Cratichneumon variator variator, Riedel & Watanabe, 2025

Cratichneumon variator variator ssp. nov.

Holotype. ( ♀) [ Japan] Kagoshima Pref., Amamioshima Isl., Naze, Sato-rindo , 8. VI. 2007, K. Watanabe leg. ( Kanagawa).

Paratypes. ( 2 ♀♀) [ Japan] Kagoshima Pref., Amamioshima Isl., Yamato Vil., Oodana , 1. VI. 2007, K. Watanabe leg. ( Kanagawa); ( 2 ♀♀ 6 ♂♂) Kagoshima Pref., Amamioshima Isl., Setouchi Vil., Mt. Yui-dake , Malaise trap, 2. VI. 2004, H. Makihara leg. ( Kanagawa); ( 2 ♂♂) ( Japan) Kagoshima Pref., Amamioshima Isl., Naze, Sato-rindo , 8. VI. 2007, M. Gunji leg. ( Kanagawa); ( ♀) Kagoshima Pref., Amamioshima Isl., Uken Vil., Yuwan , 6. VI. 2007, K. Watanabe leg. (coll. Riedel); ( ♂) Kagoshima Pref., Tokunoshima Is., Amagi Town, Mt. Yamatogusuku , Malaise trap, 31. V. 2007, K. Watanabe leg. ( Kanagawa); ( ♀) Kagoshima Pref., Tokunoshima Isl., Tokunoshima Town, Boma , Mt. Inokawa-dake , 30. V. 2007, K. Watanabe leg. (coll. Riedel) .

Etymology. The species name refers to the distinctly variable size and color patterns of this species.

Description. Female. Body length 9.5–13.5 mm. Length of fore wing 7.2–10.5 mm

Head. Flagellum with 31–37 flagellomeres, stout and filiform; 1 st flagellomere 1.7–1.8× as long as wide, 6 th or 7 th flagellomeres square, widest flagellomeres 1.5–1.7× as wide as long. Temple rather long, densely punctate, slightly and roundly narrowed behind eye. OED 1.0–1.1× and OOD 1.0× ocellar diameter. Frons densely punctate and shining dorsally, smooth ventrally. Face with dense punctures. Clypeus almost flat, with sparse punctures; apical margin sharp, almost straight. Gena with sparse punctures. Mandible large, ventral tooth smaller than dorsal tooth, not bent inwards. MI 0.7.

Mesosoma . Notaulus shortly impressed at frontal margin of mesoscutum. Mesoscutum densely punctate, shining. Mesopleuron and metapleuron coarsely rugose-punctate; speculum punctate; juxtacoxal carina present. Scutellum almost flat, about as wide as long, with sparse punctures and without lateral carina. Propodeum coarsely rugose-punctate, posterior transverse carina reaching area petiolaris posterior to area superomedia medially and slightly lamelliform laterally.Area superomedia hexagonal, slightly longer than wide, with transverse rugae; costula reaching at 6/10 of its length. Hind coxa densely punctate, with distinct scopa ventrally (1/3 of coxal length). Hind femur densely punctate, 3.0–3.3× as long as wide. External surface of hind tibia without denticular spines. Claws simple. Areolet pentagonal, frontal distance between veins 2rs-m and 3rs-m 3.0× their width; vein 2m-cu reaching its middle. Vein 1cu-a postfurcal by 3.0× its width.

Metasoma. Oxypygous. Postpetiole moderately widened, without latero-median carina, median field not separated, finely aciculate, lateral field rugose-punctate. Gastrocoelus weakly impressed, with longitudinal ridges. Thyridium transverse, 0.3× as wide as interval between thyridia. 2 nd tergite 1.4× as wide as long, densely and coarsely rugose-punctate, dull. 3 rd tergite with fine superficial punctures, finely granulate and ± shining. Ovipositor sheath reaching beyond metasomal apex by 0.5× length of 7 th tergite.

Color . Black. Flagellomeres 5/7–15/18 ivory, sometimes also basal flagellomeres ivory dorsally. Mandible except teeth and clypeus laterally red. Palps, rarely facial spot lateral to antennal groove, stripe of frontal orbit (± widened dorsally), sometimes stripe of upper outer orbit, often spots of collar and hind edge of pronotum, usually subtegular ridge and scutellum ivory. Tergites black, basal tergites sometimes with ± reddish suffusion, 6 th tergite with apical ivory band and 7 th tergite ivory dorsally. Legs black; fore and mid coxae and trochanters usually with ivory spots, sometimes entirely ivory; hind coxa sometimes with dorsal ivory spot; hind trochanter and trochantellus reddish or yellowish; often fore and mid femora frontally, wide subbasal bands of all tibiae and sometimes fore tarsus ivory. Wings slightly infuscate, pterostigma reddish-brown.

Male. Body length 11.0– 14.5 mm, length of fore wing 8.8–11.3 mm.

Head. Flagellum with 37–39 flagellomeres, bristle-shaped; 1 st flagellomere 2.6–2.8× as long as wide. Tyloids on flagellomeres 7–15/16, linear, maximally 0.4–0.6× as long as their flagellomeres. Temple moderately and roundly narrowed behind eye. OED 0.6–0.9× and OOD 0.7–0.9× ocellar diameter. Frons with superficial punctures dorsally. Face with rather dense punctures. Clypeus with sparse punctures. MI 0.3.

Mesosoma . Mesoscutum with rather dense punctures.Mesopleuron and metapleuron densely punctate. Scutellum moderately elevated, wider than long, with sparse to rather dense punctures, with lateral carina in basal 0.2. Area superomedia hexagonal, slightly wider than long. Hind femur 3.4–3.6× as long as wide, with sparse punctures in ventral third. Vein 2m-cu reaching areolet usually distal to its middle.

Metasoma. Postpetiole with microsculpture and very sparse punctures, shining. Gastrocoelus weakly impressed. Thyridium transverse, 0.3× as wide as interval between punctures. 2 nd tergite 1.1× as long as wide, densely punctate. 3 rd tergite with rather dense finer punctures. Structure otherwise as described for the ♀.

Color . Black. Flagellum sometimes ± reddish ventrally, flagellomeres 13/15–19/20 ivory dorsally. Palps, mandible except teeth, clypeus, face, stripe of frontal orbit (widened dorsally), gena and outer orbit, ventral scape, sometimes spot of propleuron, often collar, hind edge or upper margin of pronotum, subtegular ridge and apical 1/2–1/3 of scutellum ivory. Tergite black, basal tergites sometimes with dark reddish shine, 2 nd tergite sometimes with red apical margin. Legs black; fore and mid coxae and trochanters and often small dorsal spot of hind coxa ivory; hind trochanter ± yellowish; fore and mid femora apically, subbasal rings of all tibiae and fore tarsus entirely ivory. Pterostigma reddish-brown.

Distribution. Japan (Amamioshima Isl. and Tokunoshima Isl.).

Remarks. The size and ivory color pattern are rather variable in the examined females (less distinctly in the males) but the similar morphological features of these specimens do not indicate separate species.