Nitela pseudocollaris Mawadda & Girish Kumar, 2025

Nitela pseudocollaris Mawadda & Girish Kumar sp. nov.

( Figs 43–58 View FIGURES 43–50 View FIGURES 51–58 )

Material examined. Holotype ♀, INDIA: Kerala, Wayanad district, Meenangadi ( 11°39'31"N, 76°10'30"E), 12.iii.2020, Kuriakose Junior collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20786. Paratypes, Wayanad district, Moolankavu paddy field ( 11°40'21"N, 76°17'22"E), 2 ♀, 7.i.2018, S. Sreeraman collector, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/ WGRC/IR/INV/20828–20829; Wayanad district, Kalloor ( 11°39'05"N, 76°19'28"E), 2 ♀, 10.iii.2020, Kuriakose Junior collector, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20811 & 20961; Wayanad district, Periya campshed ( 12°01'11"N, 76°06'02"E), 2 ♂, 3 ♀, 10.ii.2021, 16.ii.2021, K.A. Subramanian & Party collectors, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20832–20836; Wayanad district, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Muthanga, Manachol ( 11°39'40"N, 76°22'02"E), 1 ♀, 21.ii.2021, K.A. Subramanian & Party collectors, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/ IR/INV/20837; Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram district, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanithadam ( 8°39'49"N, 77°09'03"E), 1 ♀, 19.i.2019, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20787; Kannur district, Kannapuram ( 11°57'49"N, 75°18'24"E), 1 ♀, 6 ♂, 23.iv.2019, 5.v.2019, C. Charesh collector, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/ WGRC/IR/INV/20788–20791, 20955–20956 & 20960; Thiruvananthapuram district, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, dam site ( 8°32'04"N, 77°08'53"E), 9 ♀, 2 ♂, 17.i.2019, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/ IR/INV/20792–20802; Kollam district, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Thenmala ( 5°58'25"N, 75°03'34"E), 3 ♀, 1 ♂, 12.iii.2020, P. Girish Kumar collector ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/207803–20806, 20958–20959; Kozhikode district, Purameri ( 11°40'22"N, 78°35'45"E), 4 ♀, 3.iii.2021, 16.v.2021, K.P. Hanima Raveendran collector, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/207814–20816 & 20818; Palakkad district, Silent Valley National Park ( 11°04'14"N, 76°25'34"E), 1 ♀, 11–12.iii.2021, N.V. Ayisha Mawadda & Party collectors, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/207817; Palakkad district, Lakkidi, Ramakrishnapadi ( 10°45'40"N, 76°25'50"E), 3 ♀, 1 ♂, 20.iii–25.iv.2019, K.S. Surya collector, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20819–20822; Kollam district, Karikode, TKM College of Arts and Science ( 8°54'57"N, 76°38'05"E), 1 ♀, 1.iii.2018, A.K. Aseeb collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20823; Kollam district, Thenmala, Ottakkal ( 8°58'17"N, 77°03'32"E), 1 ♀, 6 ♂, 13.. iii.2021, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20824; Malappuram district, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Nilambur ( 11°18'11"N, 76°15'04"E), 1 ♂, 1.iii.2020, Tessy Rajan & Party collectors, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20826; Kannur district, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary ( 11°55'19"N, 75°47'19"E), 1 ♀, 16.iii.2019, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20827; Kollam district, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kattilappara ( 8°55'9.33"N, 77°5'49.87"E), 1 ♀, 8.xii.2021, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20838; Thrissur district, Attur ( 10°42'26"N, 76°17'55"E), 9 ♂, 1 ♀, 25.xii.2021, N.V. Ayisha Mawadda collector, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20839–208348; Kozhikode district, Kovoor ( 11°16'15"N, 75°49'52"E), 1 ♀, 19.xii.2018, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/ IR/INV/20957; Kozhikode district, Vilakkottur ( 11°45'30"N, 75°39'17"E), 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 14.iv.2021, K. P. Hanima Raveendran collector, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20953–20954; Tamil Nadu, Kanyakumari district, Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Kulashekharam range, Zero point ( 8°05'00"N, 77°32'30"E), 3 ♀, 19.ii.2020, Souvik Sen & Party collectors, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20807–20810; Kanyakumari district, Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Vellimalai range, Puravilai (8°12'21.89"'N, 77° 21'6.13"E), 1 ♀, 17.iii.2020, Souvik Sen & Party collectors, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20825; Coimbatore district, Anaikati ( 11°06'06"N, 76°47'21"E), 1 ♀, 4.i.2019, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20812; Coimbatore district, Valley of Palamalai ( 11°09'16"N, 76°54'36"E), 1 ♀, 6.i.2019, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/ IR/INV/20830; Coimbatore district, Tholampalayam ( 11°11'28"N, 76°51'25"E), 1 ♀, 4.i.2019, P. Girish Kumar & Party collectors, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20831; Karnataka, Chickmangalur district, Holagadde forest ( 14°26'50"N, 74°50'32"E), 1 ♀, 26.xii.2019, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/ INV/20813.

