Ephedrus antennalis Tomanovic, 2020

Tomanovic, Zeljko, Petrovic, Andjeljko, Kocic, Korana, Ckrkic, Jelisaveta & Zikic, Vladimir, 2020, Two new morphologically interesting species of the genus Ephedrus Haliday (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 77, pp. 167-174 : 167

Ephedrus antennalis Tomanovic sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

On the basis of fore wing venation (3SR vein shorter than 2SR vein), elongated pterostigma (Fig. 1C ), and its short and broad petiole (Fig. 1D ), E. antennalis sp. nov. belongs to the Ephedrus persicae species group ( Gärdenfors, 1986). However, the long 12-segmented antennae (Fig. 1A ) distinguish the new species from all the members of the Ephedrus persicae group, as well as from all other congeneric species.

Female.

Head. Malar index equal to approximately 0.20 of the longitudinal eye diameter. Clypeus oval with eight long setae. Tentorial index approximately 0.35. Maxillary palps with four, labial palps with two palpomeres. Antennae 12-segmented, filiform, with semierect setae which are shorter than half of the segments’ diameter (Fig. 1A ). F1 and F2 elongated, 4.25 and 3.6 times as long as wide, respectively (Fig. 1B ). F1 subequal to F2. F1 with two, F2 with three (Fig. 1B ), F3 and F4 with five longitudinal placodes. Antennae not thickened towards apex, F9 well separated from F10 (whereas in E. persicae F8 and F9 are not well separated and form a kind of club).

Mesosoma. Mesoscutum with notaulices distinct in anterior half. Mesoscutal fovea not developed. Propodeum areolated, with seven setae on upper areola and five setae on lower areola. Fore wing. Pterostigma approximately 5.7 times as long as wide (Fig. 1C ). Vein ratio 3SR/2SR about 0.9 (Fig. 1C ).

Metasoma. Petiole subquadrate, 1.33 times as long as wide (Fig. 1D ). Ovipositor sheaths elongated, with two long setae on dorsal margin (Fig. 1E ).

Colouration. Head light-brown. Mouthparts light-brown. Scape brown, pedicel and F1 yellow to light-brown, remaining parts of antennae brown. Legs brown with light-brown tarsi. Petiole brown, remaining parts of metasoma light-brown to brown. Ovipositor sheath brown.

Body length. 1.8 mm.

Male.

Unknown.

Type material.

Holotype: 1 ♀, Russia, Western Cacausus, E. Krasnaya Polyana, Aibga mt. VII 2000, collected by sweeping, leg. Gurko. Deposited in the Biologiezentrum Linz´s collection, Austria.

Distribution and biology.

Ephedrus antennalis sp. nov. was collected in the Western Caucasus Mountains of Russia, and that is the only locality where the species has been found to date.

Aphid host.

Unknown (collected by sweeping).

Etymology.

The new species takes its name from an unusual number of antennal segments (12), unique within the genus Ephedrus .

Figures

Figure 1. Ephedrus antennalis sp. nov. Tomanovic A antenna B first and second flagellar segment C forewing D petiole - dorsal aspect E ovipositor sheaths - lateral aspect. Scale bars: 100 µm.