Chelonus (Megachelonus) biligiriensis, Ranjith & Priyadarsanan, 2023

Ranjith, A. P. & Priyadarsanan, Dharma Rajan, 2023, New subgeneric reports of the genus Chelonus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from India and Sri Lanka with description of nine species, Zootaxa 5278 (3), pp. 461-492 : 473-475

Chelonus (Megachelonus) biligiriensis sp. nov.

( Figures 8–9 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:93CA9572-84C6-43CC-BB27-44C823FBA589

Material examined. Holotype, female, INDIA: Karnataka, Chamarajanagar, Malakki Betta , scrub jungle, 11°57’230 N, 77°08’241 E, 1306 m.a.s.l., malaise trap, 31.v.2005, coll. Priyadarsanan, D.R. ( AIMB).

Description. Holotype, female, length of body 2.2 mm, of fore wing 2.6 mm.

Head. Antenna with 16 antennomeres, apical antennomeres not broadened, shorter than basal antennomeres; third antennomere 1.2 × longer than fourth; third, fourth and terminal antennomeres 5.5 ×, 3.1 × and 1.9 × longer than wide, respectively; head transverse ( Fig. 8B ), in dorsal view roundly contracted behind eyes ( Fig. 8C ); OOL: OD: POL= 2.6: 1.0: 2.8; longitudinal diameter of eye 2.2 × height of temples; vertex coarsely reticulate-rugose ( Fig. 8C ); frons distinctly concave, reticulate-rugose medially with a complete midlongitudinal carina, longitudinally striate laterally with a pair of distinct lateral carina ( Fig. 8C ); occiput reticulate-rugose ( Fig. 8C ); temple reticulate-rugose ( Fig. 8A ); face coarsely reticulate-rugose laterally, with a midlongitudinal carina medially, densely setose in lateral view ( Fig. 8B ); clypeus flat and sparsely punctate, smooth and shining ( Fig. 8B ); length of malar space 2.8 × basal width of mandible.

Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.4 × its height; pronotum rugose laterally and posteriorly ( Fig. 8D ); mesoscutum areolate-rugose, without longitudinal depressions medially ( Fig. 8E ); notauli impressed as large pits ( Fig. 8E ); transverse suture distinct, deep ( Fig. 8E ); scutellar sulcus divided by four carinae ( Fig. 8E ); scutellum rugose with Y-shaped carina medially, sparsely setose, with crenulate groove laterally ( Fig. 8E ); mesopleuron evenly convex, coarsely reticulate-rugose, setose ( Fig. 8D ); metanotum crenulate with distinct midlongitudinal carina ( Fig. 8F ); propodeum with medial and lateral tubercles, coarsely reticulate-rugose, with triangular areola delineated by carina, transverse carina indistinct, but complete ( Fig. 8F ).

Wings. Fore wing infuscate subapically ( Fig. 9D ); length of fore wing 3.1 × its width; length of marginal cell 1.2 × pterostigma; vein 2-Rl present ( Fig. 9D ); vein r longer than 3-SR ( Fig. 9D ); r: 3-SR: SRl = 1.2: 1.0: 4.0; SRl more or less curved ( Fig. 9D ); parastigma distinctly swollen; 1-CU1: 2-CU1= 1.0: 3.4; vein CUlb present.

Legs. Hind coxa rugose, densely short setose ( Figs 9A, D ); hind femur robust ( Figs 9A, D ); length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 3.1 ×, 3.3 × and 5.3 × their maximum width, respectively; mid and hind tibia with numerous short, pointed spines apical half

Metasoma. Metasomal carapace elongate-oval in dorsal view, coarsely reticulate-rugose, without a pair of posteriorly converging midlongitudinal carinae basally ( Fig. 9B ); length of carapace 2.1 × its maximum width in dorsal view; carapace with undulating lamella laterally ( Figs 8A , 9A ); ventral cavity closed apically, with a pair of short and blunt teeth ( Fig. 9C ); ovipositor long, slender ( Fig. 9D ) and the ovipositor sheath 0.1 × as long as fore wing, 0.3 × as long as hind tibia.

Colour. Black except eyes, antenna, ocelli, mandible, legs reddish brown, maxillary and labial palps, tegula, basal wing veins yellow.

Male. Unknown.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. India (Karnataka).

Etymology. The species is named after the type locality, Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, India.

Comparative diagnosis. The species is near to C. (M.) adii sp. nov. by metasomal carapace more than 1.8 × as long as wide. But it differs from the latter in having third antennomere 5.5 × as long as wide (4.2 × in C. (M.) adii sp. nov.), longitudinal diameter of eye 2.2 × height of temples (1.7 × in C. (M.) adii sp. nov.), length of malar space 2.8 × basal width of mandible (1.8 × in C. (M.) adii sp. nov.), carapace with an acute process subbasally in lateral view (carapace without acute process in C. (M.) adii sp. nov.), length of fore wing 3.1 × its width (2.5 × in C. (M.) adii sp. nov.).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Chelonus (Megachelonus) biligiriensis sp. nov., holotype, female A) habitus, lateral view; B) head, anterior view; C) head, dorsal view; D) mesosoma, lateral view; E) mesosoma, dorsal view; F) propodeum, dorsal view.

FIGURE 9. Chelonus (Megachelonus) biligiriensis sp. nov., holotype, female A) metasoma, lateral view; B) metasoma, dorsal view; C) apex of metasoma, dorsal view; D) fore wing.