Axea kilen Valerio & Yoder

Yoder, Matthew J., Valerio, Alejandro A., Masner, Lubomír & Johnson, Norman F., 2009, Identity and synonymy of Dicroscelio Kieffer and description of Axea, a new genus from tropical Africa and Asia (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea: Platygastridae), Zootaxa 2003, pp. 1-45 : 26-29

Axea kilen Valerio & Yoder , n.sp.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1E4AF4D4-7F99-46E2-9EB3-DA5E981D4EDB urn:lsid:biosci.ohio-state.edu:osuc_concepts:223461 Figures 22, 71–76; Morphbank45

General (Figs. 71, 72): Female body length: 3.0 mm (n=1). Male body length: unknown. Head: Color of female head: black. Mandible color: mostly dark brown to black. Body color of male: unknown. Lateral ocellus position: touching compound eye. Pilosity of medial frons between anterior ocellus and apex of torular triangle: absent, a small patch without setae clearly visible. Sculpture of medial glabrous area of frons: present, with horizontal to slightly arcuate striae or, if patch minute, then irregularly rugulose (Fig. 75). Mesosoma (Fig. 73, 74): Color of female mesosoma: yellow to amber or orange yellow. Dorsal surface of lateral pronotal area adjacent to mesoscutal suprahumeral sulcus: with conspicuous crenulations or scrobes. Setae on netrion: absent. Notaulus: indicated by an uninterrupted channel, with slight irregular sculpture along bottom. Metascutellum: not projecting. Mesopleural depression sculpture: rugose, rugae broad and smooth.

http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu/HymOnline/map-large.html?id=223432 http://www.morphbank.net/?id=226866

FIGURES 65–70. 46 Axea kalanoro , paratype female (CASENT 2043283). 65, dorsal habitus; 66, lateral habitus; 67, mesosoma, dorsal view; 68, mesosoma, lateral view; 69, head, anterior view; 70, apex of metasoma, dorsal view. Scale bars in millimeters.

Pilosity bounding anterior margin of posterior mesepimeral area: completely absent, or partially present dorsally. Legs: Coxae color: yellow (as in remainder of leg). Color of legs beyond coxae: uniformly yellow, without infuscations. Wings: Length of fore wing: surpassing posterior margin of metasoma. Hind wing submarginal vein: tubular from wing base to hamuli. Metasoma: Color of female metasoma: black. Longitudinal sculpture of T1: consisting of parallel sulci separated by smooth strips. Female T1 horn: absent, sculpture more or less uniform throughout T1. Anterior strip of T2: unknown. Female T6 width to length http://www.morphbank.net/?id=226909 ratio: more or less equal in length (subtriangular). Female T6 carinate basal extension of lateral spine: short, not extending past 1/2 length of T6. T6/S6 apical curvature: present, tips flexed outwards in lateral view. T6 posterolateral margin: with sharp spine (Fig. 76). S6 shape at tip: broadly rounded to very slightly angular, without obvious lobe.

FIGURES 71–76 47. Axea kilen , holotype female (OSUC 167051). 71, dorsal habitus; 72, lateral habitus; 73, head and mesosoma, dorsal view; 74, head and mesosoma, lateral view; 75, head, anterior view; 76, apex of metasoma, dorsal view. Scale bars in millimeters.

http://www.morphbank.net/?id=226910 Diagnosis. Differs from A. yama and A. atriceps , in which the hind wing submarginal vein is present and tubular, by the presence of a smooth and shining metascutellum (Fig. 73) and the well-impressed longitudinal sculpture of T1 (Fig. 22).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a reference to a magical half-horse half-dragon in a famous Thai fable.

Link to Distribution Map.48

Comments. Most species of Axea are remarkably similar in overall form. Axea kilen is unusual in this regard, with several notable features not observed in other species. These include the smooth and flattened metascutellum (Fig. 73), the deeply impressed longitudinal sculpture of dorsal T1 (Fig. 22), and the unique color pattern of the body.

Material Examined. Holotype female: THAILAND: Chiang Mai Prov., Doi Inthanon National Park, 1700 m, oak forest, 70 km SW Chiang Mai, 27.IV–3.V.1990, Malaise trap, B.V. Brown, OSUC 167051 (deposited in CNCI).