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ISSN 2320-4311

PROMMALIA. Vol. I, 2013

Narendran, T.C., Ahmad Zubair.. 2013. A review of Acrias Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae:

Entiinae) with description of a new genus from Saudi Arabia. PROMMALIA, I : 1-16.

Paper Registration No. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:37BC94A4-1D7A-4014-8D35-36CCE82CFD41

Date of Publication: 6th May, 2013

A REVIEW OF ACRIAS WALKER (HYMENOPTERA: EULOPHIDAE: ENTIINAE) WITH

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS FROM SAUDI ARABIA

T.C.Narendran* and Zubair Ahmad**

*AICOPTAX, c/o The Western Ghats Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode

673006, Kerala,India

٭* Department of Biology, King Khalid University, P.O.Box 9004, Abha- 61413, Kingdom of Saudi

Arabia.

Abstract: The genus Acrias Walker is reviewed. A key to world species and diagnosis of all known

species is provided. A new species of Acrias and a new genus, Arabiola Narendran, gen. nov., are

described from Saudi Arabia.

Key words: Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae, Acrias, review, key, new genus

INTRODUCTION

The subfamily Euderinae was originally described as a tribe, Euderini Erdös (1956) under the

subfamily Entedoninae . Later, Graham (1959) upgraded it to subfamily level. Since the name

Euderinae was preoccupied by Euderinae Lacondaire (1866) in Curculionidae (Coleoptera), Hannson

& Straka (2009) substituted the available name Entiinae Headqvist for Euderinae Erdös. The Entiinae

is now represented in the world by 17 genera (Noyes, 2012). Among these, 11 genera are reported

from the old world. In this paper, we describe a new genus from Saudi Arabia.

The genus Acrias Walker (1847) is so far represented by 10 species in the world (Noyes,

2012). Among these one species from Asia, 3 species from Australia, one species from Papua New

Guinea, 4 species from South America and one species from USA are so far known. In this paper, we

describe a new species from Saudi Arabia. The available host records indicate that species of this

genus are probably parasitic on pupae of cerambycid beetles (Coleoptera). The discovery of a new

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species from Saudi Arabia gives us an opportunity to review the species of Acrias and provide a

dichotomous key for separation of these species along with a brief diagnosis of each species. Since it

was not possible to examine the types of the known species, this review is based on published

information and on short notes supplied by some colleagues who have seen the types. It is hoped that

this preliminary review will be of some help for taking up detailed revisionary studies on these

beautiful insects.

Besides the review of Acrias, an interesting new genus based on a female collected in

Saudi Arabia is described. The holotypes of new species described in this paper are deposited in

ZSIK. Relative measurements are given based on the micrometer divisions for new taxa and in

millimeters for others since the known species are based on original papers.

Abbreviations used: CC= Costal cell; F1 to F4= Funicular segments 1- 4; L= Length; MV= Marginal

vein; PMV= Postmarginal vein, PSGA= Parastigma; SMV= Submarginal vein; STV= Stigmal vein.

Acronyms of depositories: ANIC= Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra, Australia;

BMNH= The Natural History Museum, London, England; HC= Hedquist Collection, Sweden;

NWCF= North Western College of Forestry, Yangling , Shaanzi, China; UFPB= Department de

Zoologica, Universidade, Federal do Parana, Parana, Brazil; ZSIK= The Western Ghats Regional

Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.

Acrias Walker

Acrias Walker, 1847: 29. Type species Acrias nileus Walker, by monotypy.

Australomphale Girault, 1922: 207. Type species Australomphale auriceps Girault, by original

designation. (Synonymy by Bouček, 1988: 665)

Moureisca De Santis, Urban & Graf, 1973: 43. Type species Moureisca tuberosa De Santis,

Urban & Graf, by monotypy. (Synonymy by Coote, 1994: 1045)

Balinia Hedqvist, 1978: 63. Type species Balinia stylata Hedqvist, by monotypy. (Synonymy by

Coote, 1994: 1045)

Durinia Hedqvist, 1978: 64. Type species Durinia elegans Hedqvist, by monotypy. (Synonymy by

Coote, 1994: 1045)

Oinia Hedqvist, 1978:65. Type species Oinia cyanea Hedqvist, by monotypy. (Synonymy by

Coote, 1994: 1045)

Diagnosis: Head with 1 or 2 vertical or more or less parallel, fine grooves below each antennal torulus

to mouth margin. The outer groove in some case more pronounced and may curve outwards so that it

may look like an M-shaped groove. Antennae inserted far from mouth. The dorsum of mesosoma

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reticulate or shiny with delicate sculpture. Scutellum with 2 pairs of setae [?] (rarely one pair as in

Acrias tauricornis Yang). Metasoma with last tergite in the female mostly thin and strongly

compressed from sides and more expanded at middle, almost fusiform, smooth or cross reticulate.

