A new species of Methocha Latreille (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae, Methochinae) from China, with a key to the Chinese species

Xiang-Ping Liao; Yi Guo; Bin Chen; Ting-Jing Li

doi:10.3897/jhr.92.87032

Abstract

A new species, namely Methocha transcarinata sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Guangdong and Hainan, China. Additionally, M. cariniventris Narita & Mita, 2018 and M. kandyensis Krombein, 1982 are newly recorded from China. A key to all the known species of the genus from China is updated.

Keywords

China, Methochinae, Methocha, new record, new species

Introduction

The subfamily Methochinae is a relatively small taxon of parasitic aculeate wasps containing two genera Methocha Latreille 1804 and Karlissa Krombein 1979. The genus Methocha includes 89 species and three subspecies worldwide except for the Australian Region (Lin 1966; Krombein 1982; Terayama and Mita 2015; Narita and Mita 2018, 2021; Terayama 2019; Hanima et al. 2021; Agnoli 2022), among which 45 species are distributed in the Oriental Region, ten species and two subspecies in the Palearctic Region, 25 species and one subspecies in the Ethiopian Region, five species in the Nearctic Region, and four in the Neotropical Region. Members of the genus Methocha show distinct sexual dimorphism with wingless ant-like females and winged males. Although the biological habit of most species is still unknown, larvae of Methocha are considered to be specialized ectoparasitoids of tiger beetle (Carabidae: Cicindelinae) larvae (Narita and Mita 2018). In China, so far there is no systematic study on the genus except that a total of 13 species were sporadically recorded by Smith (1869), Strand (1913), Williams (1919), Lin (1966), Tsuneki (1986) and Narita and Mita (2021). In the present paper, a new species is described and illustrated in detail, and two species are newly recorded with main morphological characters and figures. Based on related references and our collections, an updated key to all Chinese species of Methocha is also presented. .

Materials and methods

Specimens examined in this study are deposited in Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China (CNU), Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China (YNAU), and Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China (IPP-GAAS). They were collected mainly by active hand netting and Malaise traps which were set in various habitats and emptied once a month on average. The descriptions of specimens were made under an Olympus SZ2-ILST stereomicroscope. All photographs were taken and measured with a KEYENCE-VHX-5000 stereomicroscope, and plates were arranged with Photoshop CS 6. Body length was measured from the anterior margin of the head to the posterior margin of the terminal metasomal segment. For the density description of punctures, “sparse” means that interspaces are larger than one punctures diameter, “moderate” means equal to one diameter, and “dense” means less than one diameter. Morphological terminology follows Lin (1966) and Narita and Mita (2021). The following abbreviations are used in this paper: AOL = distance between anterior and posterior ocellus; DAO = diameter of anterior ocellus; POL = distance between posterior ocelli; S = metasomal sternum; T = metasomal tergum; A = Antennal segment.

Taxonomy

Genus Methocha Latreille, 1804

Methocha Latreille, 1804, Nouv. Dict. Hist. Nat. 24: 179. Type species: Mutilla articulata Latreille, 1792, by original·designation and monotypy.

Methoca (!)·Latreille, 1804, Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. 13: 268.

Tengyra Latreille, 1809, Gen. Crust. Ins. 4: 115. Synonym of Methocha by Dalla Torre, 1897: 1. Type species: Tengyra sanvitali Latreille, 1809, by monotypy.

Spinolia A. Costa, 1858, Fauna Napoli Scol.: 21. Synonym of Methocha by Dalla Torre, 1897: 1. Type species: Spinolia italica Costa, 1858, by monotypy.

Dryinopsis Brues, 1910, Jour. New York Ent. Soc. 18: 16. Synonym of Methocha by Lin, 1966: 182. Type species: Dryinopsis simplicipes Brues, 1910, by monotypy.

Diagnosis

Males winged and females wingless; antennal lobe developed (Fig. 3) in both sexes; eye setose (Figs 2, 10, 18) in both sexes; in female mid and hind tibia each with 1 spur, and hind tibial spur with a row of comb-like spines; in male mid and hind tibia each with 2 spurs, and one of the two spurs with a row of comb-like spines; fore-wing with 2 submarginal cells enclosed by tubular veins (Figs 1, 9, 17).

Figures 1–8.

Methocha transcarinata sp. nov., holotype, ♂. 1 habitus (dorsal view) 2 head (frontal view) 3 head (lateral view) 4 head (dorsal view) 5 pronotum (dorsal view) 6 propodeum (dorsal view) 7 mesosoma (lateral view, anterior to right) 8 T1 and T2 (dorsal view).

Methocha transcarinata Liao, Chen & Li, sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/CF1211FB-ACE9-404E-BAF1-ADB363A4235E

Figs 1–8

Material examined

Holotype , ♂, China, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou City, Zengcheng Distinct, Xiaolou Town (Malaise trap), 23°55'20"N, 113°13'26"E, 114 m, 14.VI–1.VII.2019, Yi Guo (IPP-GAAS). Paratypes: 7♂, same as holotype; 1♂, China, Hainan Province, Changjiang County, Shilu Town, Baomeiling Nature Reserve (Malaise trap), 19°43'11.9"N, 109°37'48"E, 738 m, 3.Ⅵ–5.VII.2021, He-Shen Wang (CNU).

Diagnosis

This species can easily be separated from all other members of the genus by the following characters: dorsal surface of propodeum (Fig. 6) posteriorly with transverse carina between dorsal and posterior surfaces; mesepisternum anteriorly with strong carina followed by deep, smooth groove (Fig. 7).

Description

Male. (Figs 1–8). Body length 9.2–9.6 mm, fore-wing length 5.3–6.4 mm. Body (Fig. 1) almost black; antenna, mandible (Fig. 2), postero-lateral margin of pronotum, tegula, and leg dark brown to black. Wings untinted, veins and stigma brown.

Head . Head 0.71–0.75 times as high as wide in frontal view; clypeus distally circularly emarginated, and entirely sclerotized, without membranous area, surface with sparse and minute punctures, medially with obtuse prominence (Fig. 3); mandible distally not narrowed; ventral surface of A1 with longitudinal carina; frons with moderate to dense punctures; POL: AOL: DAO = 1: 1: 0.69 (Fig. 4), vertex (Fig. 4) and gena with sparse and minute punctures.

Mesosoma . Pronotal transverse carina absent (Fig. 5), dorsal surface of pronotum sparsely minutely punctate; anterior half of pronotum latero-ventrally with sparse minute punctures (Fig. 7), antero-ventrally carinate, with groove behind carina containing short striae, posterior half smooth and impunctate; mesonotum medially with sparse punctures and laterally with dense punctures; mesepisternum (Fig. 7) anteriorly with strong carina followed by deep, smooth groove, elsewhere with sparse and minute punctures; scutellum sparsely punctate; metanotum medially with U-shaped depression, elsewhere sparsely striate, and with smooth interspaces; dorsal surface of propodeum (Fig. 6) with broad median groove and granulate interspace, posteriorly with strong transverse carina between dorsal and posterior surfaces, antero-laterally with longitudinal striae, postero-laterally with irregular areolate sculpture; posterior surface of propodeum medially smooth, laterally with coarse and large punctures; lateral surface (Fig. 7) of propodeum antero-ventrally with oblique striae, postero-ventrally smooth, dorsally with coarse punctures. Claws of hind tarsaus with subapical tooth shorter than half of apical tooth.

Metasoma . Metasomal terga sparsely punctate and with smooth interspaces. T1 (Fig. 8) antero-laterally with pair of strong longitudinal carinae, and with shallow median groove between longitudinal carinae. T1 transversely depressed posteriorly, T2–T6 and S2–S6 transversely depressed both anteriorly and posteriorly, anterior depressions of both T2 and S2–S6 costate, anterior ones of T3–T6 and posterior ones of both T1–T6 and S2–S6 smooth. S1 with sparse punctures; S2–S6 anteriorly with dense punctures, posteriorly with sparse ones, medially without longitudinal depression; S7 sparsely punctate and with smooth interspaces.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution

China (Guangdong, Hainan).

Etymology

The specific name transcarinata is derived from the two Latin words: trans- (= transverse) + carinata (= carinate), referring to the propodeum with a transverse carina between dorsal and posterior surfaces.

Methocha cariniventris Narita & Mita, 2018, new record

Figs 9–16

Methocha cariniventris Narita & Mita, 2018: 61–64.

Material examined

4♂, China, Yunnan, Jinghong City, Menghai County, Bulang Mountain (Malaise trap), 21°37'43.87"N, 100°24'18.97"E, 1420 m, 25.IV–9.VIII.2018, Qiang Li (YNAU); 1♂, China, Yunnan, Hani-Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Honghe, Lvchun County, Water-shed, 22°59'18.5"N, 102°27'14.7"E, 1900–1980 m, 25.VII.2003, Jia Lu (YNAU).

Diagnosis

Male (Fig. 9). Head 0.7 times as high as wide in frontal view (Fig. 10); clypeus (Fig. 10) distally with triangular membranous area, medially with carinate prominence (Figs 10, 11); mandible distally not narrowed (Fig. 10); ventral surface of A1 with longitudinal carina (Fig. 11); POL: AOL: DAO = 1.0: 1.0: 0.6 (Fig. 12); pronotum dorsally with sparse and minute punctures (Fig. 13), laterally strongly striate (Fig. 15); anterior margin of mesepisternum (Fig. 15) with strong carina followed by deep, costate groove, carina dorsally weak, surface reticulate; propodeum (Fig. 14) anteriorly with longitudinal striae, medially irregularly reticulate without groove, and posteriorly with transverse striae; lateral surface of propodeum antero-ventrally with oblique striae, dorsally with dense punctures; T1 (Fig. 16) anteriorly with pair of longitudinal carinae and median groove; anterior transverse depression of T2 (Fig. 16) costate; anterior transverse depression of T3 weakly costate; anterior transverse depression of T4–T6 smooth; S2–S6 medially without longitudinal depression.

Figures 9–16.

Methocha cariniventris, ♂. 9 habitus (dorsal view) 10 head (frontal view) 11 head (lateral view) 12 head (dorsal view) 13 pronotum (dorsal view) 14 propodeum (dorsal view) 15 mesosoma (lateral view, anterior to the right) 16 T1 and T2 (dorsal view).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution

China (new record: Yunnan); Laos.

Methocha kandyensis Krombein, 1982, new record

Figs 17–24

Methocha (Dryinopsis) kandyensis Krombein, 1982: 97–98.

Material examined

1♂, China, Fujian Province, Nanping City, Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve (Malaise trap), 27°44'32.52"N, 117°40'56.23"E, 707 m, 08.VII.2021, Jin-Lan Li (CNU).

Diagnosis

Male (Fig. 17). Head 0.76 times as high as wide in frontal view (Fig. 18); clypeus (Fig. 18) distally with triangular membranous area, medially with carinate projection (Figs 18, 19); mandible distally not narrowed (Fig. 18); ventral surface of A1 with longitudinal carina (Fig. 19); POL: AOL: DAO = 1.0: 1.0: 0.83 (Fig. 20); pronotum anteriorly with short transverse striae, posteriorly with very sparse and minute punctures (Fig. 21), laterally medially strongly striate, latero-ventrally striate (Fig. 23); anterior margin of mesepisternum with strong carina

followed by deep, costate groove, carina dorsally weak; propodeum anteriorly with longitudinal striae, posteriorly irregularly reticulate, laterally postero-ventrally with oblique striae, dorsally with dense punctures; T1 (Fig. 24) anteriorly with pair of longitudinal carinae, and with median groove and longitudinal striae between longitudinal carinae; anterior transverse depression of T2 (Fig. 24) costate; anterior transverse depression of T3–T6 smooth; S2–S6 medially without longitudinal depression.

Figures 17–24.

Methocha kandyensis, ♂. 17 habitus (dorsal view) 18 head (frontal view) 19 head (lateral view) 20 head (dorsal view) 21 pronotum (dorsal view) 22 propodeum (dorsal view) 23 mesosoma (lateral view, anterior to the right) 24 T1 and T2 (dorsal view).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution

China (new record: Fujian); Sri Lanka.

Key to the species of Methocha from China (modified from the key of Narita & Mita, 2021)

1	Winged (male)	2
–	Wingless (female)	13
2	Mesepisternum dorsally or ventrally with row of elongate foveae	3
–	Mesepisternum wholly without elongate foveae (Fig. 7)	4
3	Clypeus distally deeply emarginate; mesepisternum dorsally foveolate	M. taiwanica Tsuneki, 1986
–	Clypeus distally slightly emarginate; mesepisternum ventrally foveolate	M. articulata (Latreille, 1792)
4	Clypeus apically with triangular membranous area	5
–	Clypeus entirely sclerotized, apically without membranous area	8
5	Claws of hind tarsus with subapical tooth shorter than half of apical tooth	6
–	Claws of hind tarsus with subapical tooth almost as long as apical tooth	M. maai Lin, 1966
6	Propodeum areolate; S2–S6 all distinctly depressed medially	M. foveiventris Lin, 1966
–	Propodeum longitudinally striate; S2–S6 not depressed medially	7
7	Pronotum anteriorly with transverse and short striae, posteriorly with sparse and minute punctures (Fig. 21), laterally strongly striate (Fig. 23)	M. kandyensis Krombein, 1982
–	Pronotum wholly with sparse minute punctures (Fig. 13), laterally weakly striate, latero-ventrally smooth (Fig. 15)	M. cariniventris Narita & Mita, 2018
8	Mandible distally not narrowed	9
–	Mandible narrowed in distal half or third	11
9	Dorsal surface of propodeum (Fig. 6) with transverse carina between dorsal and posterior surfaces	M. transcarinata Liao, Chen & Li, sp. nov.
–	Dorsal surface of propodeum evenly sculptured, without transverse carina between dorsal and posterior surfaces	10
10	Propodeum dorsally areolate, with smooth interspaces	M. areolata Lin, 1966
–	Propodeum dorsally longitudinally striate, with granulate interspaces	M. cirrhocrus Narita & Mita, 2021
11	Propodeum dorsally distinctly areolate; ventral surface of A1 with longitudinal carina	12
–	Propodeum dorsally finely areolate or areolae absent; ventral surface of A1 without carina	M. alutacea Lin, 1966
12	Clypeus medially with obtuse prominence; pronotum anteriorly with transverse short striae	M. mandibularis (Smith, 1869)
–	Clypeus medially with acute prominence; pronotum anteriorly without striae, instead with dense large punctures	M. cavipyga Lin, 1966
13	All tarsal claws with subapical tooth equal to or longer than apical tooth	14
–	All tarsal claws with subapical tooth shorter than apical tooth	15
14	Gena narrowed ventrally, posterior margin slightly incurved in lateral view; mesosoma entirely black	M. maai Lin, 1966
–	Gena wider than that of the above species, posterior margin subangularly incurved in lateral view; mesosoma dark reddish	M. plana Lin, 1966
15	Both frons and distal two-thirds of clypeus rugose	M. foveiventris Lin, 1966
–	Both frons and distal one-thirds of clypeus not rugose, instead impunctate or punctate	16
16	Frontal tubercles above antennal sockets absent	17
–	Pair of frontal tubercles above antennal sockets present	18
17	Clypeal apex incurved	M. emarginata Lin, 1966
–	Clypeal apex truncate	M. formosana Williams, 1919
18	Pronotum strongly convex, without median groove	M. articulata (Latreille, 1792)
–	Pronotum not strongly convex, and with weak median groove	M. priorrecta Lin, 1966

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Prof. Qiang Li and Prof. Li Ma (Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China) and Dr. Kai-Qin Li (Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, China) for providing us with the specimens from collections under their care. We also thank Dr. P. Girish Kumar (Western Ghat Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode, Kerala, India) and Dr. Toshiharu Mita (Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan) for offering copies of some references. This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos: 31372247, 31000976) and China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (No: CARS-32).

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