Rugosimirax Ranjith & van Achterberg, 2023

Ranjith, A. P., Achterberg, Cornelis Van & Priyadarsanan, Dharma Rajan, 2023, A new genus in the braconid subfamily Miracinae from the Oriental region, with descriptions of seven new species from India and Sri Lanka, Zootaxa 5318 (4), pp. 451-473 : 452-455

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5318.4.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:820801F0-F6F4-495E-804B-2BEB402525EA

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8181451

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/222F607C-EE1E-498D-8126-67A7A9725937

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:222F607C-EE1E-498D-8126-67A7A9725937

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Rugosimirax Ranjith & van Achterberg
status

gen. nov.

Rugosimirax Ranjith & van Achterberg , gen. nov.

( Figures 1–2 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:222F607C-EE1E-498D-8126-67A7A9725937

Type species: Rugosimirax expectata Ranjith & van Achterberg , sp. nov.

Diagnosis

Head. Head wider than long in anterior ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ) and dorsal ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ) views. Eyes sparsely setose, slightly diverging posteriorly ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Face smooth, setose ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ), moderately convex in lateral view ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Clypeus smooth, smooth ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ) convex in lateral view ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ), apical margin of clypeus straight ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Malar suture distinct, complete ( Fig. 1B, E View FIGURE 1 ). Tentorial pit deep ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Mandible bidentate, upper tooth longer than lower tooth. Maxillary palp with four segments ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Labial palp with three segments ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Frons smooth, convex medially, depressed laterally ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ). Vertex and occiput smooth, sparsely setose ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ). Ocelli arranged in equilateral triangle ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ). Temple moderately rounded in dorsal view ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ). Occipital carina absent ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ). Antenna with 14 antennomeres, basal four flagellomeres elongate, fourth flagellomere with acute spine apico-ventrally (absent in R. fereta (Papp & Chou, 1996) comb. nov.), flagellomeres 5–11 shortened, transverse, terminal flagellomere longer than wide ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ).

Mesosoma. Mesosoma longer than high ( Figs 1A, E View FIGURE 1 ). Sides of pronotum and propleuron smooth ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Pronotum without pronope dorsally ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 ). Mesoscutum smooth, with carinated margin postero-laterally ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 ). Notauli long, crenulated ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 ). Scutellar sulcus indistinct ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 ). Scutellum smooth and with a pair of circular depressions posteriorly, separated by diameter of a depression ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Sides of scutellum irregularly sculptured ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Metanotum medially protruding ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ), laterally irregularly rugose ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Mesopleuron smooth, glabrous medially, sparsely setose posteriorly ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Metapleuron smooth with an oval pit medially ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Propodeum rugose, or with longitudinal or oblique carinae ( Figs 2A–B View FIGURE 2 ). Propodeal spiracle round ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ).

Wings. Fore wing: Vein r distinct ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ). Vein R1 often long (short in R. fereta (Papp & Chou, 1996) comb. nov.) ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ). Vein (RS+M)a unpigmented ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ). Vein 1CUa thickened ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ). Vein 2RS less than 2.0 less than 2.0 × (RS+M)b. Hind wing: Vein cu-a reclivous ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ). Vein M+CU shorter than 1M ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ). Vein R longitudinal ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ).

Legs. Hind coxa smooth ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Tarsal claws with rounded basal lobe.

Metasoma. First tergite smooth, distinctly widened after basal constriction, parallel-sided in posterior 1/3 rd ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Second tergite striate antero-laterally ( Figs 2D, E View FIGURE 2 ). Second suture faintly impressed ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ). Ovipositor sheath roundly widened posteriorly and with tuft of setae apically ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ).

Etymology. The genus is named after the combination of the remarkable rugose or carinate sculpture of the propodeum and ‘ Mirax ’, the type genus of the subfamily.

Distribution. Oriental region ( India and Taiwan).

Comparative diagnosis. Propodeal sculpture within the Miracinae subfamily is a taxonomically stable character. The new genus Rugosimirax exhibit an intermediate condition of the propodeum i.e., propodeum without transverse carinae and more or less longitudinally or obliquely (rugose-) carinate. Based on this character state, Rugosimirax gen. nov. could be placed near Centistidea as the propodeum is more or less carinate. Similarly, the new genus exhibits well developed and long fore wing vein R1 (longer than length of pterostigma, but short in R. fereta comb. nov.), which is a plesiomorphy. However, Rugosimirax gen. nov. is unique within the subfamily in having the ovipositor sheath with tuft of setae apically, the apical antennomeres quadrate in shape and (in two species) the fourth flagellomere bearing an acute apical tooth. This character state is unknown in the other two genera, Mirax and Centistidea . The propodeal sculpture and the shortening of the apical antennomeres are putative apomorphic character states of Rugosimirax gen. nov. Apart for these characters Rugosimirax gen. nov. exhibits plesiomorphic characters shared with Centistidea , viz., partial development of notauli and the state of posterior circular pits on the scutellum. The distance between posterior pits on the scutellum is probably of subgeneric importance as shown by the subgenus Paracentistidea of Centistidea has well separated posterior pits ( van Achterberg & Mehrnejad 2002). The shape of the posterior pits is important to distinguish the new genus from both other genera. In conclusion, the new genus is similar to the genus Centistidea , but has several apomorphic characters to warrant a separate status.

Considering the listed apomorphic character states exhibited by the new genus we transfer two species previously placed in the genus Centistidea to the new genus. Centistidea fereta (Papp & Chou 1996) comb. nov. and Centistidea glabrator ( Ranjith & van Achterberg 2019) comb. nov.

Key to species of Rugosimirax Ranjith & van Achterberg gen. nov.

1. Fore wing vein R1 shorter than pterostigma; apical antennomeres brown; posterior depressions of scutellum separated by less than diameter of a depression; fourth flagellomere without acute tooth ventrally; fore wing vein 2-M absent or indistinct............................................................ Rugosimirax fereta (Papp & Chou, 1996) comb. nov.

- Fore wing vein R1 distinctly longer than pterostigma ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ); apical antennomeres yellow ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ); posterior depressions of scutellum separated by distance of diameter of a depression ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ); fourth flagellomere with acute tooth ventrally ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ); fore wing vein 2-M present, pigmented ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 )............................................................ 2

2. Propodeum with a longitudinal carina antero-medially; pterostigma brown; ninth flagellomere yellowish; first flagellomere 5.2 × as long as wide; hind coxa similarly yellowish as its femur.............................................................................................. Rugosimirax glabrator ( Ranjith & van Achterberg, 2019) comb. nov.

- Propodeum smooth medially ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ); pterostigma yellow ( Fig. 2F View FIGURE 2 ); ninth flagellomere dark brown ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ); first flagellomere 6.0 × as long as wide; hind coxa ivory, paler than its femur.... Rugosimirax expectata Ranjith & van Achterberg , sp. nov.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Braconidae

SubFamily

Miracinae

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