Markshawius thailandensis Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault, 2018

Fernandez-Triana, Jose L & Boudreault, Caroline, 2018, Seventeen new genera of microgastrine parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from tropical areas of the world, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 64, pp. 25-140 : 88-89

Markshawius thailandensis Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault sp. n.

Fig. 31

Holotype.

Female, Thailand, QSBG.

Holotype labels.

Thailand. Trang Prov./Ampuh Nayon Khao/Chong, 7.561°N, 99.886°E, 75m,/BIN#BOLD:AAH1292/ CNCH2216. Second label: CNCH2216.

Holotype locality.

THAILAND, Trang Province, Ampuh Nayon Khao Chong, 7.561°N, 99.886°E, 75m.

Diagnosis.

The shape of T1 and sculpture of propodeum clearly separate M. thailandensis from M. francescae (see under that species for further details). As for the other species, M. thailandensis is a smaller species than M. erucidoctus (fore wing L 1.6 mm versus 2.2 mm), has fore wing vein R1 brown (R1 light yellow in M. erucidoctus ), has a narrower pterostigma and less defined crenulae on scutoscutellar sulcus, and the widest part of T1 is the same width than T2 width at anterior margin (widest part of T1 wider than T2 width at anterior margin in M. erucidoctus ).

Description.

Female. Body color mostly brown; face mostly reddish-brown; palpi yellow-white; labrum, mandible, scape, pedicel, and most of legs (except for brown metacoxa) yellow to yellow-orange; flagellomeres brown-yellow; tegulae and humeral complex yellow-white; most laterotergites and sternites yellow; wings hyaline, veins mostly brown. Head elongate and strongly concave posteriorly, modified to be tightly appressed to and follow the contour of anterior margin of pronotum (pronotum also concave). Upper margin of face produced dorsally between the antennal insertions into a triangular flange. Face looking almost depressed, and with very strong sculpture including transverse striae and punctures. Frons very elongate, with ocelli clearly much higher than normally found in Microgastrinae . Frons with strong excavation at antennal base -better appreciated on a lateral view of the head. Antenna very short (shorter than the combined length of head and mesosoma), with all flagellomeres but first with a single row of placodes. Pronotum only with lower sulcus. Propodeum with median longitudinal carina clearly visible on posterior half (carina looks divided, giving the impression of actually being the posterior half of a very thin areola) and with transverse rugosity medially, including a partially defined transverse carina. Propodeum (apart from carinae and rugosity) mostly smooth, at most with scattered and shallow punctures on anterior half. Fore wing with relatively large, four-sided areolet. Legs in general short and stout, especially metafemur. T1 very thin on anterior 0.3-0.4, then strongly widening towards posterior margin (width at posterior margin around 3.0 × its width centrally). T2 trapezoidal and with lateral margins strongly sculptured. Ovipositor sheaths almost without setae (with only very few, small setae near apex that are usually invisible at less than 100 × of magnification), ovipositor strongly narrowing toward apex, where it looks almost needle-like. Body measurements (mm). F2 L: 0.08; F3 L: 0.08; F14 L: 0.07; Malar sulcus L: 0.07; Mandible W: 0.08; T1 L: 0.29; T1 W at posterior margin: 0.11; T1 maximum W: 0.12; T2 W at anterior margin: 0.09; T2 W at posterior margin: 0.17; T2 L: 0.11; Metafemur L: 0.47; Metafemur W: 0.22; Metatibia L: 0.52; Ovipositor sheaths L: 0.09; Body L: 1.94. T1 L is approximate. Fore wing is curved and ripped so wasn’t measured.

Male. Unknown.

Biology.

Host unknown.

Distribution.

Thailand.

Molecular data.

The holotype sequence represents BIN BOLD:AAH1292, which is 11.2 % different from the closest Microgastrinae sequence in BOLD.

Etymology.

Named after the country of the type locality.

Figures

Figure 31. Markshawius thailandensis female holotype. A Habitus B Head frontal C Head dorsal D Fore wing E Head lateral F Metasoma dorsal G Propodeum H Mesosoma dorsal.