Forewing with a short, perpendicular stigmal vein which is more or less knobbed and often bears

dark hairs or setae in some species; wing blade bears dark band or patches or spots or may be hyaline

without any infuscation; dark setae often present on parastigma and other parts of wing blade.

Hosts: Unknown

Distribution: North and South America, Malaysia, Samoa, New Guinea, Australia, Nigeria (Bouček,

1988), Saudi Arabia (New record).

Key to species of Acrias Walker (based on females)

1. Antenna with 5 funicular segments (Fig.10) with reticulation on ventral side of scape apically

and on pedicel; clava with a terminal spine; mesoscutum 1.3x as long as scutellum;

propodeum with a median carina. Brazil…………………A. stylata (Hedqvist)

= Antenna with 4 funicular segments, other characters partly or completely different from

above…………………………………………………………………………………...………2

2. Head as long as mesosoma (Burks, 1975); forewing with a distinct longitudinal dark streak in

basal half and peripheral dark spots in apical area; second gasteral tergite occupying one-

sixth length of gaster; body purpureous.USA

........................................................................................................................... A. nileus Walker

= Characters not as in above combination or partly or completely different……………………..3

3. Pedicel and anterior part of scape with serrations or crest on dorsal side ; wings without fascia

or dark patches or marks …………………………………………………………..………… 4

= Pedicel and scape not as above, if serrate, it is restricted only to anterior part of scape;

forewing variable, often with fascia or infuscation or patch ……………………………….. 5

4. MV 5x as long as PMV; CC 1.2x as long as than MV; clava with a short terminal spine (0.1x

length rest of clava); anterior margin of fore tibia without serration. Brazil

……………………………………………………………………….…… A. cyanea Hedqvist

= MV 3.3x as long as PMV; CC 0.73x length of MV; clava with longer spine at apex (0.2x

length of rest of clava); anterior margin of fore tibia with serration (De Santis et al., 1973: fig.

4) . Brazil ………………………………………….…… A. tuberosa De Santis, Urban & Graf

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5. Forewing (Fig.9) with a parallel sided transverse dark band; antenna black with scape

yellowish; most of legs beyond femora black with fore femur dusky yellow and hind tibia

yellow with dusky brown along dorsal and ventral margin. Papua New Guinea … …..

………………………………………………………………………………...A. fascia Bouček

= Forewing not as above; other characters partly or completely different ……………………. 6

6. Vertex forming a cone (Fig. 6); funicular segments black except pale yellow at basal half of

F4 …………………………………………..…………………………………………............ 7

= Vertex not forming a cone; colour pattern of funicular segments different

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8

7. Scape serrate on edge at apex, head collapsing; hind tibia at basal half golden, ovipositor as

long as one third of gaster. Australia …………………………………… A. auriceps (Girault)

= Scape not serrate on edge; head (Fig.6) less collapsing than above; other characters partly

different ..………………………………………………………………… A. coniceps Bouček

8. Forewing with infuscation or smoky band or spot[s] in a base to apical direction ………… 9

= Forewing without any infuscation or smoky band or spot[s] ……………………………… 10

9. Funicle black with basal half of F3 pale yellowish white; smoky infuscation projecting

towards middle of MV (Fig.5); STV with brown setae; legs except tarsi and spurs, black;

scutellum longer than mesoscutum(18:15) …… A. arabiensis Narendran & Zubair, sp. nov.

= Funicle black except basal half of F3 & F4 white; smoky infuscation (Fig.8), weak not

projecting towards MV; STV without brown setae; legs brownish yellow with a tint of blue

on coxae; scutellum shorter than mesoscutum(7:11)……….......…………A. elegans Hedquist

10. Funicle with basal half of F2, F3 and F4 pale, rest black; pedicel 1.2x as long as F2; F1 1.43x

as long as F2 (mesoscutum without median stripe)..……………………A.varicornis (Girault)

= Funicle with basal half of F2 and F4 yellowish white, rest F2 and F4, and F3 completely

brown; pedicel 0.6x as long as F2; F1 1.2x as long as F2 ……………………A. tauricornis Yang

1. Acrias arabiensis Narendran & Zubair, sp. nov.

(Figs1-5)

(Reg. No. : urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A804AFFC-F39D-45C5-8FF1-94D5FEDE40C0)

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Female (Holotype): Length, 2.14mm. Black with metallic blue and violet, with a dark coppery median

stripe on dorsum of mesosoma (except on propodeum). Antenna black with basal half of F3 pale

yellowish white; legs black except white tarsi and tibial spurs. Wings hyaline with a brown elongate

infuscation (Fig. 5).

