Tanycarpa similis Yao

Yao, Junli, Kula, Robert R., Wharton, Robert A. & Chen, Jiahua, 2015, Four new species of Tanycarpa (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from the Palaearctic Region and new records of species from China, Zootaxa 3957 (2), pp. 169-187 : 179-181

Tanycarpa similis Yao sp. n.

( Figs. 15–22 )

Type material. Holotype: ♀ China, Ningxia: Liupanshan, Longtan, 15–VIII–2001, Zhihui Lin ( FAFU). Paratypes: 2 ♀ 1 ♂ China, Ningxia: Liupanshan, Erlonghe, 23–VIII–2001, Jianquan Yang (1 ♀ 1 ♂ FAFU, 1 ♀ USNM).

Diagnosis. Frons glabrous except a few setae laterally ( Fig. 15 ); vertex sparsely setose ( Fig. 15 ); precoxal sulcus deep, curved, extending 4/5th length of mesopleuron ( Fig. 18 ); mesoscutum smooth, medial lobe with sparse pubescence ( Fig. 19 ); propodeum without distinct longitudinal ridge but diverging into two oblique ridges from basal 1/4–1/5, at end of oblique ridges with several oblique irregular ridges on apical 2/3 of propodeum, forming areola with several transverse ridges apically, almost glabrous ( Fig. 19 ); scutellar disc setiferous, somewhat triangular in outline ( Fig. 19 ); ovipositor sheath shorter than metasoma.

Female ( Figs. 15–22 ). Head. Antenna with 25–29 flagellomeres, 1st flagellomere 1.57× longer than 2nd, 1st and 2nd flagellomeres 4.20–5.50× and 2.40–4.00× longer than their widths, respectively, without long setae ( Fig. 15 ); eye glabrous, 1.33× longer than temple length in dorsal view; temple expanded behind eye ( Fig. 15 ); frons almost flat, smooth without pubescence; occipital tubercles absent; face somewhat convex; temple smooth and with sparse pubescence ( Fig. 15 ); anterior tentorial pits medium-sized, deep; clypeus convex, punctulate; apical margin of clypeus straight; head 1.75× wider than medial height ( Fig. 15 ); mandible expanded dorsally, 1.45–1.63× longer than wide, 3rd tooth large, rounded, clearly separated from 2nd tooth nearly at right angle, 2nd tooth wide, relatively long and pointed, basal width 1.00× length, 1st tooth as large as 3rd tooth, with hemispherical incision between 1st and 2nd tooth ( Fig. 17 ).

Mesosoma . 1.30–1.35× longer than high; propleuron smooth with some crenulae medially; mesoscutum 0.80– 0.90× longer than wide ( Fig. 19 ); notauli distinctly crenulate basally, obliterated posteriorly; midpit long and narrow, nearly 1/4 of mesoscutum length; mesoscutal lobes moderately convex, nearly glabrous with only medial lobe basally and near midpit sparsely setose ( Fig. 19 ); scutellar sulcus deep and wide, with 1 rather weak longitudinal carina; subalar area almost smooth, with transverse and shallow smooth depression anteriorly; precoxal sulcus deep, curved, and 4/5 mesopleuron length ( Fig. 18 ); scutellar disc convex, smooth; propodeum without distinct longitudinal ridge but dividing into two oblique ridges in basal 1/4–1/5, at end of oblique ridges with several oblique irregular ridges on apical 2/3 of propodeum, forming areola sometimes with several transverse ridges, nearly smooth ( Fig. 19 ).

Wings. Pterostigma narrowly wedge-shaped ( Figs 20, 22 ); r shorter, length less than pterostigma width; 3RSb straight; 1cu-a small, weakly postfurcal; 1CU1:1CU2=1:16; 1st subdiscal cell closed; r:3RSa:3RSb:2RS:rm=4:17:63:18:8; 2nd submarginal cell 1.70–1.90× longer than wide; 2CUb arising from middle of 1st subdiscal cell ( Fig. 20 ).

Legs. Hind leg almost smooth; tarsal claws slender, simple, and rather large; femur, tibia, and basitarsus of hind leg 4.70×, 11.00×, and 6.70× longer than their widths, respectively ( Fig. 22 ).

Metasoma. T1 1.70–1.80× longer than apical width, protruding medially, with many ridges laterally; spiracles subdorsal, protruding ( Fig. 21 ), dorsal carinae developed, not converging in basal 1/3, laterope medium-sized and wide ( Fig. 21 ); ovipositor sheath shorter than metasoma, 2.00× longer than T1, 0.73× longer than hind tibia ( Fig. 22 ).

Color. Body dark brown; mandible dark yellow except apex of tooth 2 darker; antenna brown; legs yellow and smooth; pterostigma pale yellow; metasoma except T1 reddish brown.

Male. Not substantially different from female.

Etymology. The species name refers to the fact that this species is very similar to T. mitis (as well as T. gracilicornis ).

Distribution. China (Ningxia).

Remarks. Tanycarpa similis is similar morphologically to T. gracilicornis and T. mitis based on the filiform apical three flagellomeres and presence of a mesoscutal midpit. Tanycarpa gracilicornis has longer antennae, with 30-40 flagellomeres; the antennae of T. mitis and T. similis are shorter and have 22–29 flagellomeres. As for T. mitis and T. similis , the propodeum of T. mitis has a longitudinal ridge, and the 2nd submarginal cell is longer than in T. similis .

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 18. Tanycarpa similis Yao sp. n. 15. Head, dorsal view. 16. Head, anterior view. 17. Head, lateral view and mesoscutum, dorsal view. 18. Mesosoma, lateral view.

FIGURES 19 – 22. Tanycarpa similis Yao sp. n. 19. Head, lateral view and mesosoma, dorsal view. 20. Lateral habitus. 21. Metasoma, dorsal view. 22. Metasoma, lateral view.