Aleiodes mericeti, Quicke & Butcher, 2012

Butcher, Buntika Areekul, Smith, M. Alex, Sharkey, Mike J. & Quicke, Donald L. J., 2012, A turbo-taxonomic study of Thai Aleiodes (Aleiodes) and Aleiodes (Arcaleiodes) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) based largely on COI barcoded specimens, with rapid descriptions of 179 new species, Zootaxa 3457, pp. 1-232 : 135

Aleiodes mericeti sp. nov.

( Fig. 106 )

Holotype ♀, Thailand, Nakhon Nayok Province, Khao Yai National Park, Khaokeaw moist evergreen forest, 25.iii.2003, 14° 22.685’ N, 101° 23.789' E, 860m, Wirat Sukho (voucher BCLDQ00736, Genbank JQ388411 ) ( QSBG).

Body length 5.2 mm, fore wing length 4.2 mm and antenna length 7.0 mm.

Antenna with 55 flagellomeres. Terminal flagellomere acuminate. Median flagellomeres 2.5 x longer than wide. Occipital carina complete mediodorsally, evenly rounded, ventrally joining hypostomal carina. Mesopleuron largely aciculate, precoxal sulcus weakly impressed with fine longitudinal striation, speculum small but present. Propodeum with rather dense silvery setosity submedially, with midlongitudinal carina on anterior 0.3. Fore wing vein 2-CU1 1.4 x 1-CU1. Apex of fore wing subbasal cell with long, narrow glabrous zone. Fore wing vein 3-SR 1.45 x vein r. Fore wing vein 2-SR+M 0.85 x vein r. Fore wing vein SR1 2.5 x vein 3-SR. Hind wing vein M+CU 1.4 x 1-M. Hind wing subbasal cell evenly setose. Hind wing vein m-cu nebulous, antefurcal. Apex of hind tibia with comb of specialised adpressed setae medially and ventrally. Tarsal claws with pecten composed of line of approximately 10–15 adpressed teeth giving appearance of a silvery lamella. Basal lobes of 1 st tergite weakly produced, rather straight sided anteriorly, convex posteriorly. Midlongitudinal carina of 3 rd tergite distinct on anterior 0.5 of tergum.

Etymology. Named after the assassin character Mericet in the Terry Pratchett Discworld novels.

Figures

FIGURE 106. A. mericeti sp. nov. A, habitus; B, head and pronotum, dorsal view; C, mesosoma, dorsal view; D, fore wing; E, head and mesosoma, lateral view; F, metasoma.