Head: Collapsing on vertex; height of malar space 0.6x height of eye in profile (0.11: 0.19); eyes

bare; lower face with two vertical grooves; relative distance between a torulu and mouth margin 0.09

. Mandible tridentate. Antenna with longitudinal sensillae on each segment (Fig.2); relative L: W of

segments: Radicula, 0.51: 0.22; scape, 0.24: 0.05; pedicel, 0.08: 0.04; F1, 0.13:0.05; clava, 0.12: 0.05;

scape exceeding level of vertex, scape and pedicel without raised sculpture or crests.

Mesosoma: L: W, 0.64: 0.46; pronotum subtriangular cross reticulate; notauli deep, straight and

complete; reticulation on either side of median stripe of mesoscutum larger than that of median stripe;

scutellum with reticulation similar to side part of median stripe of mesoscutum; propodeum smooth

and shiny, median carina and plicae absent, spiracle diameter 0.013, distance between spiracle and

posterior margin of metanotum 0.011. Relative measurements: Pronotum length 1.4x its width (0.20:

0.28); width of mesoscutum (including scapula) 3.1x its length (0.46: 0.15); median lobe of

mesoscutum wider than its length (0.25: 0.15); scutellum longer than mesoscutum (0.22: 0.15) with

its width slightly longer than its length (0.23: 0.22); propodeum 6x wider than its length (0.34: 0.06).

Fore wing 3.3x as long as wide (1.21: 0.37) with brown tuft of setae on Parastigma and STV; relative

L of CC, 0.39; SMV, 0.37; Parastigma, 0.05; MV, 0.44; PMV, 0.05; STV, 0.05; W of STV, 0.04; L of

brown infuscation of forewing 3.5x its width (0.7: 0.2); L of marginal fringe, 0.03. Hind wing 4.5x as

long as wide (0.99: 0.22). Relative L: W of hind leg: Femur, 0.38: 0.09; tibia, 0.44: 0.06, hind tibia

without marginal serration; L of Hind tibial spur, 0.06; L of hind metatarsus, 0.16; L of second hind

tarsal segment, 0.12.

Metasoma longer than mesosoma (0.99: 0.66); posterior margin of T1 slightly serrate; relative L of

gasteral tergites: T1, 0.17; T2, 0.12; T3, 0.13; T4, 0.11; T5, 0.15; T6, 0.17; L of epipygium, 0.27; L of

ovipositor sheath, 0.33.

Male: Unknown.

Material examined: Holotype Female: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abha, Raidah, June 2011,

Coll.Zubair Ahmad. (ZSIK)

Hosts: Unknown

Distribution: Saudi Arabia (Raidah)

Discussion: This new species resembles Acrias elegans Hedqvist in having forewing with smoky

infuscation but differs from it in having: 1) funicle black with basal half of F3 yellowish white; (in

A.elegans funicle black except basal halves of F3 and F4 pale); 2) smoky infuscation of forewing

projecting towards middle of MV (Fig.5); (in A. elegans smoky infuscation weak and not projecting

towards MV); 3) STV with brown setae (in A.elegans STV without brown setae); 4) legs except tarsi

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and spurs black (in A,elegans legs except coxa pale brownish yellow) and 5) scutellum longer than

mesoscutum (in A.elegans scutellum shorter than mesoscutum).

2. Acrias auriceps (Girault)

Australomphale auriceps Girault, 1922:207. Lectotype, Female, Australia (QMB).

Acrias auriceps (Girault): Bouček, 1988: 666.

Diagnosis (Based on Girault, 1922; Bouček, 1988).

Female: Body blue. Head, legs except coxae, hind femur and hind tibia at basal half golden; a wide

coppery median stripe on dorsum of mesonotum . Antenna black with basal half of F4 pale yellow; F1

0.5x larger than wide or pedicel; F4 quadrate; clava without apical spicule or spine or seta; scape

serrate on edge at apex; pronotum conical. Gaster distinctly compressed; ovipositor sheath one-third

length of gaster; with a compressed stylus over ovipositor sheath over two-thirds its length.

Host: Unknown.

Distribution: Australia

Discussion: Similar to Acrias coniceps Bouček (1988) but differs from A.coniceps in having, 1) head

more collapsing than that of A.coniceps; 2) hind tibia at basal half golden (in A.coniceps hind tibia

pale ocre colour with a dorsal dark strip ) and 3) scape serrate on edge at apex (scape not serrate in

A.coniceps)

3. Acrias coniceps Bouček

(Fig. 6)

Acrias coniceps Bouček, 1988: 664. Holotype Female, Australia (ANIC)

Diagnosis (Based on Bouček, 1988)

Female: Length 2.1- 2.8mm. Body dark metallic bluish violet with dorsum largely with coppery or

bronze refringence; pale ocre are a lozenge on upper frons, mouth margin slightly, scape, foreleg

except coxa, mid leg beyond middle of femur and hind leg beyond knee (but with a dorsal dark strip

on tibia). Basal half of F4, sometimes a spot on F3 and tip of clava pale yellow. Forewing slightly

brownish and with 3 small patches made of dark hairs on paratigma, STV and opposite to latter on

cubital vein. Head cone shaped (Fig. 6) with malar space 0.76x length of eye, 0.53x height of eye.