Diagnosis. This new species differs from all other Nitela by the following character combination: anterolateral angle of pronotal collar acutely pointed ( Figs 46 View FIGURES 43–50 & 54 View FIGURES 51–58 ). Mesoscutum irregularly transversely striate ( Figs 46 View FIGURES 43–50 & 54 View FIGURES 51–58 ). Anterior margin of clypeus slightly emarginate mesally, mandible bidentate ( Fig. 53 View FIGURES 51–58 ). All trochanters, tibia and tarsus of fore leg and articulations of femora and tibiae of mid and hind legs ferruginous ( Fig. 43 View FIGURES 43–50 ). In male, setae of lower frons and clypeus golden ( Fig. 53 View FIGURES 51–58 ).

In the key to Oriental Nitela by Li & Li (2010), females of this new species run to N. collaris because of anterolateral angle of pronotum acutely pointed and clypeus with dense silvery setae. The species differs from N. collaris in having: (1) irregular transverse carinae on mesoscutum (in N. collaris mesoscutum with conspicuous transverse carinae); (2) colouration of legs i.e., all trochanters, tibia and tarsus of fore leg and articulations, femora and tibiae of mid and hind legs ferruginous ( Fig. 43 View FIGURES 43–50 ) (in N. collaris , legs extensively black except pale at articulations ( Fig. 1 View FIGURES 1–8 ); and (3) In male, dense setae of clypeus golden (in N. collaris , dense setae on clypeus silvery).

This new species differs from N. neoapoensis in having: (1) mesoscutum with irregularly transverse carinae (in N. neoapoensis , mesoscutum conspicuously coarsely reticulate); and (2) posterior surface of propodeum nearly straight (in N. neoapoensis , posterior surface of propodeum heart shaped).

This new species differs from N. nasseri in having: (1) anterolateral angle of pronotal collar acutely pointed (in N. nasseri anterolateral angle of pronotal collar rounded); (2) mesoscutum with irregularly transverse carinae (in N. nasseri mesoscutum coriaceous); and (3) propodeum with longitudinal ridges (in N. nasseri , propodeal dorsum with reticulate ridges).

Description. Holotype ♀ ( Fig. 43 View FIGURES 43–50 ). Head. IODc 2.38 × IODv; POD 0.76–0.82 × OOD; eye margins converging above; frons irregularly rugose, vertex and frons alutaceous with fine setae; clypeal basin divided by conspicuous carina (carina inconspicuous above), with dense silvery setae; anterior margin of clypeus as in Fig. 45 View FIGURES 43–50 ; mandible without sharp end apically; F1 slightly shorter than F2, length of F1 1.53–1.55 × its apical width; setae on clypeus and frons silvery ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 43–50 ).

Mesosoma. Pronotal collar alutaceous with fine setae, with anterolateral angle pointed, transverse groove ( Fig. 46 View FIGURES 43–50 ); mesoscutum irregularly transversely striate, alutaceous with fine setae, posteromedial area more or less punctate rather than striate ( Fig. 46 View FIGURES 43–50 ); mesopleuron as in Fig. 48 View FIGURES 43–50 ; scutellum transversally striate, medially and apically more punctate than striate ( Fig. 47 View FIGURES 43–50 ); scutellum and metanotum alutaceous with fine setae ( Fig. 47 View FIGURES 43–50 ); propodeal dorsum longitudinally ridged ( Fig. 47 View FIGURES 43–50 ); posterior surface of propodeum rugulose, medially with two transverse striae, carina separating dorsal and posterior surfaces of propodeum approximately linear dorsally ( Fig. 47 View FIGURES 43–50 ); lateral surface of propodeum with parallel oblique striation ( Fig. 48 View FIGURES 43–50 ); forewing as in Fig. 49 View FIGURES 43–50 .

Metasoma. Metasoma comparatively densely setaceous except dorsal area of G1, G1 dorsally smooth and shiny, slightly microcoriaceous with sparse setae ( Fig. 50 View FIGURES 43–50 ).

Vestiture. Setae silvery; dense on clypeus, body extensively pilose except dorsal G1 and G2 ( Figs 32, 33, 35 & 39 View FIGURES 32–39 ); mandible with long bristles in addition to setae.

Colouration. Black; mandible, apex of scape and pedicel, all trochanters, apex of all femora, fore tibia extensively, base of all other tibiae, tibial spurs, fore tarsus extensively, and articulations of all other tarsi ferruginous; wings hyaline ( Fig. 49 View FIGURES 43–50 ).

BL. 2.49–3.00 mm.

Male. Similar to female except setae on lower frons and clypeus golden or yellow; scape, pedicel, labial palp, trochanters, tibiae and tarsi of all legs, and femora apically more or less yellowish ( Fig. 51 View FIGURES 51–58 ); clypeus as in Fig. 52 View FIGURES 51–58 ; length of F1 2.05–2.81 × its apical width, F1 shorter than F2 ( Fig. 55 View FIGURES 51–58 ); mesoscutum posteromedially more punctate than striate ( Fig.54 View FIGURES 51–58 ). Genitalia as in Figs 56–58 View FIGURES 51–58 .

BL: 2.28– 2.838 mm.

Distribution. India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.

Etymology. The name ‘ pseudocollaris’ means ‘false collaris’, indicating its similarity to N. collaris . The presence of irregularly transverse carinae on the mesoscutum distinguishes this species from N. collaris , hence it’s name.