Methocha ubiquita Krombein, 1982

Hanima, Raveendran K. P., Viswanath, Tharakadu K. & Girish Kumar, Puthuvayi, 2022, First report of Methocha ubiquita Krombein (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae: Methochinae) from India, Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 8 (1), pp. 9-14 : 10-11

Methocha ubiquita Krombein, 1982 ( Figs 2A–K)

Methocha (Methocha) ubiquita Krombein, 1982:92–94 . Holotype: ♂, Sri Lanka: Eastern Province, Trincomalee District, Trincomalee (NMNH); Paratypes: 41♂♂, 17♀♀, all across Sri Lanka (USNM) ( Fig. 1).

Material examined. India: Kerala, Kozhikode district, Kakkodi, Cherukulam (11°20′06″ N, 75°46′20″ E, 7 m a.s.l.), 1♀, 21.viii.2021, Coll. T.K. Viswanath, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R.-INV.18313 .

Diagnosis. Female. Posterior half of mesopleuron with coarser oblique rugulae ( Fig. 2C); scutum and scutellum bulged dorsally and separated by a constriction ( Fig. 2D); pronotal disk with a median longitudinal groove ( Fig. 2F); POL 2.2 × LOL and 0.9 × OOL ( Fig. 2G); Clypeus without lateral lobe, medially with convex swelling ( Fig. 2H); malar space absent ( Fig. 2I); inner surface of mandible with one sub-apical tooth ( Fig. 2I); lower front protuberant above antennae and with a shallow groove medially ( Fig. 2I); HW 1.9 × minimum distance of IOD ( Fig. 2I); long ovipositor sheath visible dorsally ( Fig. 2K).

Colour. Frons, pronotum, scutum, scutellum, propodeum, metanotum and metasoma with dark brown to black erect vestiture, other areas with white vestiture ( Figs. 2A–2D); trochanter brownish, tibia beneath brown, tarsi yellowish orange with joints brownish ( Fig. 2A); head, mesopleuron, metasomal segments, coxa and femora black ( Figs. 2B, 2C, 2G, 2J); mesosoma with pronotum and propodeum orange red, scutum, scutellum, metanotum and pronotal collar reddish brown ( Fig. 2D); scape and pedicel shiny reddish brown, 1st to 6th flagellum reddish brown, 7th flagellum black mixed with reddish brown, 8th to 10th flagellum black ( Fig. 2E); mandible dark brown ( Fig. 2I); ovipositor sheath orange ( Fig. 2K).

Size. 7.6 mm.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Oriental: India, Kerala (New record); Sri Lanka ( Krombein, 1982).

These minor differences seem to be due to individual differences in geographically separated populations.