Bracon kotenkoi sp. nov.

(Figs 20–34)

Type material. Holotype: female, Russia, Primorsky kray, Spassk District, Santakheza (= Novoselskoye), rice field, sweeping, 29.VIII.1971, Pineker (ZISP). Paratypes: same locality and collector: 1 ♀, 8.VII.1971 (ZISP); 1 ♀, 23.VII.1971 (ZISP); Primorsky kray, Spassk District, 20 km SW Spassk, Khanka Lake shore, meadow, 1 ♀, 25.VII.1998, S.A. Belokobylskij (ZISP).

Etymology. The specific name is given in honor of A.G. Kotenko, a well-known taxonomist of the braconid subfamily Microgastrinae.

Description. Female. Body length 3.9–4.6 mm; fore wing length 3.7–3.9 mm.

Head. Width of head (dorsal view) 1.60–1.65× its median length. Head rounded behind eyes (dorsal view). Transverse diameter of eye (dorsal view) 1.50–1.75× longer than temple. Eyes with sparse short setae. OOL 3.1– 3.4× Od; POL 1.25–1.45× Od; OOL 2.20–2.75× POL. Frons with deep medio-longitudinal groove. Longitudinal diameter of eye in lateral view 1.25–1.35× larger than its transverse diameter. Transverse diameter of eye (lateral view) 1.3–1.7× longer than minimum width of temple; hind margins of eye and temple diverging ventrally. Face width 1.55–1.70× combined height with face and clypeus, 2.1–2.4× larger than width of hypoclypeal depression. Longitudinal diameter of eye 1.60–1.75× longer than malar space (front view); malar space as long as base of mandible. Malar suture absent. Width of hypoclypeal depression 1.0–1.2× larger than distance from depression to eye. Clypeus flattened, with strongly protrudent ventral rim, height of clypeus 0.35× width of hypoclypeal depression.

Antenna with 31–33 antennomeres, 0.85–0.95× as long as fore wing. First flagellomere 1.75–2.00× longer than its apical width, as long as second flagellomere. Middle flagellomeres 1.5–1.6× longer than their width. Penultimate flagellomere 1.7–1.8× longer than wide.

Mesosoma 1.7–1.8× longer than its maximum height. Transverse oblique pronotal sulcus deep and crenulate. Mesoscutum as wide as its median length (dorsal view). Notauli anteriorly very deep and crenulate, weakly impressed in posterior half. Median lobe of mesoscutum glabrous. Scutellar sulcus crenulate, about 0.2× as long as scutellum. Mesepimeral sulcus weakly crenulate. Middle area of metanotum (dorsal view) with incomplete mediolongitudinal carina. Propodeum anteriorly with simple carina inside short impression and with short branching keel posteriorly. Metapleural sulcus weakly crenulate.

Wings. Fore wing 0.85–0.95× as long as body, 3.1–3.2× longer than its maximum width. Pterostigma 3.1–4.0× longer than broad. Vein r arising somewhat behind its middle. Vein 1-R1 1.5–1.6× longer than pterostigma. Marginal cell 5–7× longer than distance from its apex to apex of wing. Vein 3-SR 3.35–3.55× longer than vein r, 0.60–0.65× as long as vein SR1, 1.35–1.55× longer than vein 2-SR. Vein 1-M 0.6–0.7× as long as vein 1-SR+M, 1.5–1.7× longer than vein m-cu and 1.3–1.6× longer than vein cu-a. Vein 2-SR+M 0.25–0.30× as long as vein 2- SR, 0.45–0.55× as long as vein m-cu. Vein 1-CU1 (posterior margin of discal cell) 2.0–2.4× longer than vein cu-a. Vein cu-a more or less interstitial. Vein 2-1A of hind wing absent; vein r-m antefurcal.

Legs. Hind femur 3.0–3.3× longer than wide. Hind tibia 1.55–1.60× longer than hind femur, its inner spur 0.5× as long as hind basitarsus. Hind tarsus as long as hind tibia. Fifth segment (without pretarsus) of hind tarsus 0.53– 0.60× as long as hind basitarsus and somewhat longer than second segment. Basal lobes of claws small, not protruding, with a row of short spines basally.

Metasoma 1.4–1.6× longer than mesosoma. Median length of first tergite (measured from petiolar tubercle) 0.77–0.85× as large as its apical width. Median area of first tergite separated by areolate-rugose furrow, 0.55–0.65× as wide as apical width of tergite. Dorsolateral arcuate carinae weakly distinct, crossing median area in middle of tergite, weakly curved toward apex. Second tergite without mediobasal area and sublateral impressions, medially 0.95–1.10× as long as third tergite and 0.75–0.80× as large as apical width of first tergite. Basal width of second tergite 1.65–1.75× median length. Suture between second and third tergites deep, almost straight and crenulated. Apical margins of third to sixth tergites thin, without transverse subapical grooves. Ovipositor sheath 0.35–0.40× as long as fore wing. Apex of ovipositor with dorsal nodus and ventral serration.

Sculpture. Body mainly smooth. Face and frons weakly granulate. Mesoscutum weakly rugulose posteriorly. Propodeum completely rugose to areolate-rugose. Median area of first metasomal tergite weakly rugulose to areolate-rugose. Second metasomal tergite granulate-rugose, third to sixth tergites with weak fingerprint-like sculpture.

Colour. Body mainly reddish-yellow. Antenna and ocellar triangle reddish-brown to dark brown. Head, mesosoma and metasoma yellowish-brown dorsally. Frons, three patches on mesoscutum, propodeum, first metasomal tergite, and median patch on second tergite brown. Wing membrane faintly darkened, pterostigma yellow, veins brownish-yellow.

Male unknown.

Comparative diagnosis. Relationships of Bracon kotenkoi sp. nov. are listed in the diagnosis of B. santachezae sp. nov. (see below).