Kerevata kethai Ranjith, Quicke & Priyadarsanan, sp. nov.

(Figs 3–4)

Material examined. Holotype, female, INDIA: Karnataka, Chamarajanagar, Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, Parasakatte, 12°01.414 N, 77°06.551 E, 795 m a.s.l., 30.ix–14.x.2005, coll. Priyadarsanan, D. R. (AIMB).

Description. Holotype female. Length of body 7.63 mm, fore wing 6.75 mm, ovipositor 2.4 mm.

Head. Antenna with 48 flagellomeres. First flagellomere 1.6 × longer than 2 nd and 3 rd. Width of head: width of face: height of eye = 2.8: 1: 1.6. Shortest distance between posterior ocelli: transverse diameter of posterior ocellus: shortest distance between posterior ocellus and eye = 1: 2.2: 1.5. Face 1.1 × as wide as long medially, smooth, setose (Fig. 3B), slightly convex in lateral view (Fig. 3D). Clypeus smooth with sparse setosity laterally (Fig. 3B). Inner margin of eyes emarginated (Fig. 3B). Transverse diameter of eye 2.7 × as long as temple in dorsal view (Fig. 3C). Frons with shallow medial longitudinal groove and radiating striae (Fig. 3C). Vertex and temple shiny, punctate setose (Fig. 3C). Occipital carina present, not pointed medially (Figs 3C, D).

Mesosoma. Mesosoma 1.9 × longer than high. Mesoscutum punctate, setose, rugose medio-posteriorly, carinate marginally, with crenulated groove laterally (Fig. 3F). Notauli complete, crenulate, joined posteriorly (Fig. 3F). Scutellar sulcus with midlongitudinal carina (Fig. 3F). Scutellum smooth, sparsely setose with distinct lateral carina and a pair of antero-lateral carinae (Fig. 3F). Mesopleuron smooth except anterior part irregularly rugose and sparsely setose with widely crenulated precoxal sulcus (Fig. 3E). Epicnemial carina present (Fig. 3F). Metapleuron rugose, sparsely setose (Figs 3F, 4B). Propodeum with midlongitudinal carina anterior half bordered by largely smooth area, with distinct sublateral longitudinal carina, rest rugose (Fig. 4A).

Wings. Fore wing (Figs 4C, D). Lengths of fore wing veins r-rs: 3RSa: 3RSb = 1: 2: 3.8. Lengths of veins 2RS: 3RSa: rs-m = 1.2: 2.8: 1. Length of 1CUb 1.5 × 1CUa. Hind wing vein M+CU 2.0 × 1Ma+1Mb (Fig. 4C).

Legs. Lengths of fore femur: fore tibia: fore tarsus = 1: 1: 1.2. Lengths of hind femur: hind tibia: hind tarsus = 1: 1.5: 1.6. Hind femur 7.5 × longer than maximum width. Claws without basal lobe.

Metasoma. Length of first tergite 2.2 × longer than its apical width. Second tergite 1.3 × as long as third tