Apanteles (Choeras) curvinervus Song & Chen

Song, Sheng-Nan, He, Jun-Hua & Chen, Xue-Xin, 2014, The subgenus Choeras Mason, 1981 of genus Apanteles Foerster, 1862 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from China, with descriptions of eighteen new species, Zootaxa 3754 (5), pp. 501-554 : 511-514

Apanteles (Choeras) curvinervus Song & Chen , sp. n.

( Figure 4. a–i )

Description. Female. Length of body 2.8 mm, of fore wing 3.4 mm.

Head. 2.4 times as wide as long, equal to the width of mesoscutum. Antenna with 18 segments, segments normally setose, rather longer than the body, subapical antennal segments much elongated, length of 16th segment almost equal to 15th segment, length of third segment equal to fourth segment, length of third, fourth, 15th, 16th and penultimate segments 3.7, 3.7, 2.3 2.2 and 2.2 times as long as their width, respectively. In dorsal view length of eye 1.6 times as long as temple. Ocellar triangle shiny, finely punctulate and setose. Ocelli in a very low triangle, the posterior transverse tangent to the median ocellus cutting into the posterior pair; ocelli large, their diameter larger than the distance between the hind and fore ocellus, farther to each other than to the eyes. OOL: OD: POL= 11: 8: 15. Frons smooth and distinctly concave medially, widely punctulate and setose laterally and posteriorly. Temple finely punctulate and setose. Vertex largely smooth and shiny. Face and clypeus distinctly and densely punctulate, finely setose and softly shiny. Labrum smooth and sparsely setose. Malar space relatively wide and length of malar space almost equal to basal width of mandible.

Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.4 times as long as its height. Side of pronotum densely and finely punctulate, with narrow ventral furrow and dorsal furrow which with a few longitudinal carinae. Propleuron smooth and shiny. Prepectal carina completely absent. Precoxal sulcus deep and smooth, about 0.3 times as long as mesopleuron. Mesopleuron largely smooth and glabrous, but punctulate and setose anteriorly and ventrally. Mesoscutum finely and densely punctulate, indistinct posteriorly and softly shiny, densely setose. Notauli absent. Scutellar sulcus very narrow, with visible crenulation, its width about equal to length of scutellum. Scutellum densely punctulate and setose. Side of scutellum with rather narrow crenulate depression, lunula large-sized and semicircular. Propodeum entirely coriaceous, densely setose and coarsely sculptured anteriorly, rugose laterally and with a strong median longitudinal carina which bifurcates into several shortly and irregularly oblique carinae.

Wings. Fore and hind wing evenly covered with fine and brown setae, denser towards the apex. Pterostigma relatively narrow, 3.0 times as long as wide. Vein 1-R1 1.8 times as long as pterostigma and about 7.5 times as long as the distance from it to the top of marginal cell. Vein r 0.7 times as long as 2-SR and distinctly curved, vein r arising beyond the middle of pterostigma and shorter than breadth of pterostigma. Vein 2-SR slightly curved. Stub of vein r-m of fore wing very short, resulting in an open second submarginal cell, areolet absent. 1-CU1: 2-CU1= 1: 1. Vein 1-SR pointing to 2-CU1, shorter than vein r. Hind wing evenly covered with brown hairs, setose. Vein cu-a slightly curved. Edge of vannal lobe beyond its widest part straight and here without a fringe of hairs.

Legs. Hind coxa subhyaline, finely punctulate and pubescent. Length of hind coxa much longer than half of thorax. Tarsal claws setose. Hind basitarsus relatively long and thin. Longer spur of middle tibia reaching apex of middle basitarsus and terminating in a long bristle. Length of femur, tibia and basitarsus of hind leg 3.5, 5.8 and 6.3 times as long as their width, respectively. Length of hind tibial spurs 0.7 and 0.3 times as long as hind basitarsus respectively. The longer tibia spur of hind leg very long. Hind femur finely pubescent.

Metasoma. Tergite I distinctly subtriangular, strongly narrowed apically, lateral sides straight and basal half with a wide and deep excavation, its basal width 2.7 times as long as its apical width which is 0.7 times as long as median length of tergite II; basal half smooth, the remainder strongly and distinctly punctate, densely setose and softly shiny. Tergite II subtriangular, apical width 3.6 and 2.6 times as long as basal width and its length; smooth and rather mat, sparsely and finely punctulate posteriorly. Remaining tergites smooth and mat, finely and densely setose. Ovipositor sheath rather hairy, very slender at base and apex, but broadening medially, like a knife, length of it (total length) 0.6 times as long as hind tibia. Hypopygium subhyaline and largely sclerotized, only near median line membranous and tightly folded along the middle line, with widely longitudinal creases laterally, acute apically.

Colour. Black. Head dark reddish brown. Mandible and labrum yellowish brown. Clypeus reddish brown. Scape and pedicel yellowish brown, but scape brown laterally. Flagellum dark brown. Ocellar triangle much darker than other area. Mesosoma dark reddish brown. Wing membrane weakly yellowish. Pterostigma and veins of fore wings yellowish brown. Veins of hind wings weakly pigmented. Fore and mid legs yellowish brown except distal tarsi black. Hind coxa, trochanter and femur yellowish brown. Hind tibia and tarsi reddish brown. Tibial spurs yellow. Tergite I yellowish brown basally half and the remainder dark reddish brown. Remaining tergites dark reddish brown. Ovipositor yellowish brown, its sheath brown.

