Microplitis subsulcatus Granger, 1949

Rousse, Pascal & Gupta, Ankita, 2013, Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Reunion Island: a catalogue of the local species, including 18 new taxa and a key to species, Zootaxa 3616 (6), pp. 501-547 : 535-536

Microplitis subsulcatus Granger, 1949

( Fig. 16 )

Diagnosis. Propodeum rugose with a complete mid-longitudinal carina. Basal third of pterostigma clearer. Tergum 1 finely sculptured, the following almost polished. Ovipositor very short.

Description. cf. Granger, 1949: 237 for details.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE Ƥ (MNHN) Verbatim label data: Madagascar Békily, III.1932, A. Seyrig; complete. Other material ( Reunion) 13 St Pierre / Bassin Martin, alt. 290m, VI.2011, leg. Cirad; 1Ƥ same location, XII.2010, leg. Cirad; 1Ƥ 13 St Leu / Colimaçons, alt. 230m, III.2011, leg. Cirad; 1Ƥ same location, I.2011, leg. P. Rousse; 2Ƥ 233 St Paul / Tan Rouge, alt. 800m, II.2011, leg. Cirad; 3Ƥ 13 same location, I.2011, leg. Cirad; 233 Bras Panon / La Caroline, alt. 210m, XII.2010, leg. P. Rousse; 1Ƥ same location, IX.2010, leg. Cirad; 13 La Possession / Ravine Petite Chaloupe, alt. 170m, IV. 2009, leg. IDR (light trap); 1Ƥ Petite Ile / Piton Bloc, alt. 950m, IV.2007, leg. Cirad; 1Ƥ St Denis / Providence, alt. 550m, III.2006, leg. IDR.

Distribution records. Madagascar. Reunion (new record).

Genus Nyereria Mason (Mason 1981)

Pronotum with both dorsal and ventral grooves. Propodeum usually rugulose with a more or less complete median longitudinal carina. Fore wing with areolet open (r–m absent), hind wing with vannal lobe regularly convex and hairy along the margin. Tergum 1 longer than wide, parallel-sided to obviously wider apically. Tergum 2 transverse, not more than about twice as wide as long. Tergum 2 with a raised central area delimited by a pair of deep, usually crenulate, longitudinal grooves, the area narrowed posteriorly, parallel-sided or barrel-shaped but never wider than long, its base never wider than apex of tergum 1. Tergum 3 as long or slightly longer than tergum 2. Hypopygium short, without creases. Ovipositor short, thick and tapered near its half-length, the sheaths with hairs clustered near the apex.

This is a small genus of about 20 known species, parasitizing macrolepidoptera. It was originally described as closely related to Cotesia due to the propodeal sculpture and the relative sizes of the terga 1–3, though it was considered as a distinct genus because of the peculiar structure of tergum 2 (Mason 1981). Nyereria was thereafter ranked as a subgenus of Protapanteles in a revision of Mason’s genera based on European fauna (Van Achterberg 2002), although there are no Nyereria recorded in Europe. The specimens collected in Reunion match Mason’s description, they are more morphologically related to Cotesia than to Protapanteles . Nyereria is therefore considered here as a valid genus, with two new species described.

Figures

FIGURE 16. Microplitis subsulcatus Granger. a: female, habitus; b: fore wing; c: mesosoma; d: metasoma.