Gasteruption huangshii Tan & van Achterberg

Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Cornelis van, Tan, Qing-Qing & Chen, Xue-Xin, 2016, Four new species of Gasteruption Latreille from NW China, with an illustrated key to the species from Palaearctic China (Hymenoptera, Gasteruptiidae), ZooKeys 612, pp. 51-112 : 87-91

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Gasteruptiidae

Gasteruption huangshii Tan & van Achterberg sp. n. Figs 33, 34-42, 43-48

Type material.

Holotype, ♀ (NWUX), "China: Shaanxi, Hanzhong, Liuba, Zhang Liang Temple, N33.68° E106.83°, 28.vii.2015, 1348 m, Jiangli Tan & Qingqing Tan". Paratypes (NWUX, RMNH): 5♂, same data as holotype.

Comparative diagnosis.

The new species runs in the key by Zhao et al. (2012) to Gasteruption japonicum Cameron and Gasteruption sinepunctatum Zhao, van Achterberg & Xu, because of the very finely sculptured mesoscutum. It differs from both species by the trapezoid head in dorsal view (Fig. 40 vs Figs 55, 102), the distinctly widened hind tibia, fore and hind femora (Fig. 41 vs Figs 53, 103) and the slender head in anterior view (Fig. 39 vs Figs 54, 101). It shares with Gasteruption praestans Semenov-Tian-Shanskij & Kostylev, 1928, from Kazakhstan the widened hind femur and the sparsely punctate vertex. It differs by the ivory apical part of the ovipositor sheath (absent in Gasteruption praestans ), the hind femur and basitarsus robust (slimmer), the mesoscutum finely coriaceous with fine punctures (coarsely and rather densely punctate) and the mesopleuron mainly coriaceous dorsally and posteriorly (reticulate).

Description.

Holotype, female, length of body 12.5 mm, of fore wing 6.0 mm.

Head. Vertex and frons with satin sheen, finely and densely punctulate (but vertex with some fine additional punctures: Fig. 40), moderately convex and without a depression medio-posteriorly; head trapezoid and gradually narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view and temples convex (Fig. 40); temple 0.7 times as long as eye in dorsal view; fourth antennal segment 1.5 times as long as third segment and 0.9 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth antennal segment 1.2 times as long as third segment (Fig. 33), third antennal segment 1.4 times as long as second segment; occipital carina narrow and narrowly lamelliform medio-dorsally (Figs 34, 40); OOL 1.3 times as long as diameter of posterior ocellus; face 2.7 times wider than high, 2.4 times wider than eye in anterior view (Fig. 39); minimum width of malar space 0.3 times as long as second antennal segment (Fig. 34); clypeus rather flat and with small round emargination medio-ventrally; eye glabrous.

Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 2.1 times its height; propleuron rather robust and 0.9 times as long as mesoscutum in front of tegulae; pronotal side entirely punctulate (except for crenulated grooves and some fine punctures ventrally) and sparsely setose, with minute lobe-shaped tooth antero-ventrally (Fig. 35); antesternal carina narrow and hardly lamelliform; mesosternal sulcus narrow anteriorly and moderately wide posteriorly; mesopleuron mainly superficially coriaceous dorsally and posteriorly; mesoscutum and scutellum matt, very finely and superficially coriaceous with fine punctures and medio-posteriorly with some short grooves (Fig. 36); propodeum rugose anteriorly and coriaceous posteriorly.

Wings. First discal cell parallel-sided and with outer posterior corner rounded, and with vein 3-CU1 near apical third (Fig. 37).

Legs. Hind coxa very finely coriaceous-punctulate; length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 2.7, 3.5 and 4.1 times their width, respectively; middle tarsus 1.1 times as long as middle tibia; middle femur subparallel-sided and slimmer than distinctly widened fore femur.

Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 15.3 mm, 1.2 times longer than body, 1.7 times as long as metasoma and 7.5 times as long as hind tibia, ivory apical part of sheath 1.8 times as long as hind basitarsus; apical half of hypopygium incised (Fig. 38).

Colour. Black; mandible dark brown with middle part brown; fore femur apically, fore and middle tibiae basally and apically, and hind tibial spurs yellowish brown; hind tibia ventro-basally ivory; tegulae and remainder of legs mainly dark brown; pterostigma dark brown; wing membrane subhyaline.

Male. Similar to female, but head behind eye slightly more contracted in dorsal view and somewhat shorter (Fig. 47); third antennal segment as long as second segment, fourth antennal segment 2.5-2.9 times as long as third segment and 1.3-1.5 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth antennal segment 2.6-2.9 times as long as third segment (Fig. 46); mouthparts ivory; paramere densely whitish setose and its apex brownish yellow (Fig. 48).

Variation. Body length of male 8.7-9.9 mm; sculpture of mesosoma of male very fine and only slightly coarser coriaceous than of female.

Distribution.

China (Shaanxi).

Biology.

Unknown, but the new species was collected together with a Hylaeus sp.

Etymology.

Named after Huang Shi Gong (supposed teacher of the early Han general Zhang Liang), because the specimens were collected outside the hall with Huang Shi Gong’s statue at the Zhang Liang Temple.