A new enigmatic genus of the ichneumonid subfamily Ctenopelmatinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) from Thailand

By

Ranjith, Avunjikkattu Parambil
Quicke, Donald L. J.
Reshchikov, Alexey
Butcher, Buntika

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

97

Pages

491--504

Subjects

Malaise trap , new species , parasitoid wasp , South East Asia , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.121436

 

Abstract

The Ctenopelmatinae is one of the least explored groups of Ichneumonidae in South East Asia. We describe and illustrate an enigmatic new genus, Thaictenopelma Ranjith, Reshchikov & Quicke with the type species, T. splendida Ranjith, Reshchikov & Quicke, sp. nov., from a moderately high altitude site in northern Thailand. The new genus shows a unique set of morphological characters that distinguishes it from all other ctenopelmatine genera. The presence of a pair of complete latero-median as well as complete dorso-lateral carinae on the T2 are considered autapomorphic characters of the new genus. Affinities of the new genus within the Ctenopelmatinae are discussed and a note on the taxonomic placement is provided.