First record of the male of the widespread Calliscelioelegans (Perkins) (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) along with some taxonomic notes on the species.

The hitherto unknown male of the widespread and tramp species, Calliscelioelegans (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) is hereby reported for the first time, from India. The two sexes are chromatically quite similar. The male has the same conspicuous banding pattern in the forewing as that of the female. The status of Caloteleatanugatra Narendran (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) from India is reviewed and is proposed to be a junior synonym of Calliscelioelegans, new synonymy. Distribution of Calliscelioelegans in India is mapped.

Introduction

Ashmead 1893, (: ) with type species Ashmead is a rather small genus, with 65 species http://hol.osu.edu/index.html?id=461. One strikingly colourful species, (Perkins, 1910), is quite widespread throughout the tropics, likely distributed by human commerce, possibly in association with cricket pests (: ) of sugar cane, cf. Masner et al. (2009)

During our taxonomic studies on the platygastrid subfamily of India, we identified 12 specimens of , from a series of Malaise trap samples from the semi-evergreen forests of Biligirirangan Hills, situated at the conjunction of the Western and the Eastern Ghats in Karnataka, South India. The hitherto unknown male of was spotted among the collections, and forms the first ever report of the male of this species. The two sexes are chromatically quite similar (Figs 1, 7). The male has the same conspicuous banding pattern in the forewing (Fig. 8) as that of the female.

Figure 1.

Body profile (Male)

Figure 7.

Body profile (Female)

Figure 8.

Forewing (Male)

We examined the types of at The National Zoological Collection at Western Ghat Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India and hereby propose Narendran, 1998 (Fig. 9) to be a junior synonym of (Perkins).

Figure 9.

Holotype (Female)

A distribution map of in India is provided (Fig. 12).

Figure 12.

Distribution map of in India

Materials and methods

Specimens for this study belonged to National Zoological Collection, at Zoological Survey Of India, Calicut (ZSIC) and also those received on loan from Western Ghats Insect Inventory Programme of Atree, Bangalore. The description and imaging work were carried out by employing Leica M205A stereomicroscope and Leica DFC-500 digital camera. The species distribution map has been generated using DIVA GIS version 7.4.

Morphological terminology follows (Masner 1980a, Masner 1980c and Mikó et al. 2007). The scale bars in Figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 are 0.2mm, except Fig. 7 being 0.5mm.

Figure 2.

Head Dorsal View (Male)

Figure 3.

Head Front view (Male)

Figure 4.

Mesosoma dorsal view (Male)

Figure 5.

Metasoma dorsal view (Male)

Figure 6.

Antenna (Male)

Figure 10.

Genal and facial striations of sp.

Figure 11.

Elongate antennal radicle of sp.

Abbreviations

OOL; OD; POL; IOS; A1-A12; T1-T8; HL; HW; L; W; ML; MW; MTL; MTW.

– Ocellocular Length

– Ocellar Diameter

– Posterior Ocellar Length

– Inter Ocular Space

– antennal segments

– tergites of metasoma

– Head Length

– Head Width

– Length

– Width

– Mesosoma Length

– Mesosoma Width

– Metasoma Length

– Metasoma Width

ZSIC.

– Zoological Survey of India, Calicut

Taxon treatments

Perkins (1910)

Masner, Johnson & Musetti, 2009:

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Priyadarshan; individualID: ZSI/WGRS/IR.INV.2655; individualCount: 1; sex: Male; lifeStage: Adult; preparations: Card mount; Taxon: scientificNameID: ; kingdom: ; phylum: ; class: ; order: ; family: ; genus: ; specificEpithet: elegans; scientificNameAuthorship: Perkins; Location: continent: Asia; country: India; stateProvince: Karnataka; locality: Biligiriranga Hills; verbatimLocality: Mariappanappala; decimalLatitude: 11.785169 N; decimalLongitude: 77.223671 E; Identification: identifiedBy: Rajmohana K; dateIdentified: 2013-6-1; identificationRemarks: First male of the species ever recorded; Event: samplingProtocol: Malaise trap; eventDate: 2007-4-20/5-20; habitat: Semi-evergreen; eventRemarks: Collected in Malaise trap; Record Level: institutionID: ZSIC

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Priyadarshan; individualID: ZSI/WGRS/IR.INV.2700-2705; individualCount: 5; sex: Female; lifeStage: Adult; preparations: In Alcohol; Taxon: scientificNameID: ; kingdom: ; phylum: ; class: ; order: ; family: ; genus: ; specificEpithet: elegans; scientificNameAuthorship: Perkins; Location: continent: Asia; country: India; stateProvince: Karnataka; locality: Biligiriranga Hills; verbatimLocality: Mariappanappala; decimalLatitude: 11.785169 N; decimalLongitude: 77.223671 E; Identification: identifiedBy: Rajmohana K; dateIdentified: 2013-6-1; Event: eventDate: 2007-4-20/5-20; habitat: Semi-evergreen; eventRemarks: Collected in Malaise trap; Record Level: institutionID: ZSIC

