Gnathochorisis jasoni sp. nov.

(Figs 1–2)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D0243D9E-3653-439B-AAD8-A8EB0E5F39E2

Material examined. Holotype, female, INDIA: Karnataka, Chamarajanagar, Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve, Parasakatte, 12.0141°N, 77.0655°E, 800 m. a.s.l., scrub jungle, Malaise trap, 21.vi–18.vii.2006, coll. D. R. Priyadarsanan. Paratypes, 3 females, with same data as for holotype, except 12.0034°N, 77.0752°E, 980 m.a.s.l., dry deciduous forest, Malaise trap, 16–31.viii.2005, coll. D. R. Priyadarsanan.

Description. Female. Body length 4.3 mm; fore wing length 3.2 mm.

Head. Head width 1.2 × its height in anterior view (Fig. 1B). Face width at level of antennal sockets 1.8 × its height, 0.5 × head width, subpolished and closely punctate, transversely striate medially in lower part, sparsely setose (Fig. 1B). Frons, vertex and occiput polished, sparsely setose (Fig. 1C). Occiput somewhat depressed (Fig. 1C). Occipital carina present (Fig. 1C). Eyes large, convex, without setae, inner orbits subparallel, slightly diverge downward (Fig. 1B). Clypeus width 2.0 × its height, weakly separated from face, posterior margin of clypeus very weakly convex (Fig. 1B). Anterior tentorial pits distinct (Fig. 1B). Malar space 1.6 × as long as basal width of mandible (Fig. 1B). Subocular sulcus distinct, sharp and straight (Fig. 1B). Mandible bidentate, strongly tapered, lower tooth small. Antenna shorter than body, with 21 slender flagellomeres, all flagellomeres longer than wide (Fig. 1A). Scape about twice as long as wide. First flagellomere 4.3 × as long as wide apically, second flagellomere 3.5 × as long as wide apically. Ocelli of moderate size, ocular-ocellar line as long as and postocellar line 1.2 × as long as maximum diameter of lateral ocellus (Fig. 1C). Temple moderately short, 0.4 × as long as the width of compound eye (Fig. 1C).

Mesosoma. Mesosoma 1.3 × as long as maximum height, polished. Epomia strong, well developed (Fig. 1D). Mesoscutum (moderately) subpolished with dense light setae (Fig. 1E). Notauli coarsely and irregularly pitted, posteriorly widened, meeting in the center of mesoscutum (Fig. 1E). Scutellum not particularly high, smooth, with lateral carinae anteriorly (Fig. 1E). Epicnemial carina complete, ending at upper corner of mesopleuron (Fig. 1D). Sternaulus short but distinct (Fig. 1D). Mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum polished, with sparse setae (Figs 1D, F). Propodeal carination complete (Fig. 1F). Area superomedia parallel-sided, 1.8 × as wide as long. Short sections of posterior transverse carina connecting with lateral longitudinal carinae form small rounded apophyses (Fig. 1F). Propodeal spiracle large, round, joined by short carina with pleural carina. Fore wing without areolet (Fig. 2C). Pterostigma 2.8 × as long as wide. Vein 2m-cu with two bullae (Fig. 2C). Vein 1cu-a oblique, almost interstitial of vein M&RS (Fig. 2C). Hind wing with nervellus (CU+cu-a) intercepted in lower 0.3, second abscissa of CU present, short (Fig. 2C). Hind coxa smooth (Fig. 1A). Hind femur 3.6 × as long as maximum width. Hind tibia 3.2 × as long as wide. Tibial spurs slender, claws long and thick, strongly bent.

Metasoma. First metasomal segment 1.7 × as long as maximum width posteriorly, subpolished, postpetiole longitudinally striate with distinct dorsal carinae reaching posterior margin (Fig. 2B); dorso-lateral carina just above spiracle (Fig. 2A). Sternite and tergite fused, glymma absent, spiracle situated at basal 0.5 length of T1, apex of first sternite at 0.5 of segment (Fig. 2A). Second metasomal tergite 0.8 × as long as maximum width posteriorly, longitudinally striate, with small thyridium, smooth and polished in posterior 0.25 (Fig. 2B). Remaining tergites smooth, sparsely setose (Fig. 2B). Ovipositor upcurved with dorsal subapical notch (Fig. 2A). Ovipositor sheath 1.3 × as long as first tergite and as long as hind tibia.

Colour. Body black except antennae, clypeus, mandibles, maxillary and labial palps, tegula, legs except apex of hind tibiae, metasomal sternites and ovipositor, which are yellow; pterostigma, apex of hind tibiae, second metasomal tergite posteriorly, metasomal tergites 3–6, and ovipositor sheath brown.

Male. Unknown.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. India (Karnataka).

Etymology. We dedicate the species to the extraordinary, very calm dog, Jason a regular visitor of Insect Lab at ATREE.

Comparative diagnosis. Gnathochorisis jasoni sp. nov. is close to G. leleji Humala. Apart from the differences included in the key the new species can also be distinguished by the following characters: scape 2.0 × as long as wide (vs 2.3 × as long as wide in G. leleji), head 2.2 × as wide as long (vs 3.0 × in G. leleji), ovipositor sheath 1.3 × as long as first tergite (vs 0.8 × in G. leleji).