A new species of the genus Shelfordia Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with very long ovipositor, from NE India C. van Achterberg C. van Achterberg. A new species of the genus Shelfordia Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with very long ovipositor, from NE India. Zool. Med. Leiden 67 (27), 24.xii.1993:365-373, figs 1-37.— ISSN 0024-0672. Key words: Braconidae; Braconinae; Shelfordia; Rostraulax; Sigalphogastra; Cratobracon; new species; Indo-Australian; Sikkim. A new species of the Indo-Australian genus Shelfordia Cameron, 1902, viz. S longicaudata spec. nov. from Sikkim (India) with an exceptionally long ovipositor is described and illustrated. The Shelfordia- group is not recognized, and the genus Rostraulax Quicke, 1984, is synonymized with Shelfordia. C. van Achterberg, Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. Introduction Owing to the kindness of Drs D.L.J. Quicke (Sheffield) and R Koch (Berlin) I received an aberrant species of the genus Shelfordia Cameron, 1902 (Braconidae: Braconinae) with an exceptionally long ovipositor (about six times length of fore wing), the scapus shortened ventrally (fig. 4), the head robust (figs 2, 3) and the medio-basal area of second metasomal tergite small (fig. 8). Nevertheless, it fits well in the genus Shelfordia, because these characters are rather variable among the species examined, except for the length of the ovipositor. So far the only species of Shelfordia known with similar long ovipositor is S. ingentiseta (Enderlein, 1920) from Sumatra. It differs from S. longicaudata spec. nov. by the completely black metasoma, the sculptured medio-basal area of second tergite, the long and densely black setose ovipositor sheath, the setae about as long as the sheath is wide and its apical quarter sparsely and whitish setose, the black propodeum, and yellowish apex of middle tibia and middle tarsus. Quicke (1987: 96) distinguished three genera in the Shelfordia-group: Rostraulax Quicke, 1984, Cratobracon Cameron, 1901, and Shelfordia. However, the characters used to define the group do not suffice very well: the well-developed notauli (a ple- siomorphy), the middle lobe of mesoscutum protruding strongly in front of lateral lobes (e.g. not in the type species of Shelfordia: fig. 34), the first metasomal tergite either with a well-developed mid-longitudinal carina anteriorly (only Cratobracon) or with more or less complete dorsal carinae (variable among Shelfordia species), the second metasomal tergite usually with an acute, striate medio-basal area or some times with a smooth triangular medio-basal area (fig. 8), and the apex of fore tibia without a row of distinctly thickened bristles (a common plesiomorphic feature among genera of Braconinae). Therefore, I prefer to accept the result of the phylogen- tic analysis by Quicke (1988); the genus Shelfordia does not cluster with the genus Cratobracon and is an early offshoot (after the Atanycoline genera) of the Merinotus- group s.l. (figs 2,3 in Quicke, 1988). Cratobracon can be separated from similar genera 366 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 67 (1993) Table 1. List of species assigned to the genus Shelfordia. Name Type locality S. ashmeadi (Cameron, 1903) Malaysia (Sarawak) S. basiplagiatus (Cameron & Strand, 1912) comb, nov.) Indonesia (Java) S. bispeculum (Enderlein, 1920) Indonesia (Sumatra) S. celebesiensis (Szepligeti, 1901) Indonesia (Sulawesi-Minahassa) S. charaxa (Cameron, 1897) Malaysia (Borneo-?Sarawak) S. cinereicauda (Fahringer, 1942) comb. nov. Indonesia (Java) S. combusta (Smith, 1860) comb. nov. Indonesia (Sulawesi) S. criniseta (Enderlein, 1920) Indonesia (Sumatra) S. distincticarinata (Cameron & Strand, 