Probles (Euporizon) protoversuta, Khalaim, 2019

Khalaim, A. I., 2019, Four new species of the genus Probles Förster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae) from Vietnam, Zoosystematica Rossica (China) 28 (1), pp. 120-131 : 128-130

Probles (Euporizon) protoversuta sp. nov.

( Figs 27–31)

Holotype. Female, Northwest Vietnam, Lai Châu Prov ., Hoang Lien National Park [Nature Reserve since 2006], 15 km W of Sa Pa, 1900 m, Malaise traps, 15–21.X.1999, coll. C. v. Achterberg ( RMNH).

Comparative diagnosis. In having a sinuate ovipositor ( Fig. 31), the new species resembles the subgenus Microdiaparsis Horstmann, 1971 and the P. fulgida species group of the subgenus Euporizon designated for three very close species occurring in South Korea ( Khalaim et al., 2013). Probles protoversuta sp. nov. is intermediate between them as it has the gena 0.75 times as broad as the eye width, while in Microdiaparsis , the gena is longer (the above-mentioned ratio 0.9–1.2), and in the P. fulgida species group, the gena is shorter (this ratio 0.4–0.5). In the subgenus Microdiaparsis , the new species is most similar to P. neoversuta (Horstmann, 1967) as both species possess a strongly sinuate ovipositor apex, and their mesopleuron is distinctly punctate on a smooth background; but it is distinct in having (in addition to the shorter gena) a weaker foveate groove of the mesopleuron, longer intercubitus (vein 2rs-m) in the fore wing, shorter ovipositor, and densely granulate, dull and almost impunctate gena. In the P. fulgida species group, P. protoversuta sp. nov. is similar to P. fulgida Khalaim et Balueva, 2013 by having a weak and short foveate groove of the mesopleuron and strongly sinuate ovipositor apex; but it differs from the latter species (in addition to the longer gena) by the flagellum with finger-shaped structures present only on flagellomeres 4 to 6 (on flagellomeres 2 [or 3] to 6 in P. fulgida ), longer basal area of propodeum ( Fig. 30), longer second metasomal tergite, and granulate and almost impunctate head.

Description. Female. Body length 4.2 mm, fore wing length 3.2 mm.

Head distinctly constricted and weakly round- ed behind eyes in dorsal view; gena 0.75 times as long as eye width. Clypeus lenticular, 2.8 times as broad as high, about as broad as face, slightly convex, separated from face by distinct furrow, smooth in lower 0.7 and finely granulate in upper 0.3, punctate in upper half. Mandible slender, weakly tapered in basal half; upper tooth distinctly longer than lower. Malar space 0.9 times as long as basal mandibular width. Antennal flagellum filiform, with 24 flagellomeres; subbasal flagellomeres 1.6–1.8 times and subapical flagellomeres 1.1–1.2 times as long as broad; flagellomeres 4 to 6 with very thin and long subapical finger-shaped structures on outer surface. Face, frons, vertex and gena densely granulate, dull, with fine and mostly indistinct (because of granulation) punctures. Occipital carina complete. Hypostomal carina absent.

Mesoscutum granulate, dull, with moderately dense fine punctures which are mostly indistinct on central lobe and distinct on lateral lobes. Notaulus indistinct, vestigial on anterolateral side of mesoscutum, with short and sharp groove distant from anterolateral margin of mesoscutum. Scutellum with lateral carinae present only at its base. Mesopleuron punctate on smooth and shining background (except for impunctate area just above foveate groove), peripherally mostly granulate. Foveate groove of mesopleuron moderately deep, weakly S-curved, situated more or less in centre of mesopleuron, with transverse wrinkles extending downwards and reaching epicnemial carina anteriorly ( Fig. 28). Epicnemial carina with upper end abruptly curved to reach front margin of mesopleuron at level of lower third of pronotum. Propodeum with basal area indistinct because of irregular wrinkles ( Fig. 30), 0.7 times as long as apical area; dorsolateral area shallowly granulate, weakly shining, with very fine and sparse punctures; apical area widely rounded anteriorly ( Fig. 30), flat, granulate, impunctate, dull; apical longitudinal carinae distinct only posteriorly, vestigial in front part. Propodeal spiracle adjacent to pleural carina ( Fig. 30).

Fore wing with second recurrent vein (2m-cu) distinctly postfurcal. Metacarpus (R1) almost reaching tip of wing. First abscissa of radius (Rs+2r) straight, 1.25 times longer than width of pterostigma. Intercubitus (2rs-m) moderately long, thickened, about as long as abscissa of cubitus between intercubitus and second recurrent vein (abscissa of M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu). Hind wing with nervellus (cu1&cu-a) weakly reclivous. Legs slender ( Fig. 29). Tarsal claws strongly curved, not pectinate.

First metasomal tergite slender, 4.2 times as long as posteriorly broad, entirely smooth and shining, in lateral view with upper margin weakly convex in anterior 0.7 and strongly arcuate in posterior 0.3; petiole round in cross-section; postpetiole in dorsal view broader than petiole. Glymma deep, moderately large, situated in posterior 0.65 of first tergite, joining by deep furrow to ventral part of postpetiole ( Fig. 28). Second tergite 2.2 times as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression about 4.0 times as long as broad. Ovipositor slender, weakly upcurved, strongly sinuate at apex ( Fig. 31); sheath 2.8 times as long as first tergite.

Head, mesosoma and first metasomal segment black; lower 0.4 of clypeus, mandible (teeth dark red) and tegula brownish yellow; mouthparts yellow. Antenna with yellowish brown scape and pedicel as well as black (but slightly paler at base) flagellum. Pterostigma brown with small pale spots at proximal and distal corners. Legs brownish yellow, but hind coxa extensively darkened with brown base, and hind tibia and tarsus infuscate. Metasoma behind first segment predominantly dark brown, yellow ventrally and dorsally on distal tergites, and with yellowish markings on sides ( Fig. 27).

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. The species name is based on the species name P. versuta with the Latinized Greek prefix “proto-” (before).

Distribution. Northwest Vietnam.