Rodrigama can be distinguished from all other poemeniines by either of the following: 1) paired antero-lateral and postero-lateral oblique grooves delimiting a central rhombic area on the second metasomal tergite; 2) fused tergite and sternite of the first metasomal segment and can be readily identified using Wahl & Gauld’s (1998) key to genera.

Medium to large ichneumonids with fore wing length 12–26 mm. Apical segment of flagellum tapered apically, with distal end narrowly truncate; eyes with inner margins parallel; lower face transverse, about 1.3 × as broad as high at narrowest point; clypeus (Fig. 6) moderately large, not divided into basal and apical parts; clypeal margin thin, more or less indented, about 2 × as wide as high; mandible (Fig. 6) stout, with lower tooth slightly twisted forwards, entire mandible evenly tapered, bidentate, with lower tooth distinctly longer and stouter than upper tooth; posterior ocellus separated from eye by 1.4–1.7 × its maximum diameter; occipital carina (Figs 4, 5) centrally narrowly incomplete, mediodorsally slightly dipped; upper part of gena smooth; head in dorsal view with genae of moderate length, barely narrowed behind eyes. Pronotum (Fig. 7) with a mediodorsal posteriorly directed tooth, with strongly impressed and transversely striate groove extending from upper hind corner down to lower corner; upper part of epomia weak and short. Mesoscutum highly polished, sparsely covered with fine punctures and pubescence, without transverse rugae; epicnemial carina present, with upper end reaching level of lower corner of pronotum. Propodeum (Figs 8, 18) quite short, convex, with longitudinal carinae weak or absent; pleural carina clearly discernible; propodeal spiracle oval. Metapleuron strongly convex; submetapleural carina complete. Fore wing (Fig. 16) with vein 3rs-m present, defining a shortly petiolate, very wide, irregularly rhombic areolet; vein Rs+M opposite or a little basad of cu-a; 2rs-m about as long as M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu; 2m-cu with two bullae; Cu1b shorter than abscissa of Cu1 between 1m-cu and Cu1a; hind wing with 4–5 hamuli on costal margin proximally. Tarsal claws of both sexes simple, large, symmetrical, abruptly curved, with neither inner tooth nor spatulate bristles; hind leg very slender with tibia and tarsus particularly long and slender, with trochantellus not exceptionally long. Metasoma of female (Figs 1–3) moderately slender, fusiform; tergite 1 (Figs 11–12, 19) very long and slender, dorsally smooth and polished, without lateromedian and lateral longitudinal carinae, with spiracles on promontories at centre of tergite; sternite 1 fused to tergite, anteriorly forming cylinder; glymma absent; tergites 2–4 with grooves delimiting more or less rhombic central areas (Figs 1–3, 13, 20); last visible tergite extending into flat, shelf-like posterior prolongation which overhangs cerci (Fig. 14); sternites 2+ to subgenital plate medially indented, latter with small median incision posteriorly; ovipositor moderately stout, projecting beyond subgenital plate by about 4.5 × length of hind tibia, apex somewhat depressed, evenly tapered to point; lower valve dorsolaterally expanded to partially enclose upper, with distinct teeth (Fig. 15); male with metasoma slightly compressed; sternites evenly sclerotized, folded on mid-line; subgenital plate transverse, with posterior margin slightly concave.

Host unknown. Females of Rodrigama gamezi were observed flying around an old, dead tree, and one was collected whilst probing in an old beetle boring with its ovipositor (Gauld 1991).

Gauld’s (1991) description is sufficient for recognition of Rodrigama gamezi; we add the following characters for comparison with the two species newly described here: epicnemial carina present on mesoscutum; mesopleural suture mostly smooth, with some faint transverse striations; posterior transverse carina of propodeum strongly raised; first metasomal sternite extending back to about half way between spiracle and posterior margin of tergite 1. A paratype ♀ is illustrated in Fig. 3.

♀ (Fig. 1), 21–27. iv.2008 (Malaise trap), Aha, (26°42'52"N, 128°16'09"E (WGS 84), 150m a.s.l.), Kunigami-son, Okinawa-jima, Okinawa Pref., Ryukyus, Japan (K. Sugino) [OMNH, TI-480].

3♀, 7–21.iv, 21–27.iv, 20–26.v, (OMNH), 1♀, 14–20.v (BMNH), otherwise same data as holotype, collected in a Malaise trap operated by K. Sugino.

This species can be distinguished from all congeners by the following: pronotum with weak, medially incomplete oblique groove from epomia to ventroposterior corner; area dorsal to this groove weakly punctate; subalar prominence yellow; first metasomal tergite with apical whitish band; tergites 2–5 each with paired whitish transverse markings apically, these markings sometimes fused dorso-medially.

Female. Length of fore wing 12–13 mm. Malar space (Fig. 6) about 0.2 × basal width of mandible. Pronotum (Fig. 7) with weak medially incomplete oblique groove from epomia to ventroposterior corner; area dorsal to this groove weakly punctate. Mesoscutum in front of scuto-scutellar groove 1.3 × as long as wide in dorsal view; length of pubescence in centre of middle lobe about 1.5 × as long as distance between adjoining punctures; mesopleuron moderately punctate anteriorly, rather finely and sparsely punctate posteriorly, rather densely covered with pubescence; mesopleural suture strongly transversely striate; propodeum (Fig. 8) moderately punctate, transversely striate dorsomedially, with anterior part of lateromedian longitudinal carina present (sometimes very short), without swelling above spiracle; posterior transverse carinae absent. First metasomal tergite (Fig. 12) gradually broadened posteriorly in dorsal aspect, 6.5 × as long as posteriorly broad; posterior end of first metasomal sternite at posterior 0.35 between spiracle and posterior end of first metasomal tergite (Fig. 11); tergites 2–4 (Fig. 13) sparsely covered with fine punctures and minute pubescence.

Colouration (Fig. 1). Head largely yellow with following parts black: apical half of mandible, occiput, frons except narrow yellow stripe extending along inner orbit to top of eye, narrow stripe behind eye extending downwards and fading around middle of eye; labrum dark brown; gena brownish, darkened dorsally. Mesosoma black with following parts yellow: latero-ventral and postero-dorsal margins of pronotum, pair of longitudinal spots on mesoscutum, tegula, subalar prominence, central spot on mesopleuron, scutellum, postscutellum, propodeum posteriorly except black semicircular mark along posterior margin above insertion of metasoma. Legs yellowish brown. Coxa, trochanter and trochantellus of fore leg slightly paler. Middle coxa narrowly brownish apically above. Trochanter of middle leg longitudinally darkened on dorsal face. Hind coxa fulvous, dorsally black. Trochanter, trochantellus, femur of hind leg darkened dorsally. Second to fourth tarsomeres slightly paler. Wings hyaline, with distinct brownish spots around junction of cu-a and Cu1, and on Rs+2r below pterostigma. Metasomal tergites brown, darkened on first tergite basally, tergites 2–4 along oblique grooves; first metasomal tergite with apical whitish band, tergites 2–5 each with paired whitish transverse markings apically (Fig. 1), these markings sometimes fused dorso-medially. Ovipositor brown, sheath black.

Unknown.

Japan: Ryukyus (Okinawa-jima).

We are very pleased to be able to name this species after the late Dr Ian Gauld, who recognised Rodrigama as a basal poemeniine and who has left such a rich legacy of ichneumonid taxonomy. It is a great pity that he did not live long enough to see these additional Rodrigama species.

Host unknown. Females were caught in Malaise traps positioned alongside paths in mature evergreen and broad-leaved forest of low altitude. Adult wasps were captured in April, May and June, suggesting spring emergence and early summer activity of adult wasps.

♀ (Fig. 4), 7–9. v. 2009, Gaofong Ln., (24°00'48"N, 121°07'48"E (WGS 84), 1, 400m a.s.l.), Ren-ai, Ln., Ren-ai t., Nantou, Taiwan, (Masatoshi Takakuwa) [TARI, 19–8].

[Taiwan] 3♂, 9. iv. 1996, Kuantaoshan, Nantou (R.M.) (OMNH).

This species can be distinghished from all congeners by the following: Pronotum with strongly impressed and transversely striate groove from epomia to ventroposterior corner; area dorsal to this groove rather strongly and densely punctate; subalar prominence reddish brown, without yellow mark; metasomal tergites entirely brown to reddish brown, without whitish transverse markings apically.

Female. Length of fore wing 12 mm. Malar space about 0.2 × basal width of mandible. Pronotum (Fig. 17) with strongly impressed and transversely striate groove from epomia to ventroposterior corner; area dorsal to this groove rather strongly and densely punctate, slightly rugose. Mesoscutum in front of scuto-scutellar groove 1.5 × as long as wide in dorsal view; length of pubescence at centre of middle lobe about 3 × as long as distance between adjoining punctures; mesopleuron moderately punctate anteriorly, rather finely and sparsely punctate posteriorly, rather densely covered with pubescence; mesopleural suture strongly transversely striate; propodeum (Fig. 18) moderately punctate, transversely striate dorsomedially, with anterior part of lateromedian longitudinal carina present (sometimes very short), without swelling above spiracle; posterior transverse carinae very weak and incomplete. First metasomal tergite (Fig. 19) broadened at anterior 0.1, slightly narrowed a little posterior to spiracle, with posterior end slightly broader than width at anterior 0.2; posterior end of first metasomal sternite at posterior 0.35 between spiracle and posterior end of first metasomal tergite; tergites 2–4 sparsely covered with fine punctures and minute pubescence.

Colouration (Fig. 2). Head largely yellow with following parts black: apical half of mandible, frons except narrow yellow stripe extending along inner orbit to top of eye, dorso-median area of vertex and occiput; gena brown above. Pronotum black with yellow elongate marking next to antero-lateral margin on both side, with upper margins yellow posteriorly. Mesoscutum black with pair of yellow longitudinal spots; mesopleuron reddish brown, area between subalar prominence and speculum black; mesosternum black; scutellum black with median yellow triangular marking; scutellum yellow; propodeum dark brown, ventrally reddish brown below lateral longitudinal carina behind spiracle; metapleuron reddish brown with anterior margin blackish. Legs yellowish brown. Coxa, trochanter and trochantellus of fore leg slightly paler. Middle coxa black dorsally. Hind coxa fulvous, dorsally black. Trochanter darkened dorsally, hind femur and tibia reddish brown, latter darkened apically; basal 0.6 of first tarsomere brown. Wings hyaline, slightly tinged with brown; pterostigma brown, with faint brownish spots around junction of of cu-a and Cu1, and on Rs+2r below pterostigma. Metasomal tergites brown to reddish brown. Ovipositor brown, sheath black.

Similar to female but smaller. Length of fore wing 8.0–9.5 mm. Body colour similar to that of female; dark stripe on dorsal face of mid coxa reduced; hind femur blackish dorsally; metasoma reddish brown; fore wing without brown spot.

Taiwan (central mountainous region).

This species is named after Dr Masatoshi Takakuwa who collected the Holotype.

Host unknown. Adult wasps were hand netted in mature forest of rather high altitude (1, 100–1, 400m a.s.l.). Both the preceding species and this Taiwanese species have only been found in mature forest.