Apanteles brockhedgesi Slater-Baker, Fagan-Jeffries, Fernández-Triana, Portmann & Oestmann, 2025

Slater-Baker, Mollie-Rosae, Fagan-Jeffries, Erinn P., Oestmann, Katherine J., Portmann, Olivia G., Bament, Tiahni M., Howe, Andy G., Guzik, Michelle T., Bradford, Tessa M., McClelland, Alana R., Woodward, Alice, Clarke, Sylvia, Ducker, Nathan & Fernández-Triana, José, 2025, DNA barcoding, integrative taxonomy, citizen science, and Bush Blitz surveys combine to reveal 34 new species of Apanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) in Australia, ZooKeys 1227, pp. 1-128 : 1-128

Apanteles brockhedgesi Slater-Baker, Fagan-Jeffries, Fernández-Triana, Portmann & Oestmann sp. nov.

Fig. 4 C ( distribution), Fig. 27 (examined material and holotype )

Type material.

Holotype. Australia • ♀; SA, Witchelina Stn ; - 30.1056, 137.738; 20 Oct. 2010; R. Kittel leg.; sweeping Acacia sp. in sand dune; Bush Blitz Svy RK 069; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 326-18 ; SAMA: 32-47816 . Paratypes. Australia • ♀; SA, Andamooka Arid Explorers Garden ; - 29.5519, 137.167; 2 May. 2021; E. Fagan-Jeffries, SA Museum Waterhouse Club members leg.; General vegetation sweep, several flowering plants; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 734-23 ; SAMA: 32-47817 . • ♀; SA, Andamooka school road ; - 30.4479, 137.167; 2 May. 2021; E. Fagan-Jeffries, SA Museum Waterhouse Club members leg.; General vegetation sweep; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 740-23 ; SAMA: 32-47818 . • ♀; SA, Bon Bon Stn ; - 30.3602,?; 28 Oct. 2010; G. S. Taylor leg.; Swept Acacia aneura ; Bush Blitz 063 (B 24); BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 347-18 ; SAMA: 32-47819 . • ♂; SA, Great Victoria Desert, Cook Road ; - 29.0067, 130.012; 29 Aug. 2015; J. A. Forrest & R. Leijs leg.; Vehicle net; 28.9684 ° S, 130.0772 ° E to 29.0449 ° S, 129.9475 ° E; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 1265-24 ; SAMA: 32-47767 . • ♂; SA, Great Victoria Desert, Cook Road ; - 29.0067, 130.012; 29 Aug. 2015; J. A. Forrest & R. Leijs leg.; Vehicle net; 28.9684 ° S, 130.0772 ° E to 29.0449 ° S, 129.9475 ° E; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 1262-24 ; SAMA: 32-47768 . • ♂; SA, Hiltaba ; - 32.1033, 135.092; 234 m; 26 Sep. 2021; E. Fagan-Jeffries leg.; sweeping vegetation; flowering yellow Eucalyptus ; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 928-23 ; SAMA: 32-47820 . • ♀; SA, Walker flat, Mallee Rd ; - 34.8086, 139.494; 2 May. 2021; BA Parslow leg.; sweeping vegetation; Eucalyptus flowers; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 865-23 ; SAMA: 32-47769 . • ♀; SA, Witchelina Stn ; - 30.0186, 137.901; 23 Oct. 2010; R. Kittel leg.; sweeping Acacia victoriae ; Bush Blitz Svy RK 091; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 352-18 ; SAMA: 32-47821 . • ♀; as previous except: BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 353-18 ; SAMA: 32-47822 . • ♀; as previous except: BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 354-18 ; SAMA: 32-47823 . • ♀; WA, Western Pilbara, Nanutarra-Wittenoom Rd., 1.7 km north of Hamersley Rd. turnoff. ; - 22.2317, 117.983; 29 May. 2004; D. R. Britton & A. Donnelly leg.; light trap; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 1295-24 ; AM: K. 247578 .

Examined material.

Australia • ♀; SA, Bon Bon Stn ; - 30.3139, 135.448; 28 Oct. 2010; R. Kittel leg.; sweep netting on Acacia victoriae ; Bush Blitz Svy RK 129; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 085-18 ; SAMA: 32-47815 . [This specimen was not included with the paratype material as it was badly damaged during imaging, but the morphology is consistent with the holotype and the COI sequence is only 2 bp different to that of the holotype (wg sequence is identical).]

Diagnostic description.

Size: Total body length: 2.8 mm; fore wing length: 2.6 mm. Head: anterior scape colour similar or only very slightly paler than head colour; F 2 L / W ratio: 2.7; F 14 L / W ratio: 1.1. Mesosoma: scutoscutellar sulcus with 12 pits; mesoscutellar disc mostly smooth with very shallow scattered indentations; propodeal areola complete, or mostly so; propodeum mostly smooth posteriorly, mostly rugose anteriorly; coxae colour (pro, meso, meta): dark all; metafemur colour mostly dark. Wings: centre of pterostigma pigmented to same degree as the outer edges with a pale spot proximally; fore wing r vein length / 2 RS vein length ratio: 1.2. Metasoma: T 1 shape mostly parallel, T 1 medial length / anterior width between 1–2 × longer than wide; T 1 mostly rugose; T 2 mostly smooth; ovipositor sheath length / metatibia length ratio: 0.8.

Apanteles brockhedgesi can be separated from most other species of Apanteles in Australia that have a dark metacoxa and metafemur and the pterostigma without a pale centre, the ovipositor sheath length> 0.6 × metatibia length and the antenna of similar size to the body length by the pterostigma having a small pale spot proximally, the metatibia displaying a gradient of colouration from pale to dark, the colours merging in the centre, T 1 with strong sculpture over at least most of posterior 1 / 2 of tergite, mesoscutellar disc with at most scattered punctures along margins, fore wing vein 1 M much less pigmented (often transparent / pale) compared to pigmentation of vein 1 CUa, and the scutoscutellar sulcus comparatively narrower and with comparatively smaller pits than most species.

Etymology.

This species is named after Brock Hedges, who facilitated the field trip which resulted in the collection of the specimen at Hiltaba Nature Reserve. Dr Hedges has provided considerable support to several authors of this paper for many years.

Distribution.

Apanteles brockhedgesi is a commonly collected species with a broad distribution across SA, with a single collection record in WA.

Molecular information.

Apanteles brockhedgesi contains sequences currently in BIN BOLD: ADI 3291. The COI sequences are at least 8 % divergent from any of the other species treated here, or any available sequence on BOLD. The wg sequence of the holotype is ≥ 14 bp different to any other species. All delimitation methods separated Apanteles brockhedgesi as a distinct species.

Figures

Figure 4. Known distribution of the Apanteles species in Australia A A. adustus, A. aeternus, A. allapsus, A. amicalis, A. apricus B A. alatomicans, A. apollo, A. aurantius, A. auroralis, A. banrock C A. artemis, A. breviflagellarius, A. brockhedgesi, A. ethanbeaveri, A. fenestrinus, A. ferripulvis, A. hades, and A. insulanus. Maps include examined material and public DNA barcode records, see Suppl. material 3 for full details.

Figure 27. Apanteles brockhedgesi A lateral habitus (examined material AUMIC 085-18) B dorsal propodeum and T 1–2 (examined material AUMIC 085-18) C anterior head (holotype AUMIC 326-18) D dorsal head (examined material AUMIC 085-18) E fore and hind wing (holotype AUMIC 326-18) F dorsal habitus (examined material AUMIC 085-18).