipital carina complete.

Mesosoma. Mesosoma 1.72 × longer than high. Propleuron smooth. Mesoscutum sculptured antero-laterally, smooth medio-posteriorly with long setae. Notauli impressed, meeting posteriorly and finely crenulate. Scutellar sulcus wide, deep and di vided by a single carina. Scutellum smooth, sparsely setose with subposterior transverse depression. Median area of metanotum with medio-longitudinal ridge, rest smooth. Precoxal sulcus distinct only anteriorly impressed. Metapleuron medially smooth, rest rugose. Propodeum without medio-longitudinal carina, basal half distinctly foveate and with ‘H’ shaped carinae and transverse carinae. Pterostigma 2.9 × longer than maximally wide. Fore wing vein r-rs approximately 0.8 × maximum width of pterostigma. Lengths of fore wing veins r-rs: 3RSa: 3RSb = 2.8: 4.4: 12.5. Lengths of fore wing veins CU1a: CU1b = 3.25: 4.37. Fore femur: tibia: tarsus = 4.7: 4.58: 3.34. Fore basitarsus 1.6 × longer than next three articles combined. Mid-tibial claw well-developed, pectinate. Hind femur: tibia: tarsus = 5.4: 7.7: 7.0.

Metasoma. Metasomal tergite 1 distinctly striate, smooth medio-posteriorly, striae reaching posterior margin laterally, slightly convex apically, sparsely setose. Tergite 2 smooth, sparsely setose medially, setose laterally, 1.6 × as long as third tergite. Second metasomal suture slightly impressed, not crenulate. Tergite 3 smooth with a pair of setae medio-basally and postero-laterally. Rest of the tergite smooth, exposed in lateral view and sparsely setose. Ovipositor sheath setose and 0.42 × as long as hind tibia.

Colour. Body dark brown except scape, pedicel, first flagellomere, basal half of second flagellomere, maxillary palp, tegulae, legs and ovipositor yellow; face yellowish brown anteriorly below antennal sockets; propleuron ventrally yellowish brown; wings hyaline; pterostigma and venation light brown.

Etymology.

APR dedicates this species to Dr. M. Nasser for his encouragement and sharing his knowledge about the behaviour of parasitoids, and also for the fruitful discussions during the field trips.

Male.

Unknown.

Distribution.

India (Kerala).

Host.

Unknown.