Colastomion cheesmanae 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 : 100-102

Colastomion cheesmanae Quicke sp. n. Figs 42-47

Material examined.

Holotype female, Papua New Guinea, Oro Province, Kokoda, iv.1933, 1200ft [= 365 m], L. E. Cheesman (NHM).

Morphology.

Length of body 11 mm, of fore wing 8.5 mm and of antenna 9.2 mm.

Head. Antenna with 55 flagellomeres. Terminal flagellomere acuminate. Median flagellomeres approximately 2 × longer than wide. 3rd segment of maxillary palp of female rather slender, approximately 5 longer than maximally wide. 5th segment 1.5 × length of 6th. Base of mandible well very close to eye, closest point approximately same distance as from middle of anterior tentorial pit and eye. Distance between anterior tentorial pits approximately 6 × shortest distance between pit and eye. Width of face: width of head across eyes: height of eye = 1.0 : 3.1 : 2.2. Face rather shiny, with quite strong diagonal striation laterally above level of clypeus. Shortest distance between posterior ocelli: transverse diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 1.0: 2.5 : 1.4. Occipital carina complete mediodorsally

Mesosoma. Notauli narrow, weakly impressed, finely crenulated anteriorly becoming more foveate posteriorly. Mesoscutum smooth and broadly depressed at confluence of notauli. Mesopleuron largely smooth and shiny. Precoxal sulcus deeply, narrow, weakly crenulate. Propodeum with complete midlongitudinal carina and largely rugose with only narrow smooth and punctate area submedially anteriorly. Propodeum evenly rounded, without mediolateral projections.

Fore wing. Vein M+CU distinctly though weakly curved on distal half, but not thickened medially. Vein 1-CU1 postfurcal. Vein 2-CU1 8.5 × longer than 1-CU1. Vein 1-M moderately strongly curved posteriorly. Vein 1-SR+M strongly bisinuate. Lengths of veins SR1: 3-SR: r = 5.0: 4.3: 1.0. Vein 2-SR 3.5 × 2-SR+M.

Hind wing. Vein M+CU 1.75 × length of 1-M. Vein 2-SC+R strongly thickened, vertical. Vein SR gently curving basally and gradually getting closer to anterior margin towards wing tip.

Metasoma. 1st metasomal tergite 2.1 × longer than posteriorly wide. 2nd metasomal tergite 1.1 × wider than long, with wide midbasal triangular area giving rise to weak midlongitudinal carina; rather weakly irregularly longitudinally striate with approximately 9 striate lateral to midlongitudinal carina. 3rd metasomal tergite 1.2 × wider than long; longitudinally striate. 4th and basal 0.6 of 5th tergites coarsely longitudinally striate, posterior of tergite 5 and all of tergite 6 smooth.

Coloration.

Head, hind trochanter and trochantellus and metasomal tergite 1 posteriorly, 2-4 entirely, anterior half of tergite 5, and extreme base of tergite 6 black, hind tibia dark brown, mesosoma and rest of legs orange red, metasomal tergites 5 posteriorly and 6 largely cream-white. Antenna largely black with a distinct brown-yellow zone occupying flagellomeres 22-34. Wing membrane largely pale brown, venation largely (except more basal veins, dark brown; pterostigma dark brown.

Biology.

Unknown.

Etymology.

Named in honour of Miss L. E. Cheesman who collected much interesting material in New Guinea in expeditions in the 1930s (see Kimmins 1962).

Notes.

Very similar to Colastomion wanang sp. n. except lacks the thickened and strongly curved fore wing vein M+CU.

Figures

Figures 42 - 47. Colastomion cheesmanae sp. n. light photomicrographs of holotype 42 Habitus, lateral view 43 head dorsal view 44 mesosoma, lateral view 45 propodeum 46 basal half of fore wing 47 metasomal tergites 2 and 3.