Tanycarpa gracilicornis

Yao, Junli, Kula, Robert R., Wharton, Robert A. & Chen, Jiahua, 2015, Four new species of Tanycarpa (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from the Palaearctic Region and new records of species from China, Zootaxa 3957 (2), pp. 169-187 : 175-176

Tanycarpa gracilicornis (Nees von Esenbeck)

Bassus gracilicornis Nees von Esenbeck, 1812: 206. Type: lost.

Tanycarpa gracilicornis: Foerster 1862: 265 , Wharton 1980: 73 (discussion), Tobias and Jakimavicius 1986: 180 (in key to European species), Chen and Wu 1994: 139 (redescription, range extension), Belokobylskij 1998: 208 (in key to species from eastern Russia).

Material examined. China, Ningxia: Liupanshan, Wanghuanan, 5 ♀ 7 ♂ 20–VIII–2000, Zhihui Lin (1 ♀ 1 ♂ USNM); 1 ♀ 3 ♂ same data as previous except Quanxiu Shi (1 ♂ USNM); 4 ♀ 4 ♂ same data as previous except Qinge Ji (1 ♀ 1 ♂ USNM); 4 ♂ same data as previous except Jianquan Yang (1 USNM); 1 ♀ 1 ♂ Guanghong Liang; 1 ♂ Migangshan, 22–VIII–2000, Zhihui Lin; 1 ♀ Jingyuan, 15–VIII–2000, Quanxiu Shi; China, Hubei: 1 ♂ Shennongjia, 22–VIII–2000, Juchang Huang (all at FAFU except as noted for USNM).

Diagnosis. Antenna with 30–40 flagellomeres; frons almost flat, glabrous; mandible 1.40–1.60× longer than wide; midpit long and narrow; scutellar sulcus deep, wide, with 1 strong longitudinal carina, adjacent to carina rugose or with just a few rugae; notauli distinctly crenulate anteriorly, obliterated posteriorly; midpit long and narrow; mesoscutal lobes with dense setae medially but glabrous laterally; propodeum with distinct longitudinal ridge in basal 1/4–1/5 that splits into two transverse ridges, two longitudinal ridges extend posteriorly from tubercles and form closed glabrous areola; 1cu-a small, postfurcal; legs yellow except apical 1/4 of hind tibia and entire tarsus slightly to strongly infuscate; pterostigma brown; T1 brown, metasoma except T1 brownish yellow to brown. Body 3.08–3.60 mm.

Distribution. Austria; Belgium; Canada (Alberta and Ontario); China (Fujian, Ningxia, Hubei); Czechoslovakia (former); Finland; Germany; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; North Korea; Poland; Russia (Primor'ye Kray, Sakhalin Oblast, Saint Petersburg); Switzerland; United Kingdom; USA (Alaska).

Remarks. Tanycarpa gracilicornis is widespread and is morphologically similar to T. mitis and T. similis based on the filiform apical three antennal flagellomeres and presence of a mesoscutal midpit. However, T. gracilicornis has 30–40 flagellomeres, T. mitis has 24–27 flagellomeres, and T. similis has 25–29 flagellomeres. As for T. mitis and T. similis , they are separated primarily using the median longitudinal ridge of the propodeum and the fore wing 2nd submarginal cell. Tanycarpa mitis has a longitudinal ridge in the basal 1/3, and the 2nd submarginal cell longer; T. similis lacks a longitudinal ridge, and the 2nd submarginal cell is shorter. In T. gracilicornis the propodeum has a distinct longitudinal ridge in the basal 1/4–1/5, and the 2nd submarginal cell is shorter as in T. similis .