Philoplitis coniferens Nixon, 1965 : 267

Fernandez-Triana, Jose & Goulet, Henri, 2009, Revision of the genus Philoplitis Nixon (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae), ZooKeys 20 (20), pp. 285-298 : 291-292

Philoplitis coniferens Nixon, 1965: 267 .

Holotype: ♀, PHILIPPINES ( USNM). Examined.

Diagnosis. This species has the longest scutellar disc and first mediotergite of all known Philoplitis . It also has the shortest metatibial spurs and the thinnest metafemur. Its reddishbrown color pattern distinguishes it from P. adustipalpus , P. masneri and P. punctatus (all of them are mainly black), and its second mediotergite yellow basally and virtually smooth distinguishes it from P. striatus (with completely brown and striate mediotergite 2).

Description. Head densely rugosopunctate, frons transversely striate, small and impressed area (behind posterior ocelli and reaching to central part of occiput) smooth. Antenna long, length of 2nd flagellomere 2.30× its width, length of 15th flagellomere 2.70× its width. Mesosoma with rather dense and long pubescence. Mesoscutum with coarse punctures, notauli deeply impressed and with impressed surface posterolaterally above tegula (Fig. 3). Scutellum coarsely punctate, in lateral view with apex pointing ventrally, scutellar disc length/width ratio 1.24× (1.24–1.25), and its length 0.97× (0.92–1.00) that of mesoscutum. Mesopleuron mostly punctate, with median smooth area below speculum and some striation marking sternaulus; metapleuron punctate. Propodeum rugose and with complete median longitudinal carina. Forewing ratios: r/3Rsa: 1.33 (1.33); r/r-m: 1.80 (1.60–2.00); r/2RS: 0.68 (0.62–0.73); 3RS/2M: 0.61 (0.54–067); 2RS/2M: 1.08 (1.00–1.17); r-m/2M: 0.39 (0.36–0.42); r /(r-2M): 0.41 (0.40–0.42); height of 2nd submarginal cell/(r-2M): 0.46 (0.42–0.50). Tarsal claws with 2–3 teeth and with arolium slightly longer than claw length; metafemur thin, its length 3.47× (3.42–3.64) its maximum width; inner spur of metatibia 0.51× (0.44– 0.61) length of first tarsomere. Metasoma with apical half of mediotergite 1 sculptured, its length 2.20× (2.10–2.30) its width at apex; mediotergite 2 smooth, its medial length 0.42× (0.35–0.45) its width at apex and with median zone outlined by shallow and quite divergent groove (Fig. 13); tergum 3+ smooth.

Color. Body reddish-brown; palpi light brown with apical 3–5 maxillary palps yellowish-white; scape, mandible, tibia and tarsi of first two pairs of legs, apex of mediotergite 1, mediotergite 2 fully, and sterna 1–3, orange-yellow; rest of antenna light brown; hind legs dark brown; metatibial spurs orange-yellow. Wing veins and stigma light brown (Rs + M hyaline), with brownish cloud beneath stigma that extends to 2M.

Material examined. Holotype ♀ ( USNM, type 69356). PHILIPPINES: Los Baños . Paratypes, 2 ♁ ( USNM). PHILIPPINES: Los Baños , Baker ; Dapitan, Mindañao, Baker.

Comments. This species has been recorded in the Philippines and southeastern China ( Nixon 1965; Mason 1981; He 1983; You et al. 1990). The updated description provided here is based on observations of the holotype and two paratypes.