Buluka janaorlikovae Hovorka &

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 : 436

Buluka janaorlikovae Hovorka &

Fernandez-Triana sp. nov.

( Fig. 5 )

Type locality. Vietnam, Tonkin, Hoang Lien National Reserve, 10 km SW Sa Pa, 22°14′ N, 103°52′ E; 1550 m a.s.l.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♀, “NW Vietnam: Tonkin / Hoang Lien N. R., 10 km / SW Sa Pa, c. 1550 m / 22-29.x.1999, Malaise traps / C. v. Achterberg, RMNH´99 [p] // CNC / 281637 [p]”. Deposited in RMNH.

Diagnosis. This species has gena and vertex smooth and posterior rim of metasoma slightly overhanging the carapace in lateral view, which differentiates it from all known species of Buluka except from B. orientalis . Buluka janaorlikovae sp. nov. can be distinguished from Buluka orientalis , which shares similar characters, by its predominantly yellow to yellow-orange head around vertex and upper part of gena; yellow scape and tegula; yellow metafemur with a black spot restricted to the posterior 0.1; and forewing vein r-m less than 2.0× the length of vein 2RS. Description. Female ( Fig. 5 ). Head in anterior view 0.93× as long as wide medially, setose; first flagellomere 0.97× as long as second flagellomere, 3.16× as long as wide; second flagellomere 4.7× as long as wide; fifteenth flagellomere 2.1× as long as wide; face smooth, densely setose; eyes densely setose, diverging behind antennal sockets; clypeus slightly concave, smooth and setose; frons, vertex and gena smooth, setose; ratio of maximum head width to minimum face width 2.57 (98/38).

Mesosoma 1.54× as long as high; mesoscutum punctate reticulate, setose; scutellar sulcus with seven medial carinae; scutellum punctate reticulate, setose; propodeum with medial carina, reticulate rugose, setose medially; propodeal spiracle surrounded by irregular cristulae; area around propodeal spiracle smaller, rather polished and not reaching anteriorly to fore margin of propodeum; pronotum crenulate posteriorly; mesopleuron punctate reticulate, setose, smooth and glabrous anteriorly; metapleuron smooth and glabrous antero-medially, posterior part punctate reticulate.

Metasoma. Posterior rim of metasoma slightly overhanging carapace; T1 with crenulate median longitudinal groove narrowing posteriorly; T1 0.7× as long as wide apically, reticulate rugose to areolate; T2 0.53× as long as wide apically, with longitudinal striae basally, reticulate rugose apically; second metasomal suture shallow and crenulated; T3 longitudinally striate basally, reticulate rugose medially, smooth and punctulate apically; ovipositor sheaths setose.

Legs. Metacoxa large, setose, punctate, transversely striate apically and with shallow rugose median sulcus dorsally; metafemur 3.6× as long as wide; metatibia 6.45× as long as wide; inner metatibial spur 0.5× as long as basitarsus; metatarsal claw with one tooth.

Wings. Fore wing 2.9× as long as wide, setose; basal, subbasal, 1 st discal and 1 st subdiscal cell fully setose; pterostigma 3.04× as long as wide; 2RS vein of fore wing less than 2× as long as r-m vein.

Measurements. Body length: 2.7 mm; fore wing length: 2.9 mm; second flagellomere length/width: 4.7; fifteenth antennal segment length/width: 2.1; metafemur length/ width: 3.6; metatibia length: 1.1 mm; carapace length/ width: 2.2; T1 length/apical width: 0.7; T2 length/apical width: 0.53.

Colour. Head yellow, face, clypeus, scape and pedicel light yellow-white, yellow-orange around vertex and upper part of gena; palpi white-yellow; mesosoma black; fore and middle legs light yellow, telotarsus brownish; metacoxa with basal half black, apical half yellow; metatrochanters and metatrochantellus white-yellow; metafemur yellow with black spot on posterior 0.1 or less; metatibia and basitarsus dark brown with apical 0.25 white-yellow; metatarsal segments 2–4 brown; telotarsus yellow to brown; tegula yellow; wing venation light brown; fore wing infuscate band beneath pterostigma not so distinct, slightly infuscate to second submarginal cell; area around vein 1-M basally, 1CUa and cu-a not infuscate; T1 yellow with apical half around median groove black; T2 with black triangular area narrowing apically, yellow laterally; T3 black; ovipositor sheath yellow to brown.

Etymology. Named in honour of Jana Orlíková, one of the world’s foremost experts on the work of the Czech-born painter Alfons Mucha. This eminent Czech art historian was instrumental in the promotion of this now world-famous artist and also helped to make famous other important Czech artists such as Jan Zrzavý, Max Švabinský, Antonín Slavíček, Luděk Marold and others. She was also a great grandmother to me (TH).

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Vietnam.

Figures

Fig. 5. Buluka janaorlikovae Hovorka & Fernandez-Triana sp. nov., female holotype CNC281637. A – habitus, lateral view; B – head, frontal view; C – metasoma, lateral view; D – metasoma, dorsal view; E – fore wing; F – mesosoma and propodeum, dorsal view; G – apex of metasomal carapace. Photographs by C. Boudreault.