Microplitis

Gupta, Ankita, 2013, Revision of the Indian Microplitis Foerster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), with description of one new species, Zootaxa 3620 (3), pp. 429-452 : 431-432

Key to Indian species of the genus Microplitis (Based on females)

1. Notauli distinct (Figs 12, 21, 28, 30), smooth to sometimes excavate and coarsely sculptured (Fig. 12); prepectal carina variable................................................................................................ 2

- Notauli virtually absent or faintly indicated (Figs 3, 5); prepectal carina unclear.................................... 4

2. T1 more than 2x as long as wide; widest basally, parallel sided (Fig. 13); notauli excavate, crenulate and coarsely sculptured (Fig. 12); mesopleuron with prepectal carina; metapleuron coarsely reticulate-rugose, scuto-scutellar margin with 4 wide costulae; dorsal scutellum very coarsely rugulose-punctate and pilose; propodeum with 2 faces meeting sharply at about 90°, very coarsely rugose-punctate; medial longitudinal carina not distinctive (Fig. 13); associated with larvae of Acanthodelta janata (L.) on Ricinus communis L. (Figs 33 & 34).......... Microplitis maculipennis (Szepligeti 1900) new combination

- T1 less than or equal to 2x as long as wide (Fig. 27); propodeum with 2 faces not meeting at 90°, medial longitudinal carina distinctive........................................................................................... 3

3. T1 parallel sided (narrow at apex), 2x as long as wide; T2 and T3 reddish brown, T2 dark brown at median field, median field without slanting margins; T3 with a mix of red, brown and black, darker laterally; median length of T3 greater than T2 (Fig. 25); Scutellar sulcus with 7 distinct costulae (Fig. 24); ovipositor exserted, visible in dorsal view (Fig. 25).................................................................................. Microplitis prodeniae Rao & Kurian 1950

- T1 widest medially or pre-apically; 1.25x as long as wide, black and rugose; lateral sides of T2 yellow, T3 and rest of metasoma black; median length of median length of T3 nearly equal toT2 (Fig. 27); Scutellar sulcus with 6 distinct costulae (Fig. 28); ovipositor slightly exserted; visible in lateral view (Fig. 26)........... Microplitis spodopterae Rao & Kurian, 1950

4. Propodeum strongly rugose with weak indication of median carina; metasomal terga 1–3 yellow orange, remainder black (Fig. 9). T1 1.6x as long as its maximum width. Hind coxae occasionally black (with a mix of brown, yellow, and black at extreme base and posterior-lateral sides); hind femur and tibia (except brown colouration at apical 1/3rd) yellow orange (Fig. 8); scutellar groove with 8–9 well defined costulae........................................ Microplitis indicus Marsh, 1978

- Propodeum with clear median longitudinal carina surrounded by coarse rugosity (Fig. 3, 7, 24, 28, 30); other characters variable................................................................................................ 5

5. Propodeum with transverse carinae absent or unclear (Fig. 3); wings either infuscated or clear........................ 6

- Propodeum with transverse carinae distinct (Fig. 7)........................................................... 7

6. Wings strongly infuscated, pterostigma uniformly dark brown; notauli faintly indicated; T1 parallel sided, slight narrowed at apex with apical swelling; finely rugose punctate in posterior half except apical patch; T1 of metasoma black, laterotergites of T1 and T2 yellow brown. T2 with small brown black median field indicated by unclear oblique grooves; laterotergites yellowish brown; T3 with mixture of yellow, brown and black patches; remainder of tergites dark brown to black (Fig. 15); scutellar sulcus with 7 distinct carinae (Fig. 16); hind tibia with median 1/3rd pale testaceous to white, apical 1/3rd with black infuscation (Fig. 14); median length of T3 more than T2................................... Microplitis manilae Ashmead, 1904

- Wings hyaline, pterostigma brown with faint patch basally; notauli indistinct; metasoma reddish brown; T1 dilated at apex and converging towards tip; faintly darker basally; rest tergites pale reddish brown, extreme apex dark reddish brown; propodeum with distinct median longitudinal carina; femur light reddish brown, tibia brown, dark apically......................................................................................... Microplitis ajmerensis Rao & Kurian, 1950

7. Propodeum with clear median longitudinal carina surrounded by coarse rugosity with large reticulations and distinct raised transverse carinae (Fig. 7). T1 2.05x as long as maximum width; basal 2/3rd parallel sided; apical 1/3rd converging to round apex; posterior half longitudinal striate rugose, apical half smooth with apex nitid; T2 without median field. F1–4 antennal segments yellowish brown, F5–6 dark brown, remainder black (Fig. 5). Metasoma with mixture of yellow, brown and black colouration; T1 dark brown, laterotergites yellow testaceous; T2 and T3 yellow-range brown, T4–T7 black (Fig. 6). Hind legs with coxae and trochanters yellow orange; hind femur yellow orange with apex black; hind tibia brown with extreme base pale testaceous. Pterostigma with distinct basal spot.................................... Microplitis demolitor Wilkinson

- Propodeum coarsely reticulate-rugose with distinct medial longitudinal carina surrounded by coarse rugosity with dense mesh of reticulations (Fig. 3); transverse carinae less distinct. T1 about 1.85x as long as its maximum width; strongly reticulate rugose (except apical tip), reticulations larger pre-apically; T2 with median field; T2 and T3 margin suffused. Antennae, black; tegulae yellow orange; metasoma black. Hind legs with coxae black; trochanters yellow orange; femur yellow orange (black at apical and basal tip); tibia dirty yellow orange, black infuscation at apical 1/3rd and in sub basal region.................................................................................................. Microplitis murkyi sp. nov.