Markshawius erucidoctus Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault, 2018

Fernandez-Triana, Jose L & Boudreault, Caroline, 2018, Seventeen new genera of microgastrine parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from tropical areas of the world, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 64, pp. 25-140 : 82-83

Markshawius erucidoctus Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault sp. n.

Fig. 28

Holotype.

Female, Vietnam, RMNH.

Holotype labels.

N. VIETNAM: Ninh Binh/Cuc Phuong N.P., nr entrance/c225 m, 15.iv-1.v.2000, Mal. tr. II/Mai Phu Quv, RMNH’ 00. Second label: CNC878536.

Holotype locality.

VIETNAM, Ninh Binh Province, Cuc Phuong National Park, near entrance, 225m.

Diagnosis.

The shape of T1 and sculpture of propodeum clearly separate M. erucidoctus from M. francescae (see under that species for further details). As for the other species, M. erucidotus is a larger species than M. thailandensis (fore wing L 2.2 mm versus 1.6 mm), has fore wing vein R1 light yellow (R1 brown in M. thailandensis ), has a broader pterostigma and more defined crenulae on scutoscutellar sulcus, and the widest part of T1 is wider than T2 width at anterior margin (widest part of T1 same width than T2 width at anterior margin in M. thailandensis ).

Description.

Female. Body color mostly brown; face partially reddish-brown; palpi yellow-white; labrum, mandible, scape, pedicel, and most of legs (except for metacoxa, posterior 0.1 of metatibia and metatarsus which are brown) orange-yellow; flagellomeres brown; tegulae and humeral complex, most laterotergites and sternites yellow-white to yellow-brown; wings hyaline, veins mostly brown. Head elongate and strongly concave posteriorly, modified to be tightly appressed to and follow the contour of anterior margin of pronotum (pronotum also concave). Upper margin of face produced dorsally between the antennal insertions into a triangular flange. Face looking almost depressed, and with very strong sculpture including transverse striae and punctures. Frons very elongate, with ocelli clearly much higher than normally found in Microgastrinae . Frons with strong excavation at antennal base -better appreciated on a lateral view of the head. Antenna very short (shorter than the combined length of head and mesosoma), with all flagellomeres but first with a single row of placodes. Pronotum only with lower sulcus. Propodeum with median longitudinal carina clearly visible on posterior half and with transverse rugosity medially, including a partially defined transverse carina. Propodeum with different sculpture, anterior area with punctures, posterior area mostly smooth. Fore wing with relatively large, four-sided areolet. Legs in general short and stout, especially metafemur. T1 very thin on anterior 0.3-0.4, then strongly widening towards posterior margin (width at posterior margin around 3.0 × its width centrally). T2 trapezoidal and with lateral margins strongly sculptured. Ovipositor sheaths almost without setae (with only very few, small setae near apex that are usually invisible at less than 100 × of magnification), ovipositor strongly narrowing toward apex, where it looks almost needle-like. Body measurements (mm). F2 L: 0.10; F3 L: 0.08; F14 L: 0.08; Malar sulcus L: 0.05; Mandible W: 0.12; T1 L: 0.40; T1 W at posterior margin: 0.16; T1 maximum W: 0.19; T2 W at anterior margin: 0.14; T2 W at posterior margin: 0.23; T2 L: 0.12; Metafemur L: 0.59; Metafemur W: 0.28; Metatibia L: 0.70; Inner spur L: 0.20; Outer spur L: 0.15; First segment of Metatarsus L: 0.27; Ovipositor sheaths L: 0.25; Body L: 2.45; Fore wing L: 2.40. T1 L and mandible W are approximate.

Male.

Unknown.

Biology.

Host unknown.

Distribution.

Vietnam.

Molecular data.

No molecular data available.

Etymology.

From Latin “eruca” ( “caterpillar”) and “doctus” ( “learned”, “skilled”, “erudite”), referring to a person with considerable knowledge about caterpillars. This species is dedicated to my dear friend and mentor Mark Shaw, the most knowledgeable researcher on caterpillar/parasitoid biology that I have ever met. He is indeed "the master" of the caterpillars and their parasitoids.

Figures

Figure 28. Markshawius erucidoctus female holotype. A Habitus B Head frontal C Fore wing and hind wing D Metasoma dorsal E Antenna F Mesosoma dorsal.