Neurolarthra procera Fischer, 2006

Yao, Junli, Achterberg, Cornelis Van, Sharkey, Michael J., Chapman, Eric G. & Chen, Jiahua, 2018, Two species and a genus new for Thailand, with description of a new species of Neurolarthra Fischer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae), Zootaxa 4438 (3), pp. 551-560 : 556-558

Neurolarthra procera Fischer

Figure 3 (A–H)

Diagnosis. Body mainly black to dark brown; fore and mid femora without a small ventral tooth subapically ( Fig. 3A ); mid pit round, comparatively small ( Fig. 3G ); hind femur and tegulum dark brown ( Fig. 3A ); vein m-cu of hind wing far antefurcal, second part of vein 1M of hind wing about as long as vein 1r-m ( Fig. 3B ).

Re-description. ♀. Length of body 3.4 mm; length of fore wing 4.4 mm. Head. 2.3 × as wide as long, 1.6 × as wide as mesoscutum (in dorsal view). Head at level of eyes wider than at level of temples ( Fig. 3F ). Eyes 2.8 × as long as the temples ( Fig. 3F ). Distance between antennal sockets as long as their diameter, distance from eye to antennal socket slightly shorter than diameter of antennal socket. Depression between antennal sockets and extending to median ocellus, with a round mid pit. Distance of ocelli from each other slightly shorter than diameter of ocellus; distance from eye to lateral ocellus longer than width of ocellar area ( Fig. 3F ). Epicranial seam weak ( Fig. 3F ). Face 1.8 × wider than high, almost entirely punctate; setae long and white, with strong mediolongitudinal carina in dorsal 2/3; ventral third of carina much less elevated and around with short transverse carinae ( Fig. 3C ). Clypeus oval, punctate and protruding, slightly wider than long; setae long and white; epistomal groove wide and broadly notched ( Fig. 3C ). Mandible 1.65 × as long as wide, lower edge almost straight, upper up curved, apical width about twice longer than basal width. Tooth 1 wide and round; an acute incision between tooth 1 and tooth 2; tooth 2 pointed and slightly protruding; tooth 3 rounded, a right angle acute incision between tooth 2 and tooth 3; tooth 4 round and small, appearing as a lamella extending from lower edge of tooth 3. Outer surface of mandible smooth; teeth slightly hollowed out medially and wrinkled laterally ( Fig. 3D ). Maxillary palps reaching mid femur ( Fig. 3A ), nearly 2.7 × longer than height of head, 1.2 × longer than hind femur. Antenna long and thin, with approx. 75 segments, approx. 3.1 × longer than body and 2.5 x fore wing; F1:F2:F3=0.7:1:0.8; F1 2.8 × longer than wide, F2 4.4 × longer than wide, the remaining segments slightly shorter ( Fig. 3A ).

Mesosoma. 1.6 × as long as high. Mesoscutum barely longer than wide, median lobe strongly protruding, with several short setae anteriorly and along notauli, otherwise glabrous; notauli deeply crenulated, complete, gradually narrowed, converging at mid pit ( Fig. 3G ). Mesopleuron with dense and long setae, glabrous anterior to episternal scrobe ( Fig. 3E ). Precoxal sulcus complete and crenulated, wide in middle, extending from the anterior edge of mesopleuron reaching mid legs, connected to epicnemial carina ( Fig. 3E ). Metapleuron covered with dense setae, anterior third smooth, posterior 2/3 with reticulated sculpture ( Fig. 3D ). Scutellar sulcus with five carinae ( Fig. 3G ). Propodeum with medio-longitudinal carina in anterior 2/3; setae much shorter than metapleuron, basal part smooth and the remainder sculptured ( Fig. 3H ).

Wing. Fore wing: pterostigma rather narrow, vein r rising from apical third of pterostigma, length of vein r 0.7× longer than pterostigma width, forming an obtuse angle with vein 3RSa; vein 3RSb 1.5× longer than vein 3RSa; vein 3RSa 1.5× longer than vein 2RS; vein 3RSb extending to wing tip; vein 1m-cu postfurcal. 2nd submarginal cell large, almost parallel-sided, vein 1cu-a interstitial ( Fig. 3B ). Hind wing: vein r almost absent; vein M+CU slightly shorter than vein 1M; vein m-cu antefurcal ( Fig. 3B ).

Legs. 1.5× as long as the body. Legs normal, fore and mid femora without a small ventral tooth subapically ( Fig. 3A ). Fore femur 0.8× as long as middle femur, 0.71× as long as hind femur; hind femur 0.8× longer than hind tibia, hind femur 1.6× longer than hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. T1 about 2.1 × longer than its apical width; apical width 1.4 × longer than its basal width; lateral longitudinal carinae converging and disappearing in striations in apical half. Area between lateral longitudinal carinae smooth; remainder of T1 regularly longitudinally striate ( Fig. 3H ). Ovipositor short, barely exerted ( Fig. 3A ).

Color. Head brown, vertex black, frons dark yellow, face dark reddish brown, scape and pedicel yellow, flagellomeres light brown to brown; mandible yellow; legs yellow to dark brown, but mostly hind legs darker; tegulum light brown; metasoma except T1 dark brown but both lateral sides of T2 and anterior third of T3 yellow. Wings membrane infuscate.

Variation. Little variation among female specimens, a few are lighter brown in color.

Male. Most characters are the same as in the female, differences are as follows: face and frons yellow brown; vertex dark brown; in front of ocellar area, a linear groove connected to ocellus, and between antennal sockets, with a long mid pit, smooth and groove-like.

Material examined. THAILAND 1♀ (H19705), Surat Thani, Khao Sok NP Klong Morg Unit , 8°53.725'N, 98°39.025'E, elevation 87m, Malaise trap 20–27.i.2009, Pongphan leg., ( QSBG) ; 3♀ (H20089, H20104, H20040), same data as previous except 14–21.iv.2009, Pongphan leg., ( QSBG) ; 1♀ (H19928), same data as previous except 31.iii–7.iv.2009, Pongphan leg., ( BIIC) ; 1♀ (H20106), Nakhon Si Thammarat, Namtok Yong NP, behind campground lavatory, 8°10.434'N, 99°44.508'E, elevation 80m, Malaise trap 23–30.ix.2008, U-prai. K. leg., ( QSBG) ; 1♀ (H20029), same data as previous except 26.viii–2.ix.2008, U-prai. K. leg., ( QSBG) ; 3♀ 1♂ (H19931, H19914, H19868, H19917), same data as previous except Nature trail/stream, 8°10.351'N, 99°44.519'E 100m, Pan trap 10–11.viii.2008, U-prai. K. leg., (one of the three female specimens is deposited in Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands, the others are deposited in QSBG), other specimens are deposited in QSBG ; 1♀ (H19744), Petchaburi, Kaeng Krachan NP, Panernthung /km30/viewpoint, 12°49.259'N, 99°22.059'E, elevation 970m, Malaise trap 8–15.viii.2008, Sirichai & Chusak leg., ( HIC). For a map of examined material, see http:// bit.ly/2nW8UkK.

Comparative diagnosis. Characters which distinguish N. procera from the other two species are: fore and mid femora without small ventral tooth subapically; body mainly black or dark brown; mid pit round and comparatively small; hind femora and tegulum dark brown; vein m-cu of hind wing far antefurcal; second part of vein 1M of hind wing about as long as vein 1r-m.

Host. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Neurolarthra procera: A. lateral habitUs, B. wings, C. anterior head, D. mandible, E. lateral head and mesosoma, F. dorsal head, G. dorsal mesosoma, H. propodeUm and T1.