Balcha Walker

Gibson, Gary A. P., 2005, The world species of Balcha Walker (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eupelmidae), parasitoids of wood-boring beetles, Zootaxa 1033 (1), pp. 1-62 : 9-12

Key to world species of Balcha Walker

1 Dorsellum thin and in single subvertical plane, coriaceous to punctate ( Fig. 43 ) or with fine longitudinal rugae ( Fig. 44 ), but entirely bare ... anemeta species­group ... ............................................................................................................................... 2

– Dorsellum thick, with short dorsal crenulate band at abrupt angle to more vertical, posterior coriaceous surface ( Figs. 45–48 ), the coriaceous surface sometimes setose ( Fig. 48 )........................................................................................................ 5

2(1) Both sexes: propodeum with plical region setose ( Fig. 43 ); scutellum variably punctate­coriaceous to rugulose and often with sculpture more or less aligned into longitudinal rugae anteriorly ( Fig. 31 ).................................................................... 3

– Female only known: propodeum with plical region bare ( Fig. 44 ); scutellum uniformly punctate, the subcircular punctures separated by mostly shiny interstices ( Fig. 32 )..................................................................................................4

3(2) Acropleuron posterior to subalar region finely, longitudinally coriaceousaciculate, the surface appearing as if scratched with a pin ( Fig. 53 )........................ ................................................................................................. B. anemeta (Walker)

– Acropleuron posterior to subalar region punctate­reticulate, the surface distinctly sculptured except near posterior margin ( Fig. 54 ) ............... B. levicollis (Cameron)

4(2) Head with parascrobal region reticulate, the multisided cells shallow and delineated by linear ridges (Fig. 4); mesoscutum reticulate­alveolate to reticulate; syntergum short, only slightly longer than basal width and evenly tapered to apex; petiole almost smooth posterior to anterior carina, much smoother than sculptured part of propodeal plical region (cf. Fig. 45 ) ............................. B. reticulifrons n. sp.

– Head with parascrobal region punctate, the subcircular punctures separated by flat interstices; mesoscutum punctate to punctulate ( Fig. 32 ); syntergum elongate and with submedial lateral notch differentiating basal section surrounding ovipositor sheaths from slender apical portion lying above sheaths ( Figs. 56, 57 ); petiole strongly crenulate, similar to propodeal plical region ( Fig. 44 ) ............................... ............................................................................................... B. punctiscutum n. sp.

5(1) Both sexes: propodeum with paraspiracular region setose ( Figs. 46 , 47 ). Female: petiole sometimes distinctly crenulate similar to propodeal plical region( Figs. 37 , 47 ) ...................................................................................... elegans species­group... 6

– Both sexes: propodeum with paraspiracular region bare, except sometimes for line of setae along anterior margin ( Fig. 45 ). Female: petiole sometimes with median ridge, but otherwise much smoother than crenulate plical region of propodeum ( Figs. 33, 35 , 45 )..................................................................................................... 9

6(5) Mesoscutum partly grossly umbilicate but parapsidal and notaular bands with distinctly smaller punctures and forming ­like pattern, at least in female ( Fig. 11 ); face with punctures on parascrobal region brightly colored in contrast to dark or coppery interstices (cf. Fig. 2); petiole not longitudinally crenulate ( Fig. 46 ) ...................................................................................................... B. elegans (Masi)

– Mesoscutum comparatively uniformly reticulate and parapsidal bands separate from notaular band ( Figs. 13, 15 ) and/or extending posteriorly to scutellum at inner angle of axilla if separate for only about two­thirds length of mesoscutum ( Fig. 14 ); face with punctures and interstices the same color (Fig. 1); petiole variably conspicuously longitudinally crenulate ( Figs. 37 , 47 ).............................. 7

7(6) Female only known: mesoscutum dorsally with comparatively indistinct dark bands, the parapsidal bands extending only about half length of mesoscutum and not joining notaular band, and notaular band extending only very narrowly to scutellum ( Fig. 15 ); lower face reticulate­punctate or rugulose towards oral margin; scrobal channel punctulate­reticulate; scutellum reticulate (cf. Fig. 38 )..... ....................................................................................................... B. dictyota n. sp.

– Both sexes: mesoscutum dorsally with distinct black bands, the parapsidal bands extending posteriorly to scutellum and notaular band posteriorly occupying width of scutellum ( Figs. 13, 14 ); lower face with distinct subcircular punctures, even near oral margin (Figs. 1, 20); scrobal channel at most finely coriaceous excluding setiferous pores; scutellum with tiny setiferous punctures overlying coriaceous subsculpture ( Fig. 37 ) ............................................................................................. 8

8(7) Both sexes: mesoscutum with lateral margins of notaular band uniformly concave and parapsidal bands separate from notaular band virtually to posterior margin ( Fig. 13 ); propodeal callus with lateral, vertical surface smooth and shiny except for setal pores, the sculpture obviously different from that of metapleuron (cf. Fig. 53 ); scutellum greenish medially and bluish laterally ( Fig. 13 ). Female: gaster in dorsal view uniformly dark brown ............................................ B. eximia (Masi)

– Female only known: mesoscutum with lateral margins of notaular band abruptly recurved in about posterior quarter to third and merged with parapsidal bands to form subparallel, longitudinal sides for short distance anterior to scutellum ( Fig. 14 ); propodeal callus with lateral, vertical surface extensively micropunctate over coriaceous subsculpture, the sculpture adjacent to metapleuron similar to metapleuron ( Fig. 52 ); scutellum usually with conspicuous median coppery band ( Fig. 14 ); gaster in dorsal view with penultimate tergum bright greenish to partly blue, contrasting distinctly with other dark brown terga .......... B. eximiassita n. sp.

