Ampulex rubifemoralis Liu & Li, 2025

Liu, Zhi-Zhi, Li, Qiang & Ma, Li, 2025, Three new species and one new record of Ampulex Jurine (Hymenoptera, Ampulicidae) from China, with a key to Chinese species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98, pp. 355-380 : 355-380

3. Ampulex rubifemoralis Liu & Li sp. nov.

Figs 4 , 5

Type material.

Holotype. • ♀, China, Yunnan, Wenshan, Maguan County, Donggualin Village , 24.9002°54'N; 104.0828°E, 2017. VII. 11, coll. Dan Yue .

Paratypes. • 2 ♂♂, same data as holotype ; • 1 ♂, China, Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Mengla County, Baka Village , 21.9319°N, 101.2091°E, 2007. Ⅳ. 30, coll. Guohua Chen . All type specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection of Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, P. R. China (YNAU).

Diagnosis.

The new species resembles A. rotundioculus Wu & Chou, 1985 in having body surface entirely black except female mandible red, and median longitudinal groove of pronotum narrow and shallow. It differs by the following characteristics (characters of A. rotundioculus in parentheses): female compound eye large and oval-shaped (female eye small and nearly round); posterior surface of propodeum, dorsal hind coxa and female T 3 densely covered with silvery setae (posterior surface of propodeum, dorsal hind coxa and female T 3 densely covered without silvery setae); mid and hind femora red (mid and hind femora black); anterior half of scutum without median longitudinal groove (anterior half of scutum with a median longitudinal groove); female pronotum without punctures (female pronotum with large punctures).

Description of female.

Body length 16 mm. Body entirely black. Anterior margin of clypeus and mandible red. Wings hyaline, veins and stigma dark brown, proximal part of forewing with dark brown marking. Mid and hind femora red except for distal part. Head and mesosoma densely covered with pubescence; posterior surface of propodeum, dorsal hind coxa and T 3 densely covered with silvery setae.

Head. Mandible sharp at apex; inner edge blade-like, without inner teeth (Fig. 4 B ). Clypeus beak-like, anterior margin with five teeth (Fig. 4 B ). Terminal segment of labial palpus setose. Frons alutaceous, with sparse, midsized punctures (Fig. 4 B ); frontal carina originating from each frontal lobe absent (Fig. 4 B ). Frontal line absent; frons above base of median ridge of clypeus with one tiny tubercle (Fig. 4 B ). Vertex alutaceous, with dense, fine punctures (Fig. 4 C ). Gena alutaceous. Ratio of EW: ID = 23: 14. Ratio of F 1: (F 2 + F 3) = 16: 13.

Mesosoma. Pronotal collar nearly rectangular, alutaceous, almost not punctate; median longitudinal groove narrow and shallow (Fig. 4 D ); propleurum alutaceous, with dense, fine punctures and one transverse, narrow groove on each side (Fig. 4 E ); prosternum with sparse, midsized punctures. Scutum alutaceous, with sparse, fine punctures, center slightly concaved, with several large punctures; notaulus long, extending to posterior margin, not crenulate (Fig. 4 D ). Mesopleuron alutaceous, with dense, large punctures (Fig. 4 F ). Mesosternum alutaceous, with sparse, fine punctures (Fig. 4 F ). Omaulus not crenulate (Fig. 4 F ). Sternaulus present, crenulate (Fig. 4 F ). Scutellum alutaceous; anterior margin with one transverse, crenulate groove (Fig. 4 F ). Metanotum alutaceous (Figs 4 D, G ). Propodeal enclosure approximately trapezoid, medially with five strong, longitudinal carinae, including one median longitudinal carina, two strong, oblique, longitudinal carinae on either side, and two oblique, longitudinal carinae located further out to sides; numerous nearly parallel transverse rugae connected five carinae and edge carinae on either side, forming distinct, regular reticulation except posterior central part with irregular reticulation (Fig. 4 G ). Posterior surface of propodeum with distinct, irregular reticulation. Upper part of lateral surface of propodeum with irregular reticulation, rest with sparse, fine punctures (Fig. 4 F ). Two propodeal posterior lateral angles evident (Fig. 4 G ).

Wings and legs. Fore wings with two submarginal cells, vein M + Cu diverging at crossvein cu-a. Hind wings with vein M + Cu diverging after crossvein cu-a (Fig. 4 H ). Claws unidentate (Fig. 4 I ).

Metasoma. T 1 - T 2 with sparse, fine punctures; T 3 - T 6 alutaceous. T 2 with one transverse groove near anterior margin. Metasomal apex laterally compressed.

Male. Differs from female as follows: Body length 7–11 mm. Mandible short, black, with one small, blunt inner tooth near apex (Fig. 5 B ). Clypeus approximately trapezoidal, anterior margin truncate, with one blunt tooth medially (Fig. 5 B ). Terminal segment of labial palpus normal. Frons with dense, large punctures, and approximately irregular reticulation (Fig. 5 B ). Ratio of EW: ID = 31: 49. Ratio of F 1: (F 2 + F 3) = 14: 13. Pronotal collar with dense, large punctures (Fig. 5 D ). Scutum and mesopleuron with larger punctures than female (Figs 5 D, F ). Sternaulus broader than female (Fig. 5 F ). Red area of mid femora relatively small (Fig. 5 A ). Hind wings with vein M + Cu diverging at crossvein cu-a (Fig. 5 H ). Metasomal apex not compressed laterally (Fig. 5 A ); T 3 not covered with silvery setae (Fig. 5 A ).

Distribution.

China (Yunnan).

Etymology.

The specific name rubifemoralis originates from the Latin stem “ rub - ” and “ femur ”, with the ending “ alis ” meaning “ belonging to ”, refers to the red mid and hind femora.

Figures

Figure 4. Ampulex rubifemoralis Liu & Li, sp. nov. Female. Holotype A habitus, dorsal view B head, frontal view C head, dorsal view D pronotum, scutum and scutellum, dorsal view E propleurum, lateral view F thorax, lateral view G propodeum, dorso-posterior view H fore and hind wings I claw, lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 5. Ampulex rubifemoralis Liu & Li, sp. nov. Male. Paratype A habitus, dorsal view B head, frontal view C head, dorsal view D pronotum, scutum and scutellum, dorsal view E propleurum, lateral view F thorax, lateral view G propodeum, dorso-posterior view H fore and hind wings I claw, lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.