1912) Indonesia (Java) S.flagriseta (Enderlein, 1920) Indonesia (Sumatra) S.foveata (Smith, 1858) Singapore S. ingentiseta (Enderlein, 1920) Indonesia (Sumatra) S. khasiana (Cameron, 1897) India (Khasia) S. kuchingensis (Cameron, 1903) comb. nov. Malaysia (Sarawak) S. lineativentris (Cameron, 1907) Malaysia (Sarawak) S. longicauda spec. nov. India (Sikkim) S. luzonensis (Cameron & Strand, 1912) Philippines (Luzon) S. malaccaensis (Strand, 1912) Malaysia (Malacca) S. marginifoveatus (Cameron & Strand, 1912) New Guinea S. martini (Cameron & Strand, 1912) comb. nov. Indonesia (Sumatra) S. melancholica (Strand, 1911) New Guinea (Kai Isl.) S. pallidiceps (Cameron & Strand, 1912) Indonesia (Timor) S. patrons (Cameron, 1903) comb. nov. Malaysia (Sarawak) S. philippensis (Roman, 1913) comb. nov. Philippines S. quadricarinata (Enderlein, 1920) Indonesia (Sumatra) S. rimicunea (Enderlein, 1920) Indonesia (Sumatra) 5. rubricaudis (Cameron & Strand, 1912) comb. nov. Indonesia (Sulawesi) S. rubritincta (Cameron & Strand, 1912) Indonesia (Java) S. ruficeps Cameron, 1902 (figs 25-37) Malaysia (Sarawak) S. rugifrons (Smith, 1858) comb. nov. Malaysia (?Sarawak) S. sadyates (Cameron, 1903) comb. nov. Malaysia (?Sarawak) S. shelfordi (Cameron, 1903) comb. nov. Malaysia (Sarawak) S. sibalangitensis (Cameron & Strand, 1912) Indonesia (Sumatra) S. sorana (Cameron, 1904) Malaysia (?Sarawak) 5. sylea (Cameron, 1903) Malaysia (Sarawak) S. trichiotheca (Cameron, 1904) Malaysia (Sarawak) by the (anteriorly vertical and strongly protruding) middle lobe of the mesoscutum, the very long scapus, the antennal sockets (= toruli) almost touching each other and the frons setose and with a median groove. The remaining two genera (Quicke, 1984, 1987), Rostraulax and Shelfordia were separated because of the length of the very elon gate labio-maxillary complex in Rostraulax (not elongate in Shelfordia), terminal two antennal segments usually partly fused (a variable character, even not suited to sepa rate species) and the medio-longitudinal carina of first tergite only distinct on its posterior half (also in type species of Shelfordia: fig. 37). Thus only the length of the labio-maxillary complex remains for the differentiation of Rostraulax. I was unable to find any additional differences. Examination of the holotype of the type species of VAN ACHTERBERG: NEW SPECIES OF SHELFORDIA 367 Rostraulax (R. vechti Quicke, 1984) proved that the labio-maxillary complex is about 0.7 times as long as the height of the eye, which is normal for Shelfordia (figs 6,27). For this reason I here synonymize Rostraulax Quicke, 1984, with Shelfordia Cameron, 1902 (syn. nov.). Shelfordia is a medium-sized genus, of which a enumeration of the named species is given in table 1. The biology is unknown, but related genera are parasites of larvae of Cerambycidae and Buprestidae living in dead wood; e.g. Cratobracon has been reared from Cerambycidae (Quicke, in litt.). For the terminology used in this paper, see van Achterberg, 1988:5-11. Systematics Shelfordia Cameron, 1902 Shelfordia Cameron, 1902: 35-36; Shenefelt, 1978:1721; Quicke, 1982:227,1983: 81-82,1985a: 349,1987: 130,1988a: 77,1988b: 125,132; Quicke & van Achterberg, 1990:253. Type species: Shelfordia rufi- ceps Cameron, 1902 (by monotypy; examined). Schelfordia; Szepligeti, 1904:45 (misspelling). Sigalphogastra Cameron, 1903: 124; Shenefelt, 1978: 1722; Quicke, 1982: 227 (synonymized with Shelfordia), 1987: 130, 1988a: 77. Type species: Sigalphogastra ashmeadi Cameron, 1903 (by mono typy; examined). Barthasis; Baltazar, 1972:276; Quicke, 1982:227 (as "Bartharsis ruficeps"; nom. nud.). Rostraulax Quicke, 1984: 77-7%, 1985a: 349,1985b: 216,1988a: 78,1988b: 125,132; Quicke & Koch, 1990: 222. Syn. nov. Type-species: Rostraulax vechti Quicke, 1984 (by original designation; examined). Diagnosis.