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Research Article
A new species of the long-tailed wasp genus Euurobracon Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae) from Java, Indonesia, is described and the type species redescribed
expand article infoDonald L. J. Quicke‡, Dian Gafar§, Kyohei Watanabe|, Buntika A. Butcher‡
‡ Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
§ Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History, Odawara, Japan

Corresponding author: Buntika A. Butcher ( buntika.a@chula.ac.th )

Academic editor: Kees van Achterberg
© 2022 Donald L. J. Quicke, Dian Gafar, Kyohei Watanabe, Buntika A. Butcher.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Quicke DLJ, Gafar D, Watanabe K, Butcher BA (2022) A new species of the long-tailed wasp genus Euurobracon Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae) from Java, Indonesia, is described and the type species redescribed. ZooKeys 1116: 71-83. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1116.84593
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9F5E5B88-E192-4A73-9D85-728FC7CAB44F
Open Access

Abstract

A new species, Euurobracon bhaskarai Quicke, sp. nov., from West Java, Indonesia, is described, illustrated and differentiated from other members of the genus. It is closely related to the type species of the genus, E. yokahamae Dalla Torre, 1898, which is known from China, India, Japan, Laos, South Korea and Thailand. Euurobracon yokahamae is redescribed and illustrated for comparative purposes. The two species are separable mainly on colouration, but differ markedly based on their mitochondrial gene sequences (cytochrome c oxidase I, cytochrome b and 16S rDNA). The slower-evolving nuclear 28S rDNA and elongation factor 1-alpha did not differentiate E. bhaskarai sp. nov. from E. yokahamae, but consistently split Euurobracon into two species groups.

Keywords

16S, COI, cytochrome b, DNA sequences, Japan, mitochondrial genes, molecular analysis, Oriental, parasitoid wasp

Introduction

Some of the largest braconid parasitoid wasps belong to the braconine genus Euurobracon Ashmead, 1900, which is distributed from the East Palaearctic (China, Japan, Korea), throughout the Oriental region (India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia) and reaches the Australasian region (Papua New Guinea) (Quicke 1989a). Female body length reaches 21 mm and their ovipositors can be up to 18.8 cm long. The genus comprised a total of 14 described species (Li et al. 2016; Yu et al. 2016), of which 11 were included in the revision by Quicke (1989a) and three more from China that were added by Li et al. (2016). Despite its wide distribution, only four species have been recorded from Indonesia: E. cephalotes (Smith, 1858) (Java, Sumatra and N. Mollucas), E. forticornis (Cameron, 1905) (Sumatra and N. Mollucas), E. impossibilis (Dalla Torre, 1898) (N. Mollucas), and E. denticephalus Quicke, 1989 (Irian Jaya). However, E. interstitialis Quicke, 1989 which is known from Sarawak and Sabah on Borneo Island must surely also occur in that country. Of these, only E. cephalotes has previously been recorded from Java (Yu et al. 2016).

By far the best-known species is E. yokahamae which is relatively common in Japan and has a remarkably long ovipositor. Despite its impressive size we present the first molecular data for this species. Euurobracon yokahamae has been recorded in the literature as parasitising two species of cerambycid beetles, Batocera lineolata Chevrolat, 1852 (Watanabe 1934; repeated in Shenefelt 1978) and of the pupa of Neocerambyx raddei Blessig & Solsky, 1872 (syn. Massicus raddei (Blessig & Solsky, 1872)) (Kaga et al. 2018; Cao et al. 2020). However, Kaga et al. (2018) strongly infer that the record from Batocera is incorrect because the beetle’s ecology makes this unsuitable to be a host. Euurobracon yokahamae adults overwinter in wood (e.g., Quercus serrata and Castanea crenata). Kaga et al. (2018) noted that oviposition occurs by inserting the ovipositor into cracks in the wood and suggest that it is highly unlikely that they lay eggs directly on the host. The sex ratio is approximately one for specimens extracted from wood prior to emergence but that of individuals collected/observed in the field is markedly female-biased, with males being rare. This might be due to males being short-lived and/or being less conspicuous. In Japan, E. yokahamae adults are observed in the fields from late spring to early summer (late April to early June).

