Apanteles rufiterra Slater-Baker, Fagan-Jeffries, Fernández-Triana, Portmann & Oestmann, 2025

Slater-Baker, Mollie-Rosae, Fagan-Jeffries, Erinn P., Oestmann, Katherine J., Portmann, Olivia G., Bament, Tiahni M., Howe, Andy G., Guzik, Michelle T., Bradford, Tessa M., McClelland, Alana R., Woodward, Alice, Clarke, Sylvia, Ducker, Nathan & Fernández-Triana, José, 2025, DNA barcoding, integrative taxonomy, citizen science, and Bush Blitz surveys combine to reveal 34 new species of Apanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) in Australia, ZooKeys 1227, pp. 1-128 : 1-128

Apanteles rufiterra Slater-Baker, Fagan-Jeffries, Fernández-Triana, Portmann & Oestmann sp. nov.

Fig. 5 C ( distribution), Fig. 56 (holotype )

Type material.

Holotype. Australia • ♀; WA, Western Pilbara, Hamersley station, Nanutarra-Wittenoom Rd., approx. 25 km NE of Railway Rd. crossing, North side of hill on East ridge .; - 22.3558, 117.915; 15–19 May. 2006; Conservation Volunteers Australia leg.; Malaise trap; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 1351-24 ; WAM: 130555 . Paratypes. Australia • ♀; QLD, 3.6 km NW Homestead on Plum Pudding Track, Cravens Peak Station ; - 23.3128, 138.562; 21–24 Apr. 2007; C Lemann leg.; Malaise trap; Spinifex; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 049-18 ; ANIC: 32-130195 . • ♂; SA, Witjira NP, Purni Bore, 88 km EbS Mt Dare Hotel ; - 26.2847, 136.085; 19–22 Mar. 2017; D. Yeates, A. Landford, Y. Su, X. Li, J. Lumbers & M. Irwin leg.; Malaise trap; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 1047-24 ; WAM: 130556 . • ♀; WA, Karikini NP, Juna Downs Rd ; - 22.7394, 118.407; 19–25 Apr. 2003; C. Lambkin & T. Weir leg.; Malaise trap; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 1386-24 ; WAM: 130557 . • ♀; WA, Watheroo NP, Jingemia Caves ; - 30.2542, 115.999; 273 m; 17 Sep. – 7 Nov. 2003; C Lambkin, N Starick, J Recsei leg.; Malaise closed heath; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 448-18 ; ANIC: 32-130210 . • ♀; WA, Western Pilbara, Hamersley station, Nanutarra-Wittenoom Rd., approx. 10 km NE of Railway Rd. crossing, nr railway crossing ; - 22.4433, 117.813; 22–27 Sep. 2005; Conservation Volunteers Australia leg.; Malaise trap; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 1316-24 ; AM: K. 247579 . • ♂; WA, Western Pilbara, Hamersley station, Nanutarra-Wittenoom Rd., approx. 13 km NE of Railway Rd. crossing, near fence line ; - 22.4356, 117.83; 27–30 May. 2004; A. Donnelly & G. Carter leg.; Malaise trap; BOLD Process ID: AUMIC 1350-24 ; WAM: 130558 .

Diagnostic description.

Size: Total body length: 2.5 mm; fore wing length: 2.4 mm. Head: anterior scape colour similar or only very slightly paler than head colour; F 2 L / W ratio: 2.8; F 14 L / W ratio: 1.4. Mesosoma: scutoscutellar sulcus with 12 pits; mesoscutellar disc mostly smooth, or with very shallow scattered indentations; propodeal areola complete, or mostly so; propodeum mostly rugose; coxae colour (pro, meso, meta): dark all; metafemur colour mostly dark. Wings: centre of pterostigma pigmented to same degree as the outer edges; fore wing r vein length / 2 RS vein length ratio: 1.9. Metasoma: T 1 shape narrowing in posterior third, T 1 medial length / anterior width between 1–2 × longer than wide; mostly smooth; T 2 mostly smooth; ovipositor sheath length / metatibia length ratio: 0.6.

Apanteles rufiterra can be separated from most of the other described species of Apanteles known from Australia with a dark metafemur and metacoxa and the centre of the pterostigma pale / hyaline by fore wing vein 1 CUa pigmented whilst fore wing veins M + CU and 1 M pigmented no more than half of their lengths. We do not morphologically diagnose this species against A. pellucidus , but as the species are not closely related based on molecular data, they can be identified through DNA barcoding and the placement of the sequences on a phylogeny in the context of the holotype barcodes.

Etymology.

The species epithet is roughly translated as ‘ red earth / dirt’ from the Latin rufus (reddish) and terra (earth / soil) and relates to the beautiful red earth of many of the collection localities of this species in outback Australia. The epithet is a noun in apposition.

Distribution.

Apanteles rufiterra is found throughout the central latitudes of Australia, in both SA and WA.

Molecular information.

Sequences of Apanteles rufiterra are currently in BIN BOLD: ADL 3292. The COI sequences are at least 8 % divergent from any of the other species treated here, or any available sequence on BOLD. The wg sequences of the species are at least 19 bp different to any other species. All delimitation methods resolved A. rufiterra as a discrete species.

Figures

Figure 5. Known distribution in the of the following Apanteles species in Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand: A A. carpatus, A. sp. nr carpatus, A. cuprum, A. ippeus, A. kelpiellus, A. ligdus B A. darthvaderi, A. focusalis, A. lamingtonensis, A. pellucidus, A. phantasmatus C A. doreenwatlerae, A. margaritarius, A. pharusalis, A. rufiterra, A. translucentis. Maps include examined material and public DNA barcode records, see Suppl. material 3 for full details.

Figure 56. Apanteles rufiterra (holotype AUMIC 1351-24) A lateral habitus B dorsal propodeum and T 1–3 C fore and hindwing D anterior head E dorsal head F dorsal habitus.