Spinariina

Gupta, Ankita, Achterberg, Cornelis Van, Reddy, P. Maheshwara & Sushil, S. N., 2024, Review of the subtribe Spinariina van Achterberg (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) from India with description of one new species, Zootaxa 5399 (4), pp. 347-364 : 348

Key to the Indian species of the subtribe Spinariina

(modified after van Achterberg (2007); both genera known from India have the first metasomal tergite immovably joined to the second tergite, the occipital carina absent, the fourth and fifth metasomal tergites with acute teeth, and the second tergite lacks a smooth area medio-basally; both genera are known as parasitoids of Limacodid caterpillars).

1 Pronotum of ♀ without a spine posteriorly, and anteriorly with a narrow lamella ( Fig. 9D ; apex of fifth tergite with four teeth posteriorly ( Fig. 11B ); notauli reduced posteriorly; lateral tubercles of propodeum obsolescent ( Fig. 9C ); first and second metasomal sutures shallow ( Fig. 9G ); third and fourth tergites without median tooth or tubercle ( Figs 9G , 11B ); genus Batotheca Enderlein, 1905 ....................................................................................... 2

- Pronotum of ♀ with a long spine posteriorly and anteriorly with a wide lamella ( Fig. 2F ); apex of fifth tergite with one tooth posteriorly ( Fig. 2C ); notauli complete; propodeum with pair of short tubercles ( Fig. 2E ); first and second metasomal sutures deep ( Fig. 2G ); third and fourth tergites with median tooth or tubercle ( Fig. 2C ); genus Spinaria Brullé, 1846 ............ 3

2 Mesoscutum, scutellum, fore and middle femora dark brown or blackish ( Fig. 13 ); [head, fourth and fifth metasomal tergites black].................................................................. B. leucomelaena ( Westwood, 1882)

- Mesoscutum and scutellum yellowish brown ( Fig. 9C ); fore and middle femora often brownish-yellow; [metanotum in dorsal view with a median carina subbasally and in lateral view with a tooth curved towards base of propodeum; propodeum partly reticulate].................................................................... B. nigriceps ( Cameron, 1897)

3 Pterostigma and at least apical 0.7 of membrane of wings dark brown ( Fig. 5 ); [hind tarsus black].................................................................................................. S. westwoodi Cameron, 1906

- At least basal quarter of pterostigma yellow and at least basal half of wings more or less pale yellowish................. 4

4 Metasoma of ♀ pale yellowish to yellowish brown dorsally; apical third of pterostigma more or less infuscate, sometimes most of pterostigma infuscate and only its base yellow or completely yellow ( S. flavipennis and rarely in S. spinator ); medio-posterior tubercle of fourth tergite hardly protruding posteriorly................................................ 5

- Metasoma of ♀ at least partly with well-defined dark brown or black patches dorsally; colour of apical third of pterostigma and shape of medio-posterior tubercle of fourth tergite variable.................................................... 6

5 Vein 3-SR of fore wing 1.3–1.4 × (rarely 1.2 ×) vein 2-SR; hind tarsus yellowish brown; apical half of pterostigma yellow ( Fig. 15 ); fifth metasomal tergite ivory, paler than fourth tergite; lamella of medio-posterior tubercle of fourth tergite comparatively wide........................................................................ S. flavipennis Cameron, 1906

- Vein 3-SR of fore wing 1.0–1.2 × (rarely 1.3 ×) vein 2-SR; hind tarsus largely dark brown or black; apical half of pterostigma dark brown ( Fig. 16 ); colour of fifth tergite variable; lamella of medio-posterior tubercle of fourth tergite often medium-sized...................................................................... S. spinator ( Guérin-Méneville, 1830)

6 Brownish hind leg weakly contrasting with middle leg ( Fig. 14 ); dark patch of second metasomal tergite parallel-sided or nearly so; third tergite besides median tubercle with shallow transverse depression; hind tarsus more or less brown; [propodeum black in typical S. albiventris and yellowish in S. armator auctt.]............................. S. albiventris Cameron, 1899

- Black hind leg strongly contrasting with pale yellowish middle leg (Figs 1,3); dark patch of second tergite distinctly narrowed posteriorly, sometimes tergite pale yellowish posteriorly; third tergite besides median tubercle flat or nearly so; hind tarsus black or blackish ( Fig. 3 )............................................................................... 7

7 Malar space 0.4 × as long as basal width of mandible; basal half of marginal cell and second submarginal cell of fore wing yellowish ( Fig. 19 ); [colour of propodeum and of fourth tergite varies from black to yellowish]........................................................................................ S. vietnamica Long & van Achterberg, 2007

- Malar space nearly as long as basal width of mandible ( Fig. 2A ); basal half of marginal cell and third submarginal cell of fore wing fully infuscated ( Fig. 2D )........................................ S. indica Gupta & van Achterberg , sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Spinaria indica sp. nov. Female (holotype).A. Head in frontal aspect, B. Head in dorsal aspect, C. Last three tergites in dorsal view, D. Wings, E. Head and mesosoma in dorsal aspect, F. Head in lateral aspect and mesopleuron, G. Metasoma in dorsal aspect, H. Metasoma in lateral aspect.

FIGURE 3. Spinaria indica sp. nov. Male (paratype) in lateral aspect.

FIGURE 5. Spinaria westwoodi Cameron. Male in dorsal aspect.

FIGURE 9. Batotheca nigriceps Female. A. Head in frontal aspect, B. Head in dorsal aspect, C. Mesosoma in dorsal aspect, D. Mesopleuron, E. Wings, F. First tergite, G. Metasoma in dorsal aspect.

FIGURE 11. Batotheca nigriceps Male. A. Head and mesosoma in dorsal aspect, B. Metasoma in dorsal aspect.

FIGURE 13. Batotheca leucomelaena (Westwood) (NHMUK).

FIGURE 14. Spinaria albiventris Cameron (NHMUK).

FIGURE 15. Spinaria flavipennis Cameron (holotype, NHMUK).

FIGURE 16. Spinaria spinator (Guérin-Méneville) (NHMUK).

FIGURE 19. Spinaria. vietnamica Long & van Achterberg (NHMUK).