Therophilus festinatus (Turner)

Stevens, Nicholas B., Austin, Andrew D. & Jennings, John T., 2011, Diversity, distribution and taxonomy of the Australian agathidine genera Camptothlipsis Enderlein, Lytopylus Foerster and Therophilus Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae), Zootaxa 2887 (1), pp. 1-49 : 20

Therophilus festinatus (Turner)

( Figs 4A, G , 12D )

Agathiella festinata Turner, 1918a: 111 [examined]. Holotype BMNH ♀; Type locality: Queensland. Parrott, 1953: 198 [catalogue].

Agathis festinata (Turner) ; Shenefelt, 1970b: 333 [generic transfer].

Bassus festinatus (Turner) ; Yu et al., 2005 [generic transfer].

Therophilus festinatus (Turner) ; Stevens et al., 2010: 20 [catalogue, generic transfer].

Diagnosis. Large species with ovipositor nearly as long as body; scape and all coxae entirely orange; notauli absent anteriorly; distinct carina between antennae; gena broad ventrally but not expanded ventro-posteriorly; sternalus shallow and smooth so appearing almost absent; with BROW colour pattern.

Description (female). Body length 8.0 mm; ovipositor 7.6 mm; head orange, scape orange, pedicel light brown, flagellomeres dark brown to black; mesosoma entirely black except propleuron margins, including propleural flange, pale yellow; fore leg same colour as head except claws dark brown; mid leg mostly same colour as head except trochanter, trochantellus, basal part of femur and claw dark brown; hind leg dark brown to black except for coxa, most of femur, except basal and distal extremities and tibial spurs orange; metasoma T1 and S1 white except black patch in medial region of median T1; T2–3 white except small black patch in medial posterior region of T2; T4–7 black except for thin white band along anterior and antero-lateral margins of T4; S2 and S3 white with large black patches medially, S4–6 black.

Head width 1.8 mm, length 0.9 mm, height 1.3 mm; eye width 0.3 mm, length 0.6 mm, height 0.7 mm; interorbital distance 1.1 mm; median ocellus diameter 0.1 mm; distance between lateral ocelli and median ocellus 0.15 mm; distance between lateral ocelli 0.2 mm; distinct carina between antennae; ante-ocular pit present; antenna with 42 flagellomeres; clypeus width 0.5 mm, height 0.2 mm; malar space height 0.4 mm; distance ventral eye margin from latero-ventral mouth margin 0.4 mm; labial palpomere 3 length 0.2x labial palpomere 4 length (lengths 0.02 and 0.1 mm, respectively); labial palpomere 2 length 0.1 mm; posterior margin of head, when viewed dorsally, excavated (incursion 0.1 mm); posterior genal margin distinctly carinate; gena ventrally broad but not expanded ventro-posteriorly.

Mesosomal width 1.5 mm, length 3.1 mm; height 2.1 mm; pilosity mostly short and sparse, particularly dorsally; distinct white reflective setal field on metapleuron, extends marginally onto mesopleuron; subpronope large and distinct, bordered posteriorly by relatively large carina that extends to anterior margin of pronotum; notauli absent; scutellar sulcus distinct, divided into 6 pits by 5 longitudinal carina; propodeal surface smooth except for fine punctation associated with setae; suture line between metapleuron and propodeum delineated by scrobiculate groove; propodeal spiracle oval-shaped; hind coxal cavities closed; sternalus shallow, broad and smooth; metapleuron with distinct setal field, surface smooth except for punctation associated with setae.

Legs with claws each with large rectangular basal tooth; mid tibia with 4 apical and 5 preapical spines; preapical spines spaced on anterior margin in distal half of tibia; hind tibia with 3 apical and 5 preapical spines; preapical spines clumped close together just basal to apical spines.

Both fore and hind wings slightly infuscate, particularly distally, paler basally; fore wing maximum width 2.4 mm, length 7.0 mm; cell 1-Rs petiolate and triangular, width marginally greater than length, cell petiole 0.07 mm long; M+Cu entirely pigmented; hind wing maximum width 1.3 mm, length 5.6 mm.

Metasomal length 3.7 mm, maximum width 1.9 mm; dorsal surface of all tergites smooth; T1 median area length 1.4 mm, anterior width 0.4 mm, posterior width 0.8 mm; T2 medial groove and T2–T3 boundary groove relatively distinct.

Male. Unknown.

Holotype: ♀, ‘S.2 ‘land(?), C.7.2.01’, ( BMNH). [examined].

Comments. Therophilus festinatus is a large species that belongs to the BROW mimicry complex and displays a similar colour pattern to T. antipodus and T. latibalteatus (see comments under T. antipodus ). The distribution of this species is unknown because the type locality was not stated and no additional material of this species has been identified. The holotype is in relatively good condition but the right distal antennal flagellomeres are glued to a card, and the right hind tarsomeres are missing.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Lateral views of Therophilus spp.: A, lateral head and anterior mesosoma T. festinatus; B, antero-lateral head and mesosoma T. martialis; C, lateral head and anterior mesosoma T. mishae; D, lateral head and mesosoma T. nr latibalteatus; E, lateral head and mesosoma T. ruficeps; F, lateral head and mesosoma T. pedunculatus; G, lateral mesosoma T. festinatus; H, lateral mesosoma T. martialis. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 12. Lateral habitus of Therophilus spp.: A, female T. aalvikorum; B, female T. malignus (holotype); C, female T. nr latibalteatus; D, female T. festinatus (holotype); E, male T. leucogaster (holotype); F, female T. nr meridionalis. Scale lines = 0.5 mm.