— First metasomal tergite with strongly elevated and comparatively narrow (about V of maximum width of tergite) parallel-sided median area in poste 3 rior 0.7 of tergite and median area with angular sides (figs 8,22,37); median carina at least anteriorly absent and in lateral view tergite low anteriorly (fig. 27); dorsal cari- nae absent or present and protruding at margin of median area; basally tergite slight ly concave. Vein lr-m of hind wing shorter than vein SC+R1 or about of equal length (figs 1,14,25). Frons distinctly concave medially (figs 3, 29), with or without a shal low median groove. Clypeus elevated above face and may be more or less carinate dorsally (figs 2,15, 30). Ovipositor far protruding, its upper valve slender and its lower valve with some minute teeeth (figs 13, 35). Tarsal claws simple (figs 10, 33). Second metasomal tergite with V-shaped area and with medio-basal area (figs 8, 22, 37), but the converging carinae laterally hardly or not developed in Shelfordia (figs 8, 37). Scapus medium-sized to rather elongate, its apex usually somewhat protruding ventrally (fig. 23), exceptionally dorsally longer (fig. 4); its inner side without sec ondary edge; scapus ventrally gradually narrowed (figs 4, 26). Face punctate or punctulate only (figs 2,30), without rugae or carinae. Third metasomal tergite with out complete antero-lateral grooves (fig. 27), and no transverse groove subapically. Angle between veins 1-SR and C+SC+R of fore wing less than 60° (figs 9, 24). Mesoscutum largely glabrous; notauli complete. Median carina or crest of propo- deum distinct anteriorly, and connected to elliptical medial area (figs 16, 19) or absent, at most with a weak median ridge anteriorly and medial area absent, at most with a pair of carinae (figs 12,34); metanotum with (nearly) complete median carina (fig. 19), with short median carina anteriorly (fig. 12) or carina absent; fifth tergite truncate or slightly concave posteriorly and smooth (fig. 27; $), or strongly convex 368 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 67 (1993) posteriorly and sculptured (fig. 16; cT); second tergite more or less robust (figs 8,22,37). Distribution.— Indo-Australian (mainly Oriental: table 1). Shelfordia longicaudata spec. nov. (figs. 1-13) Material.— Holotype, 9 (ZMB), "[India], Sikkim, coll. Bingham". Paratypes: 2 99 (ZMB, RMNH), topo- typic. Holotype, $, length of body 15.2 mm, of fore wing 14.5 mm. Head.— Antennal segments 61, length of third segment 1.7 times fourth segment, length of third, fourth and penultimate antennal segments 2.2,1.3, and 1.0 times their width, respectively; scapus rather slender, its length 2.3 times its medial width (fig. 4), long setose ventrally, somewhat compressed, its outer apex subtruncate, dorsally somewhat longer than ventrally (fig. 4); length of maxillary palp 0.8 times height of head; labio-maxillary complex moderately protruding, about 0.7 height of eye (fig. 6); length of eye in dorsal view 1.1 times temple (fig. 3); temple subparallel-sided posteriorly; OOL:diameter of ocellus:POL = 31:6:7; frons with shallow median groove, distinctly concave, medially glabrous, and laterally distinctly punctate and setose (fig. 3); vertex convex and with some punctures; face flattened, coarsely punc tate, its interspaces coriaceous, with curved groove to antennal sockets (fig. 2); clypeus flat, slightly elevated above plane of face, with subventral row of punctures and long setae, no dorsal carina and largely smooth (fig. 2); occipital flange rather narrow and protruding below base of mandible (fig. 6); length of malar space equal to basal width of mandible; mandible with longitudinal depression ventro-basally (fig. 6). Mesosoma.