Polynema (Polynema) haloxyloniae Sharengaowa & Aishan sp. nov.

Fig. 3

Type material.

Holotype: • ♀ (ICXU) on slide (Fig. 3 K): China, Xinjiang, Fukang, 44°13'10"N, 87°32'11"E, 5.V.2018, Hongying Hu et al., sweeping in Haloxylon forest . Paratypes (all in ICXU): China, Xinjiang: • 1 ♀, Altay City, 48°03'15"N, 86°26'35"E, 3.VIII.2007, Hongying Hu et al., sweeping in Haloxylon forest ; • 1 ♀, Altay Prefecture, Bürjin, 38°06'15"N, 87°06'50"E, 7.VIII.2007, Hongying Hu et al., sweeping in Haloxylon forest ; • 1 ♀, Fukang: 44°13'22"N, 87°32'11"E, 5.V.2017, Hongying Hu et al., sweeping in Haloxylon forest ; • 1 ♀, 44°13'16"N, 87°33'18"E, 4.VI.2017, Hongying Hu et al., sweeping in Haloxylon forest .

Diagnosis.

Body dark brown (Fig. 3 A); antenna (Fig. 3 C) with scape smooth; F 1 and F 4 subequal in length and the shortest funiculars; clava shorter than combined length of F 1 – F 3 but longer than combined length of 3 preceding flagellomeres, with seven mps. Mesosoma smooth; pronotum (Fig. 3 D) with six setae on each side along the anterior margin; propodeum (Fig. 3 F) with a short median carina. Forewing (Fig. 2 G) 4.4 × (4.0–4.4 ×) as long as wide. Ovipositor (Fig. 3 J) slightly exserted beyond gastral apex.

Description.

Female (holotype and paratypes). Body length 860–930 μm (n = 5). Body dark brown (Fig. 3 A), antenna brown except pedicel yellowish-brown, petiole pale brown, legs yellowish-brown.

Head (Fig. 3 B) in frontal view 0.6 × (0.6–0.8 ×) as high as wide. Antenna (Fig. 3 C) with scape smooth, 2.6 × (2.1–2.7 ×) as long as wide (including a short radicle); pedicel 1.6 × (1.5–1.6 ×) as long as wide, with the same length as F 2; F 1 and F 4 as long as and the shortest funiculars; F 6 with one mps; clava 2.9 × (2.6–2.9 ×) as long as wide, shorter than combined length of F 1 – F 3 but longer than combined length of three preceding flagellomeres, with seven mps.

Mesosoma smooth, 1.4 × (1.4–1.6 ×) as long as wide; pronotum (Fig. 3 D) divided mediolongitudinally, with six setae on each side along the anterior margin; mesoscutum (Fig. 3 E) wider than long; scutellum (Fig. 3 E) 0.7 × (0.7–0.8 ×) as long as wide, shorter than mesoscutum; frenum short, separated from scutellum by a row of small, inconspicuous foveae; propodeum (Fig. 3 F) with a short median carina. Forewing (Fig. 3 G) 4.4 × (4.0–4.4 ×) as long as wide; disc hyaline, densely setose beyond venation, with discal setae originating behind apex of submarginal vein (Fig. 3 H), many of them 9–17 μm long; longest marginal seta 0.9 × (0.8–0.9 ×) greatest width of forewing; hypochchaeta not reaching posterior margin of forewing (Fig. 3 H). Hind wing (Fig. 3 I) 39 × (39–42 ×) as long as wide; disc hyaline, with two rows of setae; longest marginal seta 6.4 × (6.4–7.1 ×) greatest width of hind wing.

Metacoxa (Fig. 3 J) smooth, in lateral view a little shorter than petiole. Petiole (Fig. 3 J) ~ 1.8 × (1.8–2.1 ×) as long as wide, in dorsal view with inconspicuous transverse striations, and expanded basally. Ovipositor (Fig. 3 J) 1.0 × (1.0–1.1 ×) as long as gaster, slightly exserted beyond gastral apex, 1.6 × (1.6–2.0 ×) length of mesotibia and 1.7 × (1.3–1.8 ×) length of metatibia.

Measurements of the holotype (μm). Head height: width: 89: 138; mesosoma (in dorsal view) length: width: 177: 131; mesoscutum length: width: 69: 113; scutellum length: width: 55: 77; median carina length: 6.5; petiole length: width: 48: 27; gaster length: width: 224: 142; ovipositor length: 232; exserted part of ovipositor: 30; antennal segments length: width: scape: 49: 19; pedicel: 32: 20; F 1: 19: 7; F 2: 32: 7; F 3: 25: 7; F 4: 19: 9; F 5: 17: 11; F 6: 27: 14; clava: 68: 23; forewing length: width: 478: 107; longest marginal seta length: 94; discal setae length: 4–7; hind wing length: width: 433: 11; longest marginal seta length: 70; mesotibia length: 141; metatibia length: 132.

Male. Unknown.

Hosts.

Unknown.

Etymology.

Named after the host plant genus, Haloxylon ( Amaranthaceae).

Distribution.

China (Xinjiang).

Comments.

This species has thus far been recorded exclusively in the low-altitude desert regions of Xinjiang (376–525 m), with its host plants identified as Haloxylon spp. Polynema haloxyloniae has not been observed on any other vegetation types and is presumed to specifically parasitize eggs of hemipteran insects within this particular Haloxylon forest habitat.

Other newly recorded species of Polynema (Polynema) from China (in alphabetical order)