ANNALES ZOOLOGICI (Warszawa), 2005, 55(1): 95-98

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS SPASSKIA BELOKOBYLSKIJ, 1989 :  FROM INDIA, WITH FIRST RECORD OF THE GENUS IN THE ORIENTAL REGION

Sudhir Singh1, Sergey A. Belokobylskij2, Neena Chauhan1 and Swati Pande1

1 Forest Entomology Division, Forest Research Institute, P. O. New Forest, Dehra Dun-248 006, Uttaranchal, India; e-mail: [email protected] 2 Museum and Institute of Zoology Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, Warsaw 00-679, Poland; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract.— The genus Spasskia Belokobylskij, 1989 is reported for the first time from the Oriental Region. A new species S. indica sp. nov. is described and illustrated with line drawings and Scanning Electron Microscope photomicrographs. The species is recorded as parasitoid of Chlorophorus strobilicola Champion (Cerambycidae) infesting second and third year’s cones of Pinus roxburghii Sargent. Key to all species of Spasskia is given. 

Key words.— Hymenoptera, Braconidae, , Spasskia, new species, Oriental Region, India, parasitoid, Chlorophorus strobilicola, Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Pinus roxburghii.

Introduction cies from this genus were unknown yet, and it is the first record of the host for the Indian species of Spasskia reared During the surveys for the pests of pine cones from cerambycid larvae infesting cones of pine tree. under the USDA Pine Project, one of us (Ms Swati Pande) The terms for wing venation are used as defined by reared and collected an interesting braconid species van Achterberg (1988) and Belokobylskij and Tobias infesting larvae of Chlorophorus strobilicola Champion (1998). The following abbreviations are used: POL – posto- 1919 (Cerambycidae: Coleoptera), a main pest of sec- cellar line; OOL – ocular-ocellar line; Od – maximum ond and third year’s cones of Pinus roxburghii Sargent. diameter of lateral ocellus; FRID – National Forest Insect These specimens were determined as a new species of Collection, Forest Research Institute (Dehra Dun, India); the genus Spasskia Belokobylskij, 1989 from subfamily ZISP – Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences Helconinae. Two species of this genus – S. sigalphoides (St. Petersburg, Russia). All the dimensions in species Belokobylskij, 1989 (type species) and S. anastasiae description are in µm except other wise mentioned. Belokobylskij, 1998 – was originally described from the south of the Russian Far East (Belokobylskij 1989, 1998), and first species was later recorded from South Korea Taxonomy also (Belokobylskij and Ku 1998). The genus Spasskia is recorded from the Oriental Region for the first time. Spasskia Belokobylskij, 1989 Members of subfamily Helconinae have been reported from the all zoogeographical regions of the world and Type species. Spasskia sigalphoides Belokobylskij, several genera are recorded in the Oriental Region. In this 1989 (original designation). subfamily only one genus , with type species Description. Head distinctly wider than its median W. cornuta, was described by P. Cameron (1899) from length, head roundly narrowed behind eyes (dorsal India (Khasi Hills, Meghalaya) (Shenefelt 1970); Gupta view). Occipital carina distinct, fused below with hypos- and Sharma (1976) further described three new species tomal carina upper base of mandible. Ocellar triangle under this generic name. Spasskia is a second genus of with base larger than its sides (Fig. 2). Frons deeply this subfamily found in this country. The hosts of spe- excavated, with a strongly protruding median lamella 96 S. SINGH, S. A. BELOKOBYLSKIJ, N. CHAUHAN and S. PANDE often divergent dorso-posteriorly; often with a pair of Third tergite weakly narrowed posteriorly, finely crests running up to ocelli (Figs 1, 2). Clypeus weakly sculptured, not covered partly following tergites. convex, obliquely cut almost from middle towards Hind femur with wide keel ventrally. Mesosoma 2.2 below, straight on lower margin (Fig. 3). Maxillary palpi times as long as height. Palpi dark reddish brown in 6-segmented, labial palpi 4-segmented; third labial seg- basal half and yellowish brown in apical half. – Russia ment short (Figs 10a, 10b). Antenna setiform, distinctly (Far East) ...... anastasiae Belokobylskij narrowed apically (Fig. 11), shorter than body. Small pronope present, subpronope absent (Fig. 4). Scutellar sulcus (depression) wide (Fig. 4). Metanotum with Spasskia indica Singh, Belokobylskij et Chauhan, sp. nov. three carinae, one median and two lateral converging (Figs 1–14) to meet the median at the posterior end. Notauli deep and coarsely crenulate (Fig. 4). Prepectal carina distinct. Type material. Holotype: female (mounted on a card), Precoxal sulcus (sternauli) wide and shallow. Postpectal India, Uttaranchal, Pithoragarh Division, Gangolihat carina absent. Propodeal bridge (sclerites separated Range, Rangodikot, 915 m, 29.4°N, 80.2°E, 10.VII.1998, metasomal and coxal cavities) present and distinct. coll. Swati Pande, ex. Chlorophorus strobilicola on Pinus Radial (marginal) cell of fore wing shortened. Second roxburghii cones. (FRID, Accession No. 21044). radiomedial (second submarginal) cell trapeziform. Paratypes: 1 female (FRID), 1 female, 1 male (ZISP) Recurrent (m-cu) vein strongly antefurcal. Discoidal (mounted on cards), data same as for the holotype. 