Colastomion wanang Quicke, 2012

Quicke, Donald L. J., Smith, M. Alex, Miller, Scott E., Hrcek, Jan & Butcher, Buntika, 2012, Colastomion Baker (Braconidae, Rogadinae): nine new species from Papua New Guinea reared from Crambidae, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 28, pp. 85-121 : 98-100

Colastomion wanang Quicke sp. n. Figs 33 -41

Material examined.

Holotype female, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Wanang, 29-Apr-05, 145°10.910'E, 5°13.853'S, 100m, SSW, ex caterpillar on Syzigium longipes (Warb.) Merrill & Perry ( Myrtaceae ), Mark (voucher USNM ENT 00643283; BOLD ASQSP063-08; Genbank JF271302). [see Notes on possible conspecifics excluded from type series].

Morphology.

Length of body 12 mm, of fore wing 8.8 mm.

Head. Antenna with 56-57 flagellomeres. Terminal flagellomere acuminate. Median flagellomeres approximately 2 × longer than wide. 3rd segment of maxillary palp of female weakly swollen, approximately 6 longer than maximally wide. 5th segment approximately 0.8 length of 6th. Base of mandible very close to eye, closest point approximately same as distance from middle of anterior tentorial pit and eye. Distance between anterior tentorial pits approximately 10 × shortest distance between pit and eye. Width of face: width of head across eyes: height of eye = 1.0 : 3.3 : 2.0. Face with coarse transverse striae ventrolaterally, becoming finer and reaching near to midline dorsally. Frons with rather well developed ridge paralleling margin of eye; generally with weak sublongitudinal sculpture Shortest distance between posterior ocelli: transverse diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 1.0: 3.5: 1.7. Occiput with deep crescent-shaped depressions behind posterior ocelli; with only weak midlongitudinal groove. Occipital carina complete and strongly lamelliform.

Mesosoma. Notauli weakly impressed anteriorly, dorsally crenulated to foveate as impressions get weaker. Mesoscutum smooth where notauli converge. Mesopleuron smooth and shiny. Precoxal sulcus strongly impressed, rather narrow, smooth. Propodeum with complete midlongitudinal carina.

Fore wing. Vein 1-CU1 postfurcal. Vein 2-CU1 5.8 × longer than 1-CU1. Vein 1-M weakly curved near base. Lengths of veins SR1: 3-SR: r = 3.5:2.7:1.0. Vein 2-SR 4 × 2-SR+M.

Hind wing. Vein M+CU 2.5 × length of 1-M. Vein 2-SC+R very thick, short transverse. Vein SR gently curving basally and gradually getting closer to anterior margin towards wing tip.

Metasoma. 1st metasomal tergite 2.0 × longer than posteriorly wide. 2nd metasomal tergite 1.1 × wider than long, with well developed midbasal triangular area giving rise to complete midlongitudinal carina; irregularly longitudinally striate with approximately 7 striate lateral to midlongitudinal carina. 3rd metasomal tergite 1.3 × longer than maximally wide; longitudinally striate. 4th and 5th tergites entirely coarsely longitudinally striate. 6th tergite faintly aciculate.

Coloration.

Head, hind trochanter and trochantellus and metasomal tergites 1-4 (largely) black, tergite 5 black basally and laterally, hind tibia dark brown to black, mesosoma and rest of legs orange red, metasomal tergites 5 medioposteriorly and tergite 6 largely cream white. Wings largely pale brown with dark brown venation, pterostigma entirely dark brown.

Etymology.

Named after collection locality as a noun in apposition.

Biology.

Host unknown for holotype.

Notes.

Four specimens with host data from a different locality and host tree but lacking barcoding data probably belong to this species but are excluded for the above reason from the type series. We can find no convincing morphological difference between them and the holotype of Colastomion wanang sp. n. though they do have the 1st metasomal tergite largely orange. Their collection data are:

Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Baitabag, 23-Jul-02, 145°47'E, 5°08'S, 100m, Ulai ex caterpillar on Leea indica Merrill ( Vitaceae ) (voucher USNM ENT 00206919); 1 male, Madang, Baitabag, 23-Jan-04, 145°47'E, 5°08'S, 100m, ex caterpillar on Leea indica Merrill ( Vitaceae ) (voucher USNM ENT 00452009); 1 male, Madang Province, Mis, 1-Aug-02, 145°47'E, 5°11'S, 50m, ex caterpillar on Leea indica Merrill, Vitaceae , David (voucher USNM ENT 00206716); 1 female [metasoma missing but palps not swollen], Madang Province, Mis, 23-Jul-02, 145°47'E, 5°11'S, 50m (voucher USNM ENT 00206736). These four specimens were solitary larval endoparasitoids of one or both of two similar species which are superficially similar to " Syllepte " crotonalis Walker (CRAM078, Genbank GU695707 and CRAM092, Genbank GU695702). The genus Syllepte has accumulated many unrelated brown moths, and needs revision, so the correct generic name is also unclear.

Figures

Figures 33 - 38. Colastomion wanang sp. n. 33, 34 Holotype female and putatively conspecific individual (USNM ENT 00206919) habitus respectively. 35 face of holotype 36 head and anterior mesosoma of holotype, dorsal view 37 head and anterior mesosoma of holotype, lateral view 38 propodeum of putatively conspecific individual (USNM ENT 00452009).

Figures 39 - 41. Colastomion wanang sp. n. 39 Metasomal tergites of holotype 40 base of fore wing of holotype showing distinctive thickening and sudden curving of vein M + CU 41 wings of putatively conspecific individual (USNM ENT 00452009).