Three new species, and new distributional data, of Haltichella (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) from China

Abstract Five species of Haltichella (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) from China are reviewed, including three new species, H.bimaculata Wang & Li, sp. nov., H.bomiana Wang & Li, sp. nov., H.strigata Wang & Li, sp. nov.Haltichellaclavicornis (Ashmead) is newly recorded from China and H.nipponensis Habu is newly recorded from Heilongjiang, Shanxi, Shandong, Xizang, Guangdong and Yunnan Provinces in China. A key to the Chinese species of the Haltichella is provided.

Mesosoma (Fig. 1H), punctures on mesoscutum and mesoscutellum smaller than on head; mesoscutellum as long as broad, apex with two teeth, distance between outer margins of the two teeth about 1.4× as long as individual length of teeth; outer margins of the two teeth approximately parallel, inner margins of the two teeth meet at an acute angle; propodeum ( Metasoma ( Fig. 1G) oval, 1.6× as long as broad in dorsal view, surface smooth; Gt1 longest, occupying 0.7× length of metasoma, with two short carinae at base; Gt2-6 with sparse microsculptured and white pubescence on lateral sides.
Comments. Haltichella bimaculata sp. nov. is similar to H. nipponensis Habu, 1960 in having similar body colouration and shape of the antenna and similar shape of the metafemur, but can be separated from the latter by the following characters. Haltichella bimaculata has the postmarginal vein of the forewing absent (vs present and shorter than the stigmal vein in H. nipponensis); median area of the propodeum irregularly rugose and the submedian carinae not obvious (vs less sculptured and the carinae distinct and parallel); the mesoscutellum as long as broad (vs longer than broad).   Diagnosis. Body black ( Fig. 2A), antenna with scape yellowish brown and flagellum yellowish brown to brown; fore and mid legs yellowish brown; scrobe not reaching anterior ocellus (Fig. 2B); antenna ( Fig. 2C) slender, scape longer than pedicel to Fu2 combined; all the funicular segments longer than broad; mesoscutellum apically with two diverging teeth (Fig. 2I); submedian carinae of propodeum indicated, distinct on posterior half (Fig. 2F); fore wing ( Fig. 2E) largely hyaline with small brown patch adjoining marginal vein; postmarginal vein slightly longer than stigmal vein; metasoma ( Fig. 2H) fusiform, Gt1 occupying 0.6× length of metasoma, Gt2 with the basal half smooth and distal half with microsculptured and white pubescence.

Haltichella bomiana
Description. Male (holotype). Body length 2.9 mm, mostly black ( Fig. 2A), head and mesosoma with dense punctures and white pubescence; antenna with scape yellowish brown and flagellum yellowish brown to brown; eye and ocelli silvery gray (Fig. 2D); tegula yellowish brown; fore and mid legs yellowish brown; metacoxa black, metatrochanter yellowish brown, metafemur black with base yellowish brown to reddish brown, metatibia black with apex yellowish brown, metatarsus yellowish brown; fore wing largely hyaline with small brown patch adjoining marginal vein and venation brownish.
Head (Fig. 2B, D) with coarsely rugose punctures, 1.2× as wide as long in frontal view; scrobe slightly wider, not reaching anterior ocellus, finely striate; preorbital carinae distinct; POL 5× as long as OOL; antenna (Fig. 2C) slender; scape longer than pedicel to Fu2 combined; pedicel small; anellus short and transverse; Fu1 longest, 1.7× as long as broad; Fu2-7 approximately equal in length, all the funicular segments longer than broad; club 2-segmented and slender, 3.2× as long as maximum width, 2× as long as and as broad as the preceding segment.
Mesosoma (Fig. 2I) with dense punctures and white pubescence; apex of mesoscutellum with two diverging teeth, inner margins of the two teeth at a right angle; submedian carinae of propodeum (Fig. 2F) indicated, distinct on posterior half. Fore wing hyaline (Fig. 2E), forewing 2.6× as long as broad; submarginal vein 4× as long as marginal vein, marginal vein 1.6× as long as postmarginal vein, postmarginal vein slightly longer than stigmal vein. Metafemur and metatibia with long and white pubescence (Fig. 2G); metacoxa with coxal tooth on baso-dorsal side; metafemur 2.3× as long as broad, with a row of comb of teeth.
Metasoma (Fig. 2H) fusiform, 2× as long as broad in dorsal view; Gt1 dorsum smooth and shiny, occupying 0.6× length of metasoma, with two longitudinal carinae at base; Gt2 with basal half smooth and distal half with microsculptured and white pubescence; dorsal surface of Gt2-6 with sparse microsculptured and white pubescence.
Female. Unknown. Hosts. Unknown. Distribution. China (Xizang). Etymology. The specific name is derived from the name of the collection locality of the holotype.
Comments. The new species is similar to H. variicolor Masi, 1929 in having similar colouration and shape of the antenna and similar shape of the scrobe, but can be separated from the latter by the following characters. The new species has the marginal vein 1.6× as long as the postmarginal vein (vs postmarginal vein longer than marginal vein in H. variicolor) and metafemur without prominent first tooth (vs first tooth present and prominent).
The new species is characterized by two diverging teeth of the mesoscutellum, a unique propodeum and the scrobe not reaching the anterior ocellus. A female holotype would be preferable but we failed to collect female specimens. However, most likely the female will share at least part of the differences listed for the male holotype.  Diagnosis. Body mostly black (Fig. 3A), antenna with scape yellowish brown, funicle yellowish brown to brown and club yellowish brown; fore and mid legs yellowish brown, metafemur reddish brown; eye ( Fig. 3D) with dense and long setae; scape shorter than pedicel to Fu2 combined; Fu1 longest; all the funicular segments longer than broad; postmarginal vein shorter than marginal vein and 3.5× as long as stigmal vein (Fig. 3E); Gt1 with two longitudinal carinae at base, between them with some longitudinal striae (Fig. 3H).

