Microplitis ajmerensis Rao & Kurian

Ranjith, A. P., Rajesh, K. M. & Nasser, M., 2015, Taxonomic studies on Oriental Microplitis Foerster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Microgastrinae) with description of two new species from South India, Zootaxa 3963 (3), pp. 369-415 : 382-383

Microplitis ajmerensis Rao & Kurian

Microplitis ajmerensis Rao & Kurian 1950: 169 ; Gupta 2013: 435 . Holotype NZSI.

Female. Body length 2.5 mm.

Head: Head densely pilose, slightly narrower than thorax, slightly constricted behind eyes in dorsal view, 2× as wide as long in dorsal view; face distinctly punctate, pilose; vertex convex, punctate; POL greater than OOL; eyes pilose; lateral temples as wide as eyes in lateral view; antennae as long as body; terminal flagellomere as long as penultimate flagellomere.

Mesosoma: Mesoscutum coarsely punctate; scutellum micropunctate; notauli indistinct; propodeum with clear median longitudinal carina surrounded by coarse rugosity ( Fig. 5 -C); hind coxa setose; tibia longer than femur, setose; metatarsus half as long as tibia.

Wings: Fore wing 2× as long as wide; pterostigma 3× as long as wide ( Fig. 5 -D); 1-R1 shorter than pterostigma.

Metasoma: T1 dilated apically, converging at extreme apex ( Fig. 5 -B & D), 2× as long as its maximum width; T2–T7 smooth and shiny, sparsely setose; ovipositor short, exserted.

Colour: Body reddish brown to black, mandibles reddish brown, legs brown, hind coxa darker basally, tibia light reddish brown, wings hyaline, pterostigma with light patch basally, venation brown, metasoma reddish brown, darker apically.

Male: Similar to female except body length 2.8 mm.

Distribution. India (Rajasthan).

Host. Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) ( Lepidoptera : Noctuidae ).

Discussion. Microplitis ajmerensis is close to M. manilae in having a distinct medial longitudinal carina and indistinct transverse carina on the propodeum. This species is easily separated from M. manilae by its hyaline wings, T1 2× as long as wide and medial length of T3 less than T2 (in M. manilae wings are strongly infuscated, T1 1.7× as long as wide and the medial length of T3 more than T2).

Comments. This species is included in the key based on the original description. The type material could not be examined, but images of the holotype taken by Dr. S. Sheela (NZSI) have been examined.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Microplitis ajmerensis Rao & Kurian, female, holotype A) Habitus, lateral view with cocoon; B) Mesosoma & metasoma, lateral view; C) Habitus, dorsal view; D) Fore wing.