Colastomion masalaii Quicke, 2012

Quicke, Donald L. J., Smith, M. Alex, Miller, Scott E., Hrcek, Jan & Butcher, Buntika, 2012, Colastomion Baker (Braconidae, Rogadinae): nine new species from Papua New Guinea reared from Crambidae, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 28, pp. 85-121 : 89-91

Colastomion masalaii Quicke sp. n. Figs 9 -16

Material examined.

Holotype female, East Sepik Province, Wamangu, 143°39.125'E, 03° 47.228'S, 100m, 30-Mar-05, ex caterpillar on Ficus bernaysii King ( Moraceae ),. (voucher USNM ENT 00503254; BOLD ASQSP055-08; Genbank JF271305) [fu rthest individual from pin on card]. Host remnants were sequenced (BOLD ASPN766-09, Genbank JF271356) and the sequence identified as Glyphodes margaritaria .

Paratypes. 2 additional females on same card and from same brood as holotype; see Table 1 for all data on 30 additional rearings totalling 33 paratypes. Specimens USNM ENT 00491800, USNM ENT 00491811 and USNM ENT 00648414 are deposited in the BMNH.

Morphology.

Length of body 5.5-6.5 mm, of fore wing 48-5.0 mm and of antenna 7.0 mm.

Head. Antenna with 35-37 flagellomeres. Terminal flagellomere pointed, not or hardly acuminate. Median flagellomeres 1.8 × longer laterally than wide. 3rd segment of maxillary palp of female not swollen, approximately 7 × longer than maximally wide. 5th segment approximately 0.7 length of 6th. Base of mandible well separated from eye, closest point approximately 1.2 distance from middle of anterior tentorial pit and eye. Distance between anterior tentorial pits approximately 3.0 × shortest distance between p it and eye. Width of face: width of head across eyes: height of eye = 1.0 : 2.3 : 1.3. Face with distinct transverse striation laterally. Frons with distinct pattern of elongate pits forming chevrons on either side of midlongitudinal sulcus. Shortest distance between posterior ocelli: transverse diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 1.0: 1.6: 2.0. Occipital carina complete but irregular and weak mediodorsally

Mesosoma. Notauli more or less impressed along whole length, and crenulated, converging medioposteriorly and mesoscutum with some irregular rugosity at their confluence. Mesopleuron smooth and shiny. Precoxal sulcus strongly impressed, rather narrow, foveate. Propodeum with short midlongitudinal carina anteriorly that splits giving rise to a widening midlongitudinal depression with moderately well developed transverse striation. Propodeum with distinct mediolateral projections.

Fore wing. Vein 1-CU1 antefurcal. Vein 2-CU1 9 × longer than 1-CU1. Lengths of veins SR1: 3-SR: r = 5.5: 3.5: 1.0. Vein 2-SR 2.4 × 2-SR+M.

Hind wing. Vein M+CU 0.7 × length of 1-M.

Metasoma. 1st metasomal tergite 1.6-1.9 × longer than posteriorly wide. 2nd metasomal tergite 1.25 × wider than long, with well developed midbasal triangular area giving rise to weak midlongitudinal carina; irregularly longitudinally striate with approximately 15 striae lateral to midlongitudinal carina. 3rd metasomal tergite 1.9 × wider than long; longitudinally striate without distinct midlongitudinal carina. 4th - 6th tergites almost smooth.

Coloration. Body largely pale brown yellow; scapus and pedicellus yellow, flagellum largely black becoming more rufous distally; legs entirely pale brown yellow. Wing membrane hyaline, venation largely brown, pterostigma dark brown.

Etymology. Named after the local forest spirits called ‘masalai’ in Melanesian Pidgin.

Biology. Solitary and gregarious (3 or 4 individuals per brood) endoparasitoids of Talanga sexpunctalis complex and Glyphodes margaritaria (Cramer) (both Crambidae ) feeding on Ficus spp ( Moraceae ). Talanga sexpunctalis is usually considered a widespread species but appears to be a complex of species, including several in New Guinea ( Craft et al. 2010: S2). Glyphodes margaritaria is a widespread species ( Craft et al. 2010: 5043 and S2).

Figures

Figures 9 - 12. Colastomion masalaii sp. n. holotype and paratypes, Cell ^ D ® light photomicrographs. 9 Brood including holotype (furthest individual from pin on card) and two female paratypes 10 habitus, dorsal view 11 face, oblique view 12 head and mesosoma, dorsal view.

Figures 13 - 16. Colastomion masalaii sp. n. Cell ^ D ® light photomicrographs. 13 Mesosoma, lateral view 14 propodeum and 1 st tergite 15 fore wing 16 metasoma.