Rodrigama Gauld, 1991

Matsumoto, Rikio & Broad, Gavin R., 2011, Discovery of Rodrigama Gauld in the Old World, with description of two new species (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Poemeniinae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 20, pp. 65-75 : 66-67

Genus Rodrigama Gauld Figs 1 20

Rodrigama Gauld 1991: 536 Type species: Rodrigama gamezi Gauld, by original designation.

Diagnosis.

Rodrigama can be distinguished from all other poemeniines by either of the following: 1) paired antero-lateral and postero-lateral oblique grooves delimiting a central rhombic area on the second metasomal tergite; 2) fused tergite and sternite of the first metasomal segment and can be readily identified using Wahl & Gauld’s (1998) key to genera.

Description.

Medium to large ichneumonids with fore wing length 12-26 mm. Apical segment of flagellum tapered apically, with distal end narrowly truncate; eyes with inner margins parallel; lower face transverse, about 1.3 × as broad as high at narrowest point; clypeus ( Fig. 6 ) moderately large, not divided into basal and apical parts; clypeal margin thin, more or less indented, about 2 × as wide as high; mandible ( Fig. 6 ) stout, with lower tooth slightly twisted forwards, entire mandible evenly tapered, bidentate, with lower tooth distinctly longer and stouter than upper tooth; posterior ocellus separated from eye by 1.4-1.7 × its maximum diameter; occipital carina ( Figs 4 , 5 ) centrally narrowly incomplete, mediodorsally slightly dipped; upper part of gena smooth; head in dorsal view with genae of moderate length, barely narrowed behind eyes. Pronotum ( Fig. 7 ) with a mediodorsal posteriorly directed tooth, with strongly impressed and transversely striate groove extending from upper hind corner down to lower corner; upper part of epomia weak and short. Mesoscutum highly polished, sparsely covered with fine punctures and pubescence, without transverse rugae; epicnemial carina present, with upper end reaching level of lower corner of pronotum. Propodeum ( Figs 8 , 18 ) quite short, convex, with longitudinal carinae weak or absent; pleural carina clearly discernible; propodeal spiracle oval. Metapleuron strongly convex; submetapleural carina complete. Fore wing ( Fig. 16 ) with vein 3rs-m present, defining a shortly petiolate, very wide, irregularly rhombic areolet; vein Rs+M opposite or a little basad of cu-a; 2rs-m about as long as M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu; 2m-cu with two bullae; Cu1b shorter than abscissa of Cu1 between 1m-cu and Cu1a; hind wing with 4-5 hamuli on costal margin proximally. Tarsal claws of both sexes simple, large, symmetrical, abruptly curved, with neither inner tooth nor spatulate bristles; hind leg very slender with tibia and tarsus particularly long and slender, with trochantellus not exceptionally long. Metasoma of female ( Figs 1-3 ) moderately slender, fusiform; tergite 1 ( Figs 11-12 , 19 ) very long and slender, dorsally smooth and polished, without lateromedian and lateral longitudinal carinae, with spiracles on promontories at centre of tergite; sternite 1 fused to tergite, anteriorly forming cylinder; glymma absent; tergites 2-4 with grooves delimiting more or less rhombic central areas ( Figs 1-3 , 13 , 20 ); last visible tergite extending into flat, shelf-like posterior prolongation which overhangs cerci ( Fig. 14 ); sternites 2+ to subgenital plate medially indented, latter with small median incision posteriorly; ovipositor moderately stout, projecting beyond subgenital plate by about 4.5 × length of hind tibia, apex somewhat depressed, evenly tapered to point; lower valve dorsolaterally expanded to partially enclose upper, with distinct teeth ( Fig. 15 ); male with metasoma slightly compressed; sternites evenly sclerotized, folded on mid-line; subgenital plate transverse, with posterior margin slightly concave.

Biological notes.

Host unknown. Females of Rodrigama gamezi were observed flying around an old, dead tree, and one was collected whilst probing in an old beetle boring with its ovipositor ( Gauld 1991).

Key to species of Rodrigama

1	Body black to reddish brown ( Figs 1, 2 ). Pronotum, mesoscutum and mesopleuron finely punctate ( Figs 7 , 17 ). Epicnemial carina short, absent on mesoscutum. Posterior transverse carina of propodeum absent or weakly indicated laterally ( Figs 8 , 18 )	2
-	Body yellowish/tan brown ( Fig. 3 ). Pronotum, mesoscutum and mesopleuron almost entirely impunctate. Epicnemial carina present on mesoscutum. Posterior transverse carina of propodeum complete and strongly raised	Rodrigama gauldi Gauld
2	Subalar prominence yellow ( Fig. 1 ). First to fifth metasomal tergites brown to dark brown, with posterior whitish band (this band sometimes interrupted medially) ( Fig. 1 ). Pronotum with weak, medially incomplete oblique groove from epomia to ventroposterior corner ( Fig. 7 ). Area dorsal to this groove weakly punctate. First metasomal tergite gradually broadened posteriorly in dorsal aspect, with posterior end much broader than width at anterior 0.2 ( Fig. 12 )	Rodrigama gauldi sp. n.
-	Subalar prominence reddish brown, concolourous with rest of mesopleuron ( Fig. 2 ). First to fifth metasomal tergites brown to reddish brown all over, never with posterior whitish band ( Fig. 2 ). Pronotum with strongly impressed and transversely striate groove from epomia to ventroposterior corner ( Fig. 17 ). Area dorsal to this groove rather strongly and densely punctate, slightly rugose. First metasomal tergite broadened at anterior 0.1 and slightly narrowed a little posterior to spiracle, with posterior end slightly broader than width at anterior 0.2 ( Fig. 19 )	Rodrigama takakuwai sp. n.

Figures

Figures 6. Fore and hind wing of Rodrigama gauldi sp. n. (paratype) (scale: 2 mm).

Figures 1 - 3. Rodrigama spp., whole insect, lateral aspect. 1 Rodrigama gauldi sp. n. (holotype) 2 Rodrigama takakuwai sp. n. (holotype) 3 Rodrigama gamezi Gauld (paratype) (scale: 10 mm).

Figures 17 - 20. Scanning electron micrographs of Rodrigama takakuwai (holotype). 17 Anterior part of mesosoma, lateral aspect 18 propodeum, dorsal aspect 19 first metasomal tergite, dorsal aspect 20 second metasomal tergite, dorsal aspect. (scale: 0.5 mm for 18, 20; 1.0 mm for 17, 19).

Figures 4 - 15. Scanning electron micrographs of Rodrigama gauldi sp. n. (paratype). 4 Head, posterior aspect 5 head, postero-lateral aspect 6 clypeus, malar space and mandible, anterior aspect 7 anterior part of mesosoma, lateral aspect 8 propodeum, dorsal aspect; 9 - 10 fore tibia 9 dorsal aspect 10 stout spines distal end; 11 - 12 first metasomal tergite 11 lateral aspect 12 dorsal aspect 13 second metasomal tergite, dorsal aspect 14 posterior end of metasoma, lateral aspect 15 ovipositor tip, lateral aspect (scale: 0.1 mm for 9, 10; 0.5 mm for 4 - 8, 13, 15; 1.0 mm for 11, 12, 14).