Leptophion radiatus ( Uchida, 1956 )

Shimizu, So, Watanabe, Kyohei & Maeto, Kaoru, 2016, Revision of the Taiwanese species of the genus Leptophion Cameron, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ophioninae), with a discussion of their phenology and distribution, Zootaxa 4144 (1), pp. 71-88 : 82-86

Leptophion radiatus ( Uchida, 1956)

( Figs 7 , 25–31 , 34 )

Stauropodoctonus orientalis: Dutt, 1923: 17 . In part, misidentification ( Gauld & Mitchell, 1981). Spilophion radiatus Uchida, 1956: 18 . HT and PT: females, Taiwan (SEHU, examined). One of the PT was misidentified (see Type series of L. giganteus Shimizu & Watanabe , sp. nov.).

Specimens examined. HT: female, Taiwan: Tamaho , 11. vii. 1925, T. Uchida leg. ( SEHU) . PT: 1 female, Taiwan: Sinten , 15. xii. 1926, S. Issiki leg. ( SEHU) ; 1 female, Taiwan: Horisha , 24. vii. 1928, K. Kikuchi leg. ( SEHU) . Non-type specimens: 2 females, Taiwan: Meifeng , Nantou County (2130 m alt.), 18–23. ix. 1979, collector is not noted (MT) ( TARI) ; 4 females, Taiwan: Meifeng , Nantou County (2130 m alt.), 7–17. vii. 1979, collector is not noted (MT) ( TARI) ; 2 females, Taiwan: Meifeng , Nantou County (2130 m alt.), 4–12. vi. 1979, collector is not noted (MT) ( TARI) ; 1 female, Taiwan: Kyubonbon , 20. vii. 1925, S. Issiki leg. ( TARI) ; 1 female, Taiwan: Kuandouchi , 13–19. ii. 1971, collector is not noted (MT) ( TARI) ; 1 female, Taiwan: Kuandouchi , 19–26. i. 1972, collector is not noted (MT) ( TARI) ; 3 females, Taiwan: Tsuifeng , Nantou County (2300 m alt.), viii. 1984, K.S. Lin & K.C. Chou leg. (MT) ( TARI) ; 3 females, Taiwan: Tsuifeng , Nantou County (2300 m alt.), ix. 1984, K.S. Lin & K.C. Chou leg. (MT) ( TARI) ; 13 females, Taiwan: Meifeng , Nantou County (2150 m alt.), ix. 1984, K.S. Lin & K.C. Chou leg. (MT) ( TARI) ; 1 female, Taiwan: Lushanwenchuan , Nantou County, 15. v. 1984, S. Yoshimatsu leg. (LT) ( NIAES) ; 1 female, Taiwan: Fenchifu , 12–13. viii. 1983, I. Kanazawa leg. (LT) ( NIAES) ; 2 females, Taiwan: Sungkang , Nantou County (2100m alt.), ix. 1985, K.S. Lin leg. (MT) ( TARI) ; 1 female, Taiwan: Sungkang , Nantou County (2100m alt.), ix. 1984, K.S. Lin & K.C. Chou leg. (MT) ( TARI) ; 1 female, Taiwan: Sungkang , Nantou County (2100m alt.), x. 1984, K.S. Lin & K.C. Chou leg. (MT) ( TARI) ; 1 female, Taiwan: Meifeng , Nantou County (2150 m alt.), vi. 1984, K.S. Lin & K.C. Chou leg. (MT) ( TARI) ; 4 females, Taiwan: Meifeng , Nantou County (2150 m alt.), viii. 1984, K.S. Lin & K.C. Chou leg. (MT) ( TARI) ; 4 females, Taiwan: Meifeng , Nantou County (2150 m alt.), vii. 1984, K.S. Lin & K.C. Chou leg. (MT) ( TARI) ; 2 males, Taiwan: Tungpu , Nantou County (1200m alt.), 22–25. xi. 1982, K.C. Chou & S.P. Huang leg. ( TARI) ; 1 male, Taiwan: Fenchifu , 12–13. viii. 1983, I. Kanazawa leg. (LT) ( NIAES) .

