Spathius labdacus -group (sensu Nixon 1939)

Cao, Liang Ming, Achterberg, Cornelis van, Tang, Yan Long, Yang, Zhong Qi, Wang, Xiao Yi & Cao, Tian Wen, 2020, Redescriptions of two parasitoids, Metapelma beijingense Yang (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae) and Spathius ochus Nixon (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), parasitizing Coraebus cavifrons Descarpentries & Villiers (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) in China with keys to genera or species groups, ZooKeys 926, pp. 53-72 : 53

Spathius labdacus -group (sensu Nixon 1939)

Main history

of S. labdacus -group. Nixon (1939) described the first species of this group, S. labdacus from Coimbatore in South India, with its host as the cotton stem weevil, Pempheres affinis (Faust). Nixon (1943) keyed the three described species of this group, with two new species, S. tereus Nixon from Philippines and S. ochus Nixon from Malaya and the Philippines. Chao (1957) redescribed S. ochus and synonymized S. tereus with S. ochus . Chao (1978) described S. deplanatus Chao and keyed S. ochus Nixon and S. deplanatus Chao. Belokobylskij (2003) included S. alexandri Belokobylskij, S. polonicus Niezabitowski, and S. udaegae Belokobylskij. Belokobylskij and Maeto (2009) reviewed and keyed Japanese species, described S. parochus Belokobylskij & Maeto and S. tsukubaensis Belokobylskij & Maeto. Tang et al. (2015) included and keyed S. deplanatus , S. ochus , and S. parochus as members of the S. labdacus -group in China.

The species group is now represented by eight valid species, namely S. alexandri Belokobylskij, S. deplanatus Chao, S. labdacus Nixon, S. ochus Nixon, S. parochus Belokobylskij & Maeto, S. polonicus Niezabitowski, S. tsukubaensis Belokobylskij & Maeto, and S. udaegae Belokobylskij.

Recognition.

Body slightly depressed to distinctly depressed dorso-ventrally. Eyes obliquely placed, transverse diameter usually longer than length of temple. Gena smooth. Vertex, face, and temple usually sculptured. Pronotal carina free, distinct, prominent or sharp. Setae on mesoscutum sparse and erect, posteriorly mesoscutum always with raised rugosity. Propodeum elongate, medio-longitudinal carina 0.5-1.0 × anterior fork of areola. Forewing strongly infuscated, subbasal cell distinctly constricted just beyond middle and crossed by a broad subhyaline fascia at its narrowest part, base of marginal cell with an oblong subhyaline spot, a broad subhyaline fascia from base of pterostigma to posterior margin of wing. Hind coxa simple, hind femur narrowed basally. First metasomal tergite densely rugulose with short rugulae, tergite 2+3 evenly shagreened all over. Ovipositor sheath less than, equal to or longer than metasoma.