Two genera of Braconinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in China, with descriptions of four new species

Abstract Two genera, namely Dolabraulax Quicke and Scutibracon Quicke of Braconinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from China are studied for the first time, and four new species, namely Dolabraulax jigongshanus Wang & Chen, sp. n., Dolabraulax flavus Wang & Chen, sp. n., Dolabraulax brevivena Wang & Chen, sp. n. and Scutibracon fujianensis Wang & Chen, sp. n. are fully described and illustrated. The examined specimens are deposited in the Parasitic Hymenoptera Collection, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (ZJUH).


Introduction
Th e Braconinae is one of the largest and the most diverse cosmopolitan subfamilies of Braconidae with about 2900 described species of about 180 genera worldwide, and mainly occurring in tropical and subtropical regions but particularly rich in the Indo-

1.
Propodeum with a completely mid-longitudinal carina or arising from the middle of the hind margin; vein 1-SR+M of fore wing slightly and evenly curved; smooth carina or band of second metasomal tergite relatively narrow baso-medially; fourth metasomal tergite with a transverse groove basally ....2 -Propodeum with an incompletely mid-longitudinal carina, arising from the 1/3 of the hind margin; vein 1-SR+M of fore wing straight; smooth carina or band of second metasomal tergite wide baso-medially ; fourth metasomal tergite without a transverse groove basally . Frons weakly impressed behind each antennal socket, hardly divided by a raised, mid-longitudinal ridge; notauli impressed along its entire length (Fig. 1c); body largely yellowish brown; length of body 3.8 mm ( -1997, Chen Xue-xin, No. 974960. Paratypes: 1♀1♂, Jigongshan, Henan, 12-VII-1997 Description. Length of body 3.8 mm, fore wing 3.4 mm, and ovipositor sheath 5.5 mm. Head d): Antennae with 29 segments; fi rst fl agellomere parallel-sided, 3.1 times as long as its maximum width, 1.1 and 1.2 times as long as the second and third fl agellomeres, respectively; second and third ones 2.8 and 2.9 times as long as their maximum width, respectively; median fl agellomeres 2.6 times as long as their maximum width; terminal fl agellomere tapering apically, approximately 2.9 times as long as its basal width; medio-transversal clypeal carina without a row sparse long setae; height of clypeus: inter-tentorial distance: tentorio-ocular distance = 1: 3: 5; malar space 0.35 times as long as height of eye; face with sparse long setae; height of face: width of face: width of head = 11: 13: 16; frons smooth and shiny, weakly impressed and without longitudinal ridge medially; shortest distance between posterior ocelli: diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 2: 1: 7; vertex smooth and shiny, with sparse long setae medially.
Mesosoma (Fig. 1c): Mesosoma 1.8 times as long as its maximum height, smooth and shiny with sparse long setae mid-posteriorly; notauli deeply impressed anteriorly and shallow posteriorly with sparse short setae along its whole length; middle lobe of mesoscutum rather raised anteriorly and protruding in front of the lateral lobes; scutellar sulcus relatively wide and deep, distinctly crenulate; metanotum with a strongly raised area medially; propodeum glabrous, with a mid-longitudinal carina and sparse setae, relatively densely setose laterally.
Metasoma (Figs 1f,g): Metasoma distinctly longer than head and mesosoma combined, more or less parallel-sided; fi rst tergite 1.3 times as long as its maximum apical width, with strongly raised area medio-apically and crenulate laterally, occupying fourfi fths of its entire length; second tergite with medio-basal glabrous band reaching the suture between second and third tergites, and lateral depressed longitudinal grooves crenulate laterally, the remainder with rugulose sculpture; suture between second and third tergites deep and crenulate, wide medially and narrowed laterally; third tergite with distinct raised areas antero-laterally, smooth and shiny, with sparse setae apically; fourth-seventh tergites uniformly smooth and shiny, with sparse short setae apically; hypopygium acute apically, distinctly extending beyond apex of metasoma; ovipositor sheath 1.6 times as long as fore wing, with dense setae; ovipositor with teeth apicoventrally and without dorsal notch pre-apically.
