Paradelius flavus Ranjith & Butcher 2024, sp. nov.

Paradelius flavus Ranjith sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A4EAF005-44EE-439A-AC0A-311214E9D0B5

(Figs 1–2)

Material examined. Holotype, female, INDIA: Kerala, Kozhikode, Malabar Botanical Garden, 11.143373 N, 75.494083 E, 16 Jan 2023, V. Mithun leg., Malaise trap (AIMB). Paratype, 1 female with same data as holotype (AIMB).

Description Holotype, female.

Body length 1.6 mm, fore wing 1.3 mm.

Head.Antenna with 22 antennomeres (Fig. 1A). Scape 1.8 × as long as maximum width. Pedicel as long as wide (Fig. 1A). Third antennomere 1.8 × as long as fourth antennomere. Third, fourth and terminal antennomeres 2.7, 1.5 and 3.0 × as long as maximum width respectively. Head 1.2, 1.7 × as wide as long in anterior view and dorsal view respectively. Face faintly transverse striate, smooth medio-posteriorly, setose, 1.1 × as wide as long (Fig. 1B). Ratio of height of clypeus: intertentorial distance: tentorio-ocular distance = 1.0: 1.3: 1.0. Length of malar space 1.4 × basal width of mandible. Length of eye 2.3 × as long as temple in dorsal view. Frons longitudinally striate medially, faintly rugose laterally (Fig. 1C). Vertex and occiput faintly rugose, setose (Fig. 1C). Ratio of POL: OD: OOL= 1.3: 1.0: 3.3.

Mesosoma. Mesosoma 1.5 × as long as high. Mesosoma dorso-ventrally flattened. Pronotum crenulate laterally (Fig. 1D). Propleural lobe present (Fig. 1D). Mesoscutum faintly rugose, setose (Fig. 1E). Notauli impressed only anteriorly (Fig. 1E). Scutellar sulcus more or less straight, crenulated divided by 6 crenulae (Fig. 1E). Scutellum smooth, sparsely setose (Fig. 1E). Lateral sides of scutellum distinctly crenulate (Fig. 1E). Metanotum smooth medially, crenulated postero-laterally, more or less smooth antero-laterally (Figs 1E, F). Mesopleuron smooth (Fig. 1D). Precoxal sulcus long, smooth sometimes weakly crenulate (Fig. 1D). Sternaulus impressed, faintly crenulated (Fig. 1D). Metapleuron smooth medially with distinct medial pit (Figs1D, 2A).Propodeum with distinctly marginated smooth areas (Fig. 1F). Propodeum slightly curved in lateral view, not differentiated into anterior and posterior part (Fig. 1D). Transverse carina absent medially (Fig. 1F). Posterior side of propodeum with distinct transverse carina (Fig. 1F). Propodeal areola hexagonal, smooth, 1.4 × as long as maximum width (Fig. 1F).

Wings. Fore wing (Fig. 2C): Fore wing infuscated below pterostigma and near vein cu-a (Fig. 2C). Pterostigma 2.6 × as long as wide. Vein 1-R1 as long as pterostigma. Vein m-cu 0.3 × as long as vein 1-M. Vein M+CU distinctly curved. Vein cu-a slightly postfurcal. Vein r absent. Vein r-m absent. Hind wing (Fig. 2D): ratio of veins M+CU: 1-M: 1r-m = 3.1: 1.3: 1.0.

Legs. Hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 3.0, 3.7 and 2.5 × as long as maximum width, respectively.

Metasoma. Metasoma 0.5 × as long as head and mesosoma combined. First tergite rugose anterior half, longitudinally striate posterior half, 1.4 × as wide as long, setose (Fig. 2B). Second tergite indistinctly longitudinally striate 2.3 × as wide as long, setose (Fig. 2B). Metasomal tergites 3–6 smooth, setose (Fig. 2B). First and second metasomal suture present, crenulate (Fig. 2B). Ovipositor sheath exerted, setose apically (Figs 2A, B).

Color. Body yellow except eye grey, ocellar triangle, pterostigma, tarsal claw brown.

Male. Unknown.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. India (Kerala).

Etymology. The species is named after the yellow colored body.

Comparative diagnosis. The new species, P. flavus is similar to the new species P. striatus in having antenna with 22 antennomeres. Apart from the differences mentioned in the key, P. flavus differs from the latter by having the following morphological structures; frons with more than one longitudinal carinae medially (only one midlongitudinal carina in P. striatus sp. nov.), third metasomal tergite smooth (sculptured basally in P. striatus sp. nov.), and third and fourth antennomeres 2.7, 1.5 × as long as wide respectively (2.3, 2.2 × as long as wide in P. striatus sp. nov.).