Pambolus (Phaenodus) shujai Ahmad

Ahmad, Zubair, Ghramh, Hamed A. & Ansari, Anjum, 2019, Two new species of braconid wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from India, ZooKeys 889, pp. 23-35 : 23

Pambolus (Phaenodus) shujai Ahmad sp. nov. Figs 8 , 9

Material examined.

Holotype, female, "INDIA: Uttar Pradesh, Etawah, 13.IV.02; coll. M Shamim (ZDAMU)". Paratypes, 3 females with same data as holotype.

Diagnosis.

The new species Pambolus shujai Ahmad sp. nov., is closely related to Pambolus ignarus Papp. However, it differs from P. ignarus in having (1) antennae with F17-F29 creamish-white (antennae yellowish brown in P. ignarus ); (2) POL: ØOD: OOL = 2:1.5:6 (POL: ØOD: OOL = 2: 2: 5 in P. ignarus ); (3) antennae as long as body (antennae 2.0 × as long as body length in P. ignarus ); (4) propodeal spines present at the middle of propodeum, length of spine 0.4 × as long as fore basitarsus, 0.3 × the distance between them (pair of lateral spines present at one-third below the middle of propodeum; length of spines as long as fore basitarsus, 0.5 × the distance between them length in P. ignarus ); (5) hind basitarsus 1.2 × as long as tarsal segment 2-4 combined (hind basitarsus 0.7 × as long as tarsal segment 2-4 combined in P. ignarus ); (6) forewings distinctly shorter than the body (forewings distinctly longer than the body P. ignarus ). (7) pterostigma 3.0 × as long as wide (pterostigma 5 × as long as wide P. ignarus ). The new species also differs from other Indian species, P. ruficeps Belokobylskij, by having (1) vertex finely granulates around ocelli, smooth elsewhere (rugulose in P. ruficeps ); (2) forewing veins r, 2RS, 3RSa thickened (forewing veins r, 2RS, 3RSa normal in P. ruficeps ); (3) antennae as long as body (antennae 1.5-1.7 × as long as body length in P. ruficeps ); (4) face smooth (face reticulate rugulose in P. ruficeps ).

Description.

Female, body length: 2.8 mm; forewing: 2.3 mm.

Head. Antennae 29 segmented, almost as long as body; scape 1.6 × as long as wide, F1 3.5-4.0 × as long as wide, head transverse, ca. 2.0 × as wide as long in dorsal view, temple smooth, distinctly widening ventrally, widest distance from eyes 2.0 × as long as eye dorsally; AOL: POL: ØOD: OOL =1:2:1.5:6; malar space 3.5 × basal width of mandible; face sparsely setose, smooth, 1.3 × as wide as long; clypeus smooth, distinctly separated from face, slightly convex, 3.5 × as wide as long; hypoclypeal depression elliptical almost 3.0 × as wide as long medially; frons strigose with few setae; vertex finely granulate around ocelli, rest smooth.

Mesosoma. Mesosoma 1.8 × as long as wide in dorsal view, 2.0 × as long as high in lateral view; pronotum small and sparsely setose; median and lateral lobes of mesoscutum granulate, sparsely setose; notauli poorly developed anteriorly, distinct posteriorly with some longitudinal carinae; scutellar sulcus deep and broad with four crenulae, 0.6-0.7 × as long as scutellum, scutellum polished with fine setae laterally and posteriorly, side of scutellum concave with longitudinal striations, metanotum almost at the same level, longitudinally striated, sparsely setose; propodeum with strong areolation, areola elongate, with a pair of spines, present at the middle of propodeum; propodeal spine 0.4 × as long as fore basitarsus and 0.3 × the distance between them; propleuron anteriorly granulate, posteriorly rugose, sparsely setose; mesopleuron anteriorly rugose, otherwise smooth and polished; episternal scrobe deep and isolated, crenulate at the margins.

Wings. Forewing 2.7 × as long as wide, 0.8-0.9 × as long as body, 2.7 × as long as hind tibia; pterostigma 3.0 × as long as wide, 0.8 × length of R1a, r arising from its middle; r about as long as width of pterostigma; second marginal cell of moderate size; 3RSa 0.9 × as long as r, 0.5 × 2RS, 0.25 × 3RSb; r-m 0.7 × 3RSa; CU1b arising from the middle of brachial cell; marginal cell somewhat short about 2.25 × as wide as high, 3RSb straight and falls much before the tip of wing; (RS+M)a slightly curved; hind wing 4.0 × as long as wide; M+CU 0.6 × 1M.

Legs. Hind leg setose, hind femur 4.0 × as long as broad, hind tarsus 0.9 × as long as hind tibia, hind basitarsus 1.2 × as long as tarsal segment 2-4 combined.

Metasoma. Metasoma as long as head and mesosoma combined in dorsal view, 2.0 × as long as wide; T1 longitudinally striated, strongly broadening posteriorly; 2 × as long as broad basally, spiracles present a little basally from middle; further tergites polished; ovipositor sheath in lateral view 1.1 × as long as tarsomere 2-4 combined; ovipositor short, straight and pointed.

Color. Head brownish yellow with dark brown patches; eyes, stemmaticum, propleuron, mesopleuron, propodeum black; mesonotum, metanotum, legs brownish; metasoma reddish brown; ovipositor sheath brownish; mandibles yellowish brown; tip of mandible, claws, antennal segment F1-F16 dark brown; F17-F29 creamish-white; ocelli transparent; wings hyaline, pterostigma yellowish brown, veins yellowish brown and thickened.

Male.

Unknown.

Host.

Unknown.

Distribution.

India (Uttar Pradesh).

Etymology.

The species is named after Dr Shujauddin for his valuable contributions to the taxonomy of Indian Braconidae .

Figures

Figures 8, 9. Pambolus (Ph.) shujai Ahmad sp. nov. 8 habitus, lateral view 9 forewing.