Antrocephalus decipiens (Masi, 1929)

Narendran, T. C. & van Achterberg, Cornelis, 2016, Revision of the family Chalcididae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) from Vietnam, with the description of 13 new species, ZooKeys 576, pp. 1-202 : 9-11

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Chalcididae

Antrocephalus decipiens (Masi, 1929) Figs 9, 10-11

Haltichella decipiens Masi, 1929a: 176 (lectotype (USNM No. 41887) designated by Narendran (1989), Philippines (examined)).

Antrocephalus decipiens ; Narendran 1989: 33-35.

Material

(RMNH, IEBR). 1 ♀, "S. Vietnam: Dóng Nai, Cát Tiên N. P. c. 100 m, 9. iv.-3. v. 2007, M. P. Quy, N. T. Manh & C. v. Achterberg, Malaise trap, RMNH’07”; 1 ♀, id., but 14-20.v.2007, Malaise traps 20-23, Lagerstroemia trail; 1 ♀, but 19-25.iv.2007; 1 ♀ ♀, "S. Vietnam: Dak Lak, Chu Yang Sin N. P., nr. dam, 800-900 m, Malaise trap, 2-10.vi.2007, C. v. Achterberg & R. de Vries, RMNH’07”; 1 ♀, "S. Vietnam: Ninh Thuân, Núi Chúa N. P., Northeast part, 23-30.v.2007, Malaise trap, C. v. Achterberg & R. de Vries, RMNH’07”.

Diagnosis.

In the key to Oriental species of Antrocephalus by Narendran (1989) Antrocephalus decipiens comes near Antrocephalus nitidus Narendran but differs from it in having: 1) interstices 0.5 × diameter of a pit on mesoscutum or less (in Antrocephalus nitidus interstices of pits on mesoscutum broader, often wider than half diameter of pits and shiny); 2) pits on mesoscutal disc much larger than those of Antrocephalus nitidus ; 3) pubescence white or dirty white (in Antrocephalus nitidus golden yellow) and 4) basal carinae of T1 not longer than distance between them (in Antrocephalus nitidus basal carinae of T1 distinctly longer than distance between them).

Description.

♀, length of body 2.0-2.5 mm.

Colour. Black; femora and tibiae black with bases and apices pale brown or pale brownish yellow; scape black with basal half yellow in Vietnamese specimens, reaching anterior ocellus.

Head. Pre- and post-orbital carinae distinct.

Mesosoma. Pronotal carinae and tubercles absent; mesosoma with interstices narrower than half diameter of a pit and rugulose; apex of scutellum bi-lobed.

Wings. Fore wing with two black patches: one starting from MV and the other from anterior wing margin beyond PMV, both patches united each other medially encircling a white spot in between anteriorly.

Legs. Hind coxa with a carinate projection dorso-basally.

Metasoma. Metasoma longer than mesosoma; T1 with two parallel ridges or carinae at base; length of each carina subequal to width between them; T1 smooth and shiny dorsally.

Variation.

This is a very variable species. The colour of legs ranges from black to red. The black colour of hind femur is often brown or red or black with base and apex brown or red. In some specimens the dark infuscation of the fore wing is very faintly represented. In some specimens the antenna is completely black; in some others the basal funicular segments and scape (partly or completely) are reddish or brownish.

Hosts.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Widely distributed all over the Oriental region. New record for Vietnam.