Xanthopimpla spicula, Pham & Broad & Matsumoto & Wägele, 2011

Pham, Nhi Thi, Broad, Gavin R., Matsumoto, Rikio & Wägele, Wolfgang J., 2011, 3056, Zootaxa 3056, pp. 1-67 : 12-13

Xanthopimpla spicula sp. nov.

( Figs 1f, 3e, 5g, 7g, 9g, 11g, 13h, 15h)

Diagnosis. Face as high as wide; scutellum conical; first tergite with dorsolateral carina complete, median longitudinal carina strong and extending to oblique groove; median area of second tergite densely coarsely punctate except centrally; ovipositor tip flattened; ovipositor sheath 0.3x as long as hind tibia.

Description (Holotype female). Body length 9.0 mm, fore wing 7.0 mm, ovipositor sheath 0.6 mm. Head. Antenna gradually thinner apically, first antennal flagellomere 1.55x length of second; diameter of lateral ocellus 1.6x ocellar-ocular distance; frons smooth; face as high as wide, with shallow, small punctures; clypeus 0.6x as high as wide; malar space about 0.25x basal width of mandible.

Mesosoma . Epomia present, about 0.3x basal width of mandible; lower anterior corner of pronotum rounded, forming obtuse angle of about 100°; mesoscutum with moderately dense, minute hairs; notauli present on anterior 0.25 of mesoscutum, extending nearly to anterior level of tegula; scutellum conical, lateral carina moderately high, medially 0.45x as high as first flagellomere width, gradually lower toward apex; mesopleuron subpolished, sternaulus present, area below sternalus with dense, small hairs; epicnemial carina present on lower 0.65 of mesopleuron; postpectal carina medially forming low flange; metapleuron polished, submetapleural carina complete, pleural carina indistinct near anterior margin; propodeum with area superomedia as long as wide; propodeal spiracle elongated, 3.0x as long as wide. Hind leg with femur 2.15x as long as wide, 0.85x length of tibia, basitarsus 0.3x length of tarsus, 2.0x second tarsomere, third tarsomere 1.3x as long as wide; mid and hind tibiae with some very small bristles at and near apex; largest bristles on mid and hind tarsal claws slightly widened. Fore wing with areolet rhombic; cu-a opposite Rs+M; hind wing with first abscissa of vein Cu 1 about 0.4x length of vein cu-a; veins complete, except distal end of hind wing vein 1 A.

Metasoma. First tergite as long as apical width, median longitudinal carina strong, extending to oblique groove, lateral carina complete; median area of second tergite densely, coarsely punctate laterally, subpolished centrally; ovipositor down-curved, depresses at tip, upper valve mostly enclosing lower valves; ovipositor sheath 0.3x as long as hind tibia.

Colour. Ground colour lemon yellow; antenna black, except outer side of scape, pedicel, first and last flagellomeres yellowish; mesoscutum with three continuous black spots medially, of which two lateral oblique spots larger than rounded median spot, and black spot in front of scutellum; base of propodeum with black band; base of mid tibia and lateral side of hind trochanter brown; anterior face of hind coxa with rounded black spot; basal 0.15 of hind tibia black, hind tarsus blackish; wings hyaline, pterostigma and veins black, except basal 0.6 of costa yellowish; tergites 1, 7 and 8 with black bands, tergites 2–6 with two lateral black spots; black spots on tergite 2 smallest, sub-rounded; ovipositor reddish brown; ovipositor sheath black.

Male. Unknown.

Comparison. Xanthopimpla spicula sp. nov. can be distinguished from X. sparsa Townes & Chiu by the complete dorsolateral carina of the first tergite, denser coarse punctures on the second tergite and the flattened ovipositor tip. The new species also differs in colour pattern.

Etymology. Named after the Latin for spear, 'spiculum', after the narrowed ovipositor tip.

Distribution. Currently known only from Ea So NR, Dak Lak Province (Fig. 20).

Ecological notes. The single specimen was collected in evergreen forest.

Material examined. Holotype: ♀ ( IEBR), Dak Lak, Ea So NR, 310 m a.sl, 12°55.93’N 108°37.96’E, 27.vii.2008, H. T. Ngo leg.