Buluka longi

Buluka longi

Hovorka & Fernandez-Triana sp. nov.

( Fig. 15 View Fig )

Type locality. Vietnam, Dak Lak, Chu Yang Sin National Park, Krông Kmar, approx. 12°29′N, 108°20′E; 550–610 m a.s.l.

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♀, “S. VIETNAM: Dak Lak / Chu Yang Sin N.P., Krong K´Mar / Mal. Trap 1-6, 550- 610 m / 21.-26.x.2005, C. v. Achter- / berg & R. de Vries, RMNH´05 [p] // CNC / 721127 View Materials [p]“. Deposited in RMNH.

Diagnosis. Among the species with gena and vertex smooth, the posterior rim of metasoma not overhanging the posterior margin of metasoma, T1 and T2 only partially yellow, with the yellow not covering the full width of the tergite, scutellum punctate-reticulate to rugose, and T2 and T3 with longitudinal striae only anteriorly, Buluka longi sp. nov. can be recognized by its propodeal spiracle surrounded by a well-developed cristula which delimits a relatively small, smooth, polished area (large in B. taiwanensis ), and forewing basal and subbasal cells almost without setae or just apically with setose area around infuscation (fully setose in B. achterbergi and B. quickei ). Buluka longi can be distinguished from B. buntikae sp. nov. by the characters discussed in the diagnosis of that species, and from B. frederiquebakkerae sp. nov., which shares similar characteristics, by mesotibia light brown on posterior half; first segment of metatarsus entirely dark brown to black; T2 almost entirely covered by even reticulate sculpture; and T2 entirely black.

Description. Female ( Fig. 15 View Fig ). Head in anterior view 0.93× as long as wide medially, densely setose; first flagellomere as long as second flagellomere, 4.3× as long as wide; second flagellomere 4.2× as long as wide; fifteenth flagellomere 1.7× as long as wide; face smooth, glabrous centrally and densely setose ventrally; frons setose; vertex smooth; gena smooth and densely setose; eyes densely setose, diverging behind antennal sockets; clypeus slightly concave, smooth and setose; ratio of maximum head width to minimum face width 2.06 (101/49).

Mesosoma 1.38× as long as high; mesoscutum anteriorly and laterally punctate; notaular courses punctate; posterior margin of mesoscutum reticulate rugose, with strong white setae; scutellar sulcus with 6 medial carinae; scutellum areolate rugose, setose; propodeum with medial carina straight, polished and with smooth area anteriorly, with incomplete rugosity near median carina and posterior margin of propodeum; propodeal spiracle surrounded by cristulae; area around propodeal spiracle smooth, not reaching anteriorly to fore margin of propodeum; pronotum crenulate posteriorly; mesopleuron punctate, setose, smooth and glabrous antero-medially; metapleuron smooth and glabrous medially, posterior part punctate reticulate, setose.

Metasoma. Posterior rim of metasoma shorter than carapace with crenulate median longitudinal groove and polished area in basal 0.4; T1 0.7× as long as wide apically, areolate in apical half; T2 0.4× as long as wide apically, almost entirely covered by even reticulate sculpture; second metasomal suture shallow and wide; T3 with strong longitudinal striae in basal 0.3 with polished area in between; apex of T3 seems fully sculptured without polished area (apex of T3 hard to see since specimen is glued dorsally on the point); ovipositor sheath setose apically with two spatulate sensillae.

Legs. Metacoxa large, setose, punctate reticulate with distinct transversal striae apically; metafemur 3.3× as long as wide; metatibia 4.9× as long as wide; inner metatibial spur 0.75× as long as basitarsus; metatarsal claw with one tooth.

Wings. Fore wing 2.6× as long as wide; 1 st discal and 1 st subdiscal cell setose; basal and subbasal cell glabrous, only setose in their apical 0.2; pterostigma 3× as long as wide; 2RS vein of fore wing more than 2× as long as r-m vein.

Measurements. Body length: 2.9 mm; fore wing length: 2.5 mm; second flagellomere length/width: 4.2; fifteenth antennal segment length/width: 1.7; metafemur length/ width: 3.3; metatibia length: 1 mm; carapace length/width: 1.4 (length measured laterally since the specimen is glued dorsally on the point); T1 length/apical width: 0.7; T2 length/apical width: 0.4.

Color. Head yellow-orange to brown; face, clypeus, scape and pedicel yellow to orange; frons, gena and vertex brownish; palpi white-yellow; mesosoma black; fore and middle legs yellow to light brown with tarsal segments 1–4 whitish and telotarsus brown; metacoxal black; metatrochanter, metatrochantellus and metafemora dark brown; metatibia black with apical 0.2 white-yellow; hind basitarsus dark brown to almost black; hind tarsal segments 2–4 white-yellow; hind telotarsus brown; tegula brown; wing venation light brown to white-yellow; fore wing with wide infuscate area below pterostigma (wider than pterostigma) and around vein 1-CU; T 1 in basal 0.4 with light yellow area, rest of T1 black; median longitudinal groove of T1 light yellow; T2 and T3 black; ovipositor sheath dark brown.

Etymology. Named after Khuat Dang Long (Institute of Ecology & Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology), who studies the taxonomy of the family Braconidae in the Oriental Region and is the author of the description of many new species of this family.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Vietnam.