Xanthopimpla flavapropodea, Pham & Broad & Matsumoto & Wägele, 2011

Pham, Nhi Thi, Broad, Gavin R., Matsumoto, Rikio & Wägele, Wolfgang J., 2011, 3056, Zootaxa 3056, pp. 1-67 : 27

Xanthopimpla flavapropodea sp. nov.

( Figs 1c, 5c, 7c, 9c, 11c, 13c, 15c)

Diagnosis. Mesoscutum with black marks present on posterior 0.7, lateral black mark nearly joined posteriorly to black mark in front of scutellum; propodeum entirely yellow, area superomedia much wider than long; tergites 3–5 densely, coarsely punctate; ovipositor down-curved at tip, ovipositor sheath about 0.8x as long as hind tibia.

Description (Holotype female). Body length 14.7 mm, fore wing 13.0 mm, ovipositor sheath 2.5 mm. Head. Antennal flagellum gradually thinner apically, first flagellomere 1.55x length of second; diameter of lateral ocellus 1.7x times ocellar-ocular distance; frons smooth; face 0.8x as high as wide, with vertical curved carina beneath each antennal socket, dense, coarse punctures between carinae; clypeus 0.6x as high as wide; malar space about 0.2x basal width of mandible.

Mesosoma . Epomia present, about 0.2x basal width of mandible; lower anterior corner of pronotum round, making obtuse angle of about 100°; mesoscutum with sparse hairs; notaulus shallowly present on anterior 0.15 of mesoscutum, extending half way to anterior level of tegula; scutellum convex, lateral carina extending to apex, forming lateral flange medially 0.3x as high as first flagellomere width; mesopleuron with moderately dense, fine punctures on upper half and coarse punctures on lower half, epicnemial carina present on lower 0.5 of mesopleuron, postpectal carina medially forming low flange; metapleuron subpolished, submetapleural carina complete; pleural carina extending to anterior margin; pleural part of propodeum with tubercle swelling in front of spiracle, propodeum with strong and complete carinae, area superomedia 0.45x as long as wide; propodeal spiracle elongate, 4.5x as long as wide. Hind leg with femur 2.5x as long as wide, 0.9x length of tibia, basitarsus 0.3x length of tarsus, 2.0x second tarsomere, third tarsomere 1.5x as long as wide, mid tibia with five bristles at apex, five small bristles near apex, hind tibia with three bristles at apex, two small bristles near apex. Fore wing with vein 2 rsm 0.8x as long as vein 3 rs-m; cu-a opposite Rs+M; hind wing with first abscissa of vein Cu 1 about 0.3x length of vein cu-a.

Metasoma. First tergite 1.1x as long as apical width, median longitudinal carina ending before oblique groove, dorsolateral carina complete; tergites 3–5 densely, coarsely punctate; ovipositor slightly down-curved at tip, lower valve with nine vertical ridges at tip; ovipositor sheath 0.85x as long as hind tibia.

Colour. Lemon yellow; antenna dull yellow beneath and blackish on upper side; ocellar area, frons and hind slope of vertex black; mesoscutum with median black spot joined posteriorly to black spot in front of scutellum and two black marks on lateral lobes, all black marks on posterior 0.70 of mesocutum; tegula black posteriorly; propodeum without black spots; hind leg with basal 0.2 of tibia, base of basitarsus, fifth tarsomere black; wings hyaline, pterostigma and veins blackish, except costa yellowish; tergites 1, 3, 4, and 5 each with two black spots, tergite 7 with black band; ovipositor reddish brown; ovipositor sheath black, except dorsal, basal 0.15 yellowish.

Male. As female but with additional black marks on legs and metasomal tergites: mid tibia blackish basally; hind trochanter marked with black; hind femur with black stripes on anterior and posterior face; metasomal tergites 1, 2 and 6 each with two small black spots.

Variation. The female paratype has the area superomedia 0.55x as long as wide; mid and hind tibia with smaller bristles at and near apex, first tergite without black spots, ovipositor sheath slightly shorter (0.8x versus 0.85x). The paratypes have the conical scutella.

Comparison. The colour pattern of X. flavapropodea sp. nov. is similar to that of X. brachyparea Krieger. The new species can be distinguished from the latter by the wider area superomedia (0.45x as long as wide versus 0.8x), slightly longer ovipositor (0.8–0.86x hind tibia versus 0.5–0.75x), longer lateral black marks on the mesoscutum, and the entirely yellow propodeum.

Etymology. Named after the yellow propodeum.

Distribution. Currently known only from Bac Can and Bac Giang provinces of northeastern Vietnam and in Nghe An Province of Central Vietnam (Fig. 20).

Ecological notes. The specimens were collected in secondary forest at elevation of 100–1,000 m a.s.l.

Material examined. Holotype: ♀ ( IERB), Bac Giang, Son Dong, Thanh Son, 100 m a.s.l., 05.VII.2010, N. T. Pham leg. ; Paratype: 1♀ ( OMNH), Bac Can , Ba Be NP, 1000 m a.s.l, 22°23’N 105°37’E, 05.v.2006, R. Matsumoto leg. ; 1♂ ( IEBR), Nghe An, Phuc Son, Anh Son , 250–300 m a.s.l., 23.IV.2006, H. X. Le leg.