Host: Unknown.

Distribution: Australia

Discussion: A.coniceps comes near A.auriceps in body form but differs from it in having: 1) scape not

serrate at apex (in A. auriceps scape serrate at apex); 2) head less collapsing (in A.auriceps head well

collapsing) and 3) hind tibia pale ocre colour with a dorsal dark strip (in A.auriceps basal half of hind

tibia at basal half golden with a dark dorsal strip).

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4. Acrias cyanea (Hedqvist)

(Fig.7)

Oinia cyanea Hedqvist, 1978: 65- 66. Holotype Female, Brazil

Acrias cyanea (Hedqvist): Coote, 1994: 1045, by implication.

Diagnosis (Based on Hedqvist, 1978).

Female: Length 2.0mm. Body bluish black with violet refringence. Antenna dark brown except the

following: scape (except rugose part at apex), pedicel (except rugose part) yellow; ultimate segment

of clava dirty yellow. Legs metallic blue with tibiae and tarsi white except bases and apices of fore

and mid tibiae brownish. Head wider than mesosoma; malar space as long as breadh of eye; POL

much longer than OOL, the latter nearly touching the margin of eye; antennae inserted above level of

ventral margin of eyes; apex of scape and pedicel with special sculpture (Fig. 7) which consist of

transverse crests. Relative L: W of antennal segments: scape, 11:2; pedicel, 4.5:2; F1, 6:2; F2, 6:3; F3,

6:3; F4, 5:3; clava, 11:4; Mesosoma: Relative L of pronotum, 5; Mesoscutum, 15; Scutellum, 15;

dorsellum, 1; propodeum, 6. Propodeum with median carina. Forewing length: width, 54: 23, without

any dark infuscations or dark setae parastigma or STV; relative L of CC, 19; SMV, 14; Parastigma, 5;

MV, 15; PMV, 3; STV, 2. Gaster narrow and elongate.

Host: Unknown.

Distribution: Brazil

Discussion: This species comes near Acrias tuberosa De Santis, Urban & Graf in having pedicellus

and anterior part of scape with apical sculpture or serration or crest but differs from A.tuberosa in

having: 1) MV 5x as long as PMV (in A. tuberosa MV 3.3x as long as PMV); 2) anterior margin of

fore tibia without serration (in A. tuberosa anterior margin of fore tibia with serration; 3) CC 1.3x

longer than (specify how much times) MV (in A. tuberosa CC shorter than MV:0.66x as long as MV);

and clava with terminal spine 0.1x length of clava (in A. tuberosa clava with terminal spiculum 0.2x

length of clava)

5. Acrias elegans (Hedqvist)

(Fig. 8)

Durinia elegans Hedqvist, 1978:64. Holotype Female, Brazil (HC)

Acrias elegans (Hedqvist): Coote, 1994: 1045, by implication.

Diagnosis (Based on Hedqvist, 1978).

Female: Length: 2.0 to 2.2mm. Head, mesosoma (dorsally) metallic blue with bronze and green

refringence; antennae black except basal half of F4 & F3 white, scape yellowish brown.Gaster

ventrally and legs brownish yellow with tint of blue on cpxae and basally of gaster. Head with malar

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space as long as breadth of eye; antennae inserted at middle of face; relative L: W of antennal

segments, scape= 10:2; pedicel= 4:15; F1= 5:2; F2= 5:2; F3= 5:2; F4= 5:2; clava= 9:3. Mesosoma

somewhat flattened and reticulated; relative length of pronotum= 9; mesoscutum= 11; scutellum= 7;

dorsellum= 1; propodeum= 8. Propodeum without median carina, reticulate. Legs brownish yellow

with bluish refringence on coxae . Forewing (Fig.8) with slight infuscation at disc. Forewing 2.5x as

long as wide (60:24); relative length of CC= 22; SMV= 17; Parastigma= 6; MV= 18; PMV= 3; STV=

3. Metasoma petiolate, petiole transverse; gaster as long as head plus mesosoma ; ovipositor sheath

one-third length of gaster.

Host: Unknown.

Distribution: Brazil

Discussion: A. elegans resembles A.arabiensis in having forewing with smoky infuscation on

forewing and in general appearance but differes from A.arabiensis in having: 1) F4 black with basal

half pale (in A.arabiensis F4 completely black); 2) infuscation of fore wing weak and not projecting

towards MV (in A.arabiensis infuscation of fore wing strong (Fig. 5 ) and projecting towards MV); 3)

STV without brown setae (in A.arabiensis STV with brown setae) and 4) scutellum shorter than

mesoscutum (in A.arabiensis scutellum longer than mesoscutum).

