Description of three new species of Psilocera Walker from India , with a key to the Oriental species ( Hymenoptera : Chalcidoidea : Pteromalidae )

Acknowledgements: I am grateful to Dr. K. Venkataraman, Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata for providing the facilities for the work and constant encouragement. I am also thankful to Sri. K. Nikhil, research scholar, Zoological Survey of India, Western Ghat Regional Centre, Calicut for the helps rendered in photography. Thanks are also due the Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala and the forest officials of Periyar Tiger Reserve for granting permission for faunal survey and collection and the helps rendered during field work. The genus Psilocera Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is known from 30 described species throughout the world, with nine species from the oriental region (Noyes 2012). The oriental species of this genus were reviewed by Sureshan (2011). Other contributions on the taxonomy of the oriental Psilocera are by Rao (1981), Sureshan (2000, 2001), Sureshan & Narendran (1995) and Narendran & Kumar (2009). Among the described species of Psilocera from India, two names, viz., Psilocera intermedia Sureshan, 2011, and Psilocera namdaphaensis Sureshan, 2011, were published in an e-journal and have become ‘unavailable’ names, as publications of new names prior to 2012 in e-journals [without a print edition] were not recognized by the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999, 2012). Therefore, both these species are described here as new species to make the names available. In addition to these two species, one new species of Psilocera is also described based on the collections made from the forested tracts of southern Western Ghats of Kerala. Affinities of the new species Abstract: Three new species of Psilocera Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), P. keralensis sp. nov., P. intermedia sp. nov. and P. namdaphaensis sp. nov., are described. The latter two new species were earlier described by Sureshan (2011) in an electronic publication not recognized by the ICZN and have, therefore, become unavailable names. The affinities of the new species with the other known species are discussed. A key to the oriental species of Psilocera is also provided.

The genus Psilocera Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is known from 30 described species throughout the world, with nine species from the oriental region (Noyes 2012).The oriental species of this genus were reviewed by Sureshan (2011).Other contributions on the taxonomy of the oriental Psilocera are by Rao (1981), Sureshan (2000Sureshan ( , 2001)), Sureshan & Narendran (1995) and Narendran & Kumar (2009).Among the described species of Psilocera from India, two names, viz., Psilocera intermedia Sureshan, 2011, and Psilocera namdaphaensis Sureshan, 2011, were published in an e-journal and have become 'unavailable' names, as publications of new names prior to 2012 in e-journals [without a print edition] were not recognized by the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999(ICZN , 2012)).Therefore, both these species are described here as new species to make the names available.In addition to these two species, one new species of Psilocera is also described based on the collections made from the forested tracts of southern Western Ghats of Kerala.Affinities of the new species with the other known species are discussed and a key to the oriental species of Psilocera is provided.
Head: In dorsal view, 2.21× as broad as long; POL

Etymology
Named after the locality, Namdapha National Park (Arunachal Pradesh) from where the specimens were collected.

Remarks
In the key to the western European species of Psilocera (Graham, 1992) the new species runs to couplet five with P. crassispina (Thomson) and P. confusa Graham.In having strongly clavate antenna, clava with micropilosity area reaching two third of length (up to base of third segment), F1 as long as pedicel, POL 0.9× OOL and larger body size, the new species resembles P. crassispina, but differs from it in having forewing with basal cell bare, at with 1-2 setae; antenna with scape, pedicel, anelli, F1 and F2 partly testaceous (In P. crassispina: forewing with basal cell pilose with 7-16 setae; antenna with scape pedicel and anelli red with pedicel slightly infuscate dorsally).The new species differs from P. confusa in having POL 0.9× OOL, and body size larger, 2.8-3.0 mm.(In P. confusa: POL 1.0-1.5×OOL,body smaller, 1.7-2.8mm).Among the oriental species it resembles P. vinayaki Sureshan & Narendran in general morphology but differs from it by the characters given in the key.Mesosoma black; tegula brown; coxae, except middle one, concolorous with mesosoma; middle coxa brownish; remainder of legs testaceous with tips of tarsi brown.Wings hyaline, veins and pubescence brown.Gaster brownish-black with metallic bluish reflection.

Psilocera intermedia
Head: Face moderately reticulate except for a broad shining area above clypeus; pubescence white, sparse, denser on lower part of face; head, in dorsal view, 2.3× as broad as long; POL 1.4 × OOL; temple length 0.5× eye length; vertex declivitous; head, in front view, width 1.3× height; eyes separated 1.3×their height at the level of toruli; malar groove distinct; malar space 0.54 × eye height; anterior margin of clypeus with two distinct teeth, radiately striated, striae reaching almost up to base of eye; scorbes deep, reaching median ocellus.Antenna inserted below middle of face; scape hardly reaching median ocellus, length 0.73× eye height; pedicel almost twice as long as F1; pedicel plus flagellum 0.9× head width; flagellum strongly clavate; anelli transverse, second slightly longer than first; F1 0.8× F2 which is almost equal to F3; F4 and F5 equal, a little shorter than F3; F6 shortest; clava slightly longer than four preceding segments combined, with broad area of micropilosity reaching base of third segment, and sutures strongly oblique.
Mesosoma: Highly convex, sparsely pubescent and with sparse brown bristles.Prontoal collar finely reticulate, anteriorly carinate in the middle.Mesoscutum and scutellum distinctly reticulate punctuate.Mesoscutum 2.1× as broad as long, with notauli incomplete.Scutellum with a strong finger nail like tip, medially as long as mesoscutum (base to tip of finger nail); frenum clearly separated.Axilla and axillula finely reticulate.Dorsellum narrow, very finely reticulate.Propodeum medially 2.9× as broad as long, and finely reticulate; median carina and costula fine but distinct, median carina interrupted by costula; plicae indicated only in anterior half; spiracle small, oval, separated from hind margin of metanotum by its own diameter, post-spiracular sulcus distinct, not deep; callus with long thick white pubescence.Prepectus small, narrow, fine, as long as tegula.Mesopleuron moderately reticulate with a broad triangular shiny area below wings.Metapleuron finely reticulate.Metasoma: Petiole not distinct; gaster short, lanceolate, dorsally collapsing, 2.3× as long as broad, 0.7× as long as rest of body and 1.4 × as long as hind tibia; hind margin of T1-T3 incised medially, T4 emarginate.
Male: Length, 1.7 mm.Resembles female except for the small body size and the antennal structure.Antenna with two short anelli and pedunculate funicular segments each bearing two whorls of long hairs; gaster collapsing.