Colour: Head dark yellow; antenna yellowish brown; face dark yellow; frons and vertex brown; mesosoma black; fore leg pale yellow, middle and hind legs dark yellow; pterostima yellowish brown; wings membrane pale grey, and veins dark yellow; metasomal tergites yellowish brown dorsally and pale yellow ventrally; ovipositor sheath yellowish brown.
Male: Similar to the female, but relatively small, length of body 3.5 mm, metasoma black.
Biology: Unknown. Distribution: China (Henan). Etymology: Th e new species is named after the type locality, Jigongshan in Henan (Central China).
Diagnosis: Th is species is similar to Dolabraulax implicatus Quicke, but diff ers from the latter by the characters listed in the key above.
Head d): Antennae with 29 segments; fi rst fl agellomere parallel-sided, 2.9 times as long as its maximum width, 1.1 and 1.2 times as long as the second and third fl agellomeres, respectively; second and third ones 2.7 and 2.8 times as long as their maximum width, respectively; median fl agellomeres 2.6 times as long as their maximum width; terminal fl agellomere tapering apically, approximately 3.2 times as long as its basal width; medio-transversal clypeal carina with a row sparse short setae; height of clypeus: inter-tentorial distance: tentorio-ocular distance = 9: 14: 22; malar space 0.34 times as long as height of eye; face with sparse long setae, relatively dense laterally; height of face: width of face: width of head = 12: 15: 17; frons smooth and shiny, weakly impressed, and without longitudinal ridge medially; shortest distance between posterior ocelli: diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 2: 1: 7; vertex smooth and shiny, with sparse long setae medially.
Mesosoma (Figs 2c, e): Mesosoma 1.6 times as long as its maximum height, smooth and shiny with sparse long setae mid-posteriorly; notauli deeply impressed half of the anterior and fl at posteriorly with sparse long setae along its whole length; middle lobe of mesoscutum rather raised anteriorly and protruding in front of the lateral lobes; scutellar sulcus relatively wide and deep, with distinctly crenulate; metanotum with a strongly raised area medially; propodeum glabrous, with a mid-longitudinal impressed area and carina, arising from the 1/3 of the hind margin, with sparse setae, relatively densely setose laterally.
Metasoma (Fig. 2g, h): Metasoma distinctly longer than head and mesosoma combined, more or less parallel-sided; fi rst tergite 1.4 times as long as its maximum apical width, with strongly raised area medio-apically, crenulate laterally, occupying three-fi fths of its entire length; second tergite with medio-basal glabrous band hardly reaching the suture between second and third tergites, and lateral depressed longitudinal grooves crenulate laterally, the remainder with rugulose sculpture; suture between second and third tergites deep and crenulate, wide medially and narrow laterally; third tergite with distinct raised areas antero-laterally, smooth and shiny, with sparse setae apically; fourth tergite with transversal impressed groove basally; fourth-seventh tergites uniformly smooth and shiny, with sparse short setae apically; hypopygium acute apically, distinctly extending beyond apex of metasoma; ovipositor sheath 1.8 times as long as fore wing, with dense setae; ovipositor with teeth apico-ventrally and without dorsal notch pre-apically.
Colour: Head dark yellow; antenna yellowish brown; face yellow; frons and vertex yellowish brown; mesosoma blackish brown; fore leg pale yellow, middle and hind legs dark yellow; pterostima yellowish brown; wings membrane pale grey, and veins dark yellow; metasomal tergites yellowish brown dorsally and pale yellow apically and ventrally; ovipositor sheath yellowish brown.
Male: Similar to the female, but relatively small, length of body 2.2 mm, metasoma dark yellow.
Biology: Unknown. Distribution: China (Fujian, Guangdong and Sichuan). Etymology: Th e new species is named after the colour of body, which is largely yellowish.