2 (first discal) cell shortly petiolate anteriorly (Fig. 9). females, 2 males (one female with antennae damaged, Nervulus (cu-a) postfurcal. Present 2 transverse anal removed; fore legs missing, right middle leg removed, (2A, a) veins. Hind wing with very large submedial (sub- hind legs beyond femora missing; right fore wing miss- basal) cell; first mediocubital abscissa (M+CU) 7.0–8.0 ing, right hind wing removed; all removed parts pasted times as long as second abscissa (1-M). Transverse anal on the same card; rest specimen intact. Other female vein (2A) present. Anal (plical) lobe broad (Fig. 9). with all appendages, wings and ovipositor missing), Femur of hind leg swollen and shorter than hind tibia, India, Uttaranchal, Garhwal Division, Pokhra Range, 3.0–3.5 times as long as wide. Spurs of hind tibia thick. Pokhra, 1350 m, 29.55°N, 78.4°E, 24.VII.1998, rest Tarsal claws simple. First metasomal tergite large, mov- data same as for holotype (FRID). 2 females, 1 male ably connected with second tergite, with a pair of dorsal (on cards), India, Uttaranchal, W. Almorah Division, and usually subparallel longitudinal carinae, just reach- Ranikhet Range, Ranikhet, 1600 m, 29.38°N, 79.4°E, ing posterior margin; with spiracles in basal 0.3; dorsope 14.VII.1998, rest data same as for holotype (FRID). 1 indistinct. Second and third tergites enlarged, carapace- female (all appendages except coxae and left hind leg, like, covered entirely or almost entirely following seg- removed and mounted on a slide; specimen was gold ion ments (Fig. 8). Third tergite posteriorly without flange. coated for SEM studies, but after the study coating was Ovipositor slender, obtuse apically, its sheath about 1.5 dissolved in aqua-regia, specimen washed, neutralized times as long as metasoma. Male genitalia as in Fig. 14. and mounted on a card), 4 males (one partially dissected and mounted on a card with all appendages of metasoma Key to species and head removed, dissected and mounted on a slide), India, Uttaranchal, Chakrata Division, Devgarh Range, 1. Vertex and temple entirely smooth. Mesoscutum Dharmigod, 913m, 30.26°N, 77.38°E, 23.VII.1998, rest smooth for the most part. Frontal keel rather short and data same as for holotype (FRID). not bifurcate dorsally. Sternauli finely and narrowly Description. Female. Body length (excluding ovipos- punctuate-areolate. – India ...... indica sp. nov. itor sheath) 5.82 ± 0.54 mm (n = 7, range 4.8 to 6.4 mm); –. Vertex and temple entirely coarsely rugose-areolate. holotype, female, length, 6.4 mm, length of extended Mesoscutum rugose-punctuate for the most part. part of ovipositor 4.0 mm; fore wing length, 5.3 mm. Frontal keel rather long and distinctly bifurcate dor- Head. Black; frons with cavity deep, their outer mar- sally. Sternauli coarsely and widely rugose-reticulate gins carinate, carina parallel to greater length but at ...... 2 one-third near ocellar triangle converging; inter torular 2. First metasomal tergite wide, roundly widened promience thin and triangular (Fig. 7); a small carina towards apex, its length weakly shorter than apical present from promience to middle ocellus and devided width. Third tergite distinctly narrowed posteriorly, cavity; occipital carina complete, only sometimes inter- coarsely sculptured, covered following tergites. Hind rupted dorso-medially by less than half the diameter of femur with fine keel ventrally. Mesosoma 1.7 times as median ocellus; setae on head short, and longer ventrally; long as height. Palpi yellowish brown. – Russia (Far labrum brown, densely setose with fine pale setae; labial East), S. Korea...... sigalphoides Belokobylskij palpi 4-segmented (Fig. 10b) basal segment dark brown, –. First metasomal tergite narrow, almost linearly wid- other pale; maxillary palpi 6-segmented (Fig. 10a) with ened toward apex, its length 1.2 times apical width. basal two segments dark brown, third lighter and rest NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS SPASSKIA BELOKOBYLSKIJ, 1989 FROM INDIA 97

