Stauropoctonus inaequalis Pham & Matsumoto & Cao & Shimizu 2022, new species

Stauropoctonus inaequalis new species (Figures 1B, 2C, 2D, 4, 5B) Material examined. Holotype: female (IEBR), VIETNAM, Lao Cai Province, Sapa, 1600 m, 27 May 1997, R. Matsumoto coll.; Paratypes: 1 female (IEBR), VIETNAM, Lao Cai Province, Bat Xat Nature Reserve, 22°37’37”N 103°37’32”E, 1,840 m, 29 May 2022, light trap, T. N. Pham & T. H. Dang coll.; 2 females (IEBR), VIETNAM, Lai Chau Province, Sin Ho, Sa De Phin, 22°18’18”N 103°13’37”E, 1,760 m, 31 May 2022, light trap, T. N. Pham & T. H. Dang coll.; 1 female (IEBR), Lai Chau Province, Sin Ho, Ta Ngao, 22°16’19”N 103°14’54”E, 1,520 m, 1 June 2022, light trap, T. N. Pham & T. H. Dang coll. Diagnosis. Reddish yellow with black/brown markings on mesoscutum and posterior tergite; occipital carina entirely absent; mesosternum with posterior transverse carina complete but weak medially; fore wing vein 1cu-a opposite M&RS. Description of holotype. Head with FI = 0.67, GOI = 3.4, ECI = 0.7. Antenna with 72 flagellomeres, first flagellomere 4.3× longer than wide, 1.8× length of second, 20 th flagellomere 1.8× as long as wide; lower face 0.65× as wide as high, mat, with small punctures, pubescent; clypeus 1.6× as wide as high, separated from face by weak impression; malar space short, about 0.3× mandibular basal width (Fig. 4D); occipital carina completely absent. Mesosoma. Pronotum subpolished, densely finely punctate, except ventral wrinkled area, epomia absent; mesoscutum about 1.5× as long as its maximum width, mat, with dense setae; scutellum strongly convex, with coarse punctures, dense setae, with lateral carina present basally, with strong winkles posteriorly (Fig. 4B); epicnemial carina weakly present on ventral half, upper end turning towards anterior margin; mesopleuron subpolished, with fine punctures (Fig. 4A); mesosternum with posterior transverse carina complete but weak medially (Fig. 5B); metapleuron densely punctate (Fig. 4A); propodeum with anterior area striated, spiracular area coriaceous, pubescent (Fig. 4C). Wings (Figs 2C, 2D). Fore wing length ca. 19.0 mm with AI = 0.67, CI = 0.84, DI= 0.55, ICI = 1.1, SDI = 0.94, SI = 0.26, SRI = 0.42, vein 1m-cu&M sinuate, vein 1cu-a opposite M&RS, postero-distal corner of second discal cell ca. 90°, postero-distal corner of subbasal cell ca. 40°. Hind wing with NI = 1.2, BCI = 0.61, left hind wing vein RA with 10 hamuli, right one with 11 hamuli. Legs. Hind coxa about 2.4× as long as its maximum width, hind femur 0.7× as long as hind tibia, hind basitarsus 2.2× as long as second tarsomere, hind fourth tarsomere 3.2× as long as wide. Metasoma with PI = 3, DMI = 1.2, LMI = 4.3, THI = 2.8; T1 with straight petiole; T2 with elongate thyridium. Colour. Reddish yellow with black markings on interocellar area and median part of T3 dorsally; mesoscutum with three brown stripes, T5 onwards brown; wing veins reddish brown to black, pterostigma reddish. Variations. Female paratypes have antenna with 72–74 flagellomeres, first flagellomere 4.0–4.5× longer than wide, 20 th flagellomere 1.8–1.9× as long as wide; lower face 0.63–0.67× as wide as high; the fore wing length from 18.8–19.5 mm with AI = 0.7–0.8, DI= 0.53–0.55, ICI = 1.1–1.2, SDI = 0.94–0.96, SI = 0.24–0.26, SRI = 0.40–0.45; hind wing with NI = 1.1–1.3, hind wing vein RA with 9–11. The female paratype from Bat Xat Nature Reserve has three black stripes on mesoscutum and its mesosternum with black markings. Male. Unknown. Comparative notes. In Shimizu & Lima (2017), the new species keys to Stauropoctonus torresi Gauld, 1977. It differs from the latter in its entirely reddish antenna, and the punctate metapleuron. In addition, the new species has the posterior transverse carina of mesosternum complete but weak medially. Etymology. Named derived from the posterior transverse carina of its mesosternum unevenly strong. Distribution. Currently known only from montane evergreen forest at elevation from 1520–1840 m of Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces, Northwest Vietnam. The new species can be inserted in the key to the world species of Stauropoctonus by Shimizu & Lima (2017) as follows: 3. Posterior transverse carina of mesosternum complete (except weak medially in case of S. inaequalis). Laterotergite of T2 folded beneath tergites. Australasian, Oriental, and Palaearctic....................................................... 4 - Posterior transverse carina of mesosternum incomplete. Laterotergite of T2 pendant. Neotropical...................... 7 6. Postero-distal corner of subbasal cell of fore wing 50– 800. Fore wing CI = 0.5–0.7. Australasian, Oriental and Palaearctic......................................................................... S. bombycivorus (Gravenhorst, 1829) - Postero-distal corner of subbasal cell of fore wing 40– 450. Fore wing CI = 0.8–1.1.................................6’ 6’ Posterior transverse carina of mesosternum complete and entirely strong. Antenna blackish, distally slightly orange. Metapleuron coarsely wrinkled to reticulate. Australasian and Oriental.................................. S. torresi Gauld, 1977 - Posterior transverse carina of mesosternum complete but weak medially. Antenna entirely reddish. Metapleuron punctate. Oriental (Vietnam)....................................................................... S. inaequalis sp. nov.