Diagnosis: Th is species is similar to Dolabraulax implicatus Quicke, but diff ers from the latter by characters listed in the key above. Description. Length of body 3.0-4.5 mm, fore wing 3.5-4.0 mm, and ovipositor sheath 5.0-5.5 mm.
Head (Figs 3a-b, d): Antennae with 27 segments; fi rst fl agellomere parallel-sided, 3.0 times as long as its maximum width, 1.1 and 1.2 times as long as the second and third fl agellomeres, respectively; second and third ones 2.5 and 2.7 times as long as their maximum width, respectively; median fl agellomeres 2.6 times as long as their maximum width; terminal fl agellomere tapering apically, approximately 3.4 times as long as its basal width; medio-transversal clypeal carina without a row sparse short setae; height of clypeus: inter-tentorial distance: tentorio-ocular distance =2.5: 6: 4; malar space 0.36 times as long as height of eye; face with sparse long setae, relatively dense laterally; height of face: width of face: width of head = 10: 11: 23; frons smooth and shiny, weakly impressed, without longitudinal ridge medially; shortest distance between posterior ocelli: diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 2.5: 1: 7; vertex smooth and shiny, with sparse long setae laterally.
Mesosoma (Fig. 3c): Mesosoma 1.8 times as long as its maximum height, smooth and shiny with dense long setae medio-posteriorly; notauli shallowly impressed half of the anterior and fl at posteriorly with sparse long setae along its whole length; middle lobe of mesoscutum relatively raised anteriorlly and protruding in front of the lateral lobes; scutellar sulcus rather wide and deep, with distinctly crenulate; metanotum with a strongly raised area medially; propodeum glabrous, with a mid-longitudinal carina, arising from the 1/4 of the hind margin, with sparse setae medially, but relatively densely long setose laterally.
Metasoma (Figs 3e, g): Metasoma distinctly longer than head and mesosoma combined, more or less parallel-sided; fi rst tergite 1.3 times as long as its maximum apical width, with strongly raised area medio-apically, crenulate laterally, occupying four-fi fths of its entire length; second tergite with medio-basal glabrous band hardly reaching the suture between second and third tergites, and lateral depressed longitudinal grooves crenulate laterally, the remainder with rugulose sculpture; suture between second and third tergites deep and crenulate, wide medially and relative narrow laterally; third tergite with distinct raised areas antero-laterally, smooth and shiny, with sparse setae apically; fourth tergite without transversal impressed groove basally; fourth-seventh tergites uniformly smooth and shiny, with sparse short setae apically; hypopygium acute apically, distinctly extending beyond apex of metasoma; ovipositor sheath 1.8 times as long as fore wing, with dense setae; ovipositor with teeth apicoventrally and without dorsal notch pre-apically.
Colour: Head reddish yellow; antenna dark yellow; face reddish yellow; frons and vertex yellowish brown; mesosoma dark brown; fore leg pale yellow, middle and hind legs dark yellow; pterostima yellowish brown; wings membrane pale grey, and veins dark yellow; metasomal tergites yellowish brown dorsally and pale yellow apically and ventrally; ovipositor sheath yellow brown.
Male: Similar to the female, but relatively small, length of body 3.2 mm, metasoma dark yellow.
Biology: Unknown. Distribution: China (Zhejiang). Etymology: Th e new species is named after the character of vein r of fore wing, which is relatively shorter.
Diagnosis: Th is species is similar to Dolabraulax implicatus Quicke, but diff ers from the latter by characters listed in the key above. General. Th is genus can be recognized by the following characters: small wasps with body length less than 3.0 mm; all fl agellomeres more than twice times longer than wide; scapus small, shorter ventrally than dorsally in lateral view; face largely densely short-setose, smooth and shiny; frons distinctly impressed behind each antennal socket, short setose; scutellum densely and evenly setose; propodeum rather fl at, with a complete mid-longitudinal carina; marginal cell of fore wing long, second submarginal cell of fore wing short, parallel-sided and robust, vein cu-a of fore wing distinctly postfurcal; claws with pointed basal lobes; fi rst metasomal tergite with distinctly dorso-lateral carinae, second and third metasomal tergites enlarged, broad and short, and the third metasomal tergite more than 3.0 times wider than long medially. Species of this genus have been reared from Hispa armigera Olivier (Coleoptera: Hispidae) and Acrocercops cramerella Snellen (Lepidoptera: Gracilariidae).