6. Acrias fascia Bouček

(Fig. 9)

Acrias fascia Bouček, 1988: 666. Holotype Female, Papua New Guinea (BMNH) (Noyes, examined,

2012).

Diagnosis (Based on Bouček, 1988).

Female: Length 2.6- 3.4mm. Dark blue, mesosoma with bronze or cuprous refringence on dorsal side,

more violet on sides; head mainly pale ocre yellow, except dark areas at posterior ocelli; median part

of lower face, genae behind malar sulcus, and temples dark; scape yellowish, rest of antenna black.

Legs: coxae black; fore femur dusky yellow, ventral margin (to about one- third across width of

femur) pale brown; fore tibiae dusky yellow; mid femur dark brown, extreme apices dusky yellow;

mid tibia yellow with proximal one- third or so brown (darker towards base and along dorsal and

ventral margins). Hind femur dark brown, hind tibia yellow, dusky proximally and narrowly dark

brown along ventral and dorsal margins nearby to apex. Fore wing with parallel sided transverse band

(Fig. 9); scape exceeding vertex, occiput exposed dorsally; mesoscutum longer than scutellum;

propodeum with two pairs of setae; Fore wing 2.6x as long as wide; relative L of CC, 24; SMV, 22;

Parastigma, 3; MV, 45; PMV, 4; STV, 3.

Metasoma with epipygium tapering and 0.4x as long as gaster.

Host: Unknown.

Distribution: Papua New Guinea

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Discussion: This is a unique species with forewing having a black parallel sided transverse band with

which it differs from all other known species and antenna completely black except yellowish scape.

7. Acrias nileus Walker

Acrias nileus Walker, 1847: 29. Lectotype Female, USA (BMNH). Lectotype designated by Burks

(1975)

Diagnosis (Based on Walker, 1847).

Female: Length 1.9mm. (3/4 line). Body purpureous, partly cyaneoviridum; antenna black, with scape

apex pale; pedicel cyanthiformis; legs black except piceous trochanter, yellowish tarsi. Forewing with

a distinct longitudinal dark streak in basal half and peripheral dark spots in apical area. F1 to F4 sub

equal in length and width. Gaster narrow and elongate; T2 occupying only one- sixth length of gaster.

Host: Unknown.

Distribution: USA

Discussion: This species resembles A. fascia and A.stylata in having funicle dark without any paler

colour at posterior half or anywhere but differs from these two species in having fore wing with a

longitudinal dark streak in basal half and peripheral dark spots at apical area.

8. Acrias stylata Hedqvist

(Fig. 10)

Balinia stylata Hedqvist, 1978: 63- 64. Holotype Female, Brazil (HC).

Acrias stylata (Hedqvist): Coote, 1994: 1045, by implication.

Diagnosis (Based on Hedqvist, 1978). Female: Length 3.5- 4.0mm. General body colour bluish black

with green refringence on mesosoma dorsally and violet refringence laterally on mesosoma and on

hind femur. Face and vertex also with green refringence. Mid and hind tarsi white. Fore leg except

coxa pale brownish yellow. Head with malar space nearly as long as length of eye. Antennal formula

1152 (Fig. 10)with rugose reticulation on pedicel and beneath apex of scape; funicular segments

pedunculate, clava two segmented with a terminal spine. Mesosoma: Relative L of Pronotum, 15;

Mesoscutum, 18; scutellum, 13; dorsellum, 1.Propodeum maximum length, 11, minimum length at

middle, 2, with median carina. Fore wing 2.32x as long as its width, with relative length of CC, 63;

SMV, 7; Parastigma, 12; MV, 63; PMV, 2; STV, 6. Metasoma petiolate, petiole transverse;

metasoma, except ovipositor sheath, longer than head + mesosoma; ovipositor sheath longer than half

of gaster.

Host: Unknown

Distribution: Brazil

Discussion: A.stylata differs from all other species of Acrias in having the following combination of

characters: antennal formula 11152 with a strong apical spine which is as long as the remaining part

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of apical segment of clava, pedicel and apical ventral part of scape rugose reticulate and propodeum

with a median carina.

9. Acrias tauricornis Yang

Acrias tauricornis Yang 1996: 246- 247. Holotype Female, Rep. of China (NWCF)

Diagnosis (Based on Yang, 1996).

Female: Length 2.2- 2.9mm. Antenna with F2 and F4 yellowish white on basal half, apical half

brown; relative L: W of antennal segments: Radicula, 4:2; scape, 17:2; pedicel, 5:2; F1, 10:3; F2, 9:3;

F3, 7:3; F4, 6:3; clava, 10:4; claval spine or spicule at apex absent. Fore wing 2.5x as long as wide,

without any dark infuscation or band or spot; relative length of CC, 25; SMV, 24; Parastigma, 4; MV,

34; PMV, 6; STV, 5.

Host: Probably parasitic on larvae and pupae of bark beetles (Coleoptera).

Distribution: Peoples Republic of China.

Discussion: This species differs from all other species in having the following combination of

features: 1) scutellum with single pair of dorsal setae and 2) basal half of F2 and F4 yellowish white.

10. Acrias tuberosa (De Santis, Urban & Graf)

(Fig. 11)

Moureisca tuberosa De Santis, Urban & Graf, 1973: 43- 45. Holotype Female Brazil (UFPB)

Acrias tuberosa (De Santis, Urban & Graf): Coote, 1994: 1045.

Diagnosis (Based on De Santis et al., 1973).

Female: Length 2.8mm. Black with green reflections; propodeum and base of gaster with more

intense green refringence; face with coppery refringence; coxae and femora with purpureous

refringence; tibiae and tarsus yellow with pretarsus darkened. Relative L: W of antennal segments:

scape, 35:8; pedicel, 13:8; anellus, 4:1; F1, 18:7; F2, 18:9; F3, 17:9; F4, 15:10; clava (excluding

spiculum), 20:10; speculum,4. Fore wing 2.2x (114:53) as long as wide, without any infuscations;

relative L of CC, 27, SMV, 22, Parastigma, 13; MV, 41; PMV, 12.5, STV, 4; with two longer hairs

below the wings behind MV, 3 rows of radiating hairs from STV (two rows anteriorwards and one

towards posteriorwards). Propodeum shorter than half length of scutellum, weakly reticulate and

bright; plicae absent, with double carinae (at middle) which bifurcates before reaching apex. Fore tibia

with a row of teeth like serrations (Fig. 4). Gaster sessile, longer than head plus mesosoma.

Host: Pupae of Onicideres saga (Dalman) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

Distribution: Brazil

Discussion: This species differs from all other known species of Acrias in having: 1) fore tibia with a

row of teeth on dorsal margin (Fig.11); 2) propodeum with median double carinae bifurcating

posteriorly before reaching apex and scape and pedicel with dorsal teeth like projections or serrations.

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11. Acrias varicornis (Girault)

Australomphale varicornis Girault, 1922: 207. Holotype Female, Australia (QMB).

Acrias varicornis (Girault): Bouček, 1988: 666.

Diagnosis (Based on Girault, 1922; Bouček, 1988).

Female: Blue, wings clear, scape except slightly at apex, basal half of F2, F3, F4 white; coxae, hind

femur, ventral and dorsal parts of fore and mid femora, apices of fore and mid tibiae, above and below

of each side of middle and near base above dusky; hind tibiae except apex white. STV and Parastigma

black with cluster of short black setae. Head lacks conical shape; pedicel 1.2x as long as F2; F1 1.43x

as long as F2, nearly 3x as long as wide; mesoscutum without a median stripe. Fore wing without any

infuscation or dark bands or spots.

Host: Unknown.

Distribution: Australia

Discussion: A.varicornis closely resembles A.coniceps in general appearance including fore wing but

differs from A.coniceps in having: 1) head not cone shaped (in A.coniceps head cone shaped); 2)

pedicel 1.2x as long as F2 (in A.coniceps pedicel 2.25x as long as F2); 3) F2 to F4 with basal half

white (in A.coniceps only F4 with basal half pale yellow).

Arabiola Narendran, gen. nov.

(Reg. No.: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:14628DF1-A45C-4EDD-BA29-D30CF8C0F861)

Type species Arabiola bouceki Narendran, sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Frons with dense silvery sensillae; each torulus with a broad groove directed towards

clypeus; flagellar segments broader than long; forewing with two brown spots; mesosoma with cross

reticulation; STV knobbed.Body with metallic refringence.

Description

Female: Head not collapsed, densely reticulate, width in anterior view 1.14x its height (0.4: 0.35);

head width in dorsal view 4.44x (0.4: 0.09); head with frontal hairs modified into large silvery

sensillae (Figs.14,15,16) ). POL, 0.17; OOL, 0.01; AOL, 0.08. Eye bare, its height 1.73x its length

(0.26: 0.15), MS 0.31x eye height (0.08: 0.26), 0.53x eye length (0.08: 0.15). Clypeus not demarcated,

its anterior margin a little concave medially (more or less arculate medially), a deep broad groove

starting from each torulus and running towards clypeal region on either side. Antenna inserted a little

above level of ventral margin of eyes, not compressed from sides; flagellum plus pedicellus combined

shorter than width of head in dorsal view (0.32: 0.4). Relative L: W of antennal segments: scape, 0.1:

12

0.03; pedicel, 0.06: 0.05; anellus, 0.005: 0.02; F1, 0.03:0.05; F2, 0.04: 0.06; F3, 0.04: 0.06; F4, 0.04:

0.06; clava, 0.12: 0.07

Mesosoma1.5x as long as wide; pronotum including collar and collum 3.7x as wide as its length

(0.26: 0.07); collar with weak anterior edge; cross reticulate, with 10- 12 weak short hairs near

posterior margin; mesoscutum cross reticulate, pubescence indistinct (probably worn out), its width

slightly more than its length (0.23: 0.21), scutellum 0.75x its length (0.15: 0.2) with two pairs of setae,

each seta 0.44x as long as length of scutellum, anterior pair in the anterior half of scutellum and

posterior pair on sides of posterior margin of scutellum, scutellum reticulation weaker than that of

mesoscutum; scutellum slightly shorter than mesoscutum (0.2: 0.21). Propodeum smooth with very

faint aciculations, its width 15x its length (0.3: 0.02), without median carina or plicae; spiracle

rounded, separated from posterior margin of metanotum by its own diameter; callus with 1- 3 weak

setae. Forewing 2.16x as long as wide, with two round brown spots (Fig.12), a line of short setae

radiating to anterior side from STV; a row of 5 hairs behind MV beneath the forewing; relative length

of CC, 0.23, SMV, 0.15, Parastigma, 0.05; MV, 0.18; PMV, 0.12; STV, 0.1. Relative L: W of hind

leg: coxa, 0.21: 0.09; femur, 0.22: 0.07; tibia, 0.24: 0.06; L of tarsal segment 1, 0.1; 2, 0.05; 3, 0.04,

4, 0.06.

Metasoma: Gaster sessile, longer than mesosoma (0.63: 0.5); T1 with a demarcated subtriangular

smooth area at base (Fig.13) with its width 3x its length (0.18: 0.06); relative L: W of gastral tergites:

T1, 0.15:0.29; T2, 0.06: 0.3; T3, 0.08: 0.3: T4, 0.07: 0.3; T5, 0.07: 0.3; T6, 0.06: 0.12; T7, 0.05: 0.07;

T8, 0.03: 0.05; ovipositor sheath visible from dorsal side L, 0.03.

Host: Unknown

Distribution: Saudi Arabia

Etymology: The genus name is after the country of origin of the taxon, Saudi Arabia, Feminine

gender.

Discussion: In the key to genera by Bouček (1988) it comes to couplet No. 75 but does not proceed

smoothly. When it is run through the first clause of couplet 75 it comes to Euderus Haliday with

difficulty but differs from Euderus in having: 1) frons with silvery setae modified into sensillae (in

Euderus no such sensillae present on frons); 2) forewing with two brown spots ( fore wing without

spots or in dark patches in Euderus); 3) mesosoma with characteristic cross reticulation (in Euderus

mesosoma with dense regular punctuation or pattern of reticulation different from alternate; 4)

forewing with STV knobbed ( forewing with STV not quite knobbed in Euderus); 5) each torulus with

a broad groove directed to clypeal region (no such groove present in Euderus); 6) antennal flagellar

segments all broader than long (not all flagellar segments broader than long in Euderus)

It resembles Acrias Walker in having 1) grooves below antennal toruli, 2) STV knobbed, 3) fore

wing with brown patches in some species of Acrias and 4) in general body colouration. However

Arabiola differs from Acrias in having: 1) frons with dense silvery elongated sensillae (in Acrias no

13

such sensillae present on frons); 2) female epipygium short (Figs. 12,13, ) (in Acrias epipygium of

female long and vertically foliaceous); 3) body not flattened (in Acrias body flattened and 4) antenna

very different in structure being short and stumpy (in Acrias antenna longer and filiform).

This new genus resembles Astichus Forester in having forewing with brown markings and in

metallic colour of body but differs from Astichus in several features such as 1) frons with silvery setae

(no such setae in Astichus); 2) antennal flagella short and stumpy (in Astichus antenna with at least

some flagellar segments elongated); 3) STV knobbed (in Astichus STV not knobbed) and 4) occiput

not margined (occiput margined in Astichus).

This new genus does not come near any other genera of Entiinae listed by Noyes (2012).

Arabiola bouceki Narendran, sp. nov.

(Figs12-16)

(Reg. No.: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BADDFA62-4D95-4345-B144-F6199D3CD6C3)

Female (Holotype): Length 1.26 mm. Body dark metallic green with coppery refringence from T4 to

apex of gaster; scape with violet refringence; pedicel violet; remaining antennal segments dark violet

with greenish tinge; sensillae on face and antenna silvery; eyes silvery, ocelli pale yellow; mandibles

pale brownish with apex black; legs concolorous with mesosoma except apices of tibiae and tarsal

segments pale white, pre tarsi dark brown. Forewing with two brown spots on disc (Fig.12).

For detailed description see description under the genus.

Male: Unknown.

Material examined: Holotype Female: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abha, Raidah, June 2011,

Coll.Zubair Ahmad. (ZSIK)

Host: Unknown.

Distribution: Saudi Arabia

Etymology: The species name is in honour of my mentor the Taxonomy legend Dr.Z.Bouček.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TCN is grateful to Dr. John S. Noyes (London) for kindly examining the type of A. fascia present at

BMNH and supplying the necessary requested information. He is grateful to Dr. John La Salle and Dr.

Nikol Fisher (CSIRO, Canberra) and Dr. Chister Hannson (Sweden) for providing PDF of requested

literature. He is also grateful to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for a

grant under AICOPTAX. He thanks the Director, Dr. K.Venkatraman, and Additional Director,

C.Radhakrishnan, of Zoological Survey of India, for facilities for the AICOPTAX project. Zubair

Ahmad is grateful to King Khalid University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for facilities. We thank

Dr.K.Sudheer (Calicut) and Dr.M.Sheeba (Manjery) for pointing out many errors we have

14

overlooked. I am grateful to the unknown referee who reviewed this paper for his worthy suggestions

and corrections.

REFERENCES

Boucek, Z. (1988), Australasian Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). Abiosystematic revision of genera of

fourteen families, with a reclassification of secies. pp.832pp. CAB International,

Wallingford, Oxon, U.K., Cambrian News Ltd; Aberystwyth, Wales.

Burks, B.D. (1975) The species of Chalcidoidea described from North America north of Mexico by

Francis Walker (Hymenoptera). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History)

(Entomology) 32(4):139-170

Coote, L.D. (1994), Review of Nearctic genera of Euderinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), with

descriptions of two new species of Allocerastichus Masi, and redescription of Carlyleia

marilandica Girault. Canadian Journal of Zoology 72(6) pp. 1044-1054

De Santis, L.; Urban, D.; Graf, U.( 1973), New genus and new species of Euderinae from Brazil

(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Atas da Sociedade de Biologia, Rio de Janeiro 16(2-3):44-45

Erdös, J. (1956), Additamenta ad cognitionem faunae Chalcidoidarum in Hungaria et regionibus

finitmis. VI. 19. Eulophidae. Folia Entomologica Hungarica (series nova) 9:2)?

Girault, A.A. (1922), New chalcid flies from Australia. Entomologist 55:205-208.

Graham, M.W.R. de V. (1959), Keys to the British genera and species of Elachertinae, Eulophinae,

Entedontinae and Euderinae (Hym., Chalcidoidea). Transactions of the Society for British

Entomology. 13(10) pp. 169-204

Hansson, C.; Straka, J. (2009), The name Euderinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a junior homonym.

Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 111(1) pp. 272-273

Hedqvist, K.J. (1978), Four new genera and species of the subfamily Euderinae from Brazil

(Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Entomologica Scandinavica 9(1):63-66

Lacordaire,T.(1866).Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Genera des Coleopteres ou expose methodique et

critique de tous les generes proposes jusqu ici dans cet ordre d’Insectes. Tom VII:contenant

les famille des curculionides (suite),scolytides, brenthedes, anthribedes et bruchides. Roret,

Paris. 620pp.

Noyes, J.S. (2012). Universal Chalcidoidea Database. World Wide Web electronic publication.

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/chalcidoids (accessed on10.xi.2012)

Walker, F.( 1847), Characters of undescribed Chalcidites collected in North America by E. Doubleday

Esq., and now in the British Museum. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 20:19-29.

Yang, Z.Q. (1996), Parasitic wasps on bark beetles in China (Hymenoptera) pp.246-248,329 Science

Press, Beijing

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16

EXPLANATION OF FIGURES

Figs.1-5. Acrias arabiensis Narendran & Zubair, sp. nov., Female. 1. Body profile; 2. Head profile; 3.

Body dorsal view; 4. Propodeum; 5. Forewing.

Figs.6-11. Acrias species: 6. A. coniceps Bouček, Head anterior view; 7. A. cyanea (Hedqvist),

Female, Apex of scape, pedicel and anelli; 8. A. elegans (Hedqvist), Forewing; 9. A. fascia Bouček,

Forewing; 10. A. stylata (Hedqvist), Female Antenna; 11. A. tuberosa De Santis, Urban & Graf, Hind

tibia.

[Figures 6-8, 10 are modified from Hedqvist (1978); Fig. 9 from Bouček (1988) and Fig.11 from De

Santis et al/ (1973)].

Figs.12-16. Arabiola bouceki Narendran, gen. et sp. nov., Female. 12. Body profile; 13. Body dorsal

view; 14. Head and antenna, dorsolateral view; 15. Head and antenna dorsal view; 16. Head ventral

part in anterior view.