Revision of the genus Philoplitis Nixon ( Hymenoptera , Braconidae , Microgastrinae )

Th e genus Philoplitis Nixon is revised. Th ree new species, P. masneri Fernández-Triana & Goulet, sp. n., P. punctatus Fernández-Triana & Goulet, sp. n., and P. striatus Fernández-Triana & Goulet, sp. n. are described, and a key is provided to the World species. Th e genus, previously known only from the Oriental region, is here recorded from the Afrotropical region. Evidence suggests that its included species are broadly found in rainforest areas of the Old World tropics. Clarifi cation and suggestions about some character states previously used with Philoplitis within the context of Microgastrinae phylogenetic studies are also provided.


Revision of the genus Philoplitis Nixon (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) Introduction
Species of Philoplitis Nixon are among the most distinctive microgastrine braconids because of the enormous scutellum, which is conically prolonged posteriorly above the propodeum (Mason 1981).Th e phylogenetic position of the genus within Microgastrinae is not well established.However, earlier works consider it related to Alloplitis (Mason 1981;Walker et al. 1990), whereas recent papers hypothesize a closer relationship with Microplitis, Snellenius, and/or Protomicroplitis (Whitfi eld et al. 2002;You et al. 2002).Host records are unknown.
Philoplitis was described as a monobasic genus by Nixon (1965) based on specimens from the Philippines, and the same species (P.coniferens Nixon) was later found in southeastern China (He 1983;You et al. 1990).Mason (1981) mentioned an additional undescribed species from southern India.Ahmad et al. (2005) described Philoplitis adustipalpus from northern India but did not comment if the new species was related to that of Mason's paper.Here we revise the genus, record it for the fi rst time from Africa, and describe three new species.

Methods
We studied collections known to contain Philoplitis except for the specimens representing the Chinese and Northern India records (He 1983;You et al. 1990;Ahmad et al., 2005).Th is included: (1) part of the type series of P. coniferens Nixon (the holotype and two paratypes), as well as three unidentifi ed specimens from Sri Lanka, all of which are in the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), and (2) the undescribed Indian specimen as well as one unidentifi ed specimen from Kenya, in the Canadian National Collection (CNC).
Morphological terms and wing venation designations follow the works of Goulet and Huber (1993) and Sharkey and Wharton (1997).We calculated some vein ratios in the forewing (Fig. 2).Th e term "(r-2M)" refers to the distance between 2M and the point of the stigma where vein r arises.Th e height of the second submarginal cell was measured from 2M to the point where r meets both 2RS and 3RSa.For all ratios we measured the distance from the closest edge of one vein to the closest edge of the other.Length of mesoscutum and scutellum (excluding the scutellar scrobe, i.e.only the scutellar disc) were measured dorsally.Whenever several specimens of a species were available for study, the fi rst number provided is the mean, with the range in parentheses.Nixon, 1965: 267.Diagnosis.Adults of Philoplitis (Fig. 1) are distinguished by the following characteristics: palpi dark, with apical segments of maxillary palps paler; pronotum laterally with broad, crenulate dorsal groove and narrow ventral one; propleuron with lobe above coxae extending up and back over lower corner of pronotum; mesoscutum usually with carinate lateral margin above tegulae; scutellum coarsely punctate and greatly prolonged posteriorly over propodeum, being about as long as mesoscutum when measured from anterior margin of scutellar scrobe; metanotum punctate and withdrawn from scutellum exposing scutellar phragma, with anterior margin bearing long, cylindrical, apically setose process laterally; propodeum strongly rugose and bearing complete median longitudinal carina; mediotergite 1 rectangular and mediotergite 2 with

1
Metatibial spurs dark brown; scutellar disc (Fig. 5) relatively short (length/ width 0.92), its length 0.77× that of mesoscutum; scutellum in lateral view with apex pointing dorsally; mesoscutum with coarse punctures medially and along anterior and lateral margins (last one above tegulae) (Fig. 8    Diagnosis.Th is species is the only known one with palpi completely brown, and it also has the shortest metatibial spurs, the inner one being 0.45× the length of the basitarsus (> 0.50 in all other species).It is separated from P. coniferens by the combination of black color and shorter length/width ratio of mediotergite 1; from P. striatus by its smooth mediotergite 2, much shorter tergum 3 and shorter inner metatibial spur (compared to length of both basitarsus and outer spur); from P. masneri by the color of mediotergite 2 and its length/apical width ratio; and from P. punctatus by the length of inner metatibial spur and shape of mediotergite 2.
Comments.Th is is the only species for which we were not able to study specimens.It was described from two females collected in northern India (Uttar Pradesh).Based on the description and three fi gures provided by the authors (Ahmad et al., 2005) it is clearly separated from the closer species geographically (P.striatus, from southern India) as well from as the rest of the species within the genus.Nixon, 1965: 267.Holotype: ♀, PHILIPPINES (USNM).Examined.

