Brachymeria nephantidis Gahan, 1930

Binoy, C., Nivetha, S. & Arulprakash, R., 2024, Chalcidid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) of Opisina arenosella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae) on coconut palm in southern India, Zootaxa 5537 (4), pp. 493-510 : 502

Brachymeria nephantidis Gahan, 1930

( Figs 35–39 )

Material examined. Kerala: 9♀ Kozhikode dt., Elathur , Balussery, 2019–2021, Coll. C. Binoy ; Tamil Nadu: all Coll. S. Nivetha, 7♀, 5♂ Erode dt., Avalpoondurai, 01.xii.2023 ; 6♀, 4♂ Karur dt, Pugalur, 13.xii.2023 ; 9♀, 7♂ Dharmapuri dt., Kaduchettipatti, 08.vii.2024 ; 5♀, 6♂ Tirupur dt., Nathakadayur, 25.i.2024 .

Diagnosis. Head as wide as mesosoma in dorsal view ( Fig. 36 ); scrobe clearly reaching median ocellus; area below scrobe without any smooth area ( Fig. 37 ); preorbital carina present, obsolete at vertex ( Fig. 37 , arrow); postorbital carina present, reaching genotemporal margin ( Fig. 38 , arrow); mesosoma with small, close setigerous punctures ( Fig. 36 ), with interstices rugose-carinate; scutellum apically entire, with moderately dense pubescence ( Fig. 36 ); metacoxa without any ventromesal tooth; metafemur black with yellow region apically, ventrally with 9–11 irregular teeth ( Fig. 39 ); metatibia brownish-black with basal and apical yellow region. Female with metasoma acuminate, distinctly longer than mesosoma, ( Fig. 35 ); Gt 1 shiny, smooth ( Fig. 36 ); ovipositor sheath punctate, distinctly visible dorsally ( Fig. 39 ). Male metasoma subglobose, shorter than mesosoma.

Figures

FIGURES 35–39. Brachymeria nephantidis Gahan, 1930, female. 35, habitus, lateral view; 36, habitus, dorsal view; 37, head, frontal view (arrow points to preorbital carina); 38, head, lateral view (arrow points to postorbital carina); 39, hind leg and metasoma, lateral view.