Aleiodes mellificus, Quicke & Butcher, 2012

Butcher, Buntika Areekul, Smith, M. Alex, Sharkey, Mike J. & Quicke, Donald L. J., 2012, A turbo-taxonomic study of Thai Aleiodes (Aleiodes) and Aleiodes (Arcaleiodes) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) based largely on COI barcoded specimens, with rapid descriptions of 179 new species, Zootaxa 3457, pp. 1-232 : 135

Aleiodes mellificus sp. nov.

( Fig. 105 )

Holotype ♀, Thailand, Phetchabun Province, Kaeng Krachan NP, Pa La U waterfall car park, 3.ii.2009, 12° 32.18' N, 99° 28.008' E, 735m, Akaradate (voucher BCLDQ01529, Genbank JN278282 ) ( QSBG).

Paratypes: 1 ♀, Thailand, Pikultona, 2001, Sura (voucher AL0037, Genbank JF962707 ) ( QSBG) ; 1 ♀, Thailand, Sakon Nakhon, Phu Phan NP, near Huay Nan Pung Dam , 19–25.xi.2006, 16° 54.713' N, 100° 54.294' E, 289m, Sailom Tongboonchai (collection code T1101) (voucher BCLDQ00154; no sequence data) ( QSBG) ; 1 ♀, Thailand, Karnchanaburi Province , Wachiralongkorn Dam, 26.xi.10, Tol (voucher BCLDQ01485, Genbank JN278257 ) ( HIC) ; 1 ♀, Thailand, Kanchanaburi, Khuean Srinigarindra NP, Huay Mae Kamint /tourist centre, 30.ix.2009, 14° 38.312' N, 98° 59.643' E, Sornboon & Daorueng (voucher BCLDQ01622, Genbank JN278352 ) ( BMNH) .

Body length 4.5 mm, fore wing length 3.7 mm and antenna length 6.5 mm.

Antenna with 44 flagellomeres. Terminal flagellomere parallel-sided, acuminate. Median flagellomeres approximately 3.0 x longer than wide. Occipital carina complete, mediodorsally strong and pointed, formed into a short midlongitudinal carina, ventrally joining hypostomal carina. Mesopleuron generally strongly sculptured, anteriorly and dorsally with strong longitudinal striation, precoxal sulcus with distinct transverse striation, speculum absent. Midlongidudinal propodeal carina present on anterior 0.6 of propodeum only. Fore wing vein 2-CU1 2 x 1-CU1. Apex of fore wing subbasal cell evenly setose. Fore wing vein 3-SR 1.5 x vein r. Fore wing vein 2-SR+M 1.2 x vein r. Fore wing vein SR1 3.08 x vein 3-SR. Hind wing vein M+CU 1.3 x 1-M. Hind wing subbasal cell evenly setose. Hind wing vein m-cu short, reclivous, antefurcal. Apex of hind tibia without comb of specially modified setae medially. Claws without conspicuous pecten. Hind coxa with strong transverse striation dorsally except at extreme base. Basal lobes of 1 st tergite large and strongly concave posteriorly such that steepest angle virtually transverse. Midlongitudinal carina of 3 rd tergite extremely weak or absent.

Etymology. In reference to the honey-coloured body.

Figures

FIGURE 105. A. mellificus sp. nov. A, habitus; B, face; C, head, lateral view; D, head, dorsal view; E, mesosoma, lateral view; F, anterior mesosoma, dorsal view; G, metasoma.