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| Qrocodiledundee thailantis Ghafouri Moghaddam & Butcher, in Ghafouri Moghaddam, Quicke, Arias-Penna, Jasso-Martínez, Latibari, Liu et Butcher, 2025. |
Abstract
Qrocodiledundee Fernández-Triana is a recently described genus of microgastrine braconid wasp (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with only one known Australasian species to date. Here, we describe and illustrate a second species, Q. thailantis Ghafouri Moghaddam & Butcher sp. n., from Thailand, which represents the first report of the genus in the Oriental region. An illustrated identification key is provided to separate the two known species of the genus. Additionally, Q. outbackense Fernández-Triana & Boudreault is redescribed. The possible biology and the distinctive morphological characters of Qrocodiledundee are discussed. We also provide the first DNA barcode for the genus Qrocodiledundee and present separate COI analyses based on two different programs (IQ-TREE and RAxML), to assess its possible relationship with other microgastrine genera. Additionally, we conduct another analysis that includes COI sequences from 62 Microgastrinae genera, combined with a mitogenome protein-coding gene (PCG) dataset from other available genera. This dataset comprises 12 genes, including those encoding ATP synthase membrane subunits 6 and 8 (ATP6, ATP8), cytochrome c oxidase subunits I to III (COI–COIII), cytochrome b (cytb), and NADH dehydrogenase subunits 1 to 6 (ND1–ND6), totaling 12,441 bp. This approach provides a well-supported phylogenetic backbone to clarify the placement of Qrocodiledundee among other genera. Our results showed that Qrocodiledundee is grouped with some genera within the Apanteles group (Apanteles Foerster, Illidops Mason, Parapanteles Ashmead, Rhygoplitis Mason), with support values ranging from strong to moderate. No relationship was found with three putatively closely related genera (Carlmuesebeckius Fernández-Triana, Ohenri Fernández-Triana, and Sathon Mason). A concise discussion of selected genera within Microgastrinae is presented, based on the topologies obtained from the maximum likelihood analyses.
KEYWORDS: autapomorphy, DNA barcoding, flat mesosoma, mitogenome, propodeal projections, tropics
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| Qrocodiledundee thailantis Ghafouri Moghaddam & Butcher sp. n., holotype male (CUMZ). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Wings. C–E. Head. – C. Frontal view. D. Lateral view. E. Dorsal view. F. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum, dorsal view. G. Mesoscutellum, lunula, metanotum, and propodeum, dorsal view. H. T1–T3, dorsal view. I. Mesosoma, lateral view. J. Metasoma, metacoxa, and hypopygium, lateral view. K. Tip of metasoma, lateral view. Yellow arrow = propodeal projection. Abbreviations: PL = propodeal projection maximum length, PWA = propodeal projection maximum width at anterior margin, PWP = propodeal projection maximum width at posterior margin. |
Qrocodiledundee thailantis Ghafouri Moghaddam & Butcher sp. n.
Diagnosis: Body almost entirely black; gena not bulging behind eyes; mesoscutum with distinct punctures throughout, interspaces slightly wavy/lacunose; mesoscutellum and most of mesopleuron with distinct punctation; propodeum with an incomplete short median longitudinal carina defined only on anterior 0.3, followed by a large/deep carinated depression, anteriorly narrow but widening posteriorly; T1 strongly punctate-rugose but medially with a complete narrow longitudinal band of transverse rugae, T1 with posterior corners curved; T2 entirely covered with strong longitudinal striae; T4+ smooth with weak and minute punctures.
Etymology: The specific epithet combines two words: Thai, referring to Thailand, the place where the specimen was collected, and lanthis, which comes from the Greek word Atlantis meaning Island of Atlas, the mythical sunken island mentioned in the Timaeus and Critias of PLATO's dialogues. Thus, thailantis refers to a species that was previously unknown or hidden, waiting to be discovered, like a lost civilization. The name is a noun in apposition and the gender is neuter. It should be noted that all species names within the subfamily Microgastrinae were checked to avoid assigning a duplicate name (Ghafouri Moghaddam et al. 2023).
Mostafa Ghafouri Moghaddam, Donald L. J. Quicke, Diana Carolina Arias-Penna, Jovana M. Jasso-Martínez, Minoo Heidari Latibari, Zhen Liu and Buntika A. Butcher. 2025. Expansion of the distributional range of Qrocodiledundee Fernández-Triana (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), with the Description of A New Species in the Oriental Region using an Integrative Taxonomy Approach. Integrative Systematics: Stuttgart Contributions to Natural History. 8(1):11-34. DOI: doi.org/10.18476/2025.978354 [30 June 2025]
