Shortia karumban Ranjith, 2024

Ranjith, A. P. & Priyadarsanan, Dharma Rajan, 2024, A remarkable rediscovery and range extension from Australia to South India with the description of two new species of the genus Shortia Gauld, 1984 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 921, pp. 158-172 : 161-164

Shortia karumban Ranjith sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7F7E2413-3950-436D-963C-07BE2FFFD184

Figs 1–2

Differential diagnosis

Among the three species of Shortia , S. karumban Ranjith sp. nov. appears closer to S. manjapulli Ranjith sp. nov. by its general body colouration. However, the new species differs from the latter by the following characters: antenna with 33 flagellomeres (36 in S. manjapulli ), head 2.5 × as wide as long in dorsal view (1.8 × in S. manjapulli ), transverse diameter of eye 4.2 × as long as temple (4.9 × in S. manjapulli ) and pterostigma 3.5 × as long as wide (4.8 × in S. manjapulli ).

Etymology

The species name ‘ karumban ’ means ‘one with a black coloured body’ in the Malayalam language, denoting the black colouration of the scutellum and mesopleuron of the new species. Malayalam is the vernacular language of Kerala State of India, located on the western side of the Western Ghats, from where this species was collected, noun in apposition.

Material examined

Holotype

INDIA • ♀; Kerala, Kozhikode, Kozhipara ; 11°33′62″ N, 76°11′02″ E; 27 Jan. 2018; A.P. Ranjith leg.; sweep net; AIMB.

Description

Female (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Length of body 5.2 mm, fore wing 3.5 mm.

HEAD. 1.1 × as wide as high in anterior view ( Fig. 1B ), 2.5 × as wide as high in dorsal view ( Fig. 1C ). Eyes glabrous ( Fig. 1A–D ), almost parallel sided at level of antennal socket ( Fig. 1B ). Face 1.6 × as wide as high, coriaceous, setose ( Fig. 1B ), convex medially in lateral view ( Fig. 1D ). Clypeus 1.9 × as wide as high, coriaceous, sparsely setose, lower margin distinctly convex ( Fig. 1B ). Subocular sulcus indistinct ( Fig. 1B, D ). Malar space 1.4 × as long as basal width of mandible. Mandible bidentate, upper tooth longer than lower tooth. Transverse diameter of eye 4.2 × as long as temple ( Fig. 1C ). Frons flat, coriaceous, sparsely setose ( Fig. 1C ). Ocellar area slightly elevated ( Fig. 1C ). Vertex and occiput coriaceous, setose ( Fig. 1C ). Occipital carina complete medio-dorsally ( Fig. 1C ). Ratio of OOL: OD: POL = 1.1: 1.0: 1.4. Antenna with 33 flagellomeres, first flagellomere 8.0 × as long as wide and 1.5 × as long as second, second flagellomere 4.7× as long as wide.

MESOSOMA. 1.5 × as long as high. Pronotum coriaceous, punctate anteriorly with a transverse sulcus dorsally with transverse rugae posteriorly ( Fig. 1D–E ). Epomia absent ( Fig. 1D–E ). Mesoscutum moderately convex, bordered by lateral carina, punctate, setose, interspace between punctures coriaceous ( Fig. 1F ). Scuto-scutellar groove shallowly impressed, smooth without crenulations ( Fig. 1F ). Scutellum punctate, coriaceous medially with lateral carina on its anterior ¼, sparsely setose ( Fig. 1F ). Epicnemial carina straight ( Fig. 1E ). Mesopleuron punctate, interspace coriaceous ( Fig. 1E ). Speculum smooth anteriorly ( Fig. 1E ). Metapleuron coarsely punctate, juxtacoxal carina complete, strongly broadened anteriorly and forming a lobe, pleural carina present, interrupted medially ( Fig. 1E ). Propodeum punctate, setose with coriaceous area antero-medially, medially and postero-medially, posterior transverse carina complete, spiracles round ( Fig. 2A ).

WINGS. Fore wing 3.2 × as long as wide ( Fig. 2E ). Pterostigma 3.5 × as long as wide. Vein 1cu-a postfurcal ( Fig. 2E ). Vein 2rs-m slightly longer than M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu ( Fig. 2E ). Hind wing vein CU+cu-a curved to the wing base, without vein CU. Vein RA with 4 distal hamuli.

LEGS. Fore femur 6.3 × as long as wide. Fore tibia 7.2 × as long as wide. Fore tarsus 1.6 × as long as fore tibia. Hind coxa punctate ( Fig. 2B ). Hind femur 5.8 × as long as wide and 0.8 × as long as hind tibia. Hind tibia 10.0 × as long as wide. Hind basitarsus 10.3 × as long as wide. Second hind tarsomere 5.8 × as long as wide. Hind tarsus shorter than tibia ( Fig. 1A ). Tarsal claws pectinate basally.

METASOMA. Metasomal tergites coriaceous to punctate ( Figs 1A , 2B–D ). T1 2.0 × as long as maximum width, coriaceous, sparsely setose laterally, 1.4 × as long as T2 ( Fig. 2C ), spiracle situated at anterior ⅓ ( Fig. 2B ). T2 1.7 × as long as maximum width, punctate laterally and posteriorly, rest coriaceous, sparsely setose ( Fig. 2D ). T3 1.2 × as long as maximum width, coarsely punctate, sparsely setose ( Fig. 2D ). T4–6 coriaceous, sparsely setose ( Fig. 2B ). Ovipositor sheath 0.3 × as long as hind tibia. Ovipositor stout with dorsal notch subapically ( Fig. 2B ).

COLOUR. Body black except clypeus apical half, mandible except apically, maxillary and labial palps, scape ventrally, frons and vertex laterally, ocelli, pair of spots medially on mesoscutum, tegula, fore coxa, mid coxa basally and apically, T1–3 posteriorly, T7 and ovipositor yellow, fore leg except coxa, mesopleuron posteriorly, propodeum, metapleuron, mid leg except coxa, mid coxa medially, hind coxa, hind tibia, T1 basal ½ reddish brown, antenna, hind trochanter, hind tibia, hypopygium brown.

Male

Unknown.

Biology

Unknown.

Distribution

India (Kerala).

Figures

Fig. 1. Shortia karumban Ranjith sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (AIMB). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, anterior view. C. Head, dorsal view. D. Head, lateral view. E. Mesosoma, lateral view. F. Mesosoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 2. Shortia karumban Ranjith sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (AIMB). A. Propodeum, dorsal view. B. Metasoma, lateral view. C. First metasomal tergite, dorsal view. D. Metasomal tergite 2–3, dorsal view. E. Fore wing.