Parancistrocerus turensis Girish Kumar & Carpenter

P. Girish Kumar, J. M. Carpenter & P. M. Sureshan, 2016, A taxonomic review of the genus Parancistrocerus Bequaert (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from the Indian subcontinent with the description of three new species, Halteres 7 (1), pp. 36-156 : 150-151

11. Parancistrocerus turensis Girish Kumar & Carpenter sp. n.

(Figs. 28-33)

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Description: Holotype female (Fig. 28): Head: 0.96x as wide as long in frontal view (Fig. 29); clypeus (Fig. 30) slightly convex, median area almost flat, extreme apex with two teeth, not sharp, area in between them moderately incised, distance between teeth 0.82x distance between antennal toruli, maximum width of clypeus 1.1 4x its length medially, with small punctures; frons, vertex and tempora with punctures small and uniformly arranged, diameter of punctures in average less than distance between punctures; POL 1.20x OOL; distance between anterior ocellus and posterior ocelli 1.37x as long as diameter of anterior ocellus; distance between two posterior ocelli 2.38x as long as diameter of posterior ocellus; ocellar triangle protruding; cephalic foveae absent; tempora 0.49x as wide as eye in profile (measured through ocular sinus); interocular distance 1.54x greater on vertex than at clypeus; occipital carina complete and narrowed ventrally; distinct groove present along vertex near occipital carina. Antennal sockets 4.67x farther from each other than from eyes, with granulate punctures; scape 3.29x as long as F1; F1 1.30x as long as F2, as long as wide; flagellomeres widening towards apex.

Mesosoma (Figs. 31 & 32): Anterior face of pronotum uniformly sculptured in front and distinctly slanting, median area with a deeply impressed fovea; pronotal carina absent dorsally, present laterally; posterior face and lateral sides of pronotum, mesoscutum and scutellum strongly and closely punctate, diameter of punctures, on average, as large as or greater than distance between punctures; scutellum with a row of rugose punctures at anterior margin, interspaces carinate; median length of mesoscutum 1.02x its maximum width; metanotum with few scattered punctures; mesopleuron closely punctured except large area of epicnemium and posterior margin smooth; epicnemial carina present; upper metapleuron with few strong transverse striations, lower metapleuron with a vertical row of transverse striations and punctures. Dorsal face of propodeum forming a horizontal area behind midline of metanotum, this horizontal area strongly depressed medially (Fig. 32); posterior face of propodeum almost rounded, concave; area separating dorsal face of propodeum from posterior face not lamellate; median concave area of posterior face of propodeum almost smooth; submarginal carina strongly projecting as lobe above propodeal valvula. Tegula smooth with minute punctures, not evenly rounded posteriorly, emarginate adjoining parategula and shorter than apex of latter posteriorly; forewing with pterostigma 4.4x prestigma, first recurrent vein received in second submarginal cell and second recurrent vein completely interstitial to submarginal cell II and III.

Metasoma (Fig. 33): T1 with irregular transverse carina separating vertical face from dorsal face; vertical anterior face of T1 about as long as dorsal horizontal face; vertical face of T1 almost smooth with few strong scattered punctures; dorsal face of T1 with few large irregular pits just after transverse carina, then small scattered punctures except at apical area smooth; dorsal face of T1 1.93x as wide as its median length; punctures on T2 fine and superficial except at apex and sides more stronger, which distinctly less deeper and superficial than that of mesoscutum; T2 1.06x as wide as its median length; T1 and T2 with narrow apical lamella present, not prolonged in middle; maximum width of T2 1.26x than that of T1; T2 not reflexed at apex; S2 convex at base, very weakly depressed after.

Colour description: Body black with yellow and brown markings. Yellow markings: basal half of mandible; two markings on either side of clypeus, which invaginated at inner sides; ventral side of scape; spot on inter antennal space; ocular sinus; linear mark on tempora towards vertex; broad band on dorsal face of pronotum anteriorly; small spot on mesopleuron; tegula except brown rounded spot medially; parategula; a band on metanotum; propodeal valvula; apical bands on T1, T2 & S2, of which band on T2 & S2 more broader; very narrow band on T3 & T4, which disappears laterally; outer apex of fore and mid femur; tibia and tarsi of all legs. Brown markings: apical half of mandibles; ventral sides of flagellar segments. Wings almost hyaline, fore wing with subapical fuscous cloud. Body with silvery white hairs.

Length (H+M+T1+T2): 6.5 mm.

Male: Unknown.

Material examined: Holotype female, INDIA: Meghalaya, West Garo Hills Dist., Tura , 3.v.1979, Coll. J.K. Jonathan & Party, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRS/I.R-INV.6959 .

Distribution: India: Meghalaya: Tura.

Etymology: The species name is after its collection locality.

Discussion: As per the key of Giordani Soika (1994: 153) this new species comes close to P. feai Giordani Soika, 1994 , in having: base of S2 without longitudinal groove; vertical anterior face of T1 about as long as dorsal horizontal face; S2 convex at base, very weakly depressed after; T2 not reflexed at apex; T2 with apical margin normal, not prolonged at posterior margin medially. However, this new species differs from P. feai in having: (1) Width between apical teeth of clypeus less than width between antennal sockets (8: 10) (in P. feai , width between apical teeth of clypeus equal to the width between antennal sockets); (2) Upper carina of propodeum not lamellate (in P. feai , upper carina of propodeum lamellate); (3) Punctures on T1 and T2 fine and superficial (in P. feai , punctures on T1 and T2 denser); (4) Markings on pronotum, mesopleuron, parategula, metanotum, propodeal valvula, T1, T2 and S2 yellow (in P. feai , markings on pronotum, mesopleuron, parategula, metanotum, propodeal valvula, T1, T2 and S2 ferruginous); white hairs (in P. feai , head and mesosoma with reddish golden hairs).