Microplitis Foerster

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 : 374-375

Key to the Oriental species of Microplitis Foerster

1. Notauli absent, if present, then indicated only by indentations at anterior margin of mesoscutum or by pair of depressions postero-medially ( Figs 10 -A & F); medial and lateral lobes of mesoscutum (apart from notauli) smooth or virtually so, though often with micropunctures associated with pilosity; medial furrow of mesoscutum often absent, if present then slightly indented and never sculptured............................................................................ 2

- Notauli present, smooth to crenulate, impressed, percurrent and meeting posteriorly ( Figs 3 -C, 4-C, 6-D, 7-C, 8-C, 9-C, 12-C, 13-D, 15-C, 17-C, 20-C & 22-C); medial and lateral lobes of mesoscutum (apart from notauli) sculptured at least in part; medial furrow of mesoscutum present, distinct and usually sculptured............................................ 6

2. Propodeum strongly rugose with weak indication of median carina; T1 1.6× as long as its maximum width; scutellar lunules divided by 8–9 well defined carinae................................................... Microplitis indicus Marsh

- Propodeum with distinct median longitudinal carina surrounded by coarse rugosity; T1 more than 1.6× as long as its maximum width; scutellar lunules divided by fewer than eight carinae.................................................... 3

3. Transverse carinae on propodeum absent or indistinct; wings infuscated or hyaline.................................. 4

- Transverse carinae on propodeum distinct; wings hyaline...................................................... 5

4. Wings infuscated, pterostigma uniformly dark brown; T1 1.7× as long as wide, parallel sided, slightly narrowed at apex with apical swelling, finely rugose punctate in posterior half except apical patch; median length of T3 more than T2......................................................................................... Microplitis manila e Ashmead

- Wings hyaline ( Fig. 5 -D), pterostigma brown with faint patch basally; T1 2× as long as wide, dilated at apex and converging towards tip ( Fig. 5 -C); median length of T3 less than T2 other characters different..... Microplitis ajmerensis Rao & Kurian

5. Propodeum with clear median longitudinal carina surrounded by coarse rugosity with large reticulations ( Figs 10 -A & E); distinctly raised transverse carinae; T1 2.1× as long as maximum width; posterior half striate rugose, apical half smooth with apex nitid; T2 without defined median field ( Fig. 10 -A).................................. Microplitis demolitor Wilkinson

- Propodeum coarsely reticulate-rugose with distinct medial longitudinal carina surrounded by coarse rugosity with dense mesh of reticulations; transverse carinae indistinct; T1 1.85× as long as its maximum width, strongly reticulate rugose (except apical tip), reticulations larger pre-apically; T2 with median field.................................. Microplitis murkyi Gupta

6. T1 more than 2× as long as wide; widest basally, parallel sided................................................. 7

- T1 equal to or less than 2× as long as wide, sub-parallel sided................................................. 11

7. T1 2.5–3.3× as long as its apical width; notauli excavate, crenulate and coarsely sculptured ( Fig. 13 -C & D); metapleuron coarsely reticulate-rugose; scutellar lunules divided by four carinae ( Fig. 13 -D); dorsal scutellum very coarsely rugulose-punctate and pilose ( Fig. 13 -D); propodeum with two faces meeting sharply at about 90°, coarsely rugose ( Fig. 13 -E); medial longitudinal carina indistinct.................................................... Microplitis maculipennis (Szépligeti)

- Above characters partly or completely different or in different combination; propodeum with distinct medial longitudinal carina; number of carinae dividing scutellar lunules variable.................................................... 8

8. Scutellar lunules divided by three carinae ( Fig. 7 -C); dorsal scutellum coarsely rugose ( Fig. 7 -C); propodeum reticulate-rugose ( Fig. 7 -D); T1 2.6× as long as wide, smooth antero-medially, rugose postero-laterally ( Fig. 7 -D)................................................................................................... Microplitis bicoloratus Xu & He

- Scutellar lunules divided by five or six carinae; dorsal scutellum slightly rugose or smooth with fine micropunctures; propodeum rugose; T1 2–2.1× as long as wide, rugose............................................................. 9

9. Face 1.7× as wide as high; area between antennal sockets without distinct carinate longitudinal ridge; mesoscutum without medial furrow ( Fig. 17 -C); scutellar lunules divided by six carinae Figs 17 -C & D, 18-C); hind femur 3.5× as long as wide; hind tibia 6.7× as long as wide......................................................... Microplitis similis Lyle

- Face 1.2× as wide as high; area between antennal sockets with distinct carinate longitudinal ridge; mesoscutum with medial furrow; scutellar lunules divided by five carinae other characters variable........................................ 10

10. Mesosoma 1.7× as long as high; scape reddish yellow ( Fig. 15 -B); first subdiscal cell 1.1× as long as high; hind coxa reddish black ( Fig. 15 -A); T1 smooth anteriorly, remainder reticulate-rugose ( Fig. 15 -D)........... Microplitis marshalli Kokujev