1 2 wide (750 : 600); frons prominence (Fig. 7) triangular and as high as 125. Antenna (Fig. 11) 33-segmented; scapus 1.7 times as long as wide (300:175); pedicel slightly wider than long (125 : 100); first flagel- lar segment 3.25 times as long as wide (325 : 100), 1.2 times as long as second flagellar segment. Mesosoma (Figs 4, 5). Black, almost twice as long as wide (2900 : 1500). Precoxal sulcus (sternaulus) shallow, rather wide, finely and narrowly punc- 3 4 tuate-areolate; pleural sulcus shallow and crenulate; mesoscutum slightly longer than wide (1150 : 1125) scutellar sulcus (prescutellar depression) deep, with one carina, and several lateral crenulae; metanotum with prominent complete median carina; propodeum with short median carina on either side of which a large sulcus present, with 5 wide and long areola. Wings (Fig. 9). Fore wing faintly fumose with brown veins, about 3.0 times as long as wide (5325 : 1750); 1-M (basal vein) curved smoothly; r : 3-SR : SR1 (first- 6 third radial abscissae) = 180 : 283 : 1333; 1-SR+M (first medial abscissa) slightly curved; 1-CU1 : 2-CU1 (first and sec- ond cubital abscissae) = 138 : 447; 2-SR 7 8 (first radiomedial) : 3-SR (second radial abscissa) : r-m (second radiomedial) = 396 : 275 : 395; m-cu (recurrent vein) sub- parallel to 1-M (basal vein). Hind wing with submarginal cell parallel sided base- ly, marginal (radial) cell widened distally. Legs (Fig. 12). Hind leg larger and swollen with femur, tibia and basitarsus 3.0, 8.7 and 6.5–7.3 times as long as their Figures 1–8. Spasskia indica sp. nov., SEM photomicrographs (female). (1) Head, frontal view; widths, respectively; hind tibia spurs 0.22 (2) head, dorsal view showing ocellar area; (3) head, lateral view; (4) mesosoma, dorsal view; and 0.15 times basitarsus length. Legs (5) mesosoma, lateral view; (6) first tergite of metasoma; (7) inter torular promience; (8) meta- soma in lateral view. reddish brown, fore leg (except coxa) yellowish brown, hind tibia almost black pale; mandibles dark brown, basal half with sculpture in apico-dorsal two-thirds. (Fig. 3), bidentate, dorsal tooth longest (Fig. 13); sculpture Metasoma. First tergite (Fig. 6) almost triangular of head as in Figs 1–3. Head in frontal view (Fig. 1) wider with two carinae in the middle, the middle part between than long (1525 : 1300); frons at anterior ocellus level two- the carinae with deep irregular pits at the posterior thirds the head width (1000 : 1525), its minimum width two-thirds; lateral parts almost smooth with scattered (900) 0.6 times the head width; malar space about one- shallow pits; length of first tergite equal to its width at fifth of head length (275 : 1300), 0.35 times longitudinal apex. Second tergite coarsely punctate, wider than the diameter of eye, almost equal to basal width of mandible; first, 1.7 times as wide as long. Third tergite the nar- torulus rounded; distance between torulus and anterior rowest, with distinctly finer punctations as compared ocellus 0.4 times the head length; inter-torular distance, to the second one. Suture between second and third 175; torulo-eye distance, 200; torulo-mouth distance, tergite narrow, finely crenulate, and distinct. Ovipositor 500. In dorsal view ocello-collar length equal to OOL sheath 1.5 times as long as metasoma, 1.3 times as long (350); POL, 225. In profile (Fig. 3) eyes oval, higher than as mesosoma, 0.75–0.8 times as long as fore wing. 98 S. SINGH, S. A. BELOKOBYLSKIJ, N. CHAUHAN and S. PANDE