Haltichella strigata
Description. Male (holotype). Body length 2.9 mm, mostly black (Fig. 3A). Head and mesosoma with dense punctures and white pubescence; antenna ( Fig. 3C) with scape yellowish brown, funicle yellowish brown to brown and club yellowish brown; eye silvery gray and ocelli brownish (Fig. 3D); tegula yellowish brown; fore and mid legs yellowish brown; hind leg mostly reddish brown except yellowish brown tarsus, distal apex of tibia yellowish brown; fore wing hyaline, venation brownish. Head (Fig. 3B, D) with long, white pubescence, 1.2× as wide as long in frontal view; eye with long, white setae; scrobe not reaching anterior ocellus, finely striate; preorbital carinae distinct and not reaching behind anterior ocellus; POL 5× as long as OOL; antenna (Fig. 3C) with scape shorter than pedicel to Fu2 combined; pedicel small; Fu1 longest, 1.7× as long as broad; all the funicular segments longer than broad; Fu2-7 subequal in length; club 2-segmented, 2.6× as long as maximum width, 1.8× as long as and about as broad as the preceding segment.
Mesosoma (Fig. 3I) with dense punctures and white pubescence, apex of mesoscutellum with two teeth, pubescence on mesoscutellum longer than that on pronotum  3F) with submedian carinae distinct and parallel, between them with some transverse and fine striations. Fore wing hyaline (Fig. 3E), 2.4× as long as broad; postmarginal vein shorter than marginal vein and 3.5× as long as stigmal vein. Metafemur (Fig. 3G) and metatibia with long and white pubescence; metacoxa with coxal tooth on baso-dorsal side; metafemur 2.2× as long as broad, with a row of comb of teeth but without forming any lobes.
Metasoma (Fig. 3H) oblong, 1.6× as long as broad in dorsal view; Gt1 longest, occupying 0.6× length of metasoma with two longitudinal carinae at base, between them with some longitudinal striae, with white pubescence on lateral sides; dorsal surface of Gt2-6 with microsculptured and white pubescence.
Female. Unknown. Hosts. Unknown. Distribution. China (Heilongjiang). Variation. Two paratypes differ from the holotype by having black eyes, but no other significant differences were found in the available material.
Etymology. Latin: stria = furrow, line; and refers to the longitudinal striae between two longitudinal carinae of T1.
Comments. Haltichella strigata sp. nov. is similar to H. achterbergi Narendran, 1989 in having a similar shape of the antenna and the metasoma, but can be separated from the latter by the following combination of characters. The new species has the fore wing hyaline (vs partly infuscated in H. achterbergi); Gt1 with some striae between the two longitudinal carinae (vs absent); postmarginal vein shorter than the marginal vein (vs longer); dorsal surface of Gt 2-6 with white pubescence (vs glabrous and polished on the dorsal side medially).
Compared with other species of this genus, the new species differs by having dense and long setae on its eyes (Fig. 3D) and Gt1 with some striae between the two longitudinal carinae. A female holotype would be preferable but we failed to collect female specimens. However, most likely the female will share at least part of the differences listed for the male holotype.
Distribution. New distributional records for China.
Comments. Our specimens agree well with the original description except for the colour of the antenna and metasoma. This is the first record from Henan, Hainan and Yunnan Provinces, China.   Diagnosis. Female. Body length 2.7-4.3 mm, mostly black (Fig. 7A); scape (Fig. 7E) dark brown except brown pedicel to Fu3, eye and ocelli silvery gray (Fig. 7D); tegula brown; fore and mid legs brown, femora slightly darker in middle; hind leg black except yellowish brown tarsus. Head (Fig. 7B, D) 1.1× as wide as long; eye with sparse and short setae; POL 4.9× as long as OOL; scrobe reaching anterior ocellus. Antenna clavate (Fig. 7E), scape a half as long as the remaining antennomeres combined; pedicel longer than Fu1; club coniform, 2× as long as maximum width, 3× as long as and about as broad as the preceding segment; mesoscutellum longer than broad, apex of mesoscutellum ( Fig. 7I) with two teeth, distance between outer margins of the two teeth at least 1.5× as long as individual length of teeth. Fore wing largely hyaline (Fig. 7C) with two brown patches; postmarginal vein shorter than stigmal vein; metafemur 2.3× as long as broad (Fig. 7G); metasoma oval ( Fig. 7H (Narendran 1989), Vietnam (Narendran and van Achterberg 2016).
Comments. Our specimens agree well with the original description except for slight colour differences of the teeth of the mesoscutellum. This is the first record from continental China.