Redescription based on Taiwanese specimens. Female (n=48).

Head ( Figs 25–27 ) with FI=0.7 (HT: 0.7). Face 0.7 (HT: 0.7) times as wide as high, strongly polished, entirely covered with punctures and hairs, with a longitudinal ridge on upper central area ( Fig. 25 ). Clypeus 0.5 (HT: 0.7) times as long as wide, strongly polished with sparse punctures and fine hairs, strongly convex in lateral profile ( Fig. 27 ) and nearly straight in frontal view ( Fig. 25 ). Malar space 0.2–0.3 (HT: 0.2) times as long as basal width of mandible. Mandible weakly tapered, its outer surface with a swelling and an oblique groove ( Figs 25, 27 ). Upper and lower teeth of mandible same shape. Frons, vertex and gena polished with hairs. Posterior ocellus adjacent to eye ( Figs 25–27 ). Antennae with 65–68 (HT: 65) flagellomeres. First flagellomere 6.7–7.8 (HT: 7.8) times as long as wide and 1.5–2.0 (HT: 1.8) times as long as second flagellomere.

Mesosoma ( Figs 28, 29 ) moderately or strongly polished, entirely covered with hairs. Pronotum strongly polished with fine punctures and hairs. Mesoscutum 1.3–1.4 (HT: 1.4) times as long as wide and evenly weakly polished and covered with fine punctures and hairs, without notauli ( Fig. 28 ). Scutellum with lateral longitudinal carinae developed on anterior 0.2–0.3 (HT: 0.3) ( Fig. 28 ). Epicnemium polished with punctures and hairs. Epicnemial carina present, its dorsal end not reaching anterior margin of mesopleuron ( Fig. 28 ). Mesopleuron smooth and strongly polished with sparse hairs. Metapleuron strongly polished with fine punctures and hairs. Submetapleural carina present. Propodeum in lateral profile rounded ( Fig. 28 ), with median longitudinal carinae and irregular rugae and with wide smooth area ( Fig. 29 ). Anterior transverse carina on propodeum usually complete laterally, or sometimes weak, and its outer end usually joined to pleural carina ( Figs 28, 29 ).

Wings ( Figs 30 , 34 ). Fore wing 14.0–15.0 (HT: 14.0) mm with AI=0.8–0.9 (HT: 0.8); CI=0.2–0.3 (HT: 0.3); DI=0.5 (HT: 0.5); ICI=0.5–0.7 (HT: 0.7); SDI=0.9–1.0 (HT: 0.9) ( Fig. 34 ). 1m-cu on fore wing slightly sinuate ( Fig. 34 ). Proximal 0.5–0.6 of Rs+2r of fore wing broadened and undulate and distal 0.4–0.5 simple and straight ( Fig. 34 ). Discosubmarginal cell of fore wing with a glabrous area below pterostigma. Postero-distal corner of second discal cell of fore wing about 85° ( Fig. 34 ). Hind wing with NI=1.1–1.5 (HT: 1.4) ( Fig. 34 ). Rs of hind wing slightly curved ( Fig. 34 ). Marginal cell of hind wing entirely covered with hairs except for a glabrous area above Rs. Proximal corner of marginal cell of hind wing about 45° ( Fig. 34 ). R1 of hind wing with 5–6 (HT: 5) uniform hamuli ( Fig. 30 ).

Legs ( Fig. 31 ). Hind coxa elongate and 2.2–2.5 (HT: 2.5) times as long as wide. Hind femur 0.8 (HT: 0.8) times as long as tibia. Hind basitarsus 1.8–2.1 (HT: 1.9) times as long as second tarsomere. Distal pecten of hind tarsal claw developed and significantly longer than true claw apex ( Fig. 31 ).

Metasoma polished with hairs and PI=2.3–2.6 (HT: 2.6); DMI=1.1–1.2 (HT: 1.2).