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Priyadarshan; individualID: Atree /BR/10-16; individualCount: 6; sex: Female; lifeStage: Adult; preparations: In Alcohol; Taxon: scientificNameID: ; kingdom: ; phylum: ; class: ; order: ; family: ; genus: ; specificEpithet: elegans; scientificNameAuthorship: Perkins; Location: continent: Asia; country: India; stateProvince: Karnataka; locality: Biligiriranga Hills; verbatimLocality: Mariappanappala; decimalLatitude: 11.785169 N; decimalLongitude: 77.223671 E; Identification: identifiedBy: Rajmohana K; dateIdentified: 2013-6-1; Event: eventDate: 2007-11-15/12-15; habitat: Semi-evergreen; eventRemarks: Collected in Malaise trap; Record Level: institutionID: ZSIC

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Abhilash Peter; individualID: ZSI/WGRS/IR.INV.2485; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: Adult; preparations: Card mount; Taxon: scientificNameID: ; kingdom: ; phylum: ; class: ; order: ; family: ; genus: ; specificEpithet: elegans; scientificNameAuthorship: Perkins; Location: continent: Asia; country: India; stateProvince: Kerala; locality: Trichur; verbatimLocality: Chimmony Damsite; decimalLatitude: 10.523100 N; decimalLongitude: 76.222221 E; Identification: identifiedBy: Rajmohana K; dateIdentified: 2013-3-6; Event: verbatimEventDate: 2012-1-5; habitat: Mixed Vegetation; eventRemarks: Collected in Sweep net; Record Level: institutionID: ZSIC

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Bijoy. C; individualID: ZSI/WGRS/IR.INV.2486; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: Adult; preparations: Card mount; Taxon: scientificNameID: ; kingdom: ; phylum: ; class: ; order: ; family: ; genus: ; specificEpithet: elegans; scientificNameAuthorship: Perkins; Location: continent: Asia; country: India; stateProvince: Kerala; locality: Calicut; verbatimLocality: Jaferkhan Colony; decimalLatitude: 11.266666 N; decimalLongitude: 75.791001 E; Identification: identifiedBy: Rajmohana K; dateIdentified: 2011-5-15; Event: verbatimEventDate: 2010-9-8; habitat: Mixed Vegetation; eventRemarks: Collected in Sweep net; Record Level: institutionID: ZSIC

Type status: Other material. Occurrence: recordedBy: Rajmohana.K; individualID: ZSI/WGRS/IR.INV.2637; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: Adult; preparations: Card mount; Taxon: scientificNameID: ; kingdom: ; phylum: ; class: ; order: ; family: ; genus: ; specificEpithet: elegans; scientificNameAuthorship: Perkins; Location: continent: Asia; country: India; stateProvince: Kerala; locality: Calicut; verbatimLocality: Tiruvannur; decimalLatitude: 11.247655 N; decimalLongitude: 75.767650 E; Identification: identifiedBy: Rajmohana K; dateIdentified: 2005-12-10; Event: verbatimEventDate: 2005-8-11; habitat: Mixed Vegetation; eventRemarks: Collected in Sweep net; Record Level: institutionID: ZSIC

Description

New Description of Male. Length: 1.97mm (n=1) (Fig. 1). Head, mesosoma, T1 wholly and anterior one-fourth of T2, legs and A1 deep orange yellow; posterior three-fourth of T2 onwards till T8, A3-A12 ebony black, A2 and ocelli darkened (Fig. 2); frons (Fig. 3) and mesoscutum medially with a pair of dark patches (Fig. 4); apex of mandibles and apex of hind femur slightly darkened; forewing conspicuously banded, with dark bands basally, medially and apically, separated by light bands (Fig. 8), with median band being most prominent as seen in females (Fig. 7).

Qualitative characters of head and mesosoma being exactly similar to that of female as mentioned in Masner et al. (2009), is not repeated here. However propodeum being flat and elongate, with faint longitudinal striae and irregular rugosities differs from that of the female.

Metasoma elongate, widest medially, narrowed both anteriorly and posteriorly (Fig. 5); T1 with fine longitudinal striae and irregular rugose sculpture covering entire surface, almost similar to that on propodeum; longitudinal striae on T2 extending to 0.8 its length medially and about 0.5 of its length laterally. T3 distinctly transverse, shorter than T2, with delicate longitudinal aciculate sculpture, effaced medially; T4-T8 transverse, with delicate coriaceous microsculpture and with abundant appressed golden pilosity.

General body measurements, length to width proportions of antennal segments, forewing and that of metasomal segments are as follows:

Head (dorsal) L:W = 4.05:2.61mm; IOS = 1.14x eye height; POL:LOL:OOL:OD = 1.32:0.75:0.2:0.3.

