Virgichneumon arakawai ( Uchida, 1925 ), 2025

Virgichneumon arakawai ( Uchida, 1925) , comb. nov.

( Figs 48–53 View FIGURES 48–53 )

Original. Aglaojoppa arakawai Uchida, 1925 , ♂.

syn. nov. Aglaojoppa fuscata Uchida, 1925

syn. nov. Melanichneumon tosaensis Uchida, 1935

Material. [ Japan] Kagoshima Pref.: Yakushima Isl. , Arakawa, Malaise trap (Y2) , 1200 m alt., 1 ♀ 26. X. – 27. XI. 2006, Malaise trap (Y3), 1200 m alt., 2 ♂♂ 28. VI. – 29. VII. 2007, Collison trap (H2), 250 m alt., 1 ♀ 5–8. VI. 2007, Malaise trap (K3) 220 m alt., 1 ♀ 22. VII. – 22. VIII. 2006, Malaise trap ( AC1 ) , 150 m alt., 1 ♂ 22. VII.– 22. VIII. 2006, 1 ♀ 25. IX.–23. X. 2006, Malaise trap ( AC2 ) , 150 m alt., 9 ♂♂ 22. VII.–22. VIII. 2006, Malaise trap ( AN1 ) , 170 m alt., 1 ♂ 22. VII.–22. VIII. 2006, 1 ♂ 23–26. X. 2006, Malaise trap ( AN3 ) , 170 m alt., 1 ♀ 28. IX. –2. XI. 2007, T. Yamauchi et al. leg . ( Kanagawa and coll. Riedel).

Description. Female. Body length 9.5–12.5 mm.

Structure. Flagellum with37–40 flagellomeres, filiform;1 st flagellomere2.0–2.3×as long as wide, 9 th flagellomere square, widest flagellomeres 1.1–1.2× as wide as long. OED 1.2–1.3× ocellar diameter. MI 0.8. Scutellum slightly elevated, slightly wider than long, densely punctate, with lateral carina in basal 0.2. Area superomedia hexagonal, square or slightly longer than wide. Hind femur 4.0–4.4× as long as wide. External surface of hind tibia with 1–3 denticular spines apically. Postpetiole densely rugose-punctate, with latero-median carina, median field slightly elevated. Gastrocoelus impressed, with longitudinal rugae. Thyridium slightly oblique, 0.3–0.5× as wide as interval between punctures. 2 nd tergite 1.1× as wide as long.

Color . Black. Flagellomeres 9/10–15/16 dorsally, maxillary palps mainly, lateral spot of clypeus, stripe of frontal orbit, scutellum and wide dorsal spots of 6 th and 7 th tergites ivory. 2 nd tergite usually with narrow reddish apical margin. Legs black; fore femur, fore and mid tibiae and fore tarsus ± reddish frontally. Wings slightly infuscate, pterostigma black.

Male. Body length 10.0–14.0 mm.

Structure. Flagellum with 36–38 flagellomeres, bristle-shaped; 1 st flagellomere 2.4× as long as wide, median flagellomeres slightly nodose. Tyloids on flagellomeres 8/9–20, oval, maximally 0.9× as long as their flagellomeres. Temple moderately and roundly narrowed behind eye. OED 1.1× and OOD 1.3× ocellar diameter. Frons densely punctate. Face densely rugose-punctate. Clypeus with rather dense punctures; apical margin slightly bulging medially. MI 0.4. Mesoscutum densely punctate, ± shining. Scutellum moderately elevated, slightly wider than long, densely punctate, with lateral carina in basal 0.3. Area basalis with distinct median tubercle. Area superomedia hexagonal, wider than long; costula reaching its middle. Hind femur 4.1–4.2× as long as wide. Postpetiole densely punctate, without distinct latero-median carina; median field slightly elevated. Gastrocoelus impressed, with some longitudinal rugae. Thyridium transverse, 0.4× as wide as interval between thyridia. 2 nd tergite about as long as wide. 2 nd to 4 th tergites densely rugose-punctate.

Color . Black. Flagellum ± ochreous ventrally. Palps, mandible except teeth, clypeus and face except median black stripes, frontal and outer orbits, sometimes spot of ventral scape, collar and upper margin of pronotum, spot of tegula, subtegular ridge and apical half of scutellum ivory. Tergites black, sometimes small posterolateral ivory spot of postpetiole, 2 nd tergite with narrow reddish apical margin, sometimes 5 th tergite with small apical ivory spot, 6 th and 7 th tergites with large ivory dorsal spots. Legs black; fore and mid coxae mainly ivory; fore and mid femora reddish frontally; fore and mid tibiae and tarsi ivory frontally; hind tibia black, basally ± ivory, its apical spurs ivory. Wings slightly infuscate, pterostigma brown or black.

Distribution. Japan (Honshu, Hachijo Isl., Shikoku and Yakushima Isl.), China, Taiwan and Korea. New record for the Ryukyu Archipelago.

Remarks. Aglaojoppa arakwai Uchida and A. fuscatus Uchida have been transferred to the genus Barichneumon by Townes et al. (1961). Due to the rather long basal flagellomere of females and ± distinct gastrocoeli, we transfer this species to the genus Virgichneumon Heinrich here. For a separation of Barichneumon Thomson and Virgichneumon Heinrich see the key in Riedel (2024).