Xanthopimpla elegans (Vollenhoven, 1879)

Pham, Nhi Thi, Broad, Gavin R., Matsumoto, Rikio & Wägele, Wolfgang J., 2011, 3056, Zootaxa 3056, pp. 1-67 : 15-16

Xanthopimpla elegans (Vollenhoven, 1879)

Pimpla elegans Vollenhoven, 1879 . Stettin. Ent. Ztg. 40: 147. Holotype: ♀, Indonesia: Java (RMNH).

Xanthopimpla elegans: Krieger (1914) .

Pimpla apicipennis Cameron, 1899 . Mem. & Proc. Manchester Lit. Phil. Soc. 43 (3): 161. Holotype: ♀, India: Khasi Hills in Assam (OUMNH).

Xanthopimpla elegans apicipennis: Townes & Chiu (1970) . New synonym.

Diagnosis. Mesoscutum with three continuous black spots, plus black mark in front of scutellum; area superomedia closed; tergites 3, 5, and 7 always with large black spots or with black bands; ovipositor sheath about 1.0–1.15x hind tibia.

Distribution. Townes & Chiu (1970) previously recorded this species from Dak Lak Province (Central Highlands of Vietnam) and Pham & Le (2007) have recently recorded this species from Pu Mat NP, Nghe An Province (Central Vietnam). Outside Vietnam, this species is known from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Taiwan ( Yu et al. 2005).

Remarks. This species is divided currently into four subspecies: X. elegans elegans from India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia; X. elegans apicipennis (Cameron) from India, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand; X. elegans cristaminor Townes & Chiu from the Philippines; and X. elegans insulana Krieger from Taiwan. Most of the specimens collected in Cat Tien NP (Dong Nai Province) belong to the nominate subspecies characterized by the presence of small black spots on tergites 2, 4, and 6 (sometimes black spots on tergite 6 absent, or in one male tergite 2 with a black band) and the black hind tarsus. Some specimens belong to X. elegans apicipennis , with entirely yellow tergites 2, 4, and 6 and yellow hind tarsomeres 1–3. All northern specimens seem to belong to this subspecies. Some other specimens, ranging from Central to Southern Vietnam are close to X. elegans apicipennis in the colour of the hind tarsomeres 1–3 but they have small black spots on tergite 2. The difference in black markings on the specimens from North to South Vietnam may reveal a cline between populations. We hereby synonymise X. elegans apicipennis to the nominate subspecies.

Material examined. Ninh Binh, Cuc Phuong NP: 1♀ ( RMNH), 225 m a.s.l, 14.iv–01.v.2000, Q. P. Mai leg. ; Thua Thien-Hue, Phong Dien, Phong My : 1♀ ( IEBR), 600 m a.s.l, 31.iii.2001, L. X. Truong leg. ; Lam Dong, Bao Loc, Dambri : 1♀ ( IEBR), 800 m a.s.l, 01.v.2000 ; 1♀ ( IEBR), same locality, 04.v.2003, T. V. Hoang leg. ; Ha Tinh, Huong Son, Son Kim : 1♀ ( IEBR), 07.v.2004, L. X. Truong leg. ; Phu Tho, Xuan Son NP: 3♀ ( IEBR), 250 m a.s.l, 05.v.2005 ; 1♀ ( ZFMK), 300 m a.s.l, 07.v.2005, N. T. Pham leg. ; Dong Nai, Cat Tien NP, 100 m a.s.l: 2♀ ( IEBR), 08.viii.2005 ; 1♂ ( IEBR), 10.viii.2005, J. Kojima leg. ; 1♀ ( IEBR), 10.viii.2005, L. X. Truong leg. ; 1♀ 1♂ ( RMNH), 6.x.2005, R. de Vries leg. ; 1♀ ( RMNH), 02–09.x.2005 ; 4♀ ( RMNH), 13–19.v.2007 ; 1♀ ( RMNH), 15−20.v.2007, C. v. Achterberg & R. de Vries leg. ; 3♀ ( RMNH), 09–30.iv.2007, Q. P. Mai & M. T. Nguyen leg. ; Nghe An, Pu Mat NP: 1♀ ( OMNH), 300−400 m a.s.l, 17.iv.2006, N. T. Pham leg. ; 3♀ ( IEBR), 250−400 m a.s.l, 23.iv.2006 ; 1♀ 1♂ ( IEBR), 350 m a.s.l, 26.iv.2006 ; 1♀ 1♂ ( IEBR), 300 m a.s.l, 27.iv.2006, H. X. Le leg. ; Quang Tri, Huong Hoa, Huong Phung : 1♀ ( ZFMK), 900−1000 m a.sl, N. T. Pham leg. ; Kon Tum, Sa Thay, Sa Son : 1♀ ( IEBR), 22.v.2009, T. V. Hoang leg.