Testudobracon phiaoacus Long, 2023

Mai, Pham Quynh, Long, Khuat Dang, Hiep, Nguyen Duc, Hoa, Dang Thi & Duong, Tran Dinh, 2023, First record of the genus Testudobracon Quicke, 1986 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae) in Vietnam, with description of four new species, Zootaxa 5244 (5), pp. 485-500 : 495-496

Testudobracon phiaoacus Long & PQMai, sp. nov.

Figures 7–8

Material examined. Holotype, ♀, “Bracn. 1570 ” ( IEBR), NE Vietnam: Cao Bang, Nguyen Binh, Quang Thanh , soybeans, 22°36’45.5N 105°56’09.4E, 570 m, sweep, 02.vii.2022, KDLong.

Description. Holotype, female, length 2.4 mm; antenna 2.2 mm; fore wing 2.4 mm; ovipositor sheath 1.3 mm ( Fig. 7 ).

Head. Antenna with 22 flagellomeres; first flagellomere as long as second flagellomere; first, second and penultimate flagellomeres 2.0, 2.0 and 1.5 × as long as wide; head 1.35 and 1.6 × as wide as long medially in frontal and dorsal view, respectively; face rugose; frons frons granulo-rugose; vertex granulo-rugose; OOL: OD: POL = 6: 2: 3 ( Fig. 8a ); oculo-antennal groove indistinct; length of eye 2.75 × as long as temple in dorsal view; occiput rugose; lateral temple smooth and shiny; eight of eye: width of face: width of head = 12: 14: 27; face granulate with posteriorly widened, transversely striated medial triangular area ( Fig. 8b ); height of clypeus: inter-tentorial distance: tentorio-ocular distance = 2: 5: 4; clypeus with distinct postero-dorsal carina; length of malar space 1.25 × basal width of mandible.

Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.25 × its height ( Fig.8f ); mesoscutum sparsely punctate; median lobe of mesoscutum with indistinct mid-longitudinal ridge ( Fig. 8d ); notauli complete, anteriorly with depressed area, converging posteriorly, hardly fused with scutellar sulcus; scutellar sulcus deep, with 7 carinae ( Fig. 8d ); scutellum almost smooth medially, sparsely punctate laterally, with long setae clustered apically; mesopleuron with a deep short oval pit medially, smooth ventrally, rugo-punctate dorsally ( Fig. 8f ); metapleuron punctate like anterio-lateral area of propodeum; groove between metapleuron and propodeum deep; propodeum with a complete mid longitudinal carina, smooth medially and posteriorly.

Wings. Length of pterostigma 2.7 × its maximum width; fore wing vein 1-SR 0.4 × as long as 1-M; ration of length of fore wing veins r: 3-SR: SR1 = 5: 10: 29. and 2-SR: 3-SR: r-m = 9: 10: 5; second submarginal cell slightly narrowed distally ( Fig. 8k ). Hind wing vein C+SC+R with single straight hamulus and vein R1 with 3 curved hamuli apically; ratio of length of hind wing veins 1r-m: SC+R1 = 5: 7.

Legs. Length of fore femur: tibia: tarsus = 14: 17: 19; hind coxa smooth, setose; length of hind femur: tibia: basitarsus = 23: 28: 10.

Metasoma. First metasomal tergite rugose, 0.55 × as long as wide apically with a longitudinally impressed area medially and posterior carinae; second metasomal tergite basally 1.3 × wider than long, with sublateral grooves ( Fig. 8c ); second metasomal tergite as long as third tergite medially; second-third metasomal tergites confused-rugose medially, rugose laterally ( Fig. 8h ); fourth-sixth metasomal tergites finely rugose medially, largely rugose laterally; medial emargination deep ( Fig. 8g ), 0.7 × as long as tergite medially, and 1.4 × as wide as height; ovipositor 1.0 × metasoma in lateral view, and 0.5 × as long as metasoma and fore wing

Colour. Body yellow to reddish yellow ( Fig. 7 ); antenna brown; head and mesonotum reddish yellow, except malar space, mandible, labrum, palpi and lateral side of pronotum yellow; propodeum and metapleuron brown; fore and middle legs yellow, except telotarsi brown; hind leg yellow, except hind coxa and femur medially, tibia apically and hind tarsus brown; wing veins brown but paler basally; first-third metasomal tergites yellow, except third tergite medially and laterally dark brown; fourth–sixth metasomal tergites pale yellow, posterio-lateral protuberances dark brown ( Fig. 8h ); ovipositor sheath brown; ovipositor yellow.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. NE Vietnam (Cao Bang: Phia Oac NP).

Biology. Unknown.

Etymology. The new species is named after the locality (Phia Oac NP), where the holotype was collected.

Notes. The differences between T. descensus sp. nov. and T. phiaoacus sp. nov. were given in the key; this new species is close to T. guangxinensis Wang, Chen & He , from China, but differs from the latter by the following characters: 1) Propodeum smooth, with a complete median longitudinal carina; 2) Middle lobe of mesoscutum with sparse but discretely punctate, anterio-medially with a weak longitudinal ridge, lateral lobes of mesoscutum with discrete punctures (nearly smooth in T. guangxinensis ); and 3) Third–fifth metasomal tergites with oblique posterolateral lobe like protuberances in lateral view (rounded postero-lateral lobe like protuberances in T. guangxinensis )

Figures

FIGURE 7. Testudobracon phiaoacus Long, sp. nov., holotype, female (lateral)

FIGURES 8a–k. Testudobracon phiaoacus Long, sp. nov., holotype, female, a Head, dorsal b Head, frontal c Second-fourth metasomal tergites, dorsal d Mesonotum e Head, lateral f Mesopleuron g Third-sixth metasomal tergites, dorsal h Metasoma, lateral i Apex of ovipositor, lateral k Fore wing