9(5) Dorsellum with posterior surface variably setose ( Fig. 48 )...................................... ................................................................................ cylindrica species­group... 10

– Dorsellum with posterior surface bare ( Figs. 43–47 ) or at most with single seta projecting paralaterally from carinate dorsal margin ... laciniosa species­group ...12

10(9) Upper parascrobal region with low convex, longitudinal bare region of slightly transverse, reticulate­punctulate sculpture between lines of setae along scrobal depression and inner orbit (Figs. 29, 30); acropleuron with postalar region extensively and conspicuously sculptured, reticulate­punctate ( Fig. 39 ) ................. ................................................................................................. B. cylindrica Walker

– Upper parascrobal region with flat to slightly concave dorsal region of coriaceous to reticulate­rugulose sculpture and entirely setiferous (Fig. 21); acropleuron with postalar region often only finely coriaceous­aciculate ( Fig. 50 ) .......................... 11

11(10) Female only known: metanotal panel with precrenular region entirely setose ( Fig. 46 ); syntergum conspicuously elongate, at least 10 x as long as wide and subequal in length to combined length of head and mesosoma ..................... B. reburra n. sp. – Both sexes: metanotal panel with single line of setae near anterior margin of precrenular region ( Figs. 45 , 48, 50 ); syntergum obviously shorter than above, shorter than length of mesosoma ....................................... B. indica (Mani & Kaul)

12(9) Female................................................................................................................... 13

– Male ...................................................................................................................... 17

13(12) Syntergum short and stubby, and with dorsal surface smooth, shiny and bare posterior to short basal setose band ( Fig. 55 ) ................................. B. enoptra n. sp.

– Syntergum variably elongate and narrow but at least uniformly sculptured and setose .............................................................................................................................. 14

14(13) Gaster with conspicuously elongate­slender syntergum recurved dorsally relative to rest of gaster ( Fig. 58 ), the syntergum subdivided submedially by lateral notch differentiating basal portion surrounding ovipositor sheaths from slender apical portion lying above ovipositor sheaths ( Fig. 59 ) .................. B. camptogastra n. sp.

– Gaster with dorsal surface at most slightly concave in lateral view, the syntergum variable in length but consisting of undifferentiated tergum surrounding all but apex of ovipositor sheaths .................................................................................... 15

15(14) Mesoscutum with brownish, unmodified, hairlike setae; mesonotum with ­ shaped dark region extending posteriorly as broad median band that usually also extends, more or less distinctly, over about anterior half of scutellum medially ( Fig. 18 ); forewing with mediocubital fold brownish beyond basal cell.................. ............................................................................................... B. splendida (Girault)

– Mesoscutum with white, flattened, lanceolate setae dorsally, at least laterally anterior to level of tegula ( Fig. 9 ); mesonotum with color pattern variable, but at least medial dark band not continued posteriorly as similar band onto scutellum ( Figs. 9, 16 ); forewing hyaline ............................................................................. 16

16(15) Mesoscutum with white lanceolate setae only laterally in region anterior to level of tegula and with parapsidal and notaular bands forming 3 separate bands ( Fig. 16 ); scutellum reticulate ( Fig. 38 ) ......................... B. reticulata (Nikol’skaya)

– Mesoscutum with white lanceolate setae within notaular band and with parapsidal and notaular bands forming ­like pattern ( Fig. 9 ); scutellum with sculpture aligned into longitudinal rugae at least anteriorly ( Fig. 36 ) ........ B. laciniosa n. sp.

17(12) Mesoscutum with brownish, unmodified, hairlike setae; scutellum variably coriaceous­reticulate to completely reticulate ( Fig. 40 ) ........ B. splendida (Girault)

– Mesoscutum with white lanceolate setae within notaular band and laterally in region anterior to tegula; scutellum with sculpture aligned into longitudinal rugae at least anteriorly ( Fig. 36 ) ........................................................... B. laciniosa n. sp.

Figures

FIGURES 39–46. 39–42. Mesosoma, dorsal: 39, Balcha cylindrica; 40, B. splendida; 41, B. camptogastra; 42, B. enoptra. 43–46. Metanotum and propodeum: 43, B. levicollis; 44, B. punctiscutum; 45, B. enoptra (cal = callus, dor = dorsellum, pcr = precrenular region of metanotal panel, ppr = propodeal plical region, psr = paraspiracular region); 46, B. elegans.

FIGURES 47–54. 47. Metanotum and propodeum: Balcha eximia. 48. B. indica (N. Am.): dorsellum and propodeal plical region. 49 and 50. Mesosoma, lateral: 49, B. punctiscutum; 50, B. indica (N. Am.). 51–54. Posterior half of acropleuron: 51, B. indica (holotype); 52, B. eximiassita; 53, B. anemeta; 54, B. levicollis (sar = subalar region of acropleuron).

FIGURES 31–38. Mesosoma dorsal: 31, Balcha anemeta; 32, B. punctiscutum; 33, B. indica (N. Am.); 34, B. indica (holotype); 35, B. elegans; 36, B. laciniosa (not = notaulus, pl = parapsidal line); 37, B. eximiassita; 38, B. reticulata.

FIGURES 55–59. 55. Balcha enoptra: syntergum. 56 and 57. B. punctiscutum: 56, syntergum; 57, base of syntergum. 58 and 59. B. camptogastra: 58, lateral habitus; 59, syntergum.

FIGURES 9–18. Mesosoma dorsal: 9, Balcha laciniosa; 10, B. cylindrica; 11, B. elegans; 12, B. indica (N. Am.); 13, B. eximia; 14, B. eximiassita; 15, B. dictyota; 16, B. reticulata; 17, B. anemeta; 18, B. splendida (nob = notaular band, pnb = paranotaular band, ppb = parapsidal band).