Xanthopimpla panthera, Pham & Broad & Matsumoto & Wägele, 2011

Pham, Nhi Thi, Broad, Gavin R., Matsumoto, Rikio & Wägele, Wolfgang J., 2011, 3056, Zootaxa 3056, pp. 1-67 : 37

Xanthopimpla panthera sp. nov.

( Figs 2f, 4e, 6c, 8d, 10a, 12d, 14c, 16b)

Diagnosis. Face 0.9x as high as wide, with minute punctures; mesoscutum polished, only punctate anteriorly; propodeum with area superomedia much wider than long, lateral part of posterior transverse carina absent, second lateral area confluent with petiolar area; metasomal tergites each with two black spots; ovipositor sheath 0.7x hind tibia; ovipositor lower valve with six apical ridges.

Description (Holotype female). Body length 16.0 mm, fore wing 13.5 mm, ovipositor sheath 2.3 mm. Head. First antennal flagellomere 1.75x length of second; diameter of lateral ocellus 1.1x ocellar-ocular distance; frons polished; face 0.9x as high as wide, with numerous minute punctures; clypeus 0.5x as high as wide, apical margin thin and emarginate; malar space about 0.4x basal width of mandible.

Mesosoma . Epomia short; mesoscutum polished, with small punctures anteriorly, notaulus on anterior 0.2 of mesoscutum, ending before anterior level of tegula; scutellum convex, lateral carina forming lateral flange medially 0.7x as high as first flagellomere width, gradually narrowed at apex; mesopleuron with fine punctures, pubescent, epicnemial carina present on lower half, postpectal carina medially forming wide and moderately high flange; metapleuron polished; propodeum without lateral part of posterior carina, area superomedia 0.6x as long as wide, lateral area confluent with petiolar area; propodeal spiracle elongate, 4.0x as long as wide. Hind leg with femur 2.2x as long as wide, 0.8x length of tibia, hind basitarsus 0.3x length of tarsus, 2.0x second tarsomere, third tarsomere 1.3x as long as wide; mid tibia with four bristles near apex, five bristles at apex; hind tibia with three bristles near apex, three bristles at apex; largest bristles on mid and hind tarsal claws widened. Fore wing with vein 2 rs-m 0.7x vein 3 rs-m; cu-a opposite Rs+M; hind wing with first abscissa of vein Cu 1 about 0.3x length of vein cu- a.

Metasoma. First tergite as long as apical width, dorsolateral carina weakly present from base to spiracle, median longitudinal carina nearly extending to oblique groove; tergite 3 onwards densely, coarsely punctate; ovipositor weakly decurved at tip, lower valve with six small ridges at tip, ovipositor sheath 0.75x length of hind tibia.

Colour. Lemon yellow; antenna dark brown, except outer side of scape, pedicel and first flagellomere yellow; ocellar area black; hind slope of vertex to occipital area black; mesoscutum with three separate longitudinal black spots medially and black spot at base of scutellum; tegula brown, transparent posteriorly; propodeum with black spot in first lateral area; metaepisternum with two lateral black spots; fore and mid femora with black bands on outer side; base of hind coxa with oval black spot anteriorly, hind trochanter black laterally, hind femur with postmedian back stripe larger than anteromedian black stripe, basal 0.20 of tibia black, lower side of hind tarsus black, upper side yellowish; wings hyaline with infuscate margins, pterostigma and veins dark brown, except basal half of costa yellowish; metasomal tergites 1–6 each with two black spots, tergites 7–8 with median black spots; ovipositor reddish brown; ovipositor sheath black.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. The paratype has the area superomedia 0.5x as high as wide, its hind tibia with six preapical bristles.

Comparision. The new species is distinguished from X. quatei Townes & Chiu by having a shorter area superomedia on propodeum (0.5–0.6x as long as wide versus 0.9x), the second lateral area of propodeum is confluent with the petiolar area, black spots on tergites 3–4 densely punctate and a shorter ovipositor sheath (0.75x as long as hind tibia versus 1.25x).

Etymology. Named after its leopard-like spotting.

Distribution. Currently known only from Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Province, South Vietnam (Fig. 19).

Ecological notes. The specimens were collected in lowland evergreen forest.

Material examined. Holotype: ♀ ( RMNH), Dong Nai, Cat Tien NP, 100 m a.s.l, 13–20.v.2005, C. v. Achterberg & R. de Vries leg. Paratype: 1♀ ( IEBR), same locality and collectors as holotype, 02–09.x.2005 .