Chrysis pandyana Rosa & K 2024, nov.sp.

Chrysis pandyana ROSA nov.sp. (Figs 13 A-F, 14A-14D) M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Holotype ♀; Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore, Kallar, 500m, 7.iv.1970, leg. R. T. Simon Thomas (collectie Zoölogisch Museum Amsterdam) (RMNH). Paratype: 1♀, same labels as the holotype (RMNH). D i a g n o s i s: Chrysis pandyana ROSA, nov.sp. is an unusual species that I include in the wahlbergi group due to the structure of its third metasomal tergum with four distal teeth and a basolateral bulge (Fig. 13B, 14B), the scapal basin micropunctate, the shortened pronotum, the frontal carina parenthesis-like, and the shape of the black spots on second sternum large and separated medially. This species group was previously known only from the Afrotropical region (KIMSEY & BOHART 1991; MADL & ROSA 2012). Chrysis pandyana ROSA nov.sp. is distinct from all the other members of the group by its relatively large ocelli (Fig. 13D); the shape of the four apical teeth, which are normally close-set and triangular, whereas in C. pandyana, they are spiniform, and the raised square parenthesis-like frontal carina. Other diagnostic characters are the elongate, subrectangular black spots on the second sternum (Fig. 14D), the double metasomal punctation with small and sparse punctures in the second half of the second tergum (Fig. 14A); the black median area of mesoscutum with dark violet reflections on the bottom of the large punctures. D e s c r i p t i o n: Female. Body length 8.9 mm; anterior wing length 5.5 mm. Head. Vertex and ocellar triangle with dense, small to medium punctures (0.2–0.5× MOD), with the largest between ocelli and eye, the smallest above frontal carina and on ocelli area; polished area in front of anterior ocellus, sulcate medially; ocelli relatively large compare to other species of the species group (Fig. 13D); anterior ocellus subtrapezoidal, sunken; transverse frontal carina raised, square parenthesis-like with small to medium punctures between carina and scapal basin; scapal based densely micropunctate, with punctures aligned transversally; median longitudinal stripe (1× MOD wide) impunctate, weakly wrinkled transversally; area before clypeus polished to shallowly wrinkled; scapal basin covering almost the entire face, at sides with sparse, small to median punctures; malar space micropunctate; gena narrow, less than 1× MOD; genal carina sharp, fully developed from temples to mandibular insertion; subantennal space short, 0.75× MOD; apex of clypeus straight, slightly arcuate upward with thick, apico-median, black rim. Malar space very short (0.3× MOD). Distance between anterior ocellus and margin of frontal carina = 1.2× MOD. OOL 1.0 × MOD; POL 1.2× MOD; relative length of P:F1:F2:F3 = 1.0:1.3:1.1:1.0. Mesosoma. Pronotum narrow medially, shorter than scutellum (Fig. 13E); medial pronotal furrow shallow, as long as 2/3 of pronotal length; punctures medium sized (0.4–0.5× MOD), spaced (1 puncture diameter apart), interspaces micropunctate; mesoscutum with larger punctures on median area; lateral area with denser punctures, micropunctate on interspaces; notauli formed by deep, blue, subsquare to subrectangular foveae, smaller than punctures on median area; parapsidal signum shallow; mesoscutellum with larger punctures than mesoscutum, micropunctate on interspaces, denser at side; scutellar-metanotal suture as deep line, enlarged medially; metanotum densely punctate, with subcontigous punctures; posterior propodeal projections triangular, slightly divergent, pointed downwards; mesopleuron densely and deeply punctate, with episternal sulcus formed by large, subrectangular foveae (Fig. 13F); noticeable deep meso- and metapleural foveae. Metasoma. Punctures on first tergum even, small, micropunctate on interspaces; second tergum with similar punctation on basal half, with smaller and sparser punctures on apical half; longitudinal median carina weak, yet visible on all terga; third tergum with larger punctures basally, becoming denser on pre pit area, which is slightly saddled; pits of pit row deep, non-metallic, 2-3× larger than larger tergal punctures; third tergum with basolateral bulge, apical margin with four sharp, spiniform teeth; black spots on second sternum subrectangular, elongate, covering about two thirds of sternum length, largely separated medially and not touching lateral margin of sternum (Fig. 14F). Coloration. Body blue with greenish reflections on face and dorsally on pronotum, scutellum, first tergum and apico-laterally on second tergum; median area of mesoscutum black with violet reflection on the bottom of punctures. Wing infuscate, lighter on outer margin. Vestiture. Setae whitish and short, sparse, less than or 1.0× MOD, on the body. Male. Unknown. Etymology. The specific epithet pandyana (adjective) is named after the Pandyan dynasty, an ancient Tamil dynasty who ruled extensive territories in southern India over a period of almost 1800 years. D i s t r i b u t i o n: India (Tamil Nadu).