Etymology
The species name derived from the intermediate nature of morphology with the other two species compared (see remarks below).

Remarks
Among Psilocera species with a conical hump on scutellum, P. clavicornis (Ashmead), P. intermedia sp.nov.and P. neoclavicornis Narendran & Girish Kumar, share a long and projecting finger nail-tip on the scutellum.The new species closely resembles P. clavicornis, but differs from it in having the forewing with basal cell open below; MV short, 2.8× STV; gaster short, only 0.7× as long as rest of body and 1.4× as long as hind tibia; antenna with only scape, pedicel and anelli testaceous and rest brownish-black, and F2 0.8× F1 (In P. clavicornis: forewing with basal cell closed below; MV long, 3.4× STV; gaster long, 1.9× as long hind tibia and 0.8× as long as rest of the body; antenna with scape, pedicel, F1and F2 testaceous and F2 as long F1).
The new species also resembles P.neoclavicornis in general morphology, but neoclavicornis differs from it in having shorter antennae with scape hardly reaching median ocellus, clava shorter than four preceding segments combined, scape pedicel anelli and most of F1 testaceous and rest dark brown, finger nail tip of scutellum slightly shorter, forewing with MV long, 3.14× as long as STV, and gaster long 1.72× as long as hind tibia and 0.9× as long as rest of the body.
Head (Images 3,4): 1.2× as broad as mesosoma; width, in dorsal view, 2.15× length, and in front view width 1.14× height; anterior margin of clypeus projecting Image 3. Psilocera keralensis sp.nov.Female body profile a little below lower level of head, distinctly bidentate; POL slightly longer than OOL (12.5: 11.5); temple length 2× eye height; scrobe deep; malar sulcus distinct; eye height 2× width; head moderately reticulate with moderate, sparse, white pubescence; reticulation on gena and vertex fine, round area below toruli smooth; clypeus radiately striated, striae reaching beyond clypeal margin to paraclypeal area.Antenna inserted below middle of face, above lower ocular line; pedicel plus flagellum length 0.9× head width; anelli transverse, equal; scape reaching little below median ocellus, 0.72× eye height; pedicel 2× as long as broad, slightly shorter than anelli and F1 and F2 combined; F1 anelliform, as long as anelli, 1.4x as broad as long, and 0.3× as long as F2; F2 as long as F3; F4 slightly shorter than F3; F5 and F6 equal, slightly shorter than F4; funicular segments, except F1, with one row of long sensillae, pubescence long; clava 2× as long as broad, a little longer than 3.5 preceding segments combined, sutures oblique, area of micropilosity reaching base of second segment.
Male: Length, 2.1mm.Resembles female but differs in having antenna with anelli small, strongly transverse; funicular segments pedunculate; F1 with two distinct whorls of long white hairs, rest of the segments with one whorl of long hairs.Gaster long, 0.8× as long as head plus mesosoma, brown, with a median yellow band dorsally reaching beyond half its length.

Etymology
The species name is derived from the name of the Kerala State (India) where the specimens were collected.
Forewing 2.2× as long as broad; marginal fringe very small, almost indistinct; pubescence moderate; basal cell open below without hairs, basal hairline indicated by few hairs; costal cell hairy on the upper half, which is complete at tip, speculum open below.Relative lengths of SMV, 51; MV, 30; STV, 10.5; PMV, 26.Legs slender; hind coxa densely hairy on anterio-lateral margins,a tuft of long white hairs present in the distal half of postero-lateral margin, 1.6× as long as broad.Relative lengths of hind coxa 18, femur 40, tibia 43.

Image 5 .Image 7 .
Psilocera keralensis sp.nov.Body in part dorsal view.Psilocera keralensis sp.nov.Male head in front view.Image 6. Psilocera keralensis sp.nov.Male body in dorsal view.Image 4. Psilocera keralensis sp.nov.Head in front view long, oval, almost touching hind margin of metanotum; post-spiracular sulcus deep, callus with long thick white pubescence.Prepectus small, narrow, fine, as long as tegula.Mesopleuron moderately reticulate with a broad triangular shiny area below hind wings.Lower half of metapleuron finely reticulate, upper half moderately reticulate.Forewing 2.3× as long as broad; marginal fringe very small, almost indistinct; pubescence moderate; basal cell open below with 2 or 3 scattered hairs at the tip, basal hairline indicated; costal cell completely hairy on the dorsal surface; speculum open below.Relative lengths of SMV, 49; MV, 32; STV, 11; PMV, 22. Legs slender; hind coxa densely hairy on antero-lateral margins, 1.3× as long as broad; femora 5× as long as broad; tibiae as long as femora; hind tibia with two spurs.