Agathacrista Sharkey, 2013

Sharkey, Michael J. & Stoelb, Stephanie A. C., 2013, Revision of Agathacrista new genus (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Agathidinae, Agathidini), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 33, pp. 99-112 : 104-105

Agathacrista Sharkey gen. n.

Type species.

Agathacrista winloni Sharkey, sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Interantennal space with longitudinal keel that is sharply declivous posteriorly ( Figs 3b , 7d ); ocelli elevated above surface of vertex; fore tibia with pegs ( Fig. 3a ); third metasomal median tergite lacking sculpture; basal lobe of tarsal claws large and right angled or slightly acute ( Fig. 7a ); fore wing partly or completely pigmented; hind wing vein CUb absent. Some members of a few other genera of Agathidini have a sharp keel between the antennae, but none of these have pegs on the fore tibia.

Description.

Head. Lateral carina on frons (as in members of Alabagrus ) absent; interantennal space with longitudinal keel that is sharply declivous posteriorly ( Figs 3b , 7d ); ocelli elevated above surface of vertex; gena not extended ventroposteriorly into sharp prominence ( Fig. 6a ); gena lacking sharp angle posteriad of eye; labial palpus with 4 segments, third segment less than ½ as long as apical segment; apical antennomere acute but lacking nipple-like process. Mesosoma. Propleuron convex ventrally but lacking a sharp bump; notauli impressed and pitted, at least in part ( Fig. 6c ); posteroscutellar depression absent but sculpture usually present in this area; propodeum rugose to areolate-rugose ( Fig. 7g ); sclerite between hind coxal cavities and metasomal foramen complete, its ventral margin situated ventral to dorsal margin of hind coxal cavities. Legs. Fore tibia with pegs ( Fig. 3a ); all tarsal claws with strong basal lobe and with right-angled or slightly acute angle ( Fig. 7a ). Wings. ( Figs 6d , 8b ). Fore wing RS+M vein mostly absent; second submarginal cell triangular; fore wing 3RSb straight and strong throughout; hind wing r and r-m cross veins absent; hind wing vein CUb absent; fore wing partially or completely pigmented, with yellow or melanic color. Metasoma. First median tergite longitudinally striate, with a slightly stronger pair of lateral striae and a medial stria ( Fig. 7h , 8e ), rarely striae reduced and sculpture mostly weakly rugose (see couplet 1 in the identification key); second median tergite with an elevated semi-circular area separated from the remainder of the tergite by a shallow groove ( Fig. 8e ); second median tergite from smooth to striate, usually smooth anteriorly with a few longitudinal striae in posterior half; median tergite 3 smooth; length of ovipositor rather uniform, as long as ( Fig. 5 ) or slightly longer than body ( Fig. 8c ).

Biology.

Unknown

Distribution.

Restricted to the eastern Palearctic (Taiwan) and the Oriental region. For a distribution map, click here.

Etymology:

From the Greek agathis, meaning "ball of thread", and the Latin crista, meaning “crest”. Crest is in reference to the ridge between the antennal insertions. The gender is feminine.

Key

1a	Median tergite 1 mostly smooth or weakly sculptured	Agathacristacancellata
1b	Median tergite 1 mostly striate or rugosostriate	2
	https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/11769
2 a	Fore wing uniformly yellow, at most slightly darker apically	3
2b	Fore wing clear basally, infuscate distally	4
2c	Fore wing mostly evenly infuscate, very slightly clearer at extreme base	Agathacrista depressifera
	https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/11770
3a	Head mostly yellow, black color restricted to medial dorsal surface; larger specimens, ~ 9.6 mm	Agathacrista sailomi
3b	Head mostly black, yellow color restricted to part of face and orbits of eyes; smaller specimens, ~ 6.2 mm	Agathacristadepressifera
	https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/11771
4 a	Median tergite 1 (T1) weakly converging anteriorly; T2 quadrate and ~1.3 × wider than long	Agathacrista winloni
4b	Median tergite 1 strongly converging anteriorly; T2 diverging posteriorly and ~1.5 × wider than long	Agathacristakrataeii
	https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/11772

Figures

Figure 3. a fore leg of Agathacrista sp. showing pegs or spines b dorsolateral head of Agathacrista sp. showing interantennal crest.

Figure 5. Agathacrista depressifera lateral habitus.

Figure 6. Agathacrista krataei. a lateral head b lateral habitus c dorsal habitus d wings.

Figure 7. Agathacrista sailomi. a tarsal claw b lateral habitus c fore wing d anterolateral head e lateral head f dorsal mesosoma g dorsal propodeum h dorsal metasoma.

Figure 8. Agathacrista winloni. a lateral head b wings c lateral habitus d dorsal head and mesosoma e dorsal propodeum and metasomal median tergites 1 - 3.