Bicurta Sheng, Broad & Sun, 2012

Sheng, Mao-Ling, Broad, Gavin R. & Sun, Shu-Ping, 2012, A new genus and species of Collyriinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 25, pp. 103-125 : 112-113

Bicurta Sheng, Broad & Sun gen. n.

Type species.

Bicurta sinica Sheng, Broad & Sun, sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Bicurta can be distinguished from Collyria by any of the following characters (state in Collyria in brackets: 1) epicnemial carina not clearly visible dorsal to mesosternum (carina distinct on mesopleuron); 2) ovipositor straight and smooth, without teeth on ventral valve (weakly decurved with weak teeth on ventral valve in most species; 3) fore and mid tarsal claws with acutely lobed tooth (with a weak medial tooth). Aubertiella resembles Bicurta in the very weak clypeal tubercle and simple ov ipositor but can be distinguished by the median teeth on the fore and mid tarsal claws (similar to Collyria ), black face and the apical tergites retracted beneath the sixth tergite.

Description.

Clypeus nearly flat in lateral view, about 2.2 × as wide as high in anterior view ( Fig. 10 ), median section of apical margin almost truncate, with an obtuse median tubercle or angulation. Mandible strongly narrowed toward apex, teeth sharp, lower tooth slightly longer than upper tooth. Dorsal part of face with bifurcate carina that extends between antennal sockets ( Fig. 6a ). Antenna short, 0.66x fore wing length, almost clubbed. Notaulus deep, reaching to middle of mesoscutum level with posterior margin of tegula ( Fig. 11b ). Epicnemial carina indistinct, not clearly visible dorsal to mesosternum ( Fig. 11a ) although slight furrow can be traced dorsally, far posterior to front edge of mesopleuron. Sternaulus vestigial on anterior 0.4 of mesopleuron. Scutellum and postscutellum approximately flat. Anterior section of submetapleural carina vestigial. Areolet absent. Fore wing with vein 1 cu-a opposite 1/ M; 2 m-cu slightly inclivous, with one bulla. Hind wing with abscissa of Cu between M+Cu and cu-a much longer than cu-a (Cu 1 originating close to vein M). Fore and mid tarsal claws elongate with acutely lobed tooth ( Fig. 8a ). Hind tarsal claw simple ( Fig. 8b ). Hind coxa elongate, almost as long as first tergite. Hind femur stout, 3.3x as long as maximally deep. Hind leg particularly long, in total 1.9x length of fore wing. Hind coxa elongate, about 0.8 × as long as hind femur, Propodeum elongate, with complete longitudinal carinae, median longitudinal carinae slightly convergent posteriorly, without transverse carinae ( Fig. 5a ). Propodeal spiracle obliquely elliptical, located at about mid-length of propodeum. Basal portion of metasoma narrow and elongate, apical portion laterally compressed. First tergum approximately 5 × as long as apical width, without longitudinal carinae; sternum reaching half length of tergum, fused with tergum; without glymma; spiracle located at basal 0.42. Ovipositor smooth, without teeth on ventral valve ( Fig. 9 ). Otherwise as in the description of the subfamily.

Etymology.

The name of the new genus is based on the short antenna and ovipositor sheath. The gender is feminine.

Figures

Figure 5. Propodeum of Bicurta sinica a and Collyria coxator b. Figs 5 - 9, SEMs of uncoated specimens.

Figure 6.. Head, frontal view, of Bicurta sinica a and Collyria coxator b.

Figure 8. Fore claw a and hind claw b of Bicurta sinica.

Figure 9. Ovipositor of Bicurta sinica.

Figure 10. Face of Bicurta sinica.

Figure 11. Mesopleuron a and mesoscutum b of Bicurta sinica.