Batakomacrus noyesi Broad

Broad, Gavin R., 2010, Status of Batakomacrus Kolarov (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Orthocentrinae), with new generic combinations and description of a new species, Zootaxa 2394, pp. 51-68 : 65-67

Batakomacrus noyesi Broad , sp. nov.

(Figs 25–28)

Description of female. Characters used in the generic diagnosis are not repeated here. Whole insect: Figs 27 , 28. Fore wing length 3.5–3.6 mm. Face transversely striate, up to antennal sockets. Clypeus not separated from face by groove but basal half raised as a blunt ridge, apically flattened, sculpture weaker than face, edge impressed, narrow, slightly concave. Antenna with 24–26 flagellomeres (n=4), holotype apical flagellomeres missing; 1st flagellomere 2.8–3.0 x as long as apically wide (n=3); flagellomeres 10–17 moniliform, slightly wider than long, flagellum curls at this point. Most of body smooth, polished, microsculpture present on basal metasomal segments and propodeum, where area dentipara and posterior end of area lateralis wrinkled. Propodeum with strong, raised posterior transverse carina and lateromedian longitudinal carinae, delimiting combined area superomedia and area basalis. First tergite 1.4 x as long as apically wide, strongly coriaceous with pustulate sculpture, sometimes forming weak longitudinal striae, slightly shiny, ‘greasy’ appearance. First tergite with transverse impressions originating just beyond middle of tergite, sloping posteriorly, petering out and not meeting centrally. Second tergite 0.9 x as long as apically wide, sculpture as for 1st tergite; basal thyridia large, oval/rectangular; 2nd thyridiae small, circular, raised, situated in slight transverse impression; 3rd tergite basally with weak coriaceous sculpture, otherwise unsculptured, smooth. Fourth and 5th tergites unsculptured, with rounded, shallow emarginations posteriorly. Hind claws long, almost as long as 5th tarsomere, strongly curved. Scattered setae on metasomal tergites, apical sternites and along length of ovipositor sheaths, more densely setose on mesoscutum, head, mesosternum and basal sternites. Sides of thorax almost entirely glabrous.

Colour: dark brown, orange on scape, pedicel, basal 3 or so flagellomeres, legs (except hind coxa, basally brown, fading to orange), apical half of clypeus, patch around mandible base, upper edge of face, small patch between antennal sockets and inner orbit opposite, small spot at upper hind corner of pronotum, tegula and basal thyridiae of 2nd metasomal tergite. Tergites becoming paler brown apically. Sternites off-white, with dark brown laterotergites. Mandibles yellow, tips dark; labial and maxillary palps off-white.

Male. Unknown

Biology. Hosts unknown. The few specmens have been collected from June to October in woodland, both deciduous and coniferous.

Etymology. I am pleased to name this species after John Noyes, chalcidologist colleague and collector of one of the paratype specimens, who has recently retired from the Natural History Museum.

Comments. Compared with B. caudatus and B. flaviceps , 2nd tergite with heavier sculpture, coriaceous verging on pustulate, sculpture sometimes tending towards longitudinal striations (fig. 25). Thyridiae larger than in congeners, more rectangular-oval (compared with distinctly transverse, often not noticeable). Posterior margins of 3rd, 4th and 5th tergites only weakly emarginate. Apical section of ovipositor sheath relatively shorter than in caudatus , small section of basal stalk visible in lateral view when ovipositor is at rest.

Material examined. Holotype female ( BMNH), verbatim label data: ‘ England, SP [Shropshire]: Church Stretton. Bagleth Hill. 18.vi.1958. D.M.S. Perkins’. Paratypes, verbatim label data: 1 Ƥ ‘ Scotland. EI [East Invernesshire]. Aviemore. 4.vi.1952. R.B. Benson’; 1 Ƥ, ‘ England: Surrey. Richmond Park 10.x. [19]82’ [J.S. Noyes]; 1 Ƥ ‘ UK: Silwood Park, Berks. SU 946688 Malaise trap, wood edge 16-20/6/1998 coll. Broad & Dolphin’ (all BMNH); 2 Ƥ, ‘Abernethy Forest Speyside, Scotland, Malaise trap, site 2, bottom trap, 30.vi. [19] 88 – 9.vii. [19]88’; 1 Ƥ, same data except 19-25.viii.88; 1 Ƥ, same data except ‘site 1’, 8-18.vii.89 [all D.S. Phillips] ( NMS).

Figures

FIGURE 27. The same, lateral view of whole specimen. FIGURE 28. The same, dorsal view of whole specimen.