- Mesosoma 1.4× as long as high; scape black ( Fig. 22 -B); first subdiscal cell 1.3× as long as high; hind coxa black ( Fig. 22 -F); T1 entirely coarsely rugose ( Fig. 22 -D)............................................... Microplitis zhaoi Xu & He

11. Propodeum coarsely rugose ( Fig. 8 -D); scutellum rugose or rugulose ( Figs 3 -C, 4-C & 8-C)......................... 12

- Propodeum coarsely reticulo-rugose ( Figs 9 -C, 12-D & 21-C); scutellum rugose, evenly or unevenly punctate ( Figs 9 -C, 12-C & 21-C)........................................................................................... 18

12. Scutellar lunules divided by more than five carinae ( Figs 3 -C & 4-C)............................................ 13

- Scutellar lunules divided by five carinae ( Figs 6 -D & 11-C)................................................... 17

13. T1 2× as long as wide; scutellar lunules divided by seven carinae; T2 and T3 reddish brown, T2 dark brown at median field, median field without slanting margins; T3 with a mix of red, brown and black, darker laterally ( Fig. 16 -A); median length of T3 greater than T2; ovipositor exserted, visible in dorsal view ( Fig. 16 -A)............. Microplitis prodeniae Rao & Kurian

- T1 less than 2× as long as wide; other characters partly or completely different or in different combination..............14

14. T1 1.25× as long as wide, black and rugose ( Figs 19 -B & 20-E); median length of T2 nearly equal to T3 (Fig. 20-E); scutellar lunules divided by six carinae (Fig. 20-C).................................... Microplitis spodopterae Rao & Kurian

- T1 1.7× as long as wide, brown and rugulose laterally; medial length of T2 0.6–0.8× as long as T3; scutellar lunules divided by six–nine carinae..................................................................................... 15

15. Scutellar lunules wide medially divided by eight–nine carinae ( Fig. 3 -C); antennae 1.2× body length; length of maxillary palp 1.3× height of head in dorsal view; length of eye 3.7× length of malar space; metasoma orange brown; T 2 in medial line 0.8× as long as T3................................................... Microplitis narendrani Ranjith & Nasser sp. nov.

- Scutellar lunules divided by six or seven carinae ( Figs 4 -C & 8-C); antennae 1 or 1.2× as long as body; length of maxillary palp less than 1.3× height of head in dorsal view; length of eye less than 3.7× length of malar space; metasoma black or reddish; T 2 in medial line 0.6× as long as T3................................................................. 16

16. Body black ( Fig. 4 -A); face 1.4× as wide as long, rugose-punctate; fore wing 2.8× as long as wide ( Fig. 4 -F); pterostigma yellowish basally, 2.6× as long as wide; first flagellomere 2.8× as long as wide; terminal flagellomere acute; hind femur 3.3× as long as wide; hind tibia 6.6× as long as apical width................... Microplitis pennatulae Ranjith & Rajesh sp. nov.

- Body reddish brown ( Figs 8 -A & C); face 1.6× as wide as long, rugulose; fore wing 2.6× as long as wide; pterostigma without yellowish area, 2.8× as long as wide; first flagellomere 3.4× as long as wide; terminal flagellomere obtuse; hind femur 3× as long as wide; hind tibia 6.9× as long as apical width............................... Microplitis carinicollis ( Cameron)

17. Fore wing 2.6× as long as wide; pterostigma 2× as long as wide; wings with infuscate patch below pterostigma ( Fig. 6 -F); T1 with broad medial longitudinal furrow, finely punctate-strigose except for smooth apical margin; hind coxa mostly smooth, with fine oblique striae dorsally ( Fig. 6 -E)............................. Microplitis areyongensis Austin & Dangerfield

- Fore wing 2.16× as long as wide; pterostigma 3.1× as long as wide; wings hyaline ( Figs 11 -A & F); T1 without broad medial longitudinal furrow, smooth medially ( Figs 11 -C & D); hind coxa rugose basally remainder smooth ( Fig. 11 -A)........................................................................................ Microplitis leucaniae Xu & He

18. Mesoscutum mostly smooth except for micropunctures anteriorly and laterally; notauli slightly indented ( Fig. 12 -C); T1 2.1× as long as wide ( Fig. 12 -D); pterostigma 3.1× as long as wide; T3 as long as T2 ( Fig. 12 -E).................................................................................................. .. Microplitis longwangshana Xu & He

- Mesoscutum rugose-punctate; notauli well developed, represented by coarsely crenulate furrows meeting posteriorly to form a sunken area; T1 less than or 2× as long as wide; pterostigma less than 3.1× as long as wide; T3 longer than T2........... 19

19. Mesosoma 1.7× as long as high; pronotum weakly rugose-punctate; 1-R1 0.8× as long as pterostigma; propodeum with distinct anterior transverse carina; T1, parallel sided, dark yellowish brown; T2 with distinct smooth median field........................................................................................ Microplitis brevispina Song & Chen

- Mesosoma 1.3 or 1.4× as long as high; pronotum coarsely rugose-punctate; 1-R1 1.6 or 2.9× as long as pterostigma; propodeum with indistinct anterior transverse carina; T1, sub parallel sided, narrowing posteriorly, reddish yellow or dark yellowish brown; T2 without distinct smooth median field............................................................ 20

