Therophilus depressiferus, 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 : 82-84

Therophilus depressiferus sp. n. Figs 256-266

Type material.

Holotype, ♀ (RMNH), "N. Vietnam: Ninh Binh, Cuc Phuong N.P., n[ea]r centre, c 225 m, 29.vi-18.vii.2000, Mai Phu Quy, RMNH’01”. Paratypes (2 ♀): 1♀ (IEBR), same data as holotype; 1 ♀ (RMNH), "S. Vietnam: Dong Nai, Cat Tien N.P., Mal. traps, c 100 m, 9.iv.2007-13.v.2007, M.P. Quy, N.T. Manh & C. v. Achterberg, RMNH’07”.

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to Therophilus rudimentarius (Enderlein, 1920) comb. n., but differs by having POL half as long as OOL ( Therophilus rudimentarius :0.7 times); the pronotal trough crenulate medially, rugose-punctate ventrally and sparsely finely punctate dorsally (rudimentarius:entirely punctate); the mesosoma 1.8 times as long as high (rudimentarius:1.4 times); the first tergite 1.5 times as long wide apically (rudimentarius:1.6 times). The new species is similar to Bassus albifasciatus (Watanabe, 1934), but differs by having the tarsal claws with a distinct lobe ( Bassus albifasciatus :simple); the first tergite 1.5 times as long as wide apically (albifasciatus:1.8 times) and the second tergite entirely black (albifasciatus: basal 0.6 reddish-brown to black).

Description.

Holotype, ♀, length of body 8.5 mm, of fore wing 7.4 mm, of ovipositor sheath 7.2 mm.

Head.

Antennal segments 45; length of third segment 1.3 times fourth segment, length of third, fourth and penultimate segments 2.8, 2.5 and 1.5 times their width, respectively; length of apical segment 2.3 times as long as penultimate segment; maxillary palp 0.8 times height of head; malar space 2.4 times as long as basal width of mandible; in dorsal view length of eye 4.8 times temple; ocelli in low triangle (Fig. 264), POL:OD:OOL= 7:6:13; face densely punctate (Fig. 263); frons smooth, laterally densely punctate and concave near antennal sockets (Fig. 264); vertex and temple shiny with sparse punctures.

Mesosoma.

Length of mesosoma 1.8 times its height; pronotum shiny with rugae ventrally, dorsally pronotum with dense fine punctures (Fig. 257); area near lateral carina of mesoscutum crenulate; lateral lobes of mesoscutum shiny, sparsely punctate, slightly flat posteriorly; middle lobe of mesoscutum with dense punctures medially, smooth laterally and apically; notauli deep and crenulate, united posteriorly forming short groove near scutellar sulcus; scutellar sulcus 0.7 times as long as dorsal face of scutellum and with 4 carinae; scutellum convex with sparse distinct punctures, subposterior crest transverse, interrupted medially (Fig. 258); precoxal sulcus wide, strongly crenulate (Fig. 257); mesopleuron below precoxal sulcus areolate-rugose anteriorly, rugose-punctate posteriorly; mesopleuron above precoxal sulcus largely smooth medially, distinctly punctate posteriorly; metapleuron reticulate-punctate dorsally, ventrally setose and largely rugose; propodeum largely areolate-rugose with 5 transverse carinae medially; propodeal spiracle medium-sized, 1.7 times as long as wide.

Wings.

Fore wing: second submarginal cell medium-sized triangular (Fig. 260); vein SR1 straight; r:3-SR+SR1=7:78. Hind wing: vein M+CU 0.8 times as long as vein 1-M.

Legs.

Length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 3.7, 6.7 and 8.0 times their width, respectively; hind femur (as remainder of legs) with short setae (Fig. 261); length of outer and inner spur of middle tibia 0.3 and 0.5 times middle basitarsus, respectively; outer side of middle tibia with 1 peg and a cluster of 5 pegs at apex; hind tibia distinctly narrowed basally and widened apically (Fig. 256); length of outer and inner spur of hind tibia 0.3 and 0.4 times hind basitarsus, respectively; outer side of hind tibia with a cluster of 12 pegs (figs); hind coxa distinctly punctate; hind femur reticulate-punctate; tarsal claws with a large lobe (Fig. 262).

Metasoma.

First tergite distinctly depressed laterally; length of first tergite 1.5 times its apical width (Fig. 259); dorsal carinae developed, intermingled with striae at apical third; first tergite longitudinally rugose-striate, coriaceous apically, area between striae granulate; second tergite with weak rugose transverse groove; basal area of second tergite with sparse setae and punctures (Fig. 259); ovipositor sheath 0.97 times as long as fore wing.

Colour.

Black; mouthparts, fore leg and middle tibia and tarsus yellow; medial round area of face, malar space and temple partly, mesoscutum, tegula reddish yellow; hind tibia (but basal pale yellow ring and yellow spurs) and tarsus brown; first-second metasomal tergites ivory ventrally; wing membrane dark brown, with pale band extending from vein 2-SR+M to vein 3-CU1.

Variation.

Length of body 8.2-9.3 mm, of fore wing 7.0-7.4 mm, vein M+CU 0.7-0.8 times vein 1-M, outer side of middle tibia with 2-12 pegs; second tergite without weak transverse groove; large reddish-yellow medial area of face may be fused with clypeus; entirely malar space and temple may be reddish-yellow; length of ovipositor sheath 1.0-1.1 times fore wing; wing membrane dark brown or yellowish-brown; basal ring of hind tibia white or pale brownish.

Distribution.

N Vietnam: Ninh Binh and S Vietnam: Dong Nai.

Biology.

Unknown.

Etymology.

From “depressus” (Latin for "pressed down"), and “fero” (Latin for “carry”), because of the depressed frons.