Cystomastacoides yuvraji Ranjith, 2018

Ranjith, A. P. & Priyadharsanan, Dharma Rajan, 2018, Revision of Cystomastacoides van Achterberg (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with the description of two new species from south India, Zootaxa 4387 (2), pp. 365-374 : 369-370

Cystomastacoides yuvraji Ranjith sp. nov.

( Figs 3–5 )

Material examined. “ INDIA: Karnataka, Biligunda , 14.ii.2005, Malaise Trap, ex. Ranjith, A.P. ”

Description. Holotype, female, body length 13.7 mm, fore wing 11 mm, antennae 13.5 mm, ovipositor 0.5 mm.

Head. Antennae with 69 segments. Terminal flagellomere acuminate. Medial flagellomeres 2.00× as long as wide. Third segment of maxillary palp swollen, 4.00× as long as wide. Second segment of labial palp swollen, 2.10× as long as wide. Face transversely striate antero-medially and laterally with a short medial longitudinal raised area anteriorly ( Fig. 3B ), protruding in lateral view, with long setae ( Fig. 3D ). Distance between posterior ocelli: transverse diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye= 4.5: 9.5: 2.5. Occipital carina complete, not evenly rounded ( Fig. 3C ). Frons transversely striate, area between lateral ocellus and eye distinctly transversely striate ( Fig. 3C ). Vertex smooth with an incomplete midlongitudinal groove ( Fig. 3C ).

Mesosoma. Mesoscutum smooth and shiny with long setae and a midlongitudinal groove posteriorly ( Fig. 3E ). Notauli impressed, crenulate not joining with midlongitudinal groove at mid length ( Fig. 3E ). Scutellar sulcus arched with single carina medially and incomplete crenulations ( Fig. 3E ). Scutellum smooth and shiny with long setae ( Fig. 3E ). Mesopleuron smooth and shiny with long setae ( Fig. 3F ). Precoxal sulcus long weakly impressed ( Fig. 3F ). Medial area of metanotum with complete midlongitudinal carina. Propodeum extensively rugose in anterior half without a pair of posteriorly diverging carinae antero-medially, posteriorly with longitudinal carinae associated with depressions, lateral carina distinct posteriorly and protruding ( Fig. 4A ).

Wings. Fore wing vein 1CUb 3.70× as long as 1CUa. Vein 3SRa 2.00× as long as r. Vein 3SRb 1.50× as long as 3SRa. Vein 3SRa and 3SRb sinuate ( Fig. 5A ). Hind wing vein M+CU 1.50× as long as 1M. Vein R transverse, 0.10× as long as 1r-m ( Fig. 5B ). Vein m-cu absent ( Fig. 5B ).

Legs. Hind coxa smooth with dorsal tubercle ( Figs 2A , 4B ). Claws with pointed basal lobe ( Fig. 4F ).

Metasoma. First metasomal tergite longitudinally striate laterally, medially rugose with smooth median field mid postriorly, 2.40× as long apically wide, posteriorly with well developed shoulders, complete midlongitudinal carina and lateral protuberances submedially ( Fig. 4B ). Second metasomal tergite longitudinally striate with a complete midlongitudinal carina, 1.30× as long as third tergite, 1.50× as long as apically wide, with smooth triangular area antero-medially, antero-lateral area depressed ( Fig. 4C ). Third metasomal tergite longitudinally striate, 0.90× as long as apically wide with midlongitudinal carina not extending up to posterior margin ( Fig. 4C ). Fourth metasomal tergite longitudinally striate ( Fig. 4D ). Fifth metasomal tergite smooth posteriorly rest faintly rugose ( Fig. 4D ). Sixth metasomal tergite smooth and shiny ( Fig. 4D ). Hypopygium slightly curved ventrally ( Fig. 4E ). Ovipositor sheath setose ( Fig. 4E ). Ovipositor with distinct ventral serrations ( Fig. 4E ).

Colour. Body yellow to dark yellow except eyes, ocelli, mesoscutum medially and laterally, mesopleuron posteriorly, ovipositor sheath light brown to brown.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. India (Karnataka).

Host. Unknown.

Etymology. APR dedicates this species to ‘Indian King of Sixes’ Yuvraj Singh, Indian cricketer for cheering the hearts of billions with his huge sixes.

Comments. Cystomastacoides yuvraji sp. nov. is close to C. nicolepeelerae in having transverse hind wing vein 2SC+ R and flattened second segment of labial palp. However, it differs from C. nicolepeelerae by the following characters; medial flagellomeres 2.00× as long as wide (vs 2.50× as long as wide), frons transversely striate medially (vs smooth medially), vertex with incomplete midlongitudinal groove running from stemmaticum to occipital carina (vs with complete midlongitudinal groove), pterostigma largely yellow (vs largely brown), fore wing hyaline apically (vs distinctly infuscated apically), first metasomal tergite with distinct angular lateral protuberances sub medially (vs with indistinct lateral protuberances sub medially).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Cystomastacoides yuvraji Ranjith sp. nov., female, holotype; A) Habitus, in lateral view; B) Head, in anterior view; C) Head, in dorsal view; D) Head, maxillary and labial palps, in lateral view; E) Mesosoma, in dorsal view; F) Mesosoma, in lateral view.

FIGURE 4. Cystomastacoides yuvraji Ranjith sp. nov., female, holotype; A) Propodeum, in oblique view; B) First metasomal tergite, in dorsal view; C) Metasomal tergite 2 & 3, in dorsal view; D) Metasomal tergites 4–6, in dorsal view; E) Metasomal tergites 5 & 6, hypopygium, in lateral view; F) Hind tarsal claw, in lateral view.

FIGURE 5. Cystomastacoides yuvraji Ranjith sp. nov., female, holotype; A) Wings; B) Hind wing.

FIGURE2. Cystomastacoides sachini Ranjithsp. nov., female, holotype; A) Propodeum, inoblique view; B)Secondand third metasomal tergites, in dorsal view; C) Metasomal tergites 4–6, in dorsal view; D) Metasomal tergites 5 & 6, hypopygium, in lateral view; E) Wings; F) Hind wing.