20. Face densely punctate; POL 1.1× OOL; 1-R1 1.6× as long as pterostigma; scutellum densely micropunctate ( Fig. 21 -C); first distal cell 1.5× as long as high; T1 1.7× as long as wide......................... Microplitis vitellipedis Li, Tan & Song

- Face rugose ( Fig. 9 -B); POL 0.7× OOL; 1-R1 2.9× as long as pterostigma; scutellum coarsely rugose ( Figs 9 -C & D); first distal cell 1.2× as long as high; T1 2× as long as wide....................................... Microplitis chui Xu & He

Figures

FIGURE 3. Microplitis narendrani Ranjith & Nasser sp. nov., female, holotype A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head, anterior view; C) Mesosoma, dorsal view; D) Propodeum, dorsal view; E) Metasoma, dorsal view; F) Fore wing.

FIGURE 4. Microplitis pennatulae Ranjith & Rajesh sp. nov., female, holotype A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head, anterior view; C) Mesosoma, dorsal view; D) Propodeum, dorsal view; E) Metasoma, dorsal view; F) Fore wing.

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.

FIGURE 6. Microplitis areyongensis Austin & Dangerfield, female, holotype A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head, anterior view; C) Head & mesosoma, lateral view; D) Head & mesosoma, dorsal view; E) Metasoma, lateral view; F) Fore wing.

FIGURE 7. Microplitis bicoloratus Xu & He female, female, holotype A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head, anterior view; C) Mesosoma, dorsal view; D) Propodeum & tergite 1 & 2, dorsal view; E) Metasoma, dorsal view; F) Fore wing.

FIGURE 8. Microplitis carinicollis (Cameron), female A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head, anterior view; C) Mesosoma, dorsal view; D) Propodeum & tergite 1, dorsal view; E) Metasoma, dorsal view; F) Fore wing & hind leg.

FIGURE 9. Microplitis chui Xu & He, female, holotype A) Habitus, dorsal view; B) Head, anterior view; C) Mesosoma, dorsal view; D) Propodeum & tergite 1, dorsal view; E) Metasoma, dorsal view; F) Fore wing.

FIGURE 10. Microplitis demolitor Wilkinson, male A) Habitus, dorsal view, cotype; B) Head, anterior view, specimen from Australia; C) Habitus, lateral view, specimen from Pakistan; D) Habitus, lateral view, specimen from Australia; E) Fore wing & habitus, dorso-lateral view, specimen from Australia; F) Head & mesosoma, dorsal view, specimen from Pakistan.

FIGURE 11. Microplitis leucaniae Xu & He, female, holotype A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head, anterior view; C) Propodeum, dorsal view; D) Mesosoma (in part) & tergite 1 & 2, dorsal view; E) Metasoma, dorsal view; F) Fore wing & hind wing.

FIGURE 12. Microplitis longwangshana Xu & He, female, holotype A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head, anterior view; C) Head (in part) & mesosoma, dorsal view; D) Propodeum & tergite 1, dorso-lateral view; E) Metasoma, dorsal view; F) Fore wing.

FIGURE 13. Microplitis maculipennis (Szépligeti), female A) Habitus, lateral view with cocoon; B) Head, anterior view; C) Head & mesosoma (in part), dorsal view; D) Head (in part) & mesosoma, dorsal view; E) Propodeum & tergite 1, dorsal view; F) Metasoma, dorsal view.

FIGURE 15. Microplitis marshallii Kokujev, female A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head, anterior view; C) Mesosoma, dorsal view; D) Propodeum & tergite 1 & 2, dorsal view; E) Metasoma, dorsal view; F) Fore wing.

FIGURE 16. Microplitis prodeniae Rao & Kurian, female, holotype A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head, anterior view.

FIGURE 17. Microplitis similis Lyle, A) Habitus, dorsal view, male, cotype; B) Metasoma, dorsal view, specimen from Indonesia; C) Head & mesosoma (in part), dorsal view, specimen from Indonesia; D) Propodeum & tergite 1, dorsal view, specimen from Indonesia; E) Mesosoma (in part), medio & latero tergite 1, specimen from Indonesia; F) Fore wing, specimen from Indonesia.

FIGURE 19. Microplitis spodopterae Rao & Kurian, female, holotype A) Mesosoma & metasoma, lateral view; B) Mesosoma & metasoma, dorsal view.

FIGURE 21. Microplitis vitellipedis Li, Tan & Song, male A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head & mesosoma (in part), dorsal view; C) Propodeum & tergite 1, dorsal view; D) Mesosoma (in part) & tergite 1, dorsal view; E) Hind leg & metasoma; F) Fore wing.

FIGURE 22. Microplitis zhaoi Xu & He, female, holotype A) Habitus, lateral view; B) Head, anterior view; C) Mesosoma, dorsal view; D) Propodeum (in part) & tergite 1, dorsal view; E) Metasoma, dorsal view; F) Fore wings.