Lycogaster flavonigrata Chen, Achterberg, He & Xu

Smith, David R. & Tripotin, Pierre, 2015, Trigonalidae (Hymenoptera) of Thailand, other southeastern Asian records, and a new Trigonalys from India, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 44, pp. 1-18 : 2

Lycogaster flavonigrata Chen, Achterberg, He & Xu

Figs 1-3

Lycogaster flavonigrata Chen, Achterberg, He & Xu, 2014: 49, figs 119-129.

Diagnosis.

Female. Length 10.5 mm. Antenna, head, and mesosoma black. Legs black with trochanters and small spot at base of each tibia white. Metasoma black; tergite 2 with lateral longitudinal white stripe; tergite 3 with lateral oval white spot; tergite 4 with small lateral white spot, much smaller than that on tergite 3; sternite 2 with apical yellow transverse narrow band. Wings darkly infuscate; lighter toward base; veins and stigma black. Antenna short, flagellum slightly incrassated at center. Medio-apical process present on sternite 2, slightly concave at center.

Male. Unknown.

Specimens examined.

LAOS: Prov. Hua Phan, Phou Pan, Umg. Ort Ban Saleui, 20°13'30"N / 103°59'26"E, 1350-1900 m, 01.05.2012, KJa, leg. C. Holzschuh & locals (1 ♀, OLML), same but 22.04.2012 (1 ♀, OLML); N, 24.IV-16.V.1999, Louang Phrabang Prov., 20°33-4'N, 102°14'E, Ban Song Cha (5 km W), ± 1200 m, Vít Kubáň leg (1 ♀ OLML); Khammouan prov., 250 m, Ban Khoun Ngeun, N18°07', E104°29', E. Jendke leg. (1 ♀, OLML). THAILAND: Phetchabun, Nam Nao NP Check point, 16°43.695'N, 101°33.797'E, 921 m, Malaise trap, 28.iv-5.v.2007, Leng Jantaeb leg., T2654 (1 ♀, QSBG).

Distribution.

This species was described from China (Fujian, Jiangxi, Yunnan) (Chen et al. 2014). These are the first records from Laos and Thailand.

Comments.

The almost completely black color with some yellow markings on the metasoma and the dark wings help distinguish this species.

Lycogaster are fairly rare in collections. From observations by PT, a good number of species of Asian Lycogaster seem to parasitize the Eumeninae through caterpillars, somewhat like Bareogonalos . At least in Korea this explains their scarcity in collections. They are almost never found in traps set in forest but seem to research more sunny habitats where potter wasps nest, and therefore are likely to have a much better resistance to desiccation than the other Trigonalids.

Figures

Figures 1 - 3. Lycogaster flavonigrata, female. 1 Lateral. 2 Head, front 3 Apex of second sternite, ventral.