Losbanus Ishii, 2017

Burks, Roger A., Heraty, John M., Mottern, Jason, Dominguez, Chrysalyn & Heacox, Scott, 2017, Biting the bullet: revisionary notes on the Oraseminae of the Old World (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Eucharitidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 55, pp. 139-188 : 173-174

Losbanus Ishii rev. stat.

Losbanus Ishii, 1932: 210. Type species: Losbanus uichancoi Ishii 1932: 210-211, by monotypy.

Losbanus ; Hedqvist, 1978: 229. Short redescription and key to species, most of which are now attributed to Neolosbanus ( Eucharitinae ).

Losbanus ; Watanabe, 1958, 26. Subsequent description.

Gollumiella ; Bouček, 1988: 521. Incorrectly placed as senior synonym of Gollumiella .

Orasema ; Heraty, 1992: 586. Synonymy based on transfer of L. uichancoi to Orasema .

Orasema ; Heraty, 1994: 54-57. Description and treatment as Orasema uichancoi -group.

Orasema ; Heraty, 2000: 378. Separation of communis and uichancoi species groups.

Discussion.

Losbanus was first described for a single species, L. uichancoi . Bouček (1988) incorrectly used this as a senior synonym of Gollumiella . Heraty (1992) transferred the type species to Orasema , then used it to represent the Orasema uichancoi -group in Heraty (1994), and in a more restricted sense for all of the Indo-Pacific species in Heraty (2000). Herein we recognize this more restricted uichancoi group (sensu Heraty, 2000) as Losbanus . We have discovered two new species (not described) that expand the geographic and morphological limits of Losbanus . A single male from the Republic of the Congo ( UCRC: UCRCENT00434658) fits all of the characteris tics of the group and extends the distribution to Africa. Another series of males from northeastern Queensland in Australia (Charmillin Creek and Baldy Mountain Rd; QM: UCRCENT00241810-14) overall fit the description of the genus, but lack the ocellar-ocular sulcus and have a 5-7 digitate labrum, whereas the other species have 4 digits. All species of Losbanus have 8-9 funiculars, a 12-13 segmented antenna, and densely pilose wings. The following species are transferred from Orasema : L. bouceki (Heraty), comb. n., L. ishii (Heraty), comb. n., L. promecea (Heraty), comb. n., L. rugulosa (Heraty), comb. n., and L. uichancoi Ishii comb. n. (key in Heraty, 1994).

Diagnosis.

Separated from most Orasema and other Oraseminae by having 8-9 funiculars versus 7, a weak basal petiolar flange, usually a distinct ocellar-ocular sulcus, 4-7 digitate labrum, and the callar region usually with several long setae (African male with a single long seta). Distinguished from other Old World genera by the head broadly subtriangular to transverse in frontal view; face smooth or sculptured; presence of an ocellar-ocular sulcus in all but the Australian species; scrobal depression evenly impressed and lacking parallel channels and dorsal foveae; dorsal occipital margin abrupt and rounded or carinate; funicle 8-9 segmented; labrum with 4-7 digits (usually 4); mesonotum appearing bare, at most with minute setae; mesoscutal lateral lobes and frenum sculptured or smooth; transscutal articulation complete and only slightly sinuate; propodeal disc evenly sculptured, smooth laterally only in the Australian species; prepectus foveate and tightly articulated with pronotum ventrally; fore wing with basal area and specular area pilose or bare, wing disc with dense long setae; postmarginal vein much longer than stigmal vein and reaching over half distance to wing apex; petiole base truncate with weak basal flange; antecostal sulcus broad and smooth or foveate; first valvula of ovipositor with 3-5 lateral teeth, subapical teeth sometimes formed by oblique ridges. Male scape lacking ventral pores.

Biology.

The oviposition habits and morphology of the egg and first instar were described by Ishii (1932) for L. uichancoi . The egg is stalked as in most Eucharitidae . A revised interpretation of the planidum was presented in Heraty (1994) and larvae are the same as for Orasema , with tergites I and II separated and not fused as illustrated by Ishii. Oviposition was made in short parallel rows into incisions made into the undersurface of leaves of Celtis philippinensis Blanco ( Cannabaceae) and Leucaena glauca Benth. ( Fabaceae).

Host association.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Five species described from southeast Asia (Heraty, 1994). Paleotropical (Australia: Queensland (undescribed); Republic of Congo (undescribed), Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan).