Chakra sarvatra Rajmohana and Veenakumari

Keloth, Rajmohana & Kamalanathan, Veenakumari, 2014, Chakra, a new genus of Scelioninae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) from India, along with description of a new species, Zootaxa 3821 (2), pp. 285-290 : 288-289

Chakra sarvatra Rajmohana and Veenakumari , sp. nov.

( Figs 1–11 )

Holotype: Female.

Body length = 1.06–1.25 mm. Color. Head, mesonotum, T3–T6 blackish brown; T3 pale medially; Lower frons, lower gena, metascutellum, propodeum, lateral mesosoma, T1, anterior margin of T2 and legs including coxae yellowish brown; Antenna yellowish brown except blackish brown clava; Antennal setae white; Interocellar area, posterior margin of mesoscutellum and lateral T2 darker than rest of the body; Mandible pale with edges of teeth dark brown; Wings hyaline, veins brown. Head. FCI=1.27; LCI=1.41; EL:EW=13:8.5, eyes placed wide apart on frons, inter orbital space 1.9 × eye height; Frons with two vertical rows of 3 setigerous tubercles medially above torular triangle from which small strips of striae radiate; OOL:POL:LOL =74:67:36; Radicle 0.18 × length of A1; Clava with six antennomeres; A3–A4, A7–A12 with four rows of sensilla; clava 1.2 × as long as A1; Ratio of length and width of antennomeres from A1 to A6 = 19.6:4.3, 4.7:3.5, 4.7:3.8, 3.8:3.7, 2.2:3, 2.2:3 and clava = 22.3:7. Mesosoma. (ML: MW = 34.7:34.4); FWL: FWW = 73.7:26.4; HWL: HWW = 64.3:11.4); 12–13 long and stiff brown bristles present along entire length of subcosta; Ratio of length of marginal vein: stigmal vein: postmarginal vein of fore wing = 3.9: 8.4:13.3. Hind wing cilia 0.57× width of hind wing. Metasoma. (L:W = 55.3:33); T1 and T2 costate, costae reaching posterior margin of tergites; T2 foveolate on anterior margin; T3 smooth with faint traces of striae confined anterolaterally and with a light brown convex band on posterior end; T3 with an irregular row of setae on posterior margin; T4–T5 with dense setae relative to other tergites; T6 and T7 visible externally; Ratio of length and width of T1–T7 = 7.5:12.7, 12:26.4, 22.5:30.7, 3.4:28.9, 5.3:23.5, 2.0:17.1, 2.6:3.7.

Male: Length = 1.17mm. Similar to female except shape of antennomeres. Ratio of length and width of antennomeres A1–A12 = 16.5:3.9, 4.2:3.7, 5.3:4.0, 4.3:3.5, 5.0:3.3, 5.0:3.2, 5.5:3.2, 5.7:3.2, 5.7:3.2, 5.9:3.2, 5.9:3.2, 8.9:3.2; Antenna with short brownish-white setae and sparse long white setae ( Fig.7 ).

Etymology. The species is named ‘ sarvatra ’ meaning ‘everywhere’ in Sanskrit, due to the presence of extensive tuberculate sculpturing on the head and mesosoma of the species.

Material examined. Holotype, Female, (Reg.No.ZSI/ WGRS /IR.INV. 2656), INDIA: South Andaman Island, Garacharma, Central Agricultural Research Institute, yellow pan trap, 22.ii.2012, 11 0 61’37.48’’ N, 92 0 71’63.79’’ E. Paratypes: (Reg.No.ZSI/ WGRS /IR.INV. 2657), INDIA: South Andaman Island: Sippighat, yellow pan trap, 23.ii.2012, 11 0 60’71.20” N, 92 0 66’90.57’’ E, male; (Reg. No. ICAR / NBAII /P149), South Andaman Island: Sippighat, 11 0 60’71.20” N, 92 0 66’90.57’’ E, yellow pan trap, 23.ii.2012, female; (Reg.No. ICAR / NBAII /P150), South Andaman Island: Sippighat, 11 0 60’71.20” N, 92 0 66’90.57’’ E, yellow pan trap, 23.ii.2012, female; (Reg.No. ICAR / NBAII /P151), South Andaman Island: Garacharma, Central Agricultural Research Institute, 11 0 61’37.48’’ N, 92 0 71’63.79’’ E, yellow pan trap, 26.i.2013, male; (Reg.No. ICAR / NBAII /P152), South Andaman Island: Ferrargunj, 11 0 72’19.17’’ N, 92 0 65’63.51’’ E, sweep net, 22.ii.2012, male; (Reg.No. ICAR / NBAII /P153), South Andaman Island: Sippighat, 11 0 60’71.20” N, 92 0 66’90.57’’ E, Malaise trap, 31.i.2013, male; All specimens collected by K. Veenakumari.

(Reg.No.ZSI/ WGRS /IR.INV. 2658) India: Kerala: Calicut: Peruvayal (Paddy ecosystem), 11 0 15’178” N, 75 0 66’54.237’’ E, Malaise trap, 2.i.2009, female, coll. by Rajmohana, K.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Bright field images of Chakra sarvatra sp. nov. 1 — Habitus; 2 — Head, dorsal view; 3 — Head and mesosoma, dorsolateral view; 4 — Mesosoma, dorsal view 5 — Head, frontal view 6 — Mouthparts.

FIGURES 7 – 11. Bright field images of Chakra sarvatra sp. nov. 7 — Male antennae and head; 8 — Female antennae showing rows of white sensilla; 9 — Fore wing; 10 — Ovipositor; 11 — Setigerous tubercles on head and mesosoma.