Here we describe a new species from West Java (Indonesia), E. bhaskarai Quicke sp. nov., and differentiate it from the closely related E. yokahamae on the basis of colour pattern, morphology and DNA sequence data for three mitochondrial genes.

Material and methods

Materials

Terminology follows van Achterberg (1988) except for wing venation nomenclature which follows Sharkey and Wharton (1997); see also figure 2.2 in Quicke (2015) for comparison of wing venation naming systems. Specimens of E. bhaskarai sp. nov. were photographed using a Leica M205 C microscope. Images were prepared by image stacking using Leica Application Suite (LAS).

Abbreviations

CUMZ Entomological Museum, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok;

KPM-NK Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History, Japan;

MZB Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (Zoological Museum), Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Bogor, Indonesia.

Molecular methods

DNA sequences were generated for the barcoding region of cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (COI), cytochrome b (cytb), 16S rDNA (16S), elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1𝛼), and the D2-D3 expansion region of 28S rDNA (28S) for four specimens of E. bhaskarai Quicke sp. nov., five specimens of E. yokahamae (deposited in KPM-NK), and one each of E. breviterebrae (deposited in KPM-NK), and E. cephalotes (deposited in CUMZ). An additional COI barcode for E. breviterebrae was obtained from GenBank.

A

A combined barcoding and phylogenetic rapid bootstrap tree was generated using the maximum likelihood program RAxML (Stamatakis 2014). Combined sequences from two species of the putatively closely related Afrotropical genus Archibracon Saussure, (1890) 1892, (Quicke 1989b) were used to root the tree.

Gene sequences are deposited on GenBank and accession numbers are given in Table 1.

Table 1.
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GenBank accession numbers for newly generated sequences.

Taxon BOLD process ID GenBank accession numbers
CO1 cytb 16S 28S EF-1𝛼
Archibracon sp. BBTH2575-21 OM950937 OM950960 OM952149 OM950949 –
E. bhaskarai sp. nov. BBTH2844-21 OM950947 OM950970 OM952159 OM950958 OM950980
E. bhaskarai sp. nov. BBTH2843-21 OM950940 OM950963 OM952152 OM950951 OM950974
E. bhaskarai sp. nov. BBTH2841-21 OM950939 OM950962 OM952151 OM950950 OM950973
E. bhaskarai sp. nov. BBTH2678-21 OM950944 OM950967 OM952156 OM950955 OM950977
E. bhaskarai sp. nov. BBTH2840-21 OM950948 OM950971 OM952160 OM950959 OM950981
E. breviterebrae BBTH2845-21 OM950942 OM950965 OM952154 OM950953 OM950975
E. cephalotes BBTH2676-21 OM950943 OM950966 OM952155 OM950954 OM950976
E. yokahamae BBTH2842-21 OM950938 OM950961 OM952150 – OM950972
E. yokahamae BBTH2839-21 OM950941 OM950964 OM952153 OM950952 –
E. yokahamae BBTH2677-21 OM950945 OM950968 OM952157 OM950956 OM950978
E. yokahamae BBTH2846-21 OM950946 OM950969 OM952158 OM950957 OM950979

Results

Molecular analysis

No intraspecific variation was present in any of the gene fragments. All genes recovered the phylogeny: ((bhaskarai sp. nov. + yokahamae) (cephalotes + breviterebrae)) (Fig. 1). All mitochondrial genes separated E. bhaskarai sp. nov. from E. yokahamae with high bootstrap support (96–100%). The two species differed by 16 bases in the CO1 gene (2.5%), by 13 bases in the cytb gene (3.37%) and by 10 indels in the 16S gene (2.37%).

Figure 1. 

