Braunsia smithii (Dalla Torre)

Sharkey, Michael J. & Clutts, Stephanie A., 2011, A revision of Thai Agathidinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), with descriptions of six new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 22, pp. 69-132 : 83

Braunsia smithii (Dalla Torre) Figs 13 14

Agathis smithii Dalla Torre 1898. [OUMNH, examined] Replacement name for Agathis flavipennis Smith 1863, Ceram Island, Indonesia, a primary homonym of Agathis flavipennis Brullé 1846. The latter is a species of Biroia .

Braunsia devriesi van Achterberg and Long 2010, syn. n.[RMNH, examined], Vietnam.

Diagnosis.

Similar species include Braunsia maculifera van Achterberg and Long, Braunsia pappi Chen and Yang 2006, Braunsia margaroniae Bhat and Gupta 1977, Braunsia bimaculata Enderlein 1920, Braunsia bipunctata Enderlein 1920, Braunsia matsumurai Watanabe 1937, and Braunsia tuberculata Cameron 1899. All of these differ in having more melanic color either on the wings or on the body or both, and most have the first metasomal median tergite somewhat wider than Braunsia smithii . The first metasomal median tergite is about twice as long as wide apically in Braunsia smithii , whereas the aforementioned nominal species are approximately 1.5 times as long as wide. Undoubtedly there are more synonymies to be made amongst these nominal species but that is beyond the scope of this paper. Braunsia smithii is also similar to Braunsia chaweewanae ; see the diagnosis of that species for differences between the two.

Notes.

The type of Braunsia smithii is from Ceram Island, Indonesia ( Wallacea ). Thus the geographic range of the species is wide. Despite this, examination of specimens from this wide range provides no morphological grounds on which to separate the two nominal species. As a warning to future revisers, all older specimens examined, and these include specimens from Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, have an oily residue that causes the cuticle to darken in a variety of patterns depending on where the substance contacts the cuticle. This is especially apparent on the metasoma.

GenBank accessions.

H292: #HQ667948. H906: #HQ667949.

Distribution.

Examined specimens are from Malaysia (Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia), Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia (South Moluccas). It is undoubtedly much more widespread. Distribution map can be found at http://purl.org/thaimaps/smithii.

Specimens are deposited in OUMNH, RMNH, MZPW, BMNH, HIC, UKM, and QSBG.

Figures

Figure 13. Braunsia smithii (Dalla Torre) a lateral habitus b fore wing.

Figure 14. Braunsia smithii (Dalla Torre) a anterior head b lateral head c lateral mesosoma d dorsal mesothorax e dorsal propodeum and metasomal terga 1 - 3.