Male (n=3). Virtually all characteristics similar to female, however smaller than female as follows: fore wing 11.0– 11.5 mm in male (fore wing 14.0–15.0 mm in female).

Colouration ( Figs 7 , 34 ). Similar to L. giganteus sp. nov. but more yellowish or brownish ( Figs 6, 7 ). Entirely orange or brown except for apex of mandible, vittae of mesoscutum, and metasoma as below. Apex of mandible brown to black. Mesoscutum with three longitudinal vittae, both lateral vittae brown, middle vitta pale brown. Metasoma amber and yellowish or light brown. Ovipositor brownish amber and its sheath dark brown. Venation of wings dark brown except for white part of pterostigma. Wings hyaline except for proximal part of marginal cell and postero-proximal part of second subdiscal cell of fore wing each with an infumate area ( Fig. 34 ).

Distribution. Oriental region ( India, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, and Taiwan) ( Yu et al. 2012; Shimizu & Watanabe 2015a, b). Taiwan (Chiayi County, Kaohsiung City, Nantou County, and New Taipei City) ( Fig. 35 )

Bionomics. Host is unknown. Most of the specimens were collected in LT and MT in forests.

Remarks. This species belongs to the radiatus species-complex of the maculipennis species-group, characterized by the distal pecten of the hind tarsal claw developed and significantly longer than the true claw apex, and the uniform hamuli ( Gauld 1985). This species is the second most widely distributed Leptophion species after L. maculipennis ( Gauld & Mitchell 1981; Gauld 1985).

Leptophion radiatus is distinctive within this genus and can be easily distinguished from other species by the following combination of character states: (1) distal pecten of hind tarsal claw developed and significantly longer than true apex of claw ( Fig. 31 ); (2) hind wing with uniform hamuli on R1 ( Fig. 30 ); (3) proximal corner of marginal cell of hind wing about 45° ( Fig. 34 ); (4) postero-distal corner of second discal cell of fore wing making an acute angle, about 85° ( Fig. 34 ); (5) 1m-cu of fore wing abruptly curved ( Fig. 34 ); (6) fore wing with AI=0.8– 0.9; ICI=0.5–0.7; SDI=0.9–1.0 ( Fig. 34 ); (7) Rs of hind wing straight to weakly curved ( Fig. 34 ); and (8) fore wing with a more or less distinct infumate area on the postero-proximal part of the second subdiscal cell ( Fig. 34 ). Among these characters, (8) is specific to L. radiatus and L. giganteus Shimizu & Watanabe , sp. nov., within Leptophion .

Although this species has the typical “ophionoid facies” and thus is most likely nocturnal, only a minority of the specimens were collected in LT (3 / 51 = 0.059); the majority were collected in MT (42 / 51 = 0.824). This may suggest that the ordinary habitat of this species is near the ground. Gauld & Mitchell (1981) mentioned, however, that Leptophion species may be canopy insects. Our current knowledge of this probably nocturnal species is too limited to explain the unexpected MT collecting bias and the rarity of specimens in LT, however it suggest that this species may also be at least partly diurnal, like the other ophionine wasps.

Figures

FIGURE 35. Distribution of Leptophion in Taiwan.

FIGURES 5 – 7. Lateral habitus of Leptophion occurring in Taiwan. 5, L. maculipennis; 6, L. giganteus Shimizu & Watanabe, sp. nov. (HT); 7, L. radiatus. Scale bar: 5.0 mm.

FIGURES 25 – 31. Partial views of female L. radiatus (Uchida, 1958). 25 – 31, head in frontal (25), dorsal (26), and lateral (27) views; 28, mesosoma in lateral view; 29, propodeum in dorsal view (omitted surface sculptures on anterior area and right side); 30, hamuli on R 1; 31, outer tarsal claw of hind leg.

FIGURES 32 – 34. Wings of female Leptophion from Taiwan. 32, L. maculipennis; 33, L. giganteus Shimizu & Watanabe, sp. nov. (PT); 34, L. radiatus. Scale bar: 3.0 mm.