[Entomology • 2025] Losgna occidentalis • Rediscovery and Description of A New Species of Losgna (Cameron 1903) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae): Reviving a forgotten ichneumonid Genus in India

Losgna occidentalis 

Om Chaudhary & Reinisch, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.3.11 

 

Abstract

The Darwin wasp genus Losgna (Cameron, 1903) (subfamily Ichneumoninae), is poorly documented in India, with no new species described since Heinrich’s work in 1965. Here we rediscover the genus in India and describe a new species collected from an urban dry scrub forest in Chandigarh. A taxonomic key for the identification of Indian Losgna is provided along with the illustrations of the new species and Generitype. The study significantly extends the known distribution of Losgna in the Oriental region and highlights the under-explored diversity of Ichneumoninae in India and the need for further taxonomic research.

Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Darwin wasps, parasitic wasps, Chandigarh

Losgna occidentalis sp. nov.
A—face, frontal view, B—face and propodeum side view
C—propodeum, dorsal view, D—basal tergites, dorsal view.

Losgna occidentalis sp. nov. 

Karmannye Om CHAUDHARY and Sophia REINISCH. 2025. Rediscovery and Description of A New Species of Losgna (Cameron 1903): Reviving a forgotten ichneumonid Genus in India.  Zootaxa. 5632(3); 595-600. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5632.3.11 [2025-05-08]

[PaleoEntomology • 2025] Trichopria electrosinica • The First fossil Species of Trichopria Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) from the Miocene Zhangpu Biota, China

 

 Trichopria electrosinica   

Brazidec & Perrichot, 2025

DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200939 

 x.com/manu_bzd

Illustration by Laura Bruneau.

 

Abstract

Following studies of the aculeate families Bethylidae, Chrysididae, Formicidae, and Apidae, we report here the Diapriidae, the fifth hymenopteran family from the middle Miocene Zhangpu amber of China. A fossil species belonging to Trichopria Ashmead, 1893 is described and figured from a male specimen. The new extinct species, Trichopria electrosinica n. sp., is characterized by the subround and hypognathous head, the flagellomeres each with 6–8 long setae, the metanotum with longitudinal keels, the petiole two times longer than wide and carinate, and the fore basitarsomere with a row of setae along the inner margin. Trichopria is one of the largest diapriid genus, with some species used in pest control program against fruit flies, but Trichopria electrosinica n. sp. is its first described fossil species. Its absence in older and long-known deposits is indicative of the disparate Diapriidae fossil record. Its occurrence in both China and Dominican Republic during the Miocene suggests that the genus was already widespread at that time.

Keywords: Systematics, China, amber, parasitic Hymenoptera, Diapriinae

 Trichopria electrosinica n. sp., holotype, NIGP206901.
(A) Habitus in left lateral view. (B) Detail of fore leg (arrow: fore basitarsomere). (C) Detail of anterior and mid tarsi.

Scale bars = 0.5 mm for (A); 0.25 mm for (B); 0.125 mm for (C).

Artistic illustration of  Trichopria electrosinica n. sp. in the Miocene Zhangpu forest.

Illustration by Laura Bruneau.

Order Hymenoptera Linnæus, 1758

Superfamily Diaprioidea Haliday, 1833

Family Diapriidae Haliday, 1833

Subfamily Diapriinae Haliday, 1833

Genus Trichopria Ashmead, 1893

Trichopria electrosinica n. sp.

 Type locality: Zhangpu County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China.

Horizon: Sedimentary layer II, Fotan Group; middle Miocene (Langhian), 14.7 Ma.

Diagnosis (male): Head subround, hypognathous (Fig. 2A); antennal shelf weakly prominent; eye located medially on head (Fig. 2A); scape 5 times longer than wide, clavate and compressed (Fig. 2A); flagellomere 1 almost cylindrical (Fig. 2B); flagellomeres 2–11 longer than wide, widened apico-medially (node-like); flagellomeres with whorled long setae (Fig. 2A); pronotum and propleuron with developed cushion of setae (Fig. 2C); scutellum with median carina, without posterior pits (Fig. 2D); metanotum with longitudinal keels (Fig. 2D); fore wing stigmal vein pointed (Fig. 2F); fore basitarsomere curved with row of long erect setae along inner margin (Fig. 1B); petiole carinate, 2 times longer than wide (Fig. 2E).

Etymology: Combination of electro-, from the Greek electron meaning amber, and -sinica, for the geographical origin, China.

Manuel Brazidec and Vincent Perrichot. 2025. The First fossil Species of Trichopria Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) from the Miocene Zhangpu biota. Palaeoworld. In Press, 200939. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2025.200939

  x.com/manu_bzd/status/1904193248077160582

[Entomology • 2024] Gonatopus tagoi • Taxonomy of Japanese Gonatopus (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae), with Description of A New Species

  

 Gonatopus tagoi 

Mita, 2024

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5506.1.7

Abstract

A new species of Gonatopus, G. tagoi sp. nov., is described from Japan. Previously uncertain species, Agonatopus gracilis Esaki & Hashimoto, 1932 is redescribed based on newly collected females. Currently A. gracilis is included in Gonatopus, however, the name Gonatopus gracilis is preoccupied by Kieffer, 1905. Therefore, Gonatopus gigantostratiotes nom. nov. is provided as a replacement name. An updated key to the females of Japanese Gonatopus is given.

Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea, key, new replacement name, parasitic wasp, redescription

Toshiharu MITA. 2024. Taxonomy of Japanese Gonatopus (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae), with Description of A New Species.  Zootaxa. 5506(1); 113-121. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5506.1.7

[Hymenoptera • 2011] Colastomion Baker (Braconidae, Rogadinae): nine new species from Papua New Guinea reared from Crambidae

Colastomion gregarius sp. n. light photomicrographs. 

2 Habitus, lateral view 3 face 4 head and mesosoma, lateral view 5 basal venation of fore wing.

Abstract 

Nine new species of Colastomion Baker are described, illustrated and keyed based on series of specimens reared from caterpillars of crambid moths from lowland Papua New Guinea plus one additional field collected specimen, viz. Colastomion cheesmanae Quicke sp. n., Colastomion crambidiphagus Quicke sp. n., Colastomion gregarius Quicke sp. n., Colastomion maclayi Quicke sp. n., Colastomion madangensis Quicke sp. n., Colastomion masalaii Quicke sp. n., Colastomion parotiphagus Quicke sp. n., Colastomion pukpuk Quicke sp. n. and Colastomion wanang Quicke sp. n. Most species are morphologically easily distinguished but DNA barcoding additionally reveals a pair of exceedingly similar species (Colastomion pukpuk sp. n. and Colastomion maclayi sp. n.) that might otherwise have gone unrecognised. The new species each appear to be relatively specialised on their host species and all parasitize only caterpillars of Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae. 

Keywords: cytochrome oxidase I, DNA barcoding, Lepidoptera, hosts, Rogadini, Crambidae

Quicke, D.L.J., Smith, M.A., Miller, S.E., Hrcek, J., Butcher, B. 2012, Colastomion Baker (Braconidae, Rogadinae): nine new species from Papua New Guinea reared from Crambidae. Journal of Hymenoptera Research.28: 85–121.  doi: 10.3897/JHR.28.3484