Markshawius francescae Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault, 2018

Fernandez-Triana, Jose L & Boudreault, Caroline, 2018, Seventeen new genera of microgastrine parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from tropical areas of the world, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 64, pp. 25-140 : 83-88

Markshawius francescae Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault sp. n.

Figs 29 , 30

Holotype.

Female, Thailand, QSBG.

Holotype labels.

Thailand. Chiang Mai/Montha Tarn Water Fall,/ 18.81560°N, 98.92910°E,/700m, CNCH2123. Second label: CNCH2123.

Holotype locality.

THAILAND, Chiang Mai, Montha Tarn Water Fall, 18.81560°N, 98.92910°E, 700m.

Paratypes.

Nepal. (1♀ CNC), Kathmandu, Godavari, 1828m, Malaise trap, 13-17.viii.1967, coll. Canadian Expedition, Voucher code: CNC878538; (1♀ CNC), 7-12.viii.1967, coll. Canadian Expedition, Voucher code: CNC878539; (1♀ CNC), Kathmandu, Pulchauki, 2011m, Malaise trap, 21-27.vii.1967, coll. Canadian Expedition, Voucher code: CNC878537. Thailand. (1♂ QSBG), Lampang, Chae Son NP, Doi Laan, unit 1, 18.508000, 99.217000, 1413m, 14.viii.2007, coll. B. Kwannui & A. Sukpeng, Voucher code: JMIC0496; (2♂ CNC, QSBG), Mae Wong NP, Chong Yen; Kamphaeng Phet, 16.521000, 99.658000, 1306m, 28.iv.2008, coll. C. Piluek, Voucher codes: JMIC0144, JMIC0146; (1♂ QSBG), Chiang Mai, Montha Tarn Water Fall, 18.815600, 98.929100, 700m, Voucher code: CNCH2122; (2♀ CNC, QSBG), Trang, Nayong Khaochong, 7.561, 99.886; 7.561000, 99.886000, 75m, Voucher codes: CNCH1584, CNCH2146. Vietnam. (1♂ RMNH), Ninh Binh, Cuc Phuong National Park, near centre, 225m, 15-27.v.2000, coll. Mai Phu Quv, Voucher code: CNC878541; (1♂ RMNH), Hoa Binh, Pa Co Hang Kia Nature Reserve, 20.743611, 104.938889, 1045m, Malaise trap, 8-23.x.2009, coll. C.v. Achterberg & R. de Vries, Voucher code: CNC878542; (1♀ RMNH), Tonkin, Hoang Lien National Reserve, 15km W Sa Pa, 1900m, Malaise trap, 15-21.x.1999, coll. C.v. Achterberg, Voucher code: CNC878540.

Diagnosis.

The shape of T1 (entirely parallel-sided and extremely long and thin, its length at least 6.0 × its width) as well as sculpture of propodeum (without transverse rugosity medially and without any defined transverse carina) clearly separate this species from the other known species in the genus.

Description.

Female. Body color mostly dark brown to black; palpi, labrum and mandible yellow-white; scape, pedicel, tegulae and humeral complex, and most of legs (except for anterior 0.5 of metacoxa and metatarsus which are brown) yellow; flagellomeres brown; most laterotergites and sternites yellow-white to yellow-brown; wings hyaline, veins mostly brown. Head elongate and strongly concave posteriorly, modified to be tightly appressed to and follow the contour of anterior margin of pronotum (pronotum also concave). Upper margin of face produced dorsally between the antennal insertions into a triangular flange. Face looking almost depressed, and with very strong sculpture including transverse striae and punctures. Frons very elongate, with ocelli clearly much higher than normally found in Microgastrinae . Frons with strong excavation at antennal base -better appreciated on a lateral view of the head. Antenna shorter than body (but slightly longer than the combined length of head and mesosoma), with all flagellomeres short, with a single row of placodes or two very small rows that look almost like one. Pronotum only with lower sulcus. Propodeum mostly smooth, with median longitudinal carina clearly visible on posterior half. Fore wing with relatively large, four-sided areolet. Legs in general short and stout, especially metafemur. T1 extremely long and thin (T1 L at least 6.0 × its width centrally). T2 subtriangular and with lateral margins less sculptured. Ovipositor sheaths almost without setae (with only very few, small setae near apex that are usually invisible at less than 100x of magnification), ovipositor strongly narrowing toward apex, where it looks almost needle-like. Body measurements (mm). F2 L: 0.09 (0.09-0.13); F3 L: 0.08 (0.09-0.12); F14 L: 0.08 (0.08-0.10); F15 L: 0.08 (0.08-0.10); Malar sulcus L: 0.05 (0.06-0.08); Mandible W: 0.07 (0.08); T1 L: 0.29 (0.34-0.42); T1 W at posterior margin: 0.05 (0.07); T1 maximum W: 0.07 (0.08); T2 W at anterior margin: 0.05 (0.07-0.09); T2 W at posterior margin: 0.17 (0.22-0.24); T2 L: 0.10 (0.11-0.15); Metafemur L: 0.47 (0.58-0.65); Metafemur W: 0.16 (0.19-0.21); Metatibia L: 0.59 (0.71-0.76); Inner spur L: 0.17 (0.18-0.26); Outer spur L: 0.14 (0.14-0.17); First segment of Metatarsus L: 0.26 (0.32-0.35); Ovipositor sheaths L: 0.10 (0.22-0.27); Body L: 1.87 (2.00-2.43); Fore wing L: 1.84 (2.30-2.53). Mandible W is approximate for 1 specimen.

Male. As female.

Biology.

Host unknown.

Distribution.

Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam.

Molecular data.

Only for one of the paratypes (JMIC 0146) there is a 125bp sequence available in BOLD, but it is too short to place the species within the context of other Microgastrinae .

Etymology.

Named after Francesca Shaw, in appreciation of her kindness and for being such a wonderful host to the first author when he was visiting the Shaw family in 2013.

Figures

Figure 29. Markshawius francescae female holotype. A Habitus B Head frontal C Head lateral D Fore wing E Metasoma dorsal F Propodeum G Mesosoma dorsal.

Figure 30. Markshawius francescae female paratype CNC 878540. A Habitus B Head frontal C Head dorsal D Fore wing, inset: details of the areolet E Metasoma dorsal F Mesosoma dorsal.