— Length of mesosoma 1.6 times its height; episternal scrobe nearly absent, only as a small pit (fig. 6); metapleuron punctulate, its posterior part rather upcurved and large (fig. 6); middle lobe of mesoscutum rather truncate, strongly protruding in front of lateral lobes, convex as other lobes (fig. 12); scutellar sulcus narrow (fig. 12); metanotum with short median carina anteriorly (fig. 12); surface of propodeum long yellowish setose, punctulate and posteriorly with short crenulae, no median carina (fig. 12). Wings.— Fore wing: r:3-SR:SRl = 5:33:35; angle between 1-SR and C+SC+R 40° (fig. 9); 1-SR short and linear with 1-M (fig. 1); 1-M straight; cu-a long and straight, postfurcal (fig. 1); 1-CU1:2-CU1 = 1:7; 2-SR:3-SR:r-m = 22:66:23; r-m sinuate (fig. 1); 2- SR with widened part; base of 3-SR widened; second submarginal cell widened dis- tally (fig. 1). Hind wing: lr-m distinctly shorter than SC+R1 (fig. 1); area near cu-a sparsely setose. Legs.— Hind coxa punctulate; all tarsal claws robust, basally pectinate and with some long setae (fig. 10); length of femur, tibia and basitarsus of hind leg 4.8,11.6, and 7.5 times their width, respectively; length of hind tibial spurs 0.25 and 0.30 times hind basitarsus; tarsal bristles about 0.3 times as long as telotarsus (fig. 10). Metasoma.— Length of first tergite 1.1 times its apical width, its surface largely smooth, elevated area posteriorly rugose, latero-posteriorly crenulate, slightly con cave basally, dorso-lateral carinae complete and strong, dorsal carinae present in basal half of tergite, weak (fig. 8); second tergite with small triangular medio-basal VAN ACHTERBERG: NEW SPECIES OF SHELFORDIA 369 Figs 1-13, Shelfordia longicaudata spec, nov., 9, holotype. 1, wings; 2, head, frontal aspect; 3, head, dorsal aspect; 4, scapus, outer lateral aspect; 5, antenna; 6, habitus, lateral aspect; 7, apex of antenna; 8, first- third metasomal tergites, dorsal aspect; 9, detail of vein 1-SR of fore wing; 10, outer hind claw; 11, hind leg; 12, mesosoma, dorsal aspect; 13, apex of ovipositor, lateral aspect. 1,5,6,11:1 x scale-line; 2,3,9:2 x; 4,7,10,13:6 x; 8,12:1.6 x. 9, pect; 1ail of dorsal asct; 24, det d, pe na; 18, hear lateral as enute nto 7, ana, 1n ct; nte ea spof eral abase us, latct; 23, bitpe 6, haal as 1s ct; dor spees, al argit ntte roal 5, head, fmetasom21:5 x. wings; 1st-third 4:1.7 x; pe. 14, w; 22, fir19,22-2 otyda18, meadi Cameron, o\ holnd leg; 21, inner hind 7,20:1 x scale-line; 15, galphogastra ashorsal aspect; 20, hiore wing. 14,16,1 24, Sima, dR of f 14-so1-S Figs mesovein or; 29, head, ovipositor, 2 x; 34,37: ect; 28, ovipositect; 35, apex of x; 29-31,35,36: aspasp3:5 lateral dorsal e; 26,3 pect; 27, habitus, w; 34, mesosoma, 8,32:1 x scale-lin edicellus, outer lateral asnd leg; 33, outer fore claes, dorsal aspect 25,27,2 nd p2, hiergit a3t us g; al pnm 26, scaore wimetaso ngs; R of fhird e. 25, wivein 1-S7, first-t n, 9, lectotyp31, detail of hind wing; 3 Cameroaspect; part of eps ntal asal cob a rufiad, frstero- Shelfordict; 30, hect; 36, po 7, pepe 3ss Figs 25-dorsal alateral a1.5 x. 372 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 67 (1993) area, connected to median carina, surrounded by curved carinae, which are sur rounded by posteriorly converging band of striae, with lateral triangle rather depressed and rugose (fig. 8); second suture deep, wide and crenulate medially and narrow laterally (fig. 8); third tergite largely smooth, but medio-basally striate, with shallow lateral depressions (fig. 8), distinctly protruding postero-laterally (fig. 6); second and third tergites with sharp lateral crease; remainder of metasoma smooth and without antero-lateral depressions, apical tergites not depressed, with apical cleft; length of ovipositor sheath 6.62 times fore wing, normally setose (but apex missing); hypopygium large (fig. 6). Colour.