Hind Middle Fore 13

12

9

a 11 b

10 14

Figures 9–14. Spasskia indica sp. nov. (9–13 female; 14 male). (9) Fore and hind wings; (10a) maxillary palpus; (10b) labial palpus; (11) antenna; (12) legs; (13) mandible; (14) genitalia.

Male. Body length 5.77 ± 0.47 mm (n = 8, range giving her opportunity to work under this project; she is 4.8 to 6.2 mm). Similar to females in color, sculpture also thankful to USDA for financial support. and morphometrics except the following. Antenna 37- segmented. First metasomal tergite 1.2 times as long as wide. Genitalia as in Fig. 14. References Variations. There are no variations among the females and males of the type series except for the size. Achterberg, C. van. 1988. Revision of the subfamily Blacinae Foerster One male, whose left wing and other parts mounted on (Hymenoptera, Braconidae). Zoologische Verhandelingen, a micro-slide, has incomplete sclerotised vein 2SR (sec- Leiden. 249: 1–324. ond radiomedial) of fore wing (present only at anterior Belokobylskij, S. A. 1989. [A new and little known taxa of braconids of the subfamily Helconinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from one-third). In some males tergites beyond third segment the Far East of the USSR]. Proceedings of the Zoological Institute. are visible. 188: 23–38 (in Russian). Biology. Primary parasitoid of larva of Chlorophorus Belokobylskij, S. A. 1998. [Subfam. Helconinae], pp. 411–435. In: Lehr strobilicola Champion 1919 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) P.A. (ed.). [Opredelitel’ naseko mykh Dal’nego Vostoka Rossii. infesting second and third year’s cones of Pinus roxburghii. Tom 4. Setchatokrylo obraznye, skorpionnitzy, pereponchatokry- lye. Chast’ 3]. Dal’nauka, Vladivostok (in Russian). Etymology. From India where this parasitoid was Belokobylskij, S. A. and D.-S. Ku. 1998. New species and rare genera collected. of the family Braconidae from Korea. Journal of the Asia-Pacific Distribution. India (Uttaranchal). Entomology. 1(2): 131–145. Belokobylskij, S. A. and V.I. Tobias. 1998. [Introduction], pp. 8–26. In: Lehr P. A. (ed.). [Opredelitel’ nasekomykh Dal’nego Vostoka Acknowledgements Rossii. Tom 4. Setchatokryloobraznye, skorpionnitzy, perepon- chatokrylye. Chast’ 3]. Dal’nauka, Vladivostok (in Russian). Cameron, P. 1899. Hymenoptera orientalia, or contributions to The authors are thankful to the Head, Forest the knowledge of the Hymenoptera of the Oriental zoological Entomology Division, and the Director, Forest Research region. Part VIII. The Hymenoptera of the Khasia hills. First Institute, for providing facilities in carrying out this piece paper. Memoirs and Proceedings of the Manchester Literary and of work. Thanks are also due to the Scientist-in-charge Philosophical Society. 43(3): 1–220 of SEM laboratory of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Gupta, V. K. and V. Sharma. 1976. Studies on Wroughtonia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Helconinae). Oriental . Geology, Dehra Dun for SEM facilities. One of us, 10(3): 353–362. Ms. Swati Pande, is particularly thankful to Shri R. S. Shenefelt, R.D. 1970. Hymenopterorum Catalogus. Pars 5. Braconidae 2. Bhandhari, Scientist-E, Forest Entomology Division, and Helconinae, Calyptinae, Mimagathidinae, Triaspinae.‚ s-Gravenhage, co-project leader of USDA sponsored project on Pines for Dr W. Junk, pp. 177–306.

Received: November 14, 2004 Accepted: March 1, 2005