Nitela neoapoensis Mawadda & Girish Kumar, 2025

Nitela neoapoensis Mawadda & Girish Kumar sp. nov.

( Figs 32–39 View FIGURES 32–39 )

Materials examined. Holotype ♀, INDIA: Kerala, Ernakulam district, Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary ( 10°06'08"N, 76°42'16"E), 5.xi.2017, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/18601 GoogleMaps . Paratypes, ♀, Thiruvananthapuram district, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University Campus ( 8°25'52"N, 76°59'15"E), 1.x.2019, C. Binoy collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/18602 GoogleMaps ; Goa, South Goa district, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary ( 15°20'02"N, 74°17'21"E), 1 ♀, 17.v.2018, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC/IR/INV/18603 GoogleMaps ; Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore district, Sethumadai ( 10°30'55"N, 76°52'48"E), 1 ♂, 3.i.2019, P. Girish Kumar collector, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/WGRC/IR/INV/20783 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. This new species differs from all other Nitela by the following character combination: anterolateral angle of pronotal collar acutely pointed ( Fig. 35 View FIGURES 32–39 ); mesoscutum conspicuously, coarsely reticulate ( Fig. 35 View FIGURES 32–39 ); anterior margin of clypeus slightly quadridentate medially ( Fig. 34 View FIGURES 32–39 ); mandible with preapical tooth ( Fig. 34 View FIGURES 32–39 ); propodeal dorsum longitudinally striatorugose ( Fig. 36 View FIGURES 32–39 ); posterior declivity of propodeum with heart shaped structure ( Fig. 36 View FIGURES 32–39 ); apex of mandible, labial palp, all trochanters, all tibiae and tarsi, and base and apex of all femora yellow ( Fig. 32 View FIGURES 32–39 ).

In the key to Oriental Nitela by Li & Li (2010), females of this new species run to N. apoensis because of anterolateral angle of pronotum acutely pointed, mandible with preapical teeth, clypeus approximately quadridentate anteromedially and posterior declivity of propodeum heart shaped. It differs from N. apoensis in having coarsely reticulate ridges and conspicuous punctures on mesoscutum (in N. apoensis , mesoscutum with inconspicuous reticulate ridges and punctures).

This new species differs from N. rugosa in having posterior declivity of propodeum heart shaped (in N. rugosa , posterior propodeal surface nearly straight).

This new species differs from N. nasseri in having: (1) anterolateral angle of pronotal collar acutely pointed (in N. nasseri anterolateral angle of pronotal collar rounded); and (2) mesoscutum with coarsely reticulate ridges and conspicuous punctures (in N. nasseri , mesoscutum coriaceous).

Description. Holotype ♀. ( Fig. 32 View FIGURES 32–39 ). Head. IODc 1.92 × IODv; POD 0.32–0.42 × OOD; eyes converging above; vertex and frons conspicuously punctate, puncture interspaces less than puncture diameter; clypeal basin divided by conspicuous carina, reaching anterior ocellus; anterior margin of clypeus slightly quadridentate medially as in Fig. 34 View FIGURES 32–39 ; mandible with preapical tooth; F1 and F2 approximately equal in length, F1 1.97 × its apical width.

Mesosoma. Pronotal collar with transverse groove, anterolateral angle of pronotal collar acutely pointed, medially divided by longitudinal carina ( Fig. 35 View FIGURES 32–39 ); mesoscutum and scutellum conspicuously reticulate ( Fig. 35 View FIGURES 32–39 ); metanotum with some longitudinal striae ( Fig. 36 View FIGURES 32–39 ); mesopleuron as in Fig. 37 View FIGURES 32–39 ; dorsal surface of propodeum longitudinally ridged ( Fig. 36 View FIGURES 32–39 ); posterior surface of propodeum transversally striate, medially divided ( Fig. 36 View FIGURES 32–39 ); posterior declivity of propodeum heart shaped as in Fig. 36 View FIGURES 32–39 ; lateral surface of propodeum with oblique striation ( Fig. 37 View FIGURES 32–39 ); forewing as in figure 38.

Metasoma. Metasoma comparatively densely setaceous except dorsal area of G1 and G2, G1 dorsally smooth and shiny, slightly microcoriaceous with sparse setae ( Fig. 39 View FIGURES 32–39 ).

Vestiture. Setae silvery; dense on clypeus, body extensively setose except dorsal G1 and G2 ( Figs 32, 33, 35 & 39 View FIGURES 32–39 ); on mandible setae mixed with long bristles.

Coloration. Black; mandible, labial palp, antenna from scape to F2, all trochanters, fore femur at base and apex, mid and hind femora, mid and hind coxae extensively, all tibiae and tarsi, and all tibial spurs ferruginous; wings hyaline, veins testaceous ( Fig. 32 View FIGURES 32–39 ).

Variation: Propodeal dorsum approximately reticulate in two specimens, whereas in the other two it is more longitudinally striate than reticulate. The only male examined has a reticulate propodeal dorsum and a tridentate clypeus. Because of the propodeal sculpture this specimen closely resembles N. rugosa , but dense golden setae at the clypeus and the heart shaped posterior propodeal surface distinguish it from that species.

BL: 4.58–4.92 mm.

Male. Same as female except lower clypeus with dense golden setae; clypeus tridentate; F1 2.25–2.31 × it’s apical width.

Distribution. India: Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.

Etymology. Named after Nitela apoensis , which is the closest relative of the new species.