Shortia manjapulli 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 : 164-168

Shortia manjapulli Ranjith sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B2098473-DEA8-4DE0-A596-A7EF3F801BB6

Figs 3–5

Differential diagnosis

The new species, S. manjapulli Ranjith sp. nov. is close to S. siccula by a reddish mesopleuron, pleural carina complete without interruptions, mesoscutum without yellow marks medially. But it differs from S. siccula in having the following differences: antenna with 36 flagellomeres (33 in S. siccula ), upper tooth of mandible 1.3 × as long as lower tooth (1.6 × in S. siccula ), POL 1.6 × OOL (1.3 in S. siccula ), pterostigma 4.8 × as long as wide (3.4 × in S. siccula ) and face 1.4 × as wide as long (1.8 × in S. siccula ).

Etymology

The species name ‘ manjapulli ’ means ‘yellow spots’ in the Tamil language due to the presence of four isolated yellow spots on the dorsal side of the head. Tamil is the vernacular language of Tamil Nadu State of India, located on the eastern side of the Western Ghats, where the type locality is situated, noun in apposition.

Material examined

Holotype

INDIA • ♀; Tamil Nadu, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) ; 5 Oct. 2008; D.R. Priyadarsanan leg.; primary forest; understorey, Malaise Trap; AIMB.

Description

Female (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Length of body 7.3 mm, fore wing 5.2 mm.

HEAD. 1.2 × as wide as high in anterior view ( Fig. 3B ), 1.8 × as wide as high in dorsal view ( Fig. 3C ). Eyes glabrous ( Fig. 3A–E ), almost parallel sided at level of antennal socket ( Fig. 3B ). Face 1.4 × as wide as high, coriaceous, setose, convex medially in lateral view with short longitudinal sulcus antero-medially ( Fig. 3B ). Clypeus 1.8 × as wide as high, coriaceous, sparsely setose, lower margin distinctly convex ( Fig. 3B ). Subocular sulcus indistinct ( Fig. 3B, D–E ). Malar space as long as basal width of mandible. Mandible bidentate, upper tooth longer than lower tooth ( Fig. 3D ). Transverse diameter of eye 4.9 × as long as temple ( Fig. 3C ). Frons slightly depressed, coriaceous, sparsely setose ( Fig. 3C ). Ocellar area slightly elevated ( Fig. 3C ). Vertex and occiput coriaceous, setose ( Fig. 3C ). Occipital carina complete medio-dorsally ( Fig. 3C ). Ratio of OOL: OD: POL = 1.0: 1.2: 1.6. Antenna with 36 flagellomeres. First flagellomere 6.4 × as long as wide and 1.5 × as long as second one. Second flagellomere 4.7 × as long as wide.

MESOSOMA. 1.6 × as long as high. Pronotum coriaceous, punctate anteriorly with a transverse sulcus dorsally with transverse rugae posteriorly ( Fig. 3E–F ). Epomia absent ( Fig. 3E–F ). Mesoscutum moderately convex, bordered by lateral carina, punctate, setose, interspace between puncture coriaceous ( Fig. 4A ). Scuto-scutellar groove shallowly impressed, smooth without crenulations ( Fig. 4A ). Scutellum mostly coriaceous medially with lateral carina on its anterior ¼, sparsely setose ( Fig. 4A ). Epicnemial carina straight ( Fig. 3F ). Mesopleuron coriaceous anteriorly, punctate medially, interspace coriaceous ( Fig. 3F ). Speculum smooth anteriorly ( Fig. 3F ). Metapleuron coriaceous, juxtacoxal carina complete, strongly broadened anteriorly and forming a lobe, pleural carina present, complete without interruptions ( Fig. 3F ). Propodeum mostly coriaceous, setose punctate laterally, posterior transverse carina complete, spiracles round ( Fig. 4B ).

WINGS. Fore wing 3.3 × as long as wide. Pterostigma 4.8 × as long as wide. Vein 1cu-a postfurcal ( Fig. 5A ). Vein 2rs-m shorter than M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu ( Fig. 5A ). Hind wing vein CU+cu-a curved to the wing base, without vein CU ( Fig. 5A ). Vein RA with 4 distal hamuli.

LEGS. Fore femur 4.9 × as long as wide. Fore tibia 8.2 × as long as wide. Fore tarsus 2.1 × as long as fore tibia. Hind coxa mostly coriaceous ( Fig. 4C–D ). Hind femur 5.7 × as long as wide and 0.7 × as long as hind tibia. Hind tibia 11.0 × as long as wide. Hind basitarsus 12.5 × as long as wide. Second hind tarsomere 6.1 × as long as wide. Hind tarsus shorter than tibia ( Fig. 3A ). Tarsal claws pectinate basally ( Fig. 5B ).

METASOMA. Metasomal tergites coriaceous to punctate ( Figs 4C–D , 5C ). T1 2.1 × as long as maximum width, coriaceous, punctate laterally, sparsely setose laterally ( Fig. 4D ), 1.4 × as long as T2, spiracle situated at anterior ⅓ ( Fig. 4C ). T2 1.7 × as long as maximum width, punctate laterally and posteriorly, rest coriaceous, sparsely setose ( Fig. 4D ). T3 0.9 × as long as maximum width, minutely punctate, sparsely setose ( Fig. 4D ). T4–6 coriaceous, sparsely setose ( Fig. 4D ). Ovipositor sheath 0.3 × as long as hind tibia. Ovipositor stout with dorsal notch subapically ( Fig. 5C ).

COLOUR. Body reddish except head except yellow spots dorsally, pronotum, mesoscutum, lateral lobes of scutellum, mesopleuron anteriorly, second metasomal tergite medially, third metasomal tergite except basally and apically, fourth metasomal tergite, fifth metasomal tergite except lateral yellow spots, sixth metasomal tergite except apically black, ocelli, lateral spots on frons and vertex, maxillary and labial palps, first metasomal tergite apically, second metasomal tergite apically, postero-lateral spots on fifth metasomal tergite, sixth metasomal tergite apically, apical metasomal tergites yellow.

Male

Unknown.

Biology

Unknown.

Distribution

India (Tamil Nadu).

Figures

Fig. 3. Shortia manjapulli Ranjith sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (AIMB). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, anterior view.C. Head, dorsal view. D. Head, ventral view. E. Head, oblique view. F. Mesosoma, lateral view.

Fig. 4. Shortia manjapulli Ranjith sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (AIMB). A. Mesosoma, dorsal view. B. Propodeum, dorsal view. C. Metasoma, lateral view. D. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 5. Shortia manjapulli Ranjith sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (AIMB). A. Wings. B. Tarsal claw. C. Apex of metasoma, lateral view.