Atoposega estherinae Rosa & K 2024, nov.sp.

Atoposega estherinae ROSA nov.sp. (Figs 3 A-3F, 4A-4D) M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Kerala: 1♀, 15 km SW of Munnar, Kallar Valley, 10°02N 76°58E, 1250m, leg. Dembický & Pacholátko (BZL). Paratypes: Tamil Nadu: 3♀♀, Anamalai Hills, Cinchona, 3500 ft., May 1967, leg. P.S. Nathan (RMNH). D i a g n o s i s: The genus Atoposega was recently revised by KIMSEY (2014) and includes only six species: A. lineata (KROMBEIN, 1957); A. rieki (KROMBEIN, 1957); A. rufithorax KIMSEY, 2014; A. simulans KIMSEY, 1986; A. striata KIMSEY, 2014; and A. thailandica KIMSEY, 2014. The occurrence of this genus in India was expected (ROSA et al. 2021a) because one species, A. rieki, was recorded in Myanmar and the genus has a wide distribution in the Oriental region from Borneo to Myanmar (KIMSEY 2014). Atoposega estherinae nov.sp. can be easily distinguished from other species by the following combination of characters: second metasomal tergum with lateral patch of dense, longitudinal scratches not joining posteriorly or appearing U-shaped as in A. rieki, A. rufithorax and A. striata; first flagellomere 5× as long as broad (vs. 4× in A. thailandica, and 3× in A. lineata and A. simulans); forewing not banded; pronotum and mesonotum with large, contiguous punctures, separated by longitudinal ridges. Atoposega estherinae nov.sp. mostly resemble A. thailandica but can be distinguished by: first tergum fully impunctate and polished medially (Fig. 4C) (vs. only medial two-thirds impunctate) with lateral patch of fine, dense longitudinal scratches (Fig. 4A) (vs. laterally with zone of small punctures, separated by 0.5–1.0 puncture diameters); second tergum fully punctate dorsally, with impunctate median line and punctures becoming denser at sides, align anterolaterally and becoming striatiform (Fig. 4B, D) (vs. medial third polished and impunctate on anterior half of tergum, lateral third punctate, with punctures separated by 0.5–1.0 puncture diameters, becoming slightly striatiform laterally); wing membrane ambrate (Fig. 3F) (vs. wing membrane bicolored, dark brown with broad pale band across wing at stigma). Other different characters are: OOL 0.5× MOD (vs. 0.8 MOD); malar space shorter 2.3× MOD (vs. 2.6× MOD); anterior ocellus 1.8× MOD from eye margin; (vs. 2.2× MOD); scapal basin fully cross-ridged medially, with a single row of punctures between scapal basin and eye (vs. not fully ridged, with more punctures between scapal basin and eye in A. thailandica); first flagellomere length 5× breadth (vs. 4×); fore femur ventrally carinate (vs. unmodified); metapleuron longitudinally striate (Fig. 4A) (vs. transversely striate); scape pale reddish (vs. bicolored, red to light brown ventrally, blackish dorsally); all legs red (vs. hind femur largely black); propodeum black posteriorly (vs. black dorsally and posteriorly). D e s c r i p t i o n: Female body length 5.7 mm. Fore wing length 3.8 mm. Head. Frons with contiguous punctures; scapal basin fully cross-ridged medially, with a single row of punctures between scapal basin and eye (Fig. 3C); malar space long, 2.3 × MOD; anterior ocellus 1.8 MOD from eye margin (Fig. 3D); OOL 0.5 MOD; clypeus polished and flattened apically; subantennal distance 0.9 MOD; first flagellomere l/w = 5; second flagellomere l/w = 1; third flagellomere 0.6; eleventh flagellomere l/w = 1.6. Relative length of P:F1:F2:F3 = 1:2.6:0.7:0.6. Mesosoma: Length 2.4 mm. Pronotum and mesonotum with large, subcontiguous punctures, separated by longitudinal ridges (Fig. 3E); pronotum and scutum subequal in length; scutum with notauli deeper and larger posteriorly; mesopleuron with relatively small, even punctures; metanotum 0.6× as long as scutellum, medial enclosure coarsely, irregularly punctate, with medial ridge (Fig. 3D); propodeum areolate on dorsal surface, with numerous cross-ridges on posterior surface; metapleuron transversely striate (Fig. 4A); propodeum laterally with a stripe covered with short, silvery pubescence; posterior propodeal projections spiny and pointing upwards; fore femur ventrally carinate. Metasoma. Length 1.9 mm. First tergum impunctate and polished medially; laterally with patch of fine, dense, longitudinal scratches; second tergum fully punctate dorsally, with impunctate median longitudinal line; punctures becoming denser at sides, anterolaterally aligned and becoming striatiform; third metasomal tergum with small, dense and subcontiguous punctures; first sternum produced into large basal keel. Coloration. Head black; scape pale reddish, pedicel and first flagellomere pale to whitish; first flagellomere distally dark brown; second flagellomere partially light brown and partly blackish, rest of flagellum black; mesosoma and legs red, propodeum black posteriorly; second metasomal tergum green metallic laterally (Fig. 4 A-D); sternal keel brownish; wing membrane ambrate, densely setose. Male. Unknown. D i s t r i b u t i o n: India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu). E t y m o l o g y: The specific epithet estherinae (feminine noun in genitive) is dedicated to Esther Ockermüller, curator of the Hymenoptera at BZL, who entrusted me in the study of the Chrysididae deposited in the museum collection over the years.