Trigastrotheca pariyanonthae, Quicke, Donald L. J., Butcher, Buntika A., Ranjith, A. P. & Belokobylskij, Sergey A., 2017

Quicke, Donald L. J., Butcher, Buntika A., Ranjith, A. P. & Belokobylskij, Sergey A., 2017, Revision of the non-Afrotropical species of Trigastrotheca Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae) with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 4242 (1), pp. 95-110 : 101-103

Trigastrotheca pariyanonthae sp. nov.

( Figs 5 , 6 )

Material examined. Holotype, female, “ THAILAND, Phetchabun, Nam Nao NP, ThamPraLaad Forest Unit , 16 44.999’N 101 27.804’E 715m, Malaise trap 21–28.viii.2006, Leng Janteab leg. T429” Length of body 6.5 mm, and fore wing 5.9 mm.

Head. Antennae incomplete, with at least 51 flagellomeres. Median flagellomeres distinctly (1.05 x) wider than long. First flagellomere 1.1 x longer than both 2nd and 3rd separately, 1.2 x longer than wide. Width of head: width of face: height of eye = 2.0: 1.1: 1.0. Face coriaceous, with distinct transverse corrugations near eye. Intertentorial distance: tentorio-ocular distance = 2.0: 1.0. Malar suture broad, shallow, weakly defined. Shortest distance between posterior ocelli: transverse diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 1.2: 1.0: 3.6.

Mesosoma. Mesosoma 1.4 x longer than high. Middle lobe of mesoscutum with a distinct, thin, midlongitudinal ridge. Notauli virtually absent. Median area of metanotum with complete midlongitudinal carina. Propodeum with strong midlongitudinal carina, and with several pairs of short diverging carinae posteriorly.

Wings. Fore wing. Lengths of veins r-rs: 3 RSa: 3RSb = 1.0: 1.7: 5.0. Lengths of veins 2RS: 3 RSa: rs-m = 1.3: 1.6: 1.0. Base of hind wing with glabrous area next to vein cu-a.

Legs. Claws with acutely pointed basal lobes. Lengths of fore femur: fore tibia: fore tarsus = 1.05: 1.0: 1.0. Lengths of fore femur: fore tibia: fore tarsus = 1.0: 1.0: 1.0. Lengths of hind femur: hind tibia: hind tarsus = 1.0: 1.0: 1.0.

Metasoma. Metasomal tergites 2–5 with coarse reticulate sculpture superimposed on coriaceous background. Tergite 2 with sublateral grooves distinct, straight, converging posteriorly. Second metasomal suture strongly curved; median length of 3rd tergite 1.3 x 2nd tergite. Postero-medial prominence of tergite 5 blunt and bordered by more or less evenly curved emarginations.

Colour. Body largely ochreous yellow. Tip of mandibles, ocellar area, middle lobe of mesoscutum anteriorly, mesoscutum laterally black. Metasoma tricoloured: tergites broadly ochraceous medially, white laterally and tergite 5 white posteriorly, tergites 3 and 4 with large black sublateral spot sub-anteriorly. Wing membrane yellowishhyaline with brown-yellow venation and pterostigma.

Male. Unknown.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. Phetchabun ( Thailand).

Etymology. Named after Associate Professor Putsatee Pariyanonth in recognition of her work on S.E. Asian frogs and other amphibians and also the person who invited BB to work with the Plant Genetic Conservation Project under The Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG).

Comments. This is by far the largest species of Trigastrotheca known to date. Even though only one individual is known, those few species known from multiple individuals are very consistent in size, and therefore size is likely to be a helpful key character.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Trigastrotheca pariyanonthae Quicke & Butcher sp. nov., holotype, female, (♀). A, body, lateral view; B, head, front view; C, habitus, dorsal view; D, head and anterior mesoscutum, dorsal view; E, mesosoma, dorsal view.

FIGURE 6. Trigastrotheca pariyanonthae Quicke & Butcher sp. nov., holotype, female, (♀). A, fore wing; B, metasoma, posterior view; C, metasomal tergites 4 – 5, lateral view.