Diagnosis.
Th is species has the longest scutellar disc and fi rst mediotergite of all known Philoplitis.It also has the shortest metatibial spurs and the thinnest metafemur.Its reddishbrown color pattern distinguishes it from P. adustipalpus, P. masneri and P. punctatus (all of them are mainly black), and its second mediotergite yellow basally and virtually smooth distinguishes it from P. striatus (with completely brown and striate mediotergite 2).
Comments.Th is species has been recorded in the Philippines and southeastern China (Nixon 1965;Mason 1981;He 1983;You et al. 1990).Th e updated description provided here is based on observations of the holotype and two paratypes.
Philoplitis masneri sp.n. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E086ECD6-5039-49F0-8B49-4AC001D5AD5E Diagnosis.Th e white color of the second mediotergite as well as of the metatibial spurs distinguishes it from all other species of Philoplitis.Also, this species has the shallowest notauli, the thickest metafemur, the longest r vein (compared to those forming the 2 nd submarginal cell) and the narrowest mediotergite 2 within the genus.
Etymology.We dedicate this species to our friend and colleague Lubomír Masner, an extraordinary example of a dedicated and passionate entomologist.He not only found the only known specimens of this species and P. punctatus when sorting diff erent samples, but also encouraged us to study the genus.
Comments.Th is is the fi rst recorded species of Philoplitis from the Afrotropical region.
Color.Head black with clypeus brown, mandibles yellowish and palpi dark brown with apical 4-5 maxillary palps light brown.Scape and pedicel yellowish-brown, rest of antenna dark brown.Mesosoma black with silver pubescence, tegula dark brown.Legs brown (the fi rst pair lighter, the third pair dark brown, almost black), protibiae and protarsi yellow (except the last tarsomere which is dark brown); metatibial spurs dark brown.Wing veins and stigma brown (Rs+M hyaline), with a brownish cloud beneath stigma that extends to 2M.Metasoma mostly dark brown; except for sterna 1-3, apical strip on mediotergite 1, and basal strip on mediotergite 2, which are yellowishwhite; mediotergite 2 otherwise light brown.
Etymology.Th e name alludes to the distinctive, coarse punctures medially, anteriorly and laterally on the mesoscutum.
Color.Head (including antenna) and mesosoma reddish-orange; palpi brown with apical 3-5 maxillary palps light brown; occiput sometimes with darker marks, as well as base of scutellum, mesosternum, metapleura and propodeum.Legs orange-brown; tibia and tarsi of fi rst two pairs yellowish-white; hind legs dark brown; metatibial spurs orangeyellow.Wing veins and stigma light brown (Rs+M hyaline), with a brownish cloud beneath stigma that extends to 2M.Metasoma reddish-brown; with sternites 1-3 yellowishwhite, and mediotergite 1 with basal third and a small apical triangular area orange.
Variation.One male has a diff erent color pattern (all palpi yellowish; body color blackish), and the striation in mediotergite 2 is not clear.Lacking more specimens for study we tentatively consider this specimen as P. striatus but exclude it from the type series. Etymology.

Discussion
Philoplitis now comprises fi ve species widely distributed across the Oriental and Afrotropical regions.Th ough species of Philoplitis are rare or at least diffi cult to collect, the distribution of the genus is much wider than previously known, covering two continents, and further collecting will undoubtedly reveal even more species.Most of the specimens have been collected with Malaise traps, and so far they have been found from sea level to 1150 m, often in rainforest habitats.Host records remain elusive.Mason (1981) considered the structure of the pronotum, scutellum, metanotum and color of the palpi to be especially strong synapomorphies for Philoplitis.Whitfi eld et al. (2002) discussed the relationships of this genus based on a matrix of coded morphological characters used in their phylogenetic analysis of Microgastrinae.Our study allowed us to verify and/or clarify some of those character states (present in all Philoplitis species known so far).We provide below some comments that may help to elucidate the phylogenetic position of Philoplitis.
Th e lower outer corner of propleuron with an upwardly projecting fl ange (character # 5 sensu Whitfi eld et al. 2002) is found only in three other genera of Microgastrinae: Fornicia, Hypomicrogaster and Wilkinsonellus.Th e number of lateral pronotal grooves (character # 4) present in Philoplitis is two (dorsal and ventral), as stated by Mason (1981); however this character was assigned by Whitfi eld et al. (2002) as one pronotal groove.
Th e scutellum is unique in Philoplitis not only because of its enormous length compared to all other microgastrines (Figs 3-6) but also its sculpture is coarse and deep throughout (Nixon 1965).Th e sculpture is developed on the medioposterior band of the scutellum in 10 other genera: Alloplitis, Buluka, Diolcogaster, Exis, Fornicia, Illidops, Microplitis, Protomicroplitis, Snellenius, and Wilkinsonellus (Whitfi eld et al. 2002), but none of them has such extensive and deep reticulation.Introducing a new character state that defi nes more precisely the sculpture pattern of the scutellum is advisable.
Th e anterior margin of metanotum withdrawn from scutellum (character # 10) and bearing long, apically cylindrical setose process (character # 9) was thought to be unique to Philoplitis and Alloplitis only (Mason 1981).However, from the matrix of coded characters in Whitfi eld et al. (2002) similar conditions are shared with another seven genera (Clarkinella, Deuterixys, Dolichogenidea, Iconella, Pholetesor, Promicrogaster and Protapanteles).Some refi nement to the codifi cation of this character state is advisable.
Th e size of the metacoxa (character # 15) in Philoplitis (Fig. 1) is intermediate between what Whitfi eld et al. (2002) scored as normal or enlarged, which could lead to assigning it a diff erent character state than previously.
Th e modifi cation and/or incorporation of all character states here mentioned to the Whitfi eld et al. ( 2002) data matrix will be dealt with in a future paper with a broader focus than just Philoplitis.