Nitela neoapoensis Mawadda & Girish Kumar sp. nov.

(Figs 32–39)

Materials examined. Holotype ♀, INDIA: Kerala, Ernakulam district, Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary (10°06'08"N, 76°42'16"E), 5.xi.2017, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/18601 . Paratypes, ♀, Thiruvananthapuram district, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University Campus (8°25'52"N, 76°59'15"E), 1.x.2019, C. Binoy collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/18602 ; Goa, South Goa district, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary (15°20'02"N, 74°17'21"E), 1 ♀, 17.v.2018, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC/IR/INV/18603 ; Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district, Sethumadai (10°30'55"N, 76°52'48"E), 1 ♂, 3.i.2019, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20783 .

Diagnosis. This new species differs from all other Nitela by the following character combination: anterolateral angle of pronotal collar acutely pointed (Fig. 35); mesoscutum conspicuously, coarsely reticulate (Fig. 35); anterior margin of clypeus slightly quadridentate medially (Fig. 34); mandible with preapical tooth (Fig. 34); propodeal dorsum longitudinally striatorugose (Fig. 36); posterior declivity of propodeum with heart shaped structure (Fig. 36); apex of mandible, labial palp, all trochanters, all tibiae and tarsi, and base and apex of all femora yellow (Fig. 32).

In the key to Oriental Nitela by Li & Li (2010), females of this new species run to N. apoensis because of anterolateral angle of pronotum acutely pointed, mandible with preapical teeth, clypeus approximately quadridentate anteromedially and posterior declivity of propodeum heart shaped. It differs from N. apoensis in having coarsely reticulate ridges and conspicuous punctures on mesoscutum (in N. apoensis, mesoscutum with inconspicuous reticulate ridges and punctures).

This new species differs from N. rugosa in having posterior declivity of propodeum heart shaped (in N. rugosa, posterior propodeal surface nearly straight).

This new species differs from N. nasseri in having: (1) anterolateral angle of pronotal collar acutely pointed (in N. nasseri anterolateral angle of pronotal collar rounded); and (2) mesoscutum with coarsely reticulate ridges and conspicuous punctures (in N. nasseri, mesoscutum coriaceous).

Description. Holotype ♀. (Fig. 32). Head. IODc 1.92 × IODv; POD 0.32–0.42 × OOD; eyes converging above; vertex and frons conspicuously punctate, puncture interspaces less than puncture diameter; clypeal basin divided by conspicuous carina, reaching anterior ocellus; anterior margin of clypeus slightly quadridentate medially as in Fig. 34; mandible with preapical tooth; F1 and F2 approximately equal in length, F1 1.97 × its apical width.

Mesosoma. Pronotal collar with transverse groove, anterolateral angle of pronotal collar acutely pointed, medially divided by longitudinal carina (Fig. 35); mesoscutum and scutellum conspicuously reticulate (Fig. 35); metanotum with some longitudinal striae (Fig. 36); mesopleuron as in Fig. 37; dorsal surface of propodeum longitudinally ridged (Fig. 36); posterior surface of propodeum transversally striate, medially divided (Fig. 36); posterior declivity of propodeum heart shaped as in Fig. 36; lateral surface of propodeum with oblique striation (Fig. 37); forewing as in figure 38.

Metasoma. Metasoma comparatively densely setaceous except dorsal area of G1 and G2, G1 dorsally smooth and shiny, slightly microcoriaceous with sparse setae (Fig. 39).

Vestiture. Setae silvery; dense on clypeus, body extensively setose except dorsal G1 and G2 (Figs 32, 33, 35 & 39); on mandible setae mixed with long bristles.

Coloration. Black; mandible, labial palp, antenna from scape to F2, all trochanters, fore femur at base and apex, mid and hind femora, mid and hind coxae extensively, all tibiae and tarsi, and all tibial spurs ferruginous; wings hyaline, veins testaceous (Fig. 32).

Variation: Propodeal dorsum approximately reticulate in two specimens, whereas in the other two it is more longitudinally striate than reticulate. The only male examined has a reticulate propodeal dorsum and a tridentate clypeus. Because of the propodeal sculpture this specimen closely resembles N. rugosa, but dense golden setae at the clypeus and the heart shaped posterior propodeal surface distinguish it from that species.

BL: 4.58–4.92 mm.

Male. Same as female except lower clypeus with dense golden setae; clypeus tridentate; F1 2.25–2.31 × it’s apical width.

Distribution. India: Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.

Etymology. Named after Nitela apoensis, which is the closest relative of the new species.