— Black; scapus, palpi, head, tegulae, mesosoma (darker than head, pro- podeum black apically), fore leg (except infuscate telotarsus), middle leg (except dark brown apex of tibia and tarsus), pterostigma and veins yellowish-brown; mem branous ventral parts of metasoma pale yellowish; pedicellus and parastigma dark brown; apical 0.4 of wing membrane (and hind wing also posteriorly) and vein m-cu of fore wing largely dark brown (fig. 1), remaining parts yellowish; V-shaped area of second tergite and median line on third tergite reddish-brown. Variation.— Length of fore wing 14.0-14.7 mm, of body 15.2-16.7 mm; length of ovipositor sheath 6.3-7.0 times fore wing; streak on outer side of scapus may be dark brown; third tergite may be less protruding postero-laterally than in holotype; setosi- ty of ovipositor sheath black basally and rather greyish subapically. Note.— This new species is directly separable from other species of Shelfordia by its extremely long ovipositor, the third tergite protruding postero-laterally (fig. 6), the clypeus not distinctly separated from face (fig. 2), vein cu-a of fore wing distinct ly postfurcal, vein lr-m of hind wing straight (fig. 1), vein r-m of fore wing sinuate (fig. 1), the flange over the base of the hind coxa large (fig. 6), the ovipositor sheath moderately setose and the second submarginal cell of fore wing widened distally (fig. 1). Despite the many differences, these character states are not enough for sepa ration as a genus because of the observed variation among species of Shelfordia. Acknowledgements and abbreviations I wish to thank Dr D.L.J. Quicke (Sheffield) for drawing my attention to this species and for his remarks on the first draft, and the curator of the Hymenoptera Collection of the Zoologisches Museum, Berlin (Dr F. Koch; ZMB) for the loan of the type series. RMNH stands for the Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum, Leiden. References Achterberg, C. van, 1988. Revision of the subfamily Blacinae Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae).— Zool. Verh. Leiden 249:1-324, figs 1-1250. Baltazar, C.R., 1972. Reclassification of some Indo-Australian and African Braconinae and Rogadinae (Braconidae, Hymenoptera).— Philippine J. Sci. 98[1969]: 259-277. Cameron, P., 1902. On the Hymenoptera collected by Mr. Robert Shelford at Sarawak, and on the Hy menoptera of the Sarawak Museum.— J. Straits Brch Asiat. Soc. 37:29-131. Quicke, D.L.J., 1982. The genus Shelfordia Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): discovery of type specimen, reclassification of species, new synonomy and notes on related genera.— Oriental Ins. 15:227-233, figs 1-9. VAN ACHTERBERG: NEW SPECIES OF SHELFORDIA 373 Quicke, D.L.J., 1983. Reclassification of twenty species of tropical, old world Braconinae described by Cameron, Strand and Szepligeti (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).— Entomologist's mon. 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Quicke, D.L.J. & C. van Achterberg, 1990. The type specimens of Enderlein's Braconinae (Hymeno ptera: Braconidae) housed in Warsaw.— Tijdschr. Ent. 133:251-264. Quicke, D.L.J. & F. Koch, 1990. Die Braconinae-Typen der beiden bedeutendsten Hymenopteren- Sammlungen der DDR (Hymenoptera).— Dtsch. ent. Z., N.F. 37:213-227. Shenefelt, R.D., 1978. Braconidae, 10.— Hym. Cat. (nov. ed.) 15:1425-1872. Szepligeti, G.V., 1904. Hymenoptera. Fam. Braconidae.— Genera Insectorum 22:1-253. Received: 2.vi.l993 Accepted: 10.viii.1993 Edited: M.J.P. van Oijen