Schenkia minuta, Watanabe, 2025

Schenkia minuta sp. nov.

[New SJN: Yamato-futo-togari-himebachi]

( Figs. 59A–G, 79Y)

Type series. Holotype: JAPAN, KPM-NK 84971 , F, Honshu, Nagano Pref., Outaki Vil., Mt. Ontake-san, Hakkaisan , 13. VI. 2015, K. Watanabe leg. Paratype: JAPAN: [Honshu] KPM-NK 102790 , F, Tochigi Pref. , Nasushiobara City, Shiobara, Oonuma, 6–15. VI. 2008, T. Matsumura leg. (MsT); KPM-NK 5004345 , F, Kanagawa

Pref., Yamakita Town, Mt. Komotsurushi-yama , 16. VI. 2013, T. Taniwaki leg. ( FIT); KPM-NK 102791 , F, Niigata Pref., Nagaoka City, Jyoganji Town, Happodai , 24. V. 2014, S. Shimizu leg.

Description. Female (n = 4). Body punctate and polished; covered with setae; body length 5.9–9.1 (HT: 9.1) mm.

Head 0.55–0.6 (HT: 0.55) × as long as wide in dorsal view. Clypeus 3.0–3.1 (HT: 3.0) × as wide as long; slightly convex in lateral view; punctate and coriaceous dorsally, smooth ventrally; lower margin subtruncate in frontal view, obtuse in lateral view. Face 0.35–0.38 (HT: 0.35) × as long as minimum width; weakly convex medially; matt; densely punctate medially, finely punctate laterally. Frons weakly concave above antennal sockets; smooth except for matt along orbits; punctate dorsally; partly transversely rugulose medio-ventrally. POL 1.2–1.5 (HT: 1.2) × as OD. OOL 1.5–1.6 (HT: 1.6) × as OD. Gena and occiput finely and densely punctate. Dorsal profile of gena rounded in dorsal view; width gradually narrowing posteriorly ( Fig. 59D). Occipital carina complete. Malar space 0.9 × as long as basal width of mandible. Mandible flat at base; lower tooth equal in or slightly longer than length of upper tooth. Antenna with 28–29 (HT: 28) flagellomeres; apical part flattened below and tapped to slender apex. FL I 1.4–1.65 (HT: 1.65) × as long as maximum depth in lateral view, 0.9–1.0 (HT: 1.0) × as long as FL II.

Mesosoma. Pronotum rugulose ventrally ( Fig. 59E). Epomia absent. Mesoscutum with short and weak notaulus ( Fig. 59D). Scutellum sparsely punctate ( Fig. 59G); slightly convex in lateral view. Mesopleuron with conspicuous smooth area around speculum ( Fig. 59E). Epicnemial carina present laterally and ventrally. Sternaulus deep in anterior 0.4 of mesopleuron. Metapleuron with juxtacoxal carina but partly indistinct with rugae. Propodeum sparsely punctate with smooth ISP; rugulose area along posterior transverse carina and area postero; anterior transverse carina absent; posterior transverse carina complete or sometimes trace-like posteriorly, trapezoid-shaped; lateromedian longitudinal carina weakly present, partly trance-like; lateral longitudinal carina complete; pleural carina complete; area superomedia slightly defined; spiracle oval. Fore wing length 5.75–7.0 (HT: 7.0) mm. Areolet as long as maximum width; width gradually narrowing anteriorly; received vein 2m-cu at near middle ( Fig. 59F). Fore wing vein 1cu-a interstitial to vein M&RS ( Fig. 59F). Nervellus slightly inclivous; intercepted near posterior end of vein. Hind femur reticulate coriaceous; 3.7–3.9 (HT: 3.7) × as long as maximum depth in lateral view. Tarsal claws simple.

Metasoma finely punctate; ISP smooth. T I 1.85–2.25 (HT: 2.0) × as long as maximum width; latero-median carina absent; dorso-lateral carina complete or sometimes obscured posteriorly. T II 0.7–0.75 (HT: 0.73) × as long as maximum width. Thyridium present; close to anterior margin of T II; flat to slightly depressed; ca. 2.0 × as wide as length. Ovipositor sheath 0.9–1.0 (HT: 0.98) × as long as hind tibia, 1.35–1.55 (HT: 1.5) × as long as T I. Ovipositor straight; apex sharp; apex of lower valve with teeth ( Fig. 79Y).

Colouration ( Figs. 59A–G). Body (excluding wings) black to blackish-brown. Setae silver. Mandible except for teeth, lower part of clypeus, basal segments of flagellum, ventral surface of apical part of flagellum, tegula, and posterior margin of T II tinged with reddish-brown to brown. FL VI (or VII) to FL XI (or XII) with white markings. Trochantelli and tibial spurs yellowish-brown to brown. Trochanters more or less partly tinged with yellowish-brown. Fore and mid legs largely brown to blackish-brown except for trochantellus and tibial spurs. Base of hind tibia weakly paler than apical part. Thyridium and ovipositor reddish-brown. Membranous part of metasomal sternites yellowish-brown. Apex of metasoma with ivory area. Wings hyaline. Veins and pterostigma blackish-brown to brown except for yellowish-brown wing base.

Male. Unknown.

Bionomics. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific name is from the Latin “ minuta ” (small), referring to the relatively small body size in Japanese species.

Distribution. Japan (Honshu).

Remarks. This species resembles S. japonica sp. nov. in the body colouration but can be distinguished by the sharply pointed apex of ovipositor (obtusely pointed apex in S. japonica ), the short malar space and hind femur, and the many numbers of flagellar segments (see above key).