Therophilus contrastus, van Achterberg, Cornelis & Long, Khuat Dang, 2010

van Achterberg, Cornelis & Long, Khuat Dang, 2010, Revision of the Agathidinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) of Vietnam, with the description of forty-two new species and three new genera, ZooKeys 54, pp. 1-184 : 79-81

Therophilus contrastus sp. n. Figs 238-246

Type material.

Holotype, ♀ (RMNH), "S. Vietnam: Dong Nai, Cat Tien N.P., c 100 m, 13-19.v.2007, Crocodile tr[ail], Mal. traps, C. v. Achterberg & R. de Vries, RMNH’07”. Paratypes (3 ♀): 1 ♀ (IEBR), id. but Ficus trail, 9-30.iv.2007; 1 ♀ (RMNH), "Museum Leiden, Vietnam (Dong Nai Prov.), Cat Tien N.P., Ben Cu trail, 14-20.v.2007, C. van Achterberg, R. de Vries & E. Gassó Miracle", "mixed bamboo and wood [= deciduous] forest, by hand, 220 m, 11°26'54.8N; 107°26'30.9E; 1 ♀ (IEBR), Aga. 092, "N. Vietnam: Ha Noi, Gia Lam, orchard, MT, 20-30.iv.2001, K.D. Long".

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to Therophilus lienhoachihensis (Chou & Sharkey, 1989), but differs by having the notauli fused posteriorly, forming a large crenulate area ( Therophilus lienhoachihensis :rugose); the scutellum with sparse fine punctures (lienhoachihensis:rugose-punctate) and the mesonotum reddish yellow (lienhoachihensis:black). Bassus albifasciatus (Watanabe, 1934) is similar, but Therophilus contrastus differs by having the tarsal claws with a large lobe ( Bassus albifasciatus : claws without a lobe); outer side of the middle tibia with a row of 4-5 pegs (albifasciatus: 4-10 pegs); the pronotum crenulate anteriorly (albifasciatus: with two carinae) and the head entirely black (albifasciatus: reddish-brown). The new species is also close to Therophilus festivus (Muesebeck, 1953), but differs by having the first tergite about 1.7 times as long as its apical width ( Therophilus festivus : 1.8-1.9 times); pronotum and mesonotum reddish-yellow (festivus: black)and basal half of hind tibia without a dark brown basal ring (festivus: basal ring usually present).

Description.

Holotype, ♀, length of body 5.2 mm, of fore wing 3.6 mm, ovipositor sheath 3.0 mm.

Head.

Antennal segments 36, length of third segment 1.2 times fourth segment, length of third, fourth and penultimate segments 3.7, 3.1 and 2.0 times their width, respectively; length of apical antennal segment 1.3 times as long as penultimate segment; maxillary palp 2.2 times height of head; malar space 2.7 times as long as basal width of mandible; in dorsal view length of eye 3.5 times temple; temple directly narrowed posteriorly (Fig. 246); POL:OD:OOL= 9:6:11; face with densely punctate; frons rather dull and distinctly punctate laterally (Fig. 246); vertex and temple with sparse fine punctures.

Mesosoma.

Length of mesosoma 1.5 times its height; subpronope shallow; pronotal trough largely smooth, crenulate anteriorly, dorsally with sparse fine punctures; area near lateral carina of mesoscutum crenulate; mesoscutum with very sparse fine punctures; notauli complete and crenulate; scutellar sulcus 0.6 times as long as dorsal face of scutellum and with 3 carinae; scutellum with sparse punctures, subposterior crest short (Fig. 240); precoxal sulcus complete and largely crenulate (Fig. 239); mesopleuron with sparse distinct punctures; mesopleuron rugose-punctate anteriorly, reticulate-rugose posteriorly; propodeum largely reticulate-rugose; propodeal spiracle small, as long as wide.

Wings.

Fore wing: second submarginal cell small (Fig. 242); vein SR1 straight; r:3-SR+SR1 = 3:62. Hind wing: vein M+CU 0.8 times as long as vein 1-M.

Legs.

Length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 3.8, 6.1 and 9.2 times their width, respectively; hind femur (as remainder of legs) with short setae (Fig. 243); length of outer and inner spur of middle tibia 0.4 and 0.7 times middle basitarsus, respectively; outer side of middle tibia with a row of 3 pegs; length of outer and inner spur of hind tibia 0.3 and 0.5 times hind basitarsus, respectively; outer apex of hind tibia with a cluster of 7 pegs; tarsal claws with a distinct lobe.

Metasoma.

First tergite longitudinally striate without dorsal carinae; length of first tergite 1.7 times its apical width (Fig. 241); second tergite with weak transverse groove, slightly striate (Fig. 241); remainder of metasoma shiny and smooth; ovipositor sheath 0.8 times as long as fore wing.

Colour.

Black; mouthparts, fore and middle legs, hind trochantellus and basal half of hind tibia pale yellow; pronotum, mesonotum, mesopleuron above precoxal sulcus orange brown; second tergite basally, first-second tergites laterally ivory; pterostigma dark brown; wing membrane subhyaline.

Variation.

Antenna with 33-36 segments; first tergite 1.7-1.9 times as long as its apical width; second tergite weakly longitudinally striate or smooth; ovipositor sheath 0.8-0.9 times as long as fore wing; length of body 4.9-5.2 mm and of fore wing 3.6-3.8 mm.

Distribution.

NE Vietnam: Ha Noi and S Vietnam: Dong Nai.

Biology.

Unknown.

Etymology.

From “contra” (Latin for “opposite”), because of the contrasting orange and black body colour.