Scutibracon hispae
Head (Figs 4a-b, d): Antennae as long as the fore wing, with 30 segments; scapus slightly fl ared apico-ventrally, distinctly weakly emarginated apico-laterally; fi rst fl agellomere parallel-sided, 1.5 times as long as the second fl agellomeres; the latter 1.8 times as long as its maximum width; median fl agellomeres 1.5 times as long as its maximum width; terminal fl agellomere tapering apically, approximately 2.1 times as long as its basal width; medio-transversal clypeal carina with a row sparse short setae; height of clypeus: inter-tentorial distance: tentorio-ocular distance = 3: 6: 5; malar space 0.23 times as long as height of eyes; face with dense short setae, width of face: width of head: maximum length of eye in dorsal view = 15: 28: 14; frons smooth and shiny, densely short setose, strongly impressed and with longitudinal groove medially; shortest distance between posterior ocelli: diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 2.5: 2: 6; vertex smooth and shiny, with dense setae.
Mesosoma (Fig. 4c): Mesosoma 1.2 times as long as its maximum height, smooth and shiny, densely evenly short setae; notauli deeply impressed along its whole length; middle lobe of mesoscutum strongly raised anteriorlly; scutellar sulcus relatively wide and deep, with distinctly crenulate; metanotum with strongly raised area medially; propodeum glabrous, with a completely mid-longitudinal carina, and sparse setae medially, but relatively densely setose laterally.
Metasoma (Figs 4f,g,i): Metasoma short and robust, evenly irregularly sculptured, slightly shorter than head and mesosoma combined; fi rst metasomal tergite 1.3 times as wide as its maximum median long, with strongly raised area mid-apically occupying two-threes of its entire length, posterior part with coarse foveate rugose sculpture; second tergite without mid-basal triangular area, 2.0 times as long as its maximum width, with sub-lateral grooves medio-basally, extending to half of its entire length; third tergite broad and short, 2.7 times as wide as median long; suture between second and third tergites deep and crenulate, moderately wide; four tergite 0.5 times as long as third tergite medially; sixth-seventh tergites invisible, hypopygium short, acute apically, hardly extending beyond apex of metasoma; ovipositor sheath 0.25 times as long as fore wing, with dense setae; ovipositor without teeth apico-ventrally and dorsal notch pre-apically.
Colour: Head yellow except for interocellar area black; mesosoma orange yellow but media and lateral lobes of mesoscutum with blackish spots; fore leg pale yellow, middle and hind legs dark yellow; wings membrane smokish grey, and veins yellowish brown; propodeum pale brown; metasomal tergites largely pale yellow but second metasomal tergite with blackish spots mid-apically, third metasomal tergite with black medially, four metasomal tergite with blackish spots sub-laterally; ovipositor sheath blackish brown.
Biology: Based on labels of type specimens, the host of this species is Acrocercops cramerella Snellen (Lepidoptera: Gracilariidae).
Distribution: China (Fujian). Etymology: Th e new species is named after the name of Fujian province, where the type specimens are collected.
Diagnosis: Th is species is similar to Scutibracon hispae (Viereck), but distinctly diff ers from the latter by having the vein r of fore wing longer, 0.6 times as long as vein 3-SR (Fig. 4h); the second tergite without a mid-basal triangular area, 2.0 times as long as its maximum width, with sublateral longitudinal grooves medio-basally, extending to half of its length (Fig. 4i); the interocellar area black (Fig. 4b); the middle and lateral lobes of mesoscutum with distinct blackish spots (Fig. 4c); the second-fourth tergites with blackish spots medio-apically, medially and sublaterally, respectively (Fig. 4i) and the length of body more than 3.0 mm.