Maximum likelihood bootstrap trees of all available Euurobracon sequences rooted with a representative of the putatively closely related Afrotropical genus Archibracon Saussure. Individual trees are shown for cytochrome oxidase (COI), cytochrome b (cytb) and 16S rDNA (16S).

The 28S gene and EF-1𝛼 did not differentiate E. bhaskarai sp. nov. from E. yokahamae, but consistently split Euurobracon into two species groups (Fig. 1), the differences in 28S between these groups being entirely indels.



Taxonomy

Euurobracon Ashmead, 1900

Euurobracon Ashmead, 1900: 140. Type species: Bracon penetrator Smith, 1877 not Smith, 1863.

Delmira Cameron, 1900: 87. Type species: Delmira triplagiata Cameron [Synonymized by Baltazar 1961.]

Exobracon Szépligeti, 1902: 45. Type species: Bracon quadriceps Smith, 1861 not Smith, 1858. [Synomymized by Roman 1913.]

Lissobracon Cameron, 1905:103. Type species: Lissobracon forticornis Cameron [Synonymized by Roman 1913.]

Diagnosis

Scapus subglobose, shorter ventrally than dorsally in lateral aspect; face flat, clypeus not separated from face by a ridge or carina; propodeum smooth medio-posteriorly (Fig. 7); fore wing vein 3RSa of fore wing 2.5–3.4 × vein 2RS (Figs 2, 8); fore wing vein 1cu-a strongly postfurcal and curved (except E. interstitialis), vein 1CUb 3.0–4.6 × 1CUa (Figs 6, 12); hind wing vein 1r-m much longer than SC+R1 (Figs 6, 12); hind wing vein 1r-m short longitudinal (Fig. 12) to shortly transverse (Fig. 6); surroundings of vein cu-a of hind wing setose; metasoma smooth and shiny, first tergite with smooth, polished, convex median area bordered laterally by pair of distinct furrows, with at most weak indication of rounded, dorsal carina anteriorly, without dorsolateral carinae; second metasomal tergite smooth, with at most a weak medio-anterior pair of short converging grooves but without mid-basal triangular area; second suture smooth; fifth and sixth tergites largely exposed and smooth; hypopygium large, reaching or projecting beyond apex of metasoma; ovipositor strongly exserted; dorsal valve of ovipositor with small pre-apical nodus.

Figures 2–7. 

Euurobracon bhaskarai Quicke sp. nov, ♀, holotype 2 habitus, dorsal view 3 head, anterior view 4 head, dorsal view 5 head, lateral view 6 medial part of fore and hind wings 7 propodeum and metasomal tergites 1 and 2, dorsal view.

Figures 8–12. 

Euurobracon yokahamae 8 ♀ habitus, dorsal view 9 ♂ habitus, dorsal view 10 ♀ head, anterior view 11 ♀ head, dorsal view 12 ♀ basal two-thirds of fore and hind wings.

The adult rectum is unique among braconids in having a large number (>12) of small rectal pads, compared with four in other genera (Quicke et al. 1999).

Euurobracon bhaskarai Quicke, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/D6533B79-844D-43DA-B6E3-66CC88BB8C19
Figs 2–7

Type material

Holotype ♀, Indonesia, West Java, nr Mt Halimun, ii.2021, local collector, DNA voucher CCDB-24624-H04 (MZB). Paratypes: 3 ♀, same data as holotype (1 MZB, DNA voucher CCDB-6326-B09; 2 CUMZ, DNA vouchers CCDB-24624-H05, CCDB-24624-H07).

Diagnosis

Body largely orange-yellow; wings largely yellow, fore wing with greyish margin narrowly infuscate, a small dark brown mark at apex of pterostigma, a dark brown patch around the confluence of veins 1RS, 1-M and (RS+M)a, and a brown patch at the posterior part of the 1st subdiscal cell; hind wing vein R (or RSa) interstitial or short transverse; 2nd metasomal tergite without transverse groove at approximately midlength; ovipositor more than 4 × longer than body. In addition, apex of hind wing basal cell with a small elongate sclerome in the membrane at approximately midlength of 1r-m.