Variation. Body length 2.5–3.5 mm. Fore wing length 3.0– 3.8 mm. Some individuals with tergites I and II dark brown, and remaining tergites black with indefinite white transverse streaks. And some individuals slightly different in colour pattern.

Male. Unknown.

Biology. According to one lablel, the host is Pieris rapae Linne

Material examined. Holotype, ♀, China, Sichuan Prov., Xichang, 1980. VIII. 17, He Junhua, No. 801837 ( ZJUH). Paratypes (all in ZJUH): 1♀, China, Zhejiang Prov., Gutianshan, 2005. VII. 2, Shi Min, No. 200611677; 1♀, China, Zhejiang Prov., West Tianmushan, Sanliting (Malaise trap), 1998. VII. 1, Zhao Mingshui, No. 999542; 1♀, China, Zhejiang Prov., West Tianmushan, 1984. VII. 27, Qian Ying, No. 842865; 1♀, China, Fujian Prov., Mt. Wuyi, 1986. VII. 5, Wang Jiashe, No. 865598; 1♀, China, Fujian Prov., Shanghang, Meihuashan, 1988. VII. 24, Huang Jian, No. 20005061; 1♀, China, Fujian Prov., Jiangle, Longqishan, 1991. VII. 8, Liu Changming, Host: Pieris rapae Linne, No. 969798; 1♀, China, Hunan Prov., Shimen, Hupingshan, Sanhecun, 2009. VII. 13, Tang Pu, No. 200901217; 2♀, China, Hunan Prov., Shimen, Hupingshan, Sanhecun, 2009. VII. 13, Ma Li, No. 200900945, 200900995; 3♀, China, Hunan Prov., Shimen, Hupingshan, Sanhecun, 2009. VII. 13, Zeng Jie, No. 200901590, 200901598, 200901607; 1♀, China, Guangdong Prov., Yunan, Tongledashan, 2003. VIII. 12–13, Xu Zaifu, No. 20054515; 1♀, China, Guangdong Prov., Longmen, Nankunshan, 2004. VIII. 7, Xu Zaifu, No. 20053214; 1♀, China, Hainan Prov., Jianfengling, Tianchi, 2006. VII. 12–15, Chen Tianfei, No. 200803107; 1♀, China, Hainan Prov., Jianfengling, Tianchi, 2006. VII. 12–15, Weng Liqiong, No. 200803252; 1♀, China, Hainan Prov., Diaoluoshan, 2007. V. 28–VI. 1, Zeng Jie, No. 200806693; 1♀, China, Hainan Prov., Diaoluoshan, 2006. VII.16– 17, Liu Jingxian, No. 200802187; 1♀, China, Hainan Prov., Wuzhishan, 2007. V. 17–20, Xiao Bin, No. 200804693; 1♀, China, Hainan Prov., Yinggeling, 2008. XI. 17, Wang Manman, No. 200805460; 5♀, China, Sichuan Prov., Xichang, 1980. VIII. 17, He Junhua, No. 801831, 801832, 801834, 801842, 801843, 801844, 801846, 801847, 801848, 801850; 1♀, China, Sichuan Prov., Mt. Emei, 1980. VIII. 6, He Junhua, No. 802046; 1♀, China, Guizhou Prov., Fanjingshan, Heiwanhe, 2001. VII. 28, Ma Yun, No. 200108000; 1♀, China, Guizhou Prov., Fanjingshan, Jinding, 1993. VII. 12, Chen Xuexin, No. 938442; 2♀, China, Yunnan Prov., Yingjiang, Tongbiguan, 2009. V. 18, Zeng Jie, No. 200905270, 200905271.

Distribution. China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan) ( Fig. 20 ).

Remark. The new species is similar to Apanteles (Choeras) ruficornis (Nees, 1834) , but can be distinguished by subapical antennal segments much elongated (the latter subquadrate); scapus normal, in upright position distinctly separated from each other (the latter swollen, almost touching each other); and mesoscutum before scutellum mat (the latter weakly shining).

Etymology. The specific name “ curvinervus ” derives from the Latin prefixion “curv-” and noun “nervus”, referring to the curved vein r and 2-SR of fore wing.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Distribution map of Choeras species in China I. ●: Apanteles (Choeras) angustus Song & Chen, sp. n.; ■: Apanteles (Choeras) brevinervus Song & Chen, sp. n.; ▲: Apanteles (Choeras) compressifemur (Chen & Song, 2004); Δ: Apanteles (Choeras) curvinervus Song & Chen, sp. n..

FIGURE 4. a – i. Apanteles (Choeras) curvinervus Song & Chen, sp. n. a, habitus, dorsal view; b, antennae; c, fore and hind wing; d, head, frontal view; e, head, dorsal view; f, mesosoma, dorsal view; g, T 1 – T 3, dorsal view; h, mesosoma, lateral view; i, metasoma, lateral view.