Buluka buntikae

Hovorka, Tomáš, Boudreault, Caroline, Achterberg, Kees Van & Fernandez-Triana, Jose L., 2024, Description of five new species of the rare genus Buluka (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) with an updated key to the world species, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 64 (2), pp. 427-453 : 428-429

Buluka buntikae

Hovorka & Fernandez-Triana sp. nov.

( Fig. 13 )

Type locality. Thailand, Chiang Mai, Huai Nam Dang National Park, Thung Buatong Viewpoint, 19°17′ N, 98°36′ E; 1420 m a.s.l.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♀, “ THAILAND: Chiang Mai, Huai / Nam Dang NP, Thung Buatong / View point, 21.-28.iv. 2008 / 19°17.56′N, 36°0.29′E, malaise / trap;Anuchart & Thawatchi leg. / T5640 [p] // CNC / 281639 [p]”. Deposited in CNC.

Diagnosis. Among the species with gena and vertex smooth, the posterior rim of metasoma not overhanging the posterior margin of metasoma, T1 and T2 only partially yellow, with the yellow not covering the full width of the tergite, scutellum punctate-reticulate to rugose, and T2 and T3 with longitudinal striae only anteriorly, Buluka buntikae sp. nov. can be recognized by its propodeal spiracle surrounded by a well-developed cristula which delimits a relatively small, smooth, polished area (large in B. taiwanensis ), and forewing basal and subbasal cells almost without setae or just apically with setose area around infuscation (fully setose in B. achterbergi and B. quickei ). Buluka buntikae can be distinguished from B. frederiquebakkerae sp. nov. and B. longi sp. nov., by having face light yellow, frons, temple and vertex dark brown, small triangular area behind ocelli orange, propodeum reticulate rugose without incomplete rugosity near median carina of propodeum, metatrochanter and metatrochantellus white-yellow, medial striae on T3 less distinct, short and narrow, impression between T2 and T3 not so deep and its striae close to each other, without polished area in between, and apex of carapace with thin, elongated, smooth central area.

Description. Female ( Fig. 13 ). Head in anterior view 0.93× as long as wide medially, setose; first flagellomere 1.12× as long as second flagellomere, 3.8× as long as wide; second flagellomere 4.1× as long as wide; fifteenth flagellomere 1.9× as long as wide; face smooth, densely setose ventrally; frons setose; vertex smooth; gena smooth and setose; eyes setose, diverging behind antennal sockets; clypeus slightly concave, smooth and densely setose; ratio of maximum head width to minimum face width 2.58 (98/38).

Mesosoma 1.33× as long as high; mesoscutum punctate anteriorly and laterally; notaular courses, posterior and lateral margin of mesoscutum reticulate rugose, setose; scutellar sulcus with 7 medial carinae; scutellum reticulate rugose, setose; propodeum with medial carina, reticulate rugose, without incomplete rugosity near median carina of propodeum, glabrous; propodeal spiracle surrounded by cristulae; area around propodeal spiracle smooth, not reaching anteriorly to fore margin of propodeum; pronotum crenulate posteriorly; mesopleuron punctate, setose, smooth and glabrous anteriorly; metapleuron smooth and glabrous antero-medially, posterior part punctate reticulate, setose.

Metasoma. Posterior rim of metasoma shorter than carapace; T1 with crenulate median longitudinal groove with smooth polished area in basal medial half; T1 0.7× as long as wide apically, areolate in apical half; T2 0.4× as long as wide apically, with distinct longitudinal striae basally, area in between striae polished; second metasomal suture shallow and wide; T3 with longitudinal striae in basal 0.3 close to each other and without polished area in between; apex of T3 with thin, elongated, smooth central area; ovipositor sheath setose apically with two spatulate sensillae.

Legs. Metacoxa large, setose dorsally and ventrally, punctate (reticulate), with distinct transversal striae apically; metafemur 3.5× as long as wide; metatibia 4.68× as long as wide; inner metatibial spur 0.8× as long as basitarsus; metatarsal claw with one tooth.

Wings. Fore wing 2.84× as long as wide; 1 st discal cell sparsely setose; 1 st subdiscal setose; basal and subbasal cell glabrous, only setose in their 0.2 apically; pterostigma 4.16× as long as wide; 2RS vein of fore wing more than 2× as long as r-m vein.

Measurements. Body length: 3.3 mm; fore wing length: 3.3 mm; second antennal segment length/width: 4.1; fifteenth antennal segment length/width: 1.9; metafemur length/width: 3.5; metatibia length: 1.25 mm; carapace length/width: 1.8; T1 length/apical width: 0.7; T2 length/ apical width: 0.4.

Color. Head yellow to dark brown; face, clypeus, scape and pedicel light yellow; frons and gena dark brown; vertex dark brown with small orange triangular area; palpi white- -yellow; mesosoma black; fore and middle legs together light yellow with telotarsus brown; metacoxa black; metatrochanter and metatrochantellus white-yellow; metafemora dark brown; metatibia dark brown with apical 0.3 white-yellow; hind basitarsus with basal 0.4 white-yellow and apical 0.6 black; hind tarsal segments 2–3 white- -yellow; hind tarsal segment 4 with basal 0.4 white-yellow and apical 0.6 black; hind telotarsus brown; tegula dark brown; wing venation light brown to white-yellow; fore wing infuscate throughout below pterostigma and around vein 1-CU; T 1 in basal half with wide oval light yellow area around medial longitudinal groove narrowing apically; T2 black with small central triangular light yellow area; T3 black; ovipositor sheath dark brown to black.

Etymology. Named after Buntika Areekul Butcher, head of the Department of Entomology at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, who studies the systematics, biology and evolution of parasitoid wasps, particularly in the families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae .

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Thailand.

Figures

Fig. 13. Buluka buntikae Hovorka & Fernandez-Triana sp. nov., female holotype CNC281639. A – habitus, lateral view; B – wings; C – metasoma, lateral view; D – head, frontal view; E – propodeum and metasoma, dorsal view; F – scutellum and propodeum, dorsal view; G – head, mesoscutum and scutellum, dorsal view. Photographs by C. Boudreault.