Baeus kubera Veenakumari, 2020

Kamalanathan, Veenakumari, Mohanraj, Prashanth, Samuel, D. K. & Reddy, M. Krishna, 2020, Revision of Indian species of Baeus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea: Scelionidae), Journal of Natural History 54 (13 - 14), pp. 813-917 : 863-865

Baeus kubera Veenakumari , sp. n. ( Figure 17 (a–d))

http://www.zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9946AEDF-7B0A-432D-9BE4-A8FD2D3ED970

Holotype. Female; body length = 0.69 (0.63–0.71) mm; n = 3

Colour ( Figure 17 (a)). Head, mesonotum and metasoma blackish brown except honey brown mesoscutellum and propodeum; hyperoccipital carina black; a black band present on posterior margins of mesoscutum and mesoscutellum; A1–A3 blackish brown, with yellowish brown patch on basal A2, A4–A6 yellowish brown, clava honey brown; legs dark brown.

Head ( Figure 17 (a–d)). Head 1.15 (1.10–1.21)× as wide as high; IOS 0.50 (0.48–0.53)× width of head, 0.88 (0.86–0.90)× eye length; eye (L: W = 14.1:8.3) densely setose, touching hyperoccipital carina posteriorly; head height 1.81 (1.63–1.92)× eye length; POL>LOL in ratio of 16.9:9.8; lateral ocellus away from orbit, OOL 0.30 (0.28–0.33)× MOD; distance from posterior margin of lateral ocellus to hyperoccipital carina 0.43 (0.41–0.46)× MOD; pilosity of moderate density, setae of medium length, shorter than those present on mesonotum and metasoma; interantennal process triangular, rugose; length of central keel 0.40 (0.38–0.43)× distance to median ocellus; facial striae distinct and almost touching lower orbit; malar striae absent; frons with semicircular striae on either side of central keel, followed by reticulations; upper frons and vertex with weak reticulations; gena predominantly smooth, with foveae on postero-ventral margin, 3.36 (3.31–3.39)× as long as wide; anterior margin of gena in contact with 0.56 (0.52–0.59)× length of ventral margin of eye.

Mesosoma ( Figure 17 (a,c,d)). Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum 0.56 (0.51–0.62)× and 0.18 (0.16–0.20)× as long as wide, respectively; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum

imbricate; metascutellum not visible; propodeum smooth dorsally, 0.54 (0.51–0.57)× the length of mesoscutellum; pilosity of medium density, setae of medium length; lateral pronotal area dorsally coriaceous reticulate, remainder smooth except for sparse weak vertical striae antero-medially; ventral margin of lateral pronotal area extending as a short blunt projection; dorsal mesopleuron with uneven transverse carinae terminating above the dorsal level of metapleuron; mesopleuron ventrally with a foveate patch followed by small semicircular carinae, remainder smooth; mesopleuron extending as a narrow, long, sharp projection ventrally; mesopleural pit small; metapleuron smooth, except for a patch of shallow foveae ventrally; posterior metapleural suture almost straight gently curving dorsally towards mesopleuron; dorsal level of posterior metapleural suture ventral to level of antero-lateral margin of T 2; sculpturing of propodeum anterior to spiracle with uneven short carinae, region posterior to spiracle smooth with three short transverse carinae; a short longitudinal carina and a long oblique carina enclosing two long setae present on region ventral to spiracle; remainder of lateral propodeum shallowly foveate; propodeal spiracular opening small, tear-drop shaped.

Metasoma ( Figure 17 (a,c,d)). Length and width of metasoma subequal; pilosity of medium density, setae of medium length; T 2 anteriorly imbricate, posteriorly smooth; remaining tergites smooth.

Material examined. Holotype: Female ( ICAR / NBAIR / P3258 ), INDIA: Karnataka: Chikkaballapur, Nandi Hills , 13 ° 37 ʹ 02 ʹ ’N 77 ° 68 ʹ 34 ʹ ’E, 1448 m, YPT, 01.XI.2013 ; Paratypes: 4 females ( ICAR / NBAIR /P3259–P3262), same as holotype.

Etymology. This species is named after ‘Kubera’, the king of the Yakshas (benevolent nature spirits), in Hindu mythology. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. This species is closer to B. himalayanus sp. n., diagnosis mentioned under the latter.

Figures

Figure 17. Baeus kubera sp. n. (a) Habitus (colour); (b) Frons; (c) Habitus; (d) Habitus (lateral view).