Plectocryptus japonicus, Watanabe, 2025

Plectocryptus japonicus sp. nov.

[New SJN: Taniwaki-togari-himebachi]

( Figs. 50A–I, 76L, 79R)

Type series. Holotype: JAPAN, KPM-NK 5004410 , F, Honshu, Kanagawa Pref., Yamakita Town, Mt. Hinokiboramaru , 28. VI. 2013, T. Taniwaki leg. ( FIT) . Paratype: JAPAN: [Honshu] KPM-NK 5004400 , 5004430 , 2 F, Kanagawa Pref., Kiyokawa Vil., Mt. Tanzawa-san , 20. VI. 2013, T. Taniwaki leg. ( FIT) ; KPM-NK 5004392 , 5004409 , 5004427 , 5004431 , 4 F, ditto, 29. VI. 2013 ; KPM-NK 5004389 , F, ditto, 4. VII. 2013 ; KPM-NK 5004416 , F, Kanagawa Pref., Kiyokawa Vil., Mt. Tanzawa-san, Tennojione , 15. VI. 2013, T. Taniwaki leg. ( FIT) ; KPM-NK 5004386 , 5004415 , 2 F, ditto, 29. VI. 2013 ; KPM-NK 5004399 , F, Kanagawa Pref., Sagamihara City, Midori-Ku, Mt. Oomuro-yama , 16. VI. 2013, T. Taniwaki leg. ( FIT) ; KPM-NK 5004388 , 5004396 , 5004412 , 3 F, same data of holotype ; KPM-NK 5004384 , 5004390 , 5004422 , 5004426 , 4 F, Kanagawa Pref., Yamakita Town, Mt. Hinokibora-maru , 23. V. 2013, T. Taniwaki leg. ( FIT) ; KPM-NK 5004407 , 5004421 , 2 F, ditto, 14. VI. 2013 ; KPM-NK 5004387 , 5004405 , 5004408 , 5004424 , 5004432 , 5 F, ditto, 23. VI. 2013 ; KPM-NK 5004401– 5004404 , 5004406 , 5004414 , 5004428 , 5004429 , 8 F, ditto, 6. VII. 2013 ; KPM-NK 103011 , F, same locality, 16. VI. 2015, K. Watanabe leg. ; KPM-NK 103004–103008 , OMNH, 6F, Niigata Pref., Nagaoka City, Suyoshi Town, Mt. Nokogiri-yama , 25. V. – 7. VI. 2014, S. Shimizu & R. Shimizu leg. (MsT) ; KPM-NK 103009 , F, Shizuoka Pref., Fujinomiya City, Mt. Fujisan, Nishiusuzuka , 15. X. 2006, H. Katahira leg. ; KPM-NK 103010 , F, Fukui Pref., Katsuyama City, Ohara , 5. VI. 1982, T. Murota leg. ; KPM-NK 5004393–5004395 , 5004419 , 4 F, Kanagawa Pref., Yamakita Town, Mt. Komotsurushi-yama , 16. VI. 2013, T. Taniwaki leg. ( FIT) ; KPM-NK 5004383 , 5004397 . 5004411, 5004417, 5004420, 5004433, 6F, ditto, 21. VI. 2013 ; KPM-NK 5004391 , 5004418 , 5004425 , 3 F, ditto, 28. VI. 2013 ; KPM-NK 5004413 , F, ditto, 4. VII. 2013 .

Description. Female (n = 57). Body punctate and polished; covered with setae; body length 4.5–8.3 (HT: 8.3) mm.

Head 0.6–0.65 (HT: 0.6) × as long as wide in dorsal view. Clypeus 2.9–3.0 × as wide as long; weakly convex in lateral view; transversely rugose and sparsely punctate dorsally ( Fig. 76G); with transverse convexity; lower margin weakly rounded in frontal view, sharp in lateral view. Face 0.25–0.3 (HT: 0.28) × as long as minimum width; weakly convex medially; densely punctate, ISP matt. Frons weakly concave above antennal sockets; densely punctate dorsally, smooth ventrally except for irregularly rugose medially. POL 1.8–2.2 (HT: 2.0) × as OD. OOL 1.5–1.8 (HT: 1.5) × as OD. Gena and occiput densely punctate. Dorsal profile of gena rounded in dorsal view; width not narrowing anteriorly and somewhat abruptly narrowing posteriorly ( Fig. 50D). Occipital carina complete. Malar space 0.8–0.95 (HT: 0.95) × as long as basal width of mandible. Mandible flat at base; lower tooth longer than upper tooth and wider than upper tooth ( Fig. 76G, L). Antenna with 22–23 (HT: 23) flagellomeres; not flattened and tapped. FL I 1.5 × as long as maximum depth in lateral view, 0.9 × as long as FL II.

Mesosoma densely punctate. Epomia absent. Mesoscutum with short and weak notaulus. Scutellum sparsely punctate ( Fig. 50H) and flat. Mesopleuron obliquely rugose anteriorly, longitudinally rugose postero-ventrally; with smooth area around speculum ( Fig. 50E). Epicnemial carina present laterally and ventrally. Sternaulus deep in anterior 0.4 of mesopleuron. Metapleuron reticulate rugose except for anterior part punctate; without juxtacoxal carina. Propodeum reticulate rugose except for median part of area externa, area superomedia, and area basalis largely smooth and lateral part of area externa largely punctate ( Fig. 50H); anterior transverse carina partly definable by rugae; posterior transverse carina complete ( Fig. 50H); lateromedian longitudinal carina weakly present ( Fig. 50H); lateral longitudinal carina complete; pleural carina complete; area superomedia present, as long as maximum width; apophysis weak and small; spiracle oval. Fore wing length 4.3–6.7 (HT: 6.4) mm.Areolet longer than maximum width; width gradually narrowing anteriorly; received vein 2m-cu at slightly beyond to middle ( Fig. 50F). Fore wing vein 1cu-a slightly postfurcal to vein M&RS ( Fig. 50F). Nervellus slightly inclivous; intercepted posterior to middle. Hind femur densely punctate ( Fig. 50G); 3.5–3.8 (HT: 3.6) × as long as maximum depth in lateral view. Tarsal claws simple.

Metasoma. T I 1.6–1.75 (HT: 1.65) × as long as maximum width; covered with fine longitudinal striae except for narrow, transverse smooth area along posterior margin ( Fig. 50I); latero-median carina indistinct; dorso-lateral carina complete (area above spiracle usually weak). T II 0.5–0.95 (HT: 0.9) × as long as maximum width; finely and sparsely punctate. Thyridium weakly present close to anterior margin of T II; slightly or not depressed; ca. 2.0 × as wide as length. T III to T VII finely and sparsely punctate. Ovipositor sheath 0.9–1.0 (HT: 0.9) × as long as hind tibia, 1.4–1.65 (HT: 1.4) × as long as T I. Ovipositor straight, shorter than half length of metasoma; apex sharp; apex of lower valve with teeth ( Fig. 79R).

Colouration ( Figs. 50A–I). Body (excluding wings) black to blackish-brown. Setae yellowish-brown to brown. Subapical part of mandible tinged with reddish-brown. FL V to FL IX (or X) with white markings. Fore and mid tibiae and tarsi tinged with brown. Posterior margin of metasomal tergites usually narrowly tinged with reddish-brown. T VII and T VIII each with ivory marking medially. Thyridium and ovipositor reddish-brown. Wings hyaline. Veins and pterostigma blackish-brown except for brown to yellowish-brown wing base.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Japan (Honshu).

Etymology. The specific name is from Japan.

Bionomics. Unknown.

Remarks. This species resembles Plec. digitatus (Gmelin, 1790) in the black and polished metasomal tergites, but can be distinguished by the completely black legs (largely red except for black coxae and trochanters in Plec. digitatus ) and the ovipositor shorter than half length of metasoma (rather longer than half length of metasoma in Plec. digitatus ).