Therophilus marucae, 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 : 91-94

Therophilus marucae sp. n. Figs 301-309

Type material.

Holotype, ♀ (RMNH), Aga. 309, "NE Vietnam: Ha Noi, Tu Liem, ex Maruca vitrata , [on black] bean, 27.v.2007, D.Th. Hoa". Paratypes (2 ♀ + 8 ♂ + 1 unknown): 1 ♀ + 1 ♂ (IEBR), Aga.131 and Aga.132, id., but 10-20.v.2003, D.Th. Dung; 1 ♂, (IEBR), Aga. 334, id., but 20.vii.2007, K.D. Long; 1 ♀ + 1 ♂ (RMNH), Aga. 102, Aga. 107, "S. Vietnam: Lam Dong, Duc Trong, 1000 m, [on] black bean, 28.vii.2002, K.D. Long; 1 ♂ + 1 unknown (IEBR, RMNH), Aga. 003 (missing apex of metasoma; ex Maruca vitrata ) and Aga. 019, "NE Vietnam: Bac Ninh, Tien Son, [on] soybean, 25.v.1995, K.D. Long"; 1 ♂ (IEBR), Aga. 011 and 1 ♂ (RMNH), Aga. 027, id., but Minh Dao, on black bean, 1.vi.1995, K.D. Long; 2 ♂ (IEBR, RMNH), Aga. 245 and Aga. 245a, "N. Vietnam: Ha Noi, Soc Son, beans + peanut, 26.v.2004, K.D. Long".

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to Therophilus asper (Chou & Sharkey, 1989) comb. n., but differs by having the malar space 3.4 times as long as basal width of the mandible ( Therophilus asper : 2.7 times); the first tergite with distinct dorsal carinae (asper: dorsal carinae indistinct); the precoxal sulcus punctate anteriorly (asper: absent anteriorly); the mesoscutum rugose-striate apically (asper: rugose); the outer side of the middle tibia with 2 rows of 2 pegs at apex (asper: with 7 pegs). The new species is close to Therophilus luzonicus (Bhat & Gupta, 1977) comb. n., but differs by having mesoscutum densely rugose-punctate and rugose-striate apically ( Therophilus luzonicus : sparsely punctate); the scutellar sulcus with 3 carinae (luzonicus: with 1 carina) and the scutellum rugose-punctate (luzonicus: sparsely punctate). The new species is also similar to Therophilus muesebecki (Bhat & Gupta, 1977) comb. n., but differs by having; the transverse groove on the second tergite present ( Therophilus muesebecki : absent); the scutellum dull and rugose-punctate (muesebecki: sparsely finely punctate) and the areola of the propodeum with 4 transverse carinae ( Therophilus muesebecki : with 2 carinae).

Description.

Holotype, ♀, length of body 4.6 mm, of fore wing 3.6 mm, ovipositor sheath 3.1 mm.

Head.

Antennal segments 37, length of third segment 1.3 times fourth segment, length of third, fourth and penultimate segments 2.5, 2.0 and 1.0 times their width, respectively; length of apical antennal segment twice as long as penultimate segment; length of maxillary palp 0.6 times height of head; malar space 3.4 times as long as basal width of mandible; in dorsal view length of eye 3.0 times temple; temple roundly narrowed posteriorly (Fig. 308); POL:OD:OOL = 10:6:14; face with dense distinct punctures; frons, vertex and temple shiny and smooth.

Mesosoma.

Length of mesosoma 1.4 times its height; pronotum smooth with sparse fine punctures dorsally, crenulate posteriorly; area near lateral carina of mesoscutum crenulate; lateral and middle lobes of mesoscutum densely rugose-punctate, rugose-striate apically; notauli deep and crenulate, fused with scutellar sulcus posteriorly forming a groove; scutellar sulcus 0.6 times as long as dorsal face of scutellum and with 3 carinae; scutellum convex, slightly narrowed, rugose-punctate, subposterior crest sinuate (Fig. 303); precoxal sulcus wide, largely punctate anteriorly and crenulate posteriorly (Fig. 302); mesopleuron below precoxal sulcus with dense distinct punctures; mesopleuron above precoxal sulcus shiny and smooth medially, sparsely finely punctate anteriorly, densely moderately punctate posteriorly; metapleuron setose, reticulate-rugose dorsally, ventrally with strong rugae; propodeum with large areola and costulae developed, area of areola with 4 transverse carinae (Fig. 303); propodeal spiracle large, 1.5 times as long as wide.

Wings.

Fore wing: second submarginal cell small and petiolate (Fig. 305); vein SR1 straight; r:3-SR+SR1 = 5:18. Hind wing: vein M+CU slightly longer vein 1-M (17:16).

Legs.

Length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 3.4, 5.4 and 9.2 times their width, respectively; hind femur (as remainder of legs) with short setae and coarsely punctate (Fig. 306); length of outer and inner spur of middle tibia 0.4 and 0.7 times middle basitarsus, respectively; outer side of middle tibia with 2 rows of 2 pegs at apex; length of outer and inner spur of hind tibia 0.3 and 0.5 times hind basitarsus, respectively; hind tibia with cluster of 7 pegs; tarsal claws with lobe.

Metasoma.

Length of first tergite 1.1 times its apical width (Fig. 304), with a short carina medially, dorsal carinae developed, intermingled with striae apically; first tergite shiny, strongly depressed and smooth basally, moderately striate apically; second tergite with transverse groove, shiny and smooth basally, weakly striate apically (Fig. 304), ovipositor sheath 0.8 times as long as fore wing.

Colour.

Black; antenna light brown (but scapus dark brown); tegulae dark brown; fore and middle legs pale yellow; fore and middle coxae brown; hind tibia and tarsus dark yellow; pterostigma dark brown; wing membrane subhyaline.

Variation.

Antennal segments of both sexes 35-37; length of body of female 4.2-5.0 mm, and of male 4.3-4.6 mm, length of fore wing of female 3.6-4.2 mm, of male 3.7-4.2 mm, apical antennal segment 1.4-2.0 times as long as penultimate segment; vein M+CU of hind wing 0.9-1.1 times as long as vein 1-M; length of first tergite (both sexes) 1.0-1.1 times as long as its apical width; basal area of second tergite weakly rugose or smooth.

Distribution.

NE Vietnam: Bac Ninh, Ha Noi; CN Vietnam: Quang Binh and S Vietnam: Lam Dong.

Biology.

According to the label data parasitoid of the pod bean borers Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) and Etiella zinckenella (Treitschke) ( Pyralidae ) on soybean ( Glycine max (Linnaeus)) and black bean ( Dumasia villosa DC.), but no host remains are preserved.

Etymology.

Named after the generic name of one of its hosts: Maruca .