A1 4.2x length of radicle, A2 1.05x longer than radicle; A3 and A4 subequal; A5 emarginate and carinate (Fig. 6), 1.15x longer than A4 and 1.02X length of A6; A6 to A8 subequal, A9 to A12 subequal as long as A3, A12 longest, 1.37x A11. Length to width proportions of antennal segments from A1to A12 being 23:5.4, 5.7:4, 8:4, 8:4, 9.2:4.7, 9:4, 9:4, 9:4, 8:4, 8:4, 8:4, 11:4 (Fig. 6).

ML:MW = 4.15: 3.38; Forewing narrow, 5.4x as long as wide, when at rest extending to base of T5; length of veins marginal: stigmal: postmarginal being 6:7:8.

MTL:MTW = 2.03:1.19; T2 longest of all tergites, 1.6x T1 and 1.38x T3 tergite; length to width proportions of T1-T4 being 127:85, 204:170, 148:203, 78:169; T3 onwards transverse; rest of tergites visible as strips; T8 distinct.

Diagnosis

Variation

Hardly showing any variation from the description of the female by Masner et al. (2009), except for its smaller size (< 2 mm). A pair of dark patches seen on median mesoscutum is not distinct in females. A few of the dense granulations on median frons appear fused as short, coarse irregular strips of striae (Fig. 3), but such a partially striated nature of median frons is seen in all the female specimens of included in this study as well.

The eyes of one of the freshly caught specimen female had a beautiful peacock green metallic lustre (Fig. 7), but turned black within 24 hours of dry preservation.

Biology

Egg parasitoid of crickets (: ) as per Masner et al. (2009). The females are seen in low numbers, but the males are extremely rare.

Ecology

Females are mostly seen close to ground, in search of gryllid eggs for oviposition.

Distribution

The species is widely distributed (http://osuc.biosci.ohio-state.edu/hymDB/eol_scelionidae.content_page?page_level=3&page_id=taxon_page_data&page_version=245756&page_option1=M) but generally seen in low numbers (Masner et al. 2009). The distribution of in India has been mapped (Fig. 12). It is reported only from the southern states of the country.

Narendran, 1998

Type status: Holotype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: ZSIC-1.0189; recordedBy: Narendran TC; individualID: ZSI/WGRS/I.R-INV.1317; individualCount: 1; sex: Female; lifeStage: Adult; preparations: Point Card mount; Taxon: kingdom: ; phylum: ; class: ; order: ; family: ; genus: ; specificEpithet: tanugatra; taxonRank: species; scientificNameAuthorship: Narendran TC; Location: continent: Asia; country: India; stateProvince: Kerala; locality: Malappuram; verbatimLocality: Calicut University Campus; decimalLatitude: 11.169961 N; decimalLongitude: 76.102710 E; Identification: identifiedBy: Narendran TC; dateIdentified: 1998; Event: year: 1983; month: October; day: 12; habitat: Mixed Vegetation; eventRemarks: Captured by Sweep net; Record Level: institutionCode: ZSIC

Notes

Quoting Narendran (1998), “forewing with a median blackish brown band surrounded basically and apically by hyaline patches, basal and apical part infumate,”- the banding pattern of forewing (Fig. 9) is correctly described, but the pattern in the illustration as of page 72, does not match the description.

Discussion

As per the generic concept of Westwood, in Hope (1837), Masner (1976), Masner (1980b), Masner (1980c)​, http://www.zsi.gov.in/right_menu/IIS/index.html and Popovici et al. (2013), diagnosis of the genus from the very similar Ashmead, relies on the presence of skaphion in most cases, distinct or at least traces of genal and facial straie (Fig. 10) and an elongate antennal radicle, often measuring about one-third of scape length (Fig. 11). Cheeks and gena are never striate in and the antennal radicle is usually short, at most one-fourth length of scape (http://www.zsi.gov.in/right_menu/IIS/index.html). Narendran does not have any traces of striae on mandibular corners or cheeks and antennal radicle is less than one-fourth of scape length. Hence the placement of under is incorrect. Instead the species agrees in all aspects including the character states, proportions and colouration of the body and wings to as stated in Masner et al. (2009). In contrast to most species, the metascutellar plate is extremely narrow and weakly concave medially in , as seen at times in . Such a metascutellar plate is seen in too. Hence Narendran (, ) after the current review, is proposed to be a junior synonym of , new synonymy.

Discussion

Masner et al. (2009) studied 60 female specimens of from all over the world, but no males were available for their study. From this observed lack of representation of male specimens in the world collections, it was opined that the male sex may either be chromatically different from the female and not so conspicuous or the species can even be thelyotokus. This fact is however disproved by our report and description of the male of in this study. It can be concluded that males are extremely rare compared to females and that both the sexes of are chromatically quite similar, with the same conspicuous banding pattern on their forewings.