Blacus (Tarpheion) wuyishanensis, Lu & Chai & Achterberg & Tang & Chen, 2024

Lu, Qian-Yu, Chai, Hong-Fei, Achterberg, Cornelis Van, Tang, Pu & Chen, Xue-Xin, 2024, Review of the subgenus Tarpheion of the genus Blacus Nees (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Brachistinae) from China, with description of nine new species and eight new records, Zootaxa 5406 (2), pp. 297-335 : 330-333

Blacus (Tarpheion) wuyishanensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 33–34 )

Material examined. Holotype: ♀, China, Fujian, Wuyi Mtn, Tongmu , 15.IV.2009, Tan Jiangli, No. 200900226 ( ZJUH).

Description. Female. Length of body 2.3 mm, length of fore wing 2.2 mm.

Head. Antennomeres 20; length of first flagellomere 1.6 × length of second flagellomere; length of first, second and penultimate flagellomere 7.2, 6.0 and 2.4 × their width, respectively; length of maxillary palp 1.2 × height of head; occipital carina incomplete, dorsal part weakly developed and medio-dorsally absent ( Fig. 34A ); frons slightly depressed, nearly flat; OOL: diameter of posterior ocellus: POL = 10:4:3; length of eye in dorsal view 2.1 × length of temple; face smooth, densely setose; malar suture present, length of malar space 1.5 × basal width of mandible.

Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.5 × its height; side of pronotum smooth dorsally, remainder coarsely rugose-reticulate ( Fig. 34D ); carinae of middle lobe of mesoscutum subvertical or subhorizontal; precoxal sulcus complete, with some long striae ( Fig. 34D ); notauli complete, crenulate-rugose, wide and deep ( Fig. 34E ); mesoscutal middle lobe slightly concave anteriorly; scutellum smooth, with short lateral and apical crenulae, its lateral carina complete, not protruding apically; surface of propodeum with several small cells, largely smooth between carinae, its medial area distinctly widened dorsally.

Wings. Fore wing: first discal cell narrowly truncate anteriorly; vein r vertical ( Fig. 34G ), length of vein r 1.1 × width of pterostigma; 1-CU1:2-CU1 = 5:16.

Legs. Hind coxa largely smooth, with oblique dorsal carinae; length of femur, tibia and basitarsus of hind leg 6.25, 13.0 and 10.0 × their width, respectively; fore claws with long bristles ( Fig. 34I ), middle claws with one bristle, hind claws with one bristle.

Metasoma. Length of first tergite 2.1 × its apical width, widened apically, longitudinally rugose superficially ( Fig. 34F ); second tergite with coarse, longitudinal striae and remainder smooth ( Fig. 34F ); length of ovipositor sheath 0.26 × length of fore wing.

Colour. Reddish-brown; basal half of antenna, palpi, tegulae, metasoma antero-ventrally and all legs yellow; anterior head dark yellow; middle part of antenna, ovipositor and its sheath, veins, pterostigma and metasoma postero-ventrally brown; several apical antennomeres pale brownish; parastigma and base of pterostigma white; bristles of fore claws blackish, one bristle of middle claws yellow, one bristle of hind claws yellow; wing membrane slightly infuscate.

Male. Unknown.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. China (Fujian).

Etymology. The specific name wuyishanensis refers to the collection site of holotype, Wuyi Mtn.

Notes. The new species is similar to B. (T.) angichorus van Achterberg, 1988 because precoxal suture is complete and having some striae, second tergite with coarse striae, first discal cell of fore wing narrowly truncate anteriorly, and length of ovipositor sheath approx. 0.28 × length of fore wing, but differs by having slightly concave mesoscutal middle lobe anteriorly (slightly convex in B. (T.) angichorus ), vein r of fore wing vertical (oblique), middle and hind claws with one yellow bristle, (simple), length of body 2.3 mm (1.5 mm), length of fore wing approx. 2.2 mm (1.6 mm), and length of eye in dorsal view 2.1 × length of temple (2.8 ×).

Figures

FIGURE 33. Tarpheion wuyishanensis sp. nov. (body, lateral aspect).

FIGURE 34. Tarpheion wuyishanensis sp. nov. A. head, dorsal aspect; B. head, anterior aspect; C. antenna; D. mesosoma, lateral aspect; E. mesosoma, dorsal aspect; F. propodeum and metasoma, dorsal aspect; G. wings; H. hind leg; I. fore claw; J. ovipositor and ovipositor sheath.