The new species is morphologically very similar E. yokahamae, the only other predominantly yellow species with very long ovipositor. Nearly all specimens of E. yokahamae have hind wing vein R longitudinal (i.e., vein RSa arising from R distal to 1r-m); very rarely it is interstitial. In E. bhaskarai sp. nov. vein RSa is short but distinctly transverse or occasionally interstitial. The most conspicuous difference is in the extent of the dark markings of the fore wing. There is some variation in wing colour pattern in female E. yokahamae and this was illustrated by Sonan (1932), but this does not include restriction of the fore wing grey pattern to a faint narrow margin with just three small brown spots as in the new species. In addition, in the distal part of hind wing basal cell there is a small thickening of the cell membrane creating a tiny sclerome which is absent in E. yokahamae. The antennal flagellum of the four available specimens of the new species is parallel-sided whereas in E. yokahamae it is distinctly widened distally.

Description

Length of body 19.5–23.5 mm, of fore wing 18.7–20.0 mm, of antenna 16.6–18.0 mm and of ovipositor, 97–123 mm. Head. Antenna with 70–71 flagellomeres, more or less parallel-sided. Terminal flagellomere tapering progressively to a point and distinctly acuminate, approximately 1.5 × longer than basally wide. Median flagellomeres transverse, 1.5 × wider than long. Length of first flagellomere: second flagellomere: third flagellomere = 1.45: 1.1; 1.0, the latter being more or less quadrate. Width of head: width of face: height of eye (measured at level of antennal socket) = 2.5: 1.45: 1.0. Dorsal half of clypeus densely long setose. Face densely long setose except for a small median triangular area above the clypeus. Inter-tentorial distance 1.25 × tentorio-ocular distance. Frons sparsely setose. Head widest behind eyes; length of head behind eye 1.1 × length of eye in dorsal view. Malar space 0.9 × longer than basal width of mandible. Minimum length of malar space located at above inner articulation of mandible. Shortest length of mandible 1.2 × longer than basal width of mandible. Mesosoma. Mesosoma 1.75 × longer than high. Middle lobe of mesoscutum often largely moderately densely setose laterally. Notauli present anteriorly only. Anterior margin of propodeum without a deep medial emargination. Propodeal spiracle elongate, ca 2.0 × longer than maximum width. Wings. Fore wing vein 1cu-a far postfurcal, vein 1CUb 3.3 × 1CUa. Forewing vein 2CUa only weakly and gradually expanded posteriorly. Vein (RS+M)a 1.0–1.1 × length of 1-M. Forewing vein m-cu straight, 2.0 × longer than (RS+M)b. Lengths of fore wing veins r-rs: 3RSa: 3RSb = 1.0: 5.5: 6.0. Lengths of fore wing veins 2RS: 3RSa: rs-m = 1.0: 2.75: 1.1. Hindwing vein 1r-m approximately 1.3 × longer than R1 before it reaches wing margin hind wing vein R marginally longitudinal, interstitial or marginally transverse (i.e., with very short vein rs-m). Legs. Length of fore femur: tibia: tarsus = 1.0: 1.0: 1.25. Anterolateral aspect of fore tibia more or less densely clothed with slightly thickened setae. Fore basitarsus 4.3 × longer than maximally deep. Length of hind femur: tibia: basitarsus = 1.0: 1.4: 1.2. Hind femur 6.0 × longer than maximum depth in lateral view. Hind tibia 12.5 × longer than maximum depth in lateral view. Hind basitarsus 8.3 × longer than deep. Metasoma. First tergite 1.2 × longer than maximally wide. Second tergite smooth, 1.2–1.35 × wider than long, without any trace of median transverse groove or furrow. Second + third metasomal tergites 1.3–1.4 × longer than maximally wide. Ovipositor long, 5.2–6.2 × forewing, 5.0–5.3 × longer than body. Coloration. Antenna black. Head, including stemmaticum, and body uniformly ferruginous-yellow (orange-yellow), usually with few black marks as follows: posterior margin of propodeum, medio-anterior of tergite 1, anterolateral part and longitudinal sublateral grooves of tergite 2, anterolateral part of tergite 3, posterior margins of tergites 3–5. Wings largely yellow, narrowly weakly infuscate distally and postero-distally, with dark brown marks at apex of pterostigma, around junction of veins 1RS, 1-M and (RS+M)a but excluding parastigma, and posterior part of first subdiscal cell, membrane. Fore and mid legs ferruginous-yellow except apex of hind tibia and basal three hind tarsomeres which are piceous. Ovipositor sheaths black.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology

Named after Mr Edy Bhaskara, friend of the first author, who lives on the island where the new species was collected.

Biology

Unknown.

Euurobracon yokahamae (Dalla Torre, 1898)

Figs 8–12

Material examined

Japan, Honshu, KPM-NK62083, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Yokohama City, Aoba-Ku, Jike, 9.v.2017; KPM-NK62090, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Yokohama City, Midori-Ku, Mihomachi, 11.v.2017; KPM-NK55278, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Sagamihara City, Midori-Ku, Magino, 20.v.2019, H. Karube leg.; KPM-NK51571, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Aikawa Town, Mimase, 2.v.2017, H. Karube leg.; KPM-NK62092, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Aikawa Town, Sumida, 12.v.2017, H. Fujita leg.; KPM-NK51570, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Hiratsuka C., Kisawa, 1.v.2017, H. Karube leg.; KPM-NK47713, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Oiso Town, Nishikoiso, 12.v.2017; KPM-NK55279, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Nakai Town, Zoushiki, 7.v.2019, K. Watanabe leg.; KPM-NK62086, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Hadano City, Horikawa, 6.i.2016 (from dead tree), K. Suzuki leg.; KPM-NK47711, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Hadano City, Mt. Koubou-yama, 19.v.2017, R. Kaga leg.; KPM-NK69393, ♂, same locality, 30.v.2018 (host coll.), 13.vii.2018 (em.), R. Kaga et al. leg.; KPM-NK69395, 69389, 69405, 1 ♀ & 2 ♂, Kanagawa Pref., Hadano City, Mt. Koubou-yama, 30.v.2018 (host coll.), 14. VII. 2018 (em.), R. Kaga et al. leg.; KPM-NK69402, 69403, 2 ♂, Kanagawa Pref., Hadano City, Mt. Koubou-yama, 30.v.2018 (host coll.), 18.vii.2018 (em.), R. Kaga et al. leg.; KPM-NK62085, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Ooi Town, Yamada, 11.v.2017, H. Karube leg.; KPM-NK62379, ♂, Kanagawa Pref., Minamiashigara City, Iwahara, 7.x.2015 (from dead tree), K. Suzuki leg.; KPM-NK47708, ♀, Kanagawa Pref., Minamiashigara City, Tsukahara, 11.v.2017, H. Karube leg.; KPM-NK62089, ♀, Shizuoka Pref., Fukuroi City, Tsurugaike, 5.v.2017, H. Karube leg.; KPM-NK55276, ♀, Yamanashi Pref., Nirasaki City, Hosaka Town, Mitsuzawa, 11.v.2018, H. Fujita leg.; KPM-NK55277, ♀, Gifu Pref., Ena City, Okasezawa, 11.v.2019, H. Karube leg.

Description

We update the description of this species proposed by Quicke (1989a) based on examination of the above material, including males.

Females: Length of body 14.5–21.5 mm, of forewing 15.5–23.0 mm, and of ovipositor 85–204 mm. Head. Antenna with 65–77 flagellomeres (the number of articles is approximately proportional to the body length), distinctly widening distally to approximately 1.2 × width near base. Terminal flagellomere tapering progressively to a point and distinctly acuminate, approximately 1.5 × longer than basally wide. Median flagellomeres transverse, 1.5 × wider than long. Lengths of first flagellomere: second flagellomere: third flagellomere = 2.0: 1.65: 1.8–2.0. First flagellomere more or less parallel-sided except for slight basal flare, the latter being more or less quadrate. Head widest across eyes, 0.7 and 0.7–1.1 × longer than maximum width of eye and of gena in dorsal view, respectively. Width of head: width of face (measured at height of antennal socket): height of eye = 2.7: 1.6: 1.0. Length of head behind eye 1.0–1.5 × length of eye in dorsal view. Maximum width of gena 1.0–1.4 × longer than maximum width of eye in lateral view. Dorsal half of clypeus densely long setose. Face densely long setose except for a small median triangular area immediately above the clypeus. Malar space 0.8–1.15 × longer than basal width of mandible. Minimum length of malar space located at above inner articulation of mandible. Shortest length of mandible 1.1–1.3 × longer than basal width of mandible. Shortest distance between eyes 0.55–0.6 × longer than maximum width of head in frontal view. Frons largely densely short setose except for median area sparsely setose. POL: diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 0.45–0.9: 1.0: 2.5–2.7. Occiput moderately densely setose. Mesosoma. Mesosoma 1.6–1.7 × longer than high. Middle lobe of mesoscutum often largely moderately densely setose. Notauli present, ending posteriorly near centre of mesoscutum. Anterior margin of propodeum without a deep medial emargination. Propodeal spiracle elongate, ca 2.0 × longer than maximum wide. Wings. Fore wing vein 1cu-a far postfurcal, vein 1CUb 3.0–4.6 × 1CUa vein. Forewing vein 2CUa usually only weakly and gradually expanded posteriorly. Lengths of fore wing veins r-rs: 3RSa: 3RSb = 1.0: 4.3–4.8: 6.1–6.5. Vein (RS+M)a 1.0–1.1 × length of 1-M. Forewing vein m-cu straight, 1.6–2.2 × longer than (RS+M)b. Lengths of forewing veins 2RS: 3RSa: rs-m = 2.0: 2.1–2.3: 0.9–0.95. Hindwing vein 1r-m approximately 1.55 × longer than R1 before it reaches wing margin. Hindwing vein R usually longitudinal, rarely interstitial. Legs. Lengths of fore femur: tibia: tarsus = 1.0: 1.0–1.15: 1.1–1.12. Anterolateral aspect of fore tibia more or less densely clothed with slightly thickened setae. Fore basitarsus 4.3–4.5 × longer than maximally deep. Lengths of hind femur: tibia: basitarsus = 1.0: 1.5: 1.5–1.75. Hind femur 5.0–5.8 × longer than maximum depth in lateral view. Hind tibia 9.5–11.0 × longer than maximum depth in lateral view. Hind basitarsus 7.7 × longer than deep. Metasoma. First metasomal tergite 0.98–1.24 × longer than maximally wide (generally shorter in length for larger specimens); dorsal carinae relatively close together, broadly rounded ridges rather than lamelliform carinae; raised median area with or without a mid-longitudinal groove. Second metasomal tergite largely glabrous 1.25–1.43 × wider than long, without a distinct transverse median groove on either side of the midline, with a pair of sublateral oblique furrows. Third metasomal tergite with distinct anterolateral areas, without a pair of sub-medial transverse grooves or pits. Second + third metasomal tergites 1.1–1.3 × longer than maximally wide. Ovipositor long, 5.55–9.3 × forewing length [5.0–14.0 in Quicke (1989a)] though generally between 6.0 and 9.0 × fore wing]; 5.85–9.5 × longer than body. Apex of lower valve of ovipositor with five teeth. Approximately distal 0.1 of lower valve of ovipositor with rough surface laterally (and also ventrally except for teeth). Coloration. The additional materials completely agree with the character states of coloration proposed by Quicke (1989a) which is reproduced below. Antenna and ovipositor sheath black. Body usually largely or entirely ferruginous-yellow (somewhat paler in the Indian specimens), sometimes with piceous markings especially on the metasomal tergites, propodeum, metanotum, mesopleuron and propodeum. Fore and middle legs ferruginous-yellow, hind legs usually black or dark piceous but entirely yellow in specimens from India, Laos and Thailand. Wings yellow with a somewhat variable brown pattern (Sonan, 1932), the distinctive features being: a dark mark at the parastigma and at the apex of the pterostigma of the forewing; usually a dark mark in the first subdiscal cell of the forewing; a pale grey-brown at the apex of the forewing, extending and darkening slightly along the postero-distal part of the wing margin; hindwing with a grey-brown apical region which extends along the posterior wing margin and is produced into the base of the submarginal cell and again into the discal+subdiscal cells.

Males: Similar to female. Length of first flagellomere: second flagellomere: third flagellomere = 2.0: 1.1–1.3: 1.4–1.55. Head 1.1–1.15 × longer than maximum width of gena in dorsal view. Eye relatively larger than in female, maximum width of gena 0.5–0.6 × longer than maximum width of eye in lateral view. Shortest distance between eyes 0.25–0.3 × longer than maximum width of head in frontal view. Face slightly narrower than female, 0.43–0.7 × longer than maximum width. Ocelli larger than female. POL distinctly longer than shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye. POL: diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 0.5–0.6: 1.0: 0.3–0.5. Malar space (minimum length) 2.0 × longer than basal width of mandible. Minimum length of malar space located at above outer articulation of mandible. Length of hind femur: tibia: basitarsus = 1.0: 1.55–1.8: 1.35–1.6. First metasomal tergite slenderer than female, 1.25–1.4 × longer than maximum width. Second and third metasomal tergites usually with slight transverse depression. Male genitalia. Basal ring V-shaped, its dorsal part narrow and linear. Digitus large and triangular, with three minute tubercles at apex. Apex of paramere not projecting beyond apex of aedeagus, densely setose. Dorsal surface of aedeagus largely flat subapically. Ventral side of aedeagus with lamella-like expansion. Described in detail and illustrated by SEM in Quicke (1988).

Distribution

Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Laos, Thailand and India (Yu et al. 2016).

Biology

See Introduction.

Remarks

A set of eight figures showing the range of variation of forewing markings found in the East Palaearctic population was provided by Sonan (1932). Quicke (1989a) classified this species into its own, monotypic, E. yokahamae species group which is recognizable from all other Euurobracon spp. by its interstitial or longitudinal hindwing vein 2-SC+R in combination with predominantly yellow or red-yellow coloration.

Discussion

In general, even among parasitoid wasps, large and brightly coloured species, have often already been described, and indeed, not uncommonly have one or more synonyms (Jones et al. 2009, 2011; Quicke 2012). Most of the undescribed diversity occurs among the smaller and less spectacular groups. Nevertheless, in South-east Asia, and adjacent southern China, many such new species are being described. Members of the genus Euurobracon are, despite their large body size and often impressive ovipositors, almost certainly vastly under-recorded in South-east Asia.

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Paul D.N. Hebert, Suresh Naik and Ramya Manjunath at the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph for sequencing these specimens and for archiving the data. We also extend our sincere thanks to Histocenter (Thailand) Co. Ltd. for the loan of the Leica photomicroscopy system. Michael Geiser (Natural History Museum, London) kindly explored and clarified the name and authorship of a recorded host of Euurobracon. DLJQ was supported by the award of a Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Rachadaphiseksomphot Fund, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University. BAB was supported by Rachadaphiseksomphot Fund (RCU_F_64_006_23) and RSPG Chula. Finally, we thank our three very careful referees for their useful comments and corrections.

References

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