Dolichogenidea mediocaudata Fagan-Jeffries & Austin, 2018

Fagan-Jeffries, Erinn P., Cooper, Steven J. B. & Austin, Andrew D., 2018, Three new species of Dolichogenidea Viereck (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Australia with exceptionally long ovipositors, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 64, pp. 177-190 : 177

Dolichogenidea mediocaudata Fagan-Jeffries & Austin sp. n.

Figure 3

Material examined.

Holotype ♀: AUSTRALIA, NSW, 8 miles ESE of Nimmitable 3600ft, emerged 03/xii/1969, I.F.B. Common & J. Cusbert, L19. Larva tying leaves on fallen dead branch of Eucalyptus pauciflora (ANIC: #32 130288).

Diagnosis.

This species can be separated from D. finchi and D. xenomorph by having a shorter ovipositor (Fig. 3a ) and deeper sculpturing on both the propodeum and T1 (Fig. 3e ), and presence of distinct dark colouration on the distal half of the metatibia.

Description.

(Female). Colour. Head and body dark other than S1-3 which are distinctly paler than posterior sternites; antenna dark; coxae (pro-, meso-, metacoxa): dark, dark, dark; femora (pro-, meso-, metafemur): pale, dark, dark; tibiae (pro-, meso-, metatibia): pale, pale, pale anteriorly, posterior half distinctly darker; tegula and humeral complex pale; pterostigma dark; fore wing veins pale proximally transitioning to dark distally.

Head. Antennae slightly shorter than body length; body length (head to apex of metasoma): 3 mm; ocular-ocellar line/posterior ocellus diameter: 2.2; interocellar distance/posterior ocellus diameter: 1.9.

Mesosoma. Anteromesoscutum densely and evenly punctate, no punctures at posterior margin; mesoscutellar disc mostly smooth and shining with sparse punctures mostly associated with setae, lateral faces of the mesoscutellum smooth and shining but with a distinct line of pits posterior to lunules; number of pits in scutoscutellar sulcus: varies from 12-13; maximum height of mesoscutellum lunules/maximum height of lateral face of mesoscutellum 0.7. Propodeum with deep non-uniform punctures, posterior half with rugose sculpturing, areola only indicated by a central depression and short carinae diverging from centre posterior margin of propodeum.

Fore wing length 2.7 mm; length of veins r/2RS 1.3; length of veins 2RS/2M 1.8; length of veins 2M/(RS+M)b 0.6; pterostigma length/width 2.8.

Legs. Metatibia inner spur length/metabasitarsus length 0.4.

Metasoma. T1 length/width at posterior margin 1.6; T1 shape broad, rectangular, almost parallel-sided; T1 with rugose sculpturing and sparse punctures over most of length; T2 width at posterior margin/length 2.0; T2 sculpture smooth and shiny, few shallow punctures associated with setae; T2/T3 boundary indistinct and sinuate. T3 smooth and shiny, at least twice as long as T2; hypopygium large with lateral creases, ovipositor sheath length/metatibial length 1.8.

Male.

Unknown.

Etymology.

This species is named for the length of the ovipositor, which appears to be intermediate between most Dolichogenidea and the extremely long ovipositors of D. xenomorph and D. finchi .

Distribution.

This species is only known from the holotype collected near Nimmitable in south-eastern NSW.

Host.

This specimen was reared from a lepidopteran larva tying leaves together on a dead branch of Eucalyptus pauciflora .

Figures

Figure 3. Dolichogenidea mediocaudata (holotype): a dorsal habitus b anteromesoscutum, mesoscutellum and metanotum c head d lateral habitus e propodeum and tergites.