Therophilus mellisoma, van Achterberg, Cornelis & Long, Khuat Dang, 2010

van Achterberg, Cornelis & Long, Khuat Dang, 2010, Revision of the Agathidinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) of Vietnam, with the description of forty-two new species and three new genera, ZooKeys 54, pp. 1-184 : 94-96

Therophilus mellisoma sp. n. Figs 310-319

Type material.

Holotype, ♀ (RMNH), Aga. 152, "NE Vietnam: Hoa Binh, Yen Thuy, orchard, MT, 20-30.x.2002, K.D. Long". Paratypes (2 ♀): 1 ♀ (IEBR), Aga. 153, same data as holotype; 1 ♀ (RMNH), Aga. 294, "CN Vietnam: Nghe An, Con Cuong, Pu Mat N.P., 13.iv.2006, P.Th. Nhi".

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to Therophilus similis (Bhat & Gupta, 1977) comb. n., but differs by having the malar space 3.3 times as long as basal width of the mandible ( Therophilus similis : 2.3-2.6 times) and the mesoscutum rugose-punctate anteriorly, sparsely punctate posteriorly (similis: sparsely minutely punctate). The new species is also similar to Therophilus rudimentarius (Enderlein, 1920) comb. n., but differs by having the malar space 3.3 times as long as the basal width of the mandible ( Therophilus rudimentarius : 2.2-2.6 times); the pronotum smooth (rudimentarius: minutely punctate and trough crenulate) and the first tergite 1.3 times as long as its apical width (rudimentarius: 1.6-1.7 times).

Description.

Holotype, ♀, length of body 4.1 mm, of fore wing 3.4 mm, of ovipositor sheath 1.9 mm.

Head.

Antennal segments 31, length of third segment 1.1 times fourth segment, length of third, fourth and penultimate segments 3.8, 3.4 and 1.5 times their width, respectively; apical antennal segment as long as penultimate segment; maxillary palp 0.6 times height of head; malar space 3.3 times as long as basal width of mandible; in dorsal view length of eye 4.0 times temple; ocelli in high triangle (Fig. 307), POL:OD:OOL = 8:4:11; face distinctly finely punctate medially, slightly rugose-punctate medially; frons smooth; vertex and temple smooth with very sparse minute punctate.

Mesosoma.

Length of mesosoma 1.5 times its height; pronotum smooth, crenulate anteriorly; area near lateral carina of mesoscutum sparsely crenulate; mesoscutum rugose-punctate anteriorly, sparsely punctate posteriorly; middle lobe of mesoscutum with distinct longitudinal elevation medially; notauli complete, sparsely crenulate; scutellar sulcus 0.5 times as long as dorsal face of scutellum and with 3 carinae; scutellum with sparse distinct punctures with rugose subposterior carina (Fig. 312); precoxal sulcus complete and crenulate (Fig. 311); mesopleuron below precoxal sulcus with distinct punctures; mesopleuron above precoxal sulcus smooth, near precoxal sulcus punctate; metapleuron distinctly punctate, rugose ventrally; propodeum largely reticulate-rugose; propodeal spiracle medium-sized, 1.3 times as long as wide.

Wings.

Fore wing: second submarginal cell obsolescent and with long petiolus (Figs 314, 319); vein SR1 curved, r:3-SR+SR1 = 3:47. Hind wing: vein M+CU 0.8 times as long as vein 1-M.

Legs.

Length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 3.3, 5.4 and 8.6 times their width, respectively; hind femur (as remainder of legs) with short setae (Fig. 315); length of outer and inner spur of middle tibia 0.3 and 0.5 times middle basitarsus, respectively; outer side of middle tibia with a row of 4 pegs and 3 pegs at apex; length of outer and inner spur of hind tibia 0.3 and 0.5 times hind basitarsus, respectively; tarsal claws with lobe.

Metasoma.

Length of first tergite 1.3 times its apical width (Fig. 313), its surface weakly striate, smooth apically; second tergite 0.5 times as long as its apical width and 0.8 times as long as third tergite medially (Fig. 313); remainder of metasoma smooth; ovipositor sheath 0.6 times as long as fore wing.

Colour.

Brownish-yellow; antenna, vein SC+C+R, pterostigma, 1-SR1, apex of hind tibia apically, hind tarsus and ovipositor sheath dark brown; wing membrane subhyaline.

Variation.

Antenna with 31 segments; length of body 3.6-4.1 mm, length of fore wing 3.3-3.4 mm; vein M+CU of hind wing 0.8-0.9 times as long as vein 1-M; length of first tergite 1.3-1.5 times its apical width.

Distribution.

NE Vietnam: Hoa Binh and CN Vietnam: Nghe An.

Biology.

Unknown.

Etymology.

From “mellitus” (Latin for "pertaining to honey"), and “soma” (Greek for “body”), because of the honey coloured body.