Xanthopimpla despinosa Krieger, 1914

Pham, Nhi Thi, Broad, Gavin R., Matsumoto, Rikio & Wägele, Wolfgang J., 2011, 3056, Zootaxa 3056, pp. 1-67 : 21

Xanthopimpla despinosa Krieger, 1914

Xanthopimpla despinosa Krieger, 1914 . Arch. f. Naturgesch., (A) 80(6): 32. Holotype: ♂, Indonesia: Sumatra (MZPW).

Xanthopimpla despinosa leipephelis Townes & Chiu, 1970 . Mem. Amer. Ent. Inst, 14: 212. Holotype: ♀, India: Dawki, Jainta Hill, Assam (GPTA). New synonym.

Xanthopimpla despinosa subquadrata Chao, 1997 . Wuyi Sci. J. 13: 46. Holotype: ♀, Malaysia: Malaysia primary forest (AEIC). New synonym.

Diagnosis. Lateral black marks on mesoscutum long, extending posteriorly nearly to scutellum; area superomedia open; hind tibia with 1–2 preapical bristles; ovipositor sheath 0.45x hind tibia.

Distribution. Townes & Chiu (1970) previously recorded this species from Lai Chau Province (northern Vietnam). Pham and Le (2007) have recorded this species from Nghe An Province although the latter authors recorded this species under the name X. trigonophatna Krieger due to the absence of black spots on the first tergite. Outside Vietnam, X. despinosa is known from India, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines ( Yu et al. 2005).

Remarks. Four subspecies have been recognised: X. despinosa despinosa from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines; X. despinosa leipephelis from India, Nepal and Thailand; X. despinosa subquadrata Chao from Malaysia; and X. despinosa xanthonema from the Philippines. They differ from each other by the colour of the antenna and the presence of black spots on tergite 2. Two female specimens from our collections agree well with X. despinosa leipephelis , although one of them has two small black spots on the second tergite; the three male specimens are closer to the nominate subspecies but the tergites 1 and 2 are entirely yellow. As there do not seem to be clear differences between X. despinosa despinosa , X. despinosa leipephelis and X. despinosa subquadrata we are treating these names as synonyms.

Material examined. Phu Tho, Xuan Son NP: 2♂ ( IEBR), 250 m a.s.l, 05.v.2005 ; Nghe An, Pu Mat NP: 1♂ ( IEBR), 300 m a.s.l, 12.ix.2005, N. T. Pham leg. ; Dong Nai, Cat Tien NP: 1♀ ( RMNH), 100 m a.s.l, 6.x.2005, R. de Vries leg. ; 1♀ ( RMNH), 100 m a.s.l, 01–09.x.2005, C. v. Achterberg & R. de Vries leg.