Lipolexis khaoyaiensis Kerkig, Quicke & Butcher, 2025

Lipolexis khaoyaiensis Kerkig, Quicke & Butcher , sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/181859e4-3464-42b3-b20e-184e7d181534

( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE female THAILAND, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Khao Yai National Park, National Park Permit : 0907.4/18722, 14°28.179’ N, 101°22.491’ E, 11.v.2021, modified aerial Malaise trap, leg. P. Kerkig ( CUMZ). GoogleMaps

Diagnosis. Lipolexis khaoyaiensis sp. nov. belongs to “ gracilis ” group and possesses three maxillary palpomeres and one labial palpomere as in L. pakistanicus , L. peregrinus , and L. takadai . However, it clearly differs from L. pakistanicus and L. takadai by having shorter F1 (proportions between length and maximum width at middle of F 1 in L. peregrinus , 3.6 (( 4.25 in L. pakistanicus and 4.75 in L. takadai ) and more elongated petiole (proportion between length and width of petiole at spiracles in L. khaoyaiensis sp. nov., 3.0–3.1 (2.7 in L. pakistanicus and 2.8 in L. takadai ) and differs from L. peregrinus by having anterior carinae of propodeum and shorter body length (body length of L. khaoyaiensis sp. nov. 1.3 (1.5–2.0) mm. of L. peregrinus .

Description. Body length 1.3 mm, fore wing length 1.1 mm, hind wing length 0.9, mm and ovipositor length 0.1 mm.

Head. Antenna filiform ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ) with 10 flagellomeres, F1 equal to F2; F1 and F2 with 2 longitudinal placode sensilla; flagellomeres long and cylindrical with semi-erect long and sparse setae; length approximately half the diameter of the flagellomeres; F1 and F2 3.6 × as long as their medial widths. Head transverse, wider than mesosoma at tegulae (proportion between head and mesoscutum width 1.14), with sparse long setae. Eyes large, laterally protruding. Face uniformly pubescent with moderately long setae. Clypeus protruding with 6–7 long setae. Tentorial index 0.50–0.64; malar space 0.32–0.34 × longitudinal eye diameter. Mandible bidentate, with 4 long setae on outer surface ( Fig. 1C, D View FIGURE 1 ). Maxillary palps with three palpomeres, third palpomere long, undivided. Labial palps with one palpomere ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ).

Mesosoma . Mesosoma 1.1 × longer than high. Mesoscutum ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 , 2A View FIGURE 2 ) largely shiny and smooth, covering pronotum above. Notaulices very short, distinct anteriorly, effaced dorsally, with a series of 12 long setae along the latero-dorsal part of mesoscutum, reaching to scutellum. Scutellum nearly triangular, noticeably crenulated along lateral margins, with 7 long setae. Propodeum ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ) areolated, with a wide central areola, central areola length equal to width, oblique antero-central carinae extending to the spiracles; with anterior carinae. External and dentiparal areolae of propodeum with 4–5 and 1 long setae on each side, respectively.

Fore wing. Densely pubescent, marginal setae longer than the surface setae; venation reduced; pterostigma triangular, 2.4 × as long as wide and 0.80 as long as R1; veins r and RS long, reaching near to the apex of the wing ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Subdiscal cell absent.

Legs. Legs slender.

Metasoma. T1 ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ) long and slender, slightly widened at apex; its length 3.0–3.1 × as long as wide at spiracles, slightly prominent at lateral margin; dorsal surface with pair of central carinae, narrowly separated anteriorly, diverging posteriorly; with two long setae at the base of each lateral side; spiracular tubercules smooth, positioned beyond the first half of the segment. Ovipositor sheath ( Fig. 2D, E View FIGURE 2 ) long and slender, strongly curved downwards, wide at base, narrowing in the last third and slightly wider at the tip, upper part of the ovipositor sheath more sclerotised along the whole length. Length of ovipositor sheath 2.5 × as long as maximum width at base and 7.5 × as long as minimum width at tip.

Colour. Head and face yellow except for small mark around stemmaticum, dark brown. Mouthparts except tips of mandibles yellow. Scape and pedicel yellow, F1 yellow, remaining antennal segments brown. Legs yellow. Mesosoma light brown. Metasoma dark brown with light brown T1. Ovipositor sheath light brown. Wings hyaline with dark brown pterostigma.

Distribution. Oriental ( Thailand).

Host. Unknown.

Habitat. The new species was collected using a modified aerial Malaise trap placed in the dry evergreen forest during the summer season in Thailand, highlighting its habitat and collection method.

Etymology. The new species is named after its type locality, Khao Yai National Park, where it was collected.

Remarks. Lipolexis khaoyaiensis sp. nov. belongs to “ gracilis ” species-group and possesses three maxillar palpomeres and one labial palpomere as L. pakistanicus , L. peregrinus and L. takadai . However, it clearly differs from L. pakistanicus and L. takadai by having shorter F1 (proportions between length and maximum width at middle of F 1 in L. peregrinus , 3.6 (4.25 in L. pakistanicus and 4.75 in L. takadai ) and more elongated petiole (proportion between length and width of petiole at spiracles in L. khaoyaiensis , 3.0–3.1 (2.7 in L. pakistanicus and 2.8 in L. takadai ) and differs from L. peregrinus by having anterior carinae of propodeum and in size, body length of L. khaoyaiensis 1.3 mm (1.5–2.0) mm. in L. peregrinus .

The new species runs to couplet 6 in Kocić et al. (2020) and it can be differentiated from L. peregrinus using the following key:

6. F1 4.2–4.7× as long as wide (Figure 6A and Figure 8A), petiole 2.7–2.8× as long as wide............................ 7

– F1 3.4–3.8× as long as wide, petiole 3.1–3.3× as long as wide.................................................. 8

7. F1 and F2 4.7 and 4.8–5.0× as long as wide, respectively, scutellum laterally crenulated along sides, number of longitudinal placodes on F1 and F2 2 and 3, respectively................................... L. takadai Tomanović & Kocić, 2020

– Both F1 and F2 4.2× as long as wide, scutellum laterally not bearing crenulations, F1 and F2 with 2–3 and 4–5 longitudinal placodes, respectively................................................ .. L. pakistanicus Tomanović & Kocić, 2020

8. Propodeum areolated; anterior carinae absent. Petiole without long seta at the base of each lateral side. Length of body 1.5–2.0 mm. Head light brown, mouthparts yellow, mesosoma and metasoma light brown to brown, and petiole light brown................................................................................. L. peregrinus Tomanović & Kocić

– Propodeum clearly areolated, anterior carinae present ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ). Petiole with two long setae at the base of each lateral side. Length of body 1.3 mm. Head and face yellow, mesosoma light brown, legs yellow, metasoma dark brown with pale brown petiole ( Figs 1A,B View FIGURE 1 ).................................................................. L. khaoyaiensis sp. nov.