Chrysis pandyana ROSA, 2024

Chrysis pandyana ROSA nov.sp. ( Figs 13 View Fig A-F, 14A-14D)

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Holotype ♀; Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore, Kallar , 500m, 7.iv.1970, leg. R. T. Simon Thomas (collectie Zoölogisch Museum Amsterdam) ( RMNH) . Paratype: 1♀, same labels as the holotype ( RMNH) .

D i a g n o s i s: Chrysis pandyana ROSA , nov.sp. is an unusual species that I include in the wahlbergi group due to the structure of its third metasomal tergum with four distal teeth and a basolateral bulge ( Fig. 13B View Fig , 14B View Fig ), the scapal basin micropunctate, the shortened pronotum, the frontal carina parenthesis-like, and the shape of the black spots on second sternum large and separated medially. This species group was previously known only from the Afrotropical region ( KIMSEY & BOHART 1991; MADL & ROSA 2012). Chrysis pandyana ROSA nov.sp. is distinct from all the other members of the group by its relatively large ocelli ( Fig. 13D View Fig ); the shape of the four apical teeth, which are normally close-set and triangular, whereas in C. pandyana , they are spiniform, and the raised square parenthesis-like frontal carina. Other diagnostic characters are the elongate, subrectangular black spots on the second sternum ( Fig. 14D View Fig ), the double metasomal punctation with small and sparse punctures in the second half of the second tergum ( Fig. 14A View Fig ); the black median area of mesoscutum with dark violet reflections on the bottom of the large punctures.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Female. Body length 8.9 mm; anterior wing length 5.5 mm.

Head. Vertex and ocellar triangle with dense, small to medium punctures (0.2–0.5× MOD), with the largest between ocelli and eye, the smallest above frontal carina and on ocelli area; polished area in front of anterior ocellus, sulcate medially; ocelli relatively large compare to other species of the species group ( Fig. 13D View Fig ); anterior ocellus subtrapezoidal, sunken; transverse frontal carina raised, square parenthesis-like with small to medium punctures between carina and scapal basin; scapal based densely micropunctate, with punctures aligned transversally; median longitudinal stripe (1× MOD wide) impunctate, weakly wrinkled transversally; area before clypeus polished to shallowly wrinkled; scapal basin covering almost the entire face, at sides with sparse, small to median punctures; malar space micropunctate; gena narrow, less than 1× MOD; genal carina sharp, fully developed from temples to mandibular insertion; subantennal space short, 0.75× MOD; apex of clypeus straight, slightly arcuate upward with thick, apico-median, black rim. Malar space very short (0.3× MOD). Distance between anterior ocellus and margin of frontal carina = 1.2× MOD. OOL 1.0 × MOD; POL 1.2× MOD; relative length of P:F1:F2:F3 = 1.0:1.3:1.1:1.0.

Mesosoma. Pronotum narrow medially, shorter than scutellum ( Fig. 13E View Fig ); medial pronotal furrow shallow, as long as 2/3 of pronotal length; punctures medium sized (0.4–0.5× MOD), spaced (1 puncture diameter apart), interspaces micropunctate; mesoscutum with larger punctures on median area; lateral area with denser punctures, micropunctate on interspaces; notauli formed by deep, blue, subsquare to subrectangular foveae, smaller than punctures on median area; parapsidal signum shallow; mesoscutellum with larger punctures than mesoscutum, micropunctate on interspaces, denser at side; scutellar-metanotal suture as deep line, enlarged medially; metanotum densely punctate, with subcontigous punctures; posterior propodeal projections triangular, slightly divergent, pointed downwards; mesopleuron densely and deeply punctate, with episternal sulcus formed by large, subrectangular foveae ( Fig. 13F View Fig ); noticeable deep meso- and metapleural foveae.

Metasoma. Punctures on first tergum even, small, micropunctate on interspaces; second tergum with similar punctation on basal half, with smaller and sparser punctures on apical half; longitudinal median carina weak, yet visible on all terga; third tergum with larger punctures basally, becoming denser on pre pit area, which is slightly saddled; pits of pit row deep, non-metallic, 2-3× larger than larger tergal punctures; third tergum with basolateral bulge, apical margin with four sharp, spiniform teeth; black spots on second sternum subrectangular, elongate, covering about two thirds of sternum length, largely separated medially and not touching lateral margin of sternum ( Fig. 14F View Fig ).

Coloration. Body blue with greenish reflections on face and dorsally on pronotum, scutellum, first tergum and apico-laterally on second tergum; median area of mesoscutum black with violet reflection on the bottom of punctures. Wing infuscate, lighter on outer margin.

Vestiture. Setae whitish and short, sparse, less than or 1.0× MOD, on the body.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet pandyana (adjective) is named after the Pandyan dynasty, an ancient Tamil dynasty who ruled extensive territories in southern India over a period of almost 1800 years.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: India (Tamil Nadu).