Venturia liuae, Han & Achterberg & Chen, 2021

Han, Yuan-Yuan, Achterberg, Kees van & Chen, Xue-Xin, 2021, New species and records of Venturia Schrottky (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) from China and Nepal, ZooKeys 1041, pp. 113-136 : 113

Venturia liuae sp. nov. Figures 8 , 9

Materia examined.

Holotype: Nepal • ♀; Nepal, Kathmandu Nagarkot; 24.VII.2013; Zhen Liu leg.; No. 201406299.

Comparative diagnosis.

In the key by Gupta and Maheshwary (1977) this species keys out as V. ahlensis Maheshwary, 1977 from India, because the propodeal lateromedian longitudinal carina and lateral longitudinal carina are absent, but it can be easily distinguished from V. ahlensis by the following: areolet small with a long stalk, malar space ca 0.45 × basal width of mandible, and area superomedia region rugulose.

This species is also similar to V. himachala Gupta & Maheshwary, 1977 from Indian and Nepal, but differs from latter by the following: frons rugulose with median carina absent, interocellar distance 1.3 × ocello-ocular distance, anterior part of median lobe of mesoscutum with indistinct punctures, and propodeal lateromedian carina absent below anterior transverse carina.

Description.

Female holotype (Fig. 8 ). Body length 6.5 mm, fore wing length 4.0 mm.

Head. Antenna with at least 33 flagellomeres (apex missing), length of first flagellomere ca 1.3 × longer than second flagellomere; face (Fig. 9F ) rugose-punctate, punctures stronger and coalescent centrally, and shallow laterally; malar space granulate, ca 0.45 × basal width of mandible; mandible with a weak lamella; frons rugulose, median carina absent; vertex rugulose-punctate; temple shallowly punctate, ca 0.5 × length of the eye; ocellar region punctate; interocellar distance (Fig. 9G ) 1.3 × ocello-ocular distance and 2.0 × distance between median and lateral ocelli; occipital carina evenly arched, joining hypostomal carina before mandible base.

Mesosoma. Pronotum (Fig. 9I ) trans-striate laterally, closely punctate dorsally; mesoscutum (Fig. 9H ) punctate, matte, anterior part of median lobe with indistinct punctures; scutellum punctate; metanotum rugose-punctate; mesopleuron (Fig. 9C ) densely punctate, punctures separated by less than their diameter, weakly striate below subtegular ridge; metapleuron similar to mesopleuron except that the punctures little denser. Propodeum (Fig. 9D ) with area superomedia rugulose, area petiolaris rugose-striate; lateral longitudinal carina absent; lateromedian longitudinal carina absent below anterior transverse carina; propodeal spiracle oval; propodeum projecting at 0.5 of hind coxa.

Wing. Fore wing (Fig. 9A ) areolet small with a long stalk, the height of areolet ca 0.7 × as long as stalk, emitting 2m-cu vein from its apical part. RS ca 1.8 × longer than 2r&RS. 1cu-a opposite M&RS. External angles of second discal cell acute (70°). Hind wing (Fig. 9B ) with CU&cu-a intercepted at lower 0.35 of its length.

Legs. Hind femur 5.0 × longer than wide. Inner spur of hind tibia ca 0.45 × as long as first tarsomere of hind tarsus. Tarsal claws pectinate (Fig. 9K ).

Metasoma. Apical tergites from third on slightly compressed. First segment (Fig. 9E ) long and slender, ca 3.8 × longer than its apical width, without glymma; dorsolateral carina of first tergite missing; petiole ca 5.0 × longer than high. Suture separating first tergite from sternite situated mid-height at basal third of first metasomal segment. Second tergite granulate, long and slender, 0.9 × first tergite, 2.6 × its apical width; thyridium oval, small, its distance from basal margin of tergite ca 3.0 × its length. Third tergite 1.3 × longer than its apical width. Posterior margins of sixth and seventh tergites medially concave. Ovipositor sheath ca 1.8 × longer than hind femur, ovipositor ca 3.0 × longer than hind femur, ovipositor gradually upcurved, dorsal preapical notch strong, tip acute (Fig. 9J ).

Colour. Black. Scape narrowly in front, mandible except teeth, palpi, tegula, extreme apices of fore and mid coxae, fore trochanter and trochantellus of mid trochanter, yellow; remainder of fore leg yellowish brown with apical segment dark brown and remainder of mid leg yellowish brown with tarsus blackish brown; hind leg with trochanter blackish brown, trochantellus yellowish brown with externally more brownish, femur yellowish brown but apically blackish, tibia brownish with base and apex blackish, tarsus blackish brown; metasoma with first and second segment wholly black, dorsal surface from third segment on black but laterally reddish brown.

Distribution.

Nepal.

Etymology.

This species is named in honor of Dr Zhen Liu, the collector of the holotype.

Figures

Figure 8. Venturia liuae sp. nov., female, habitus, lateral view.

Figure 9. Venturia liuae sp. nov., female A fore wing B hind wing C mesosoma, lateral view D propodeum, dorsal view E fisrt metasomal segment, lateral view F head, anterior view G head, dorsal view H mesoscutum, dorsal view I pronotum, lateral view J tip of ovipositor, lateral view K hind tarsal claw.