Range extension of the rare braconine genus, Lyricibracon Quicke (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), with the description of a new species from India Author Ranjith, A. P. Author Santhosh, S. Author Nasser, M. text Zootaxa 2017 4227 3 422 430 journal article 37222 10.11646/zootaxa.4227.3.8 16114199-c08c-4a7d-8e0c-cb1e027929a6 1175-5326 268376 BF976450-70FB-4CF5-A33F-B0CE06FF93C7 Lyricibracon jenningsi Ranjith sp. nov. ( Figs 1–3 ) FIGURE 1. Lyricibracon jenningsi Ranjith , holotype ♀: A, habitus in lateral view; B, head in frontal view; C, mesosoma in dorsal view; D, scutellum & propodeum in dorsal view; E, metasoma in dorsal view, F, wings. FIGURE 2. Lyricibracon jenningsi Ranjith , holotype ♀: A, head in dorsal view: B, scape & pedicel in lateral view: C, face in anterior view: D, mesopleuron in lateral view: E, propodeum & first metasomal tergite in lateral view: F, fifth & sixth metasomal tergites in dorsal view. Material examined . Holotype ( DZUC ), female, “ India , Kerala , Malappuram , Calicut University Botanical Garden, 27.iv–04.v.2016 , Malaise Trap , ex. Ranjith, A.P. ” Description. Holotype female—length 3.9 mm , antennae 3.7 mm , fore wing 3.3 mm , ovipositor 0.43 mm . Head . Antenna 34-segmented. Terminal flagellomere acuminate, 2.3× as long as wide. Medial flagellomere 1.5× as long as wide. Scape shorter ventrally than dorsally, anteriorly depressed ( Fig. 2 B). First flagellomere 2.4× as long as wide, 1.2 and 1.4× as long as second and third flagellomeres respectively. Hypoclypeal depression dorsally bordered medially by a transverse carina ( Figs 1 B, 2C). Clypeus clearly separated from face by a shallow transverse groove ( Figs 1 B, 2C). Dorsal clypeal carina indistinct. Tentorial pit deep. Face rugose except posterior 1/3 transversely striate, setose with a medial longitudinal groove in anterior half ( Fig. 2 C). Malar suture distinct. Eye glabrous. Height of clypeus: inter-tentorial distance: tentorio-ocular distance= 2.9: 6.6: 4. Height of eye: width of face: width of head= 7.5: 6.4: 14. POL: diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 3.25: 3.5: 7.25. Frons with medial longitudinal groove, faintly transversely striate ( Fig. 2 A). Vertex rugose with medial longitudinal groove behind posterior ocelli ( Fig. 2 A). Mesosoma . Mesosoma 1.3× as long as high. Mesoscutum setose, transversely striate ( Fig. 1 C). Notauli distinct, complete ( Fig. 1 C). Scutellar sulcus widely crenulated, divided by three carinae ( Figs 1 C, D). Precoxal suture well developed. Mesopleuron coarsely rugose in posterior half, microreticulate medially, rest unevenly rugose ( Fig. 2 D). Metapleuron rugose, faintly sculptured. Median area of metanotum with a complete medial longitudinal carina and a spine in lateral view ( Figs 1 D, 2E). Propodeum granulate with medial longitudinal carina, setose anteriorly, glabrous posteriorly ( Figs 1 C, D). Wings . Fore wing 2.8× as long as wide. Second submarginal cell short ( Fig. 1 F). Fore wing vein 1SR+M straight ( Fig. 1 F). Vein 2SR+M transverse, 0.38× as long as r. Vein C+SC+R and 1SR forming an angle of 60°. Vein 1SR distinctly curved. Vein cu-a slightly postfurcal ( Fig. 1 F). Length of vein SR1: 3-SR: r= 13: 4.4: 3.7. Length of vein m-cu: 2SR+M= 6: 2.4. Hind wing vein 2SC+R transverse. Length of hind wing vein 1r-m: SC+R1= 4.1: 12.5. Legs . Length of fore femur: tibia: tarsus= 7.6: 8: 8.5. Length of hind femur: tibia: basitarsus= 10: 13.1: 6. Claws with pointed basal lobe ( Fig. 3 D). Hind basitarsus 4.6× as long as wide. FIGURE 3. Lyricibracon jenningsi Ranjith , holotype ♀: A, first & second metasomal tergites in lateral view: B, second & third metasomal tergites in dorsal view: C, sixth metasomal tergite & ovipositor in lateral view: D, tarsal claw in lateral view. Metasoma . Metasoma 1.2× as long as head and mesosoma combined. First metasomal tergite rugose with complete dorso-lateral carinae, which unite shortly in front of posterior margin and with a forked structure posteromedially. Metasomal tergites 3–6 coarsely rugose ( Fig. 1 E). Second metasomal tergite without mid basal triangular area, coarsely rugose ( Figs 1 E, 3B). Second metasomal suture crenulated ( Fig. 3 B). Metasomal tergite 3–5 with transverse, crenulate, sub-posterior groove. Posterior margin of sixth metasomal tergite slightly emarginate medially and with a pair of lateral semicircular emarginations ( Fig. 2 F). Postero-lateral corner of sixth metasomal tergite rounded ( Fig. 3 C). Ovipositor sheath setose ( Figs 2 F & 3C). Ovipositor shorter than metasoma without pre apical dorsal nodus and ventral serrations ( Fig. 3 C). Colour . Body yellow except following dark brown to black: eyes, ocellar area, occiput medially and posteriorly, mesopleuron posteriorly, mesoscutum laterally, scutellar lunules, lateral sides of scutellum, propodeum, metasomal tergites 3–5 anteriorly, metasomal tergite 6 antero-laterally, fore and mid tarsal segments basally, hind femur except apically, hind tibia except basally, hind tarsus, pterostigma, wing veins, and ovipositor sheath; face posteriorly, mandibles apically, and mesoscutum mid anteriorly light brown, and ovipositor reddish brown. Male . Unknown. Distribution . India ( Kerala ). Host . Unknown. Etymology . APR dedicates this species to Dr. John T. Jennings (Adelaide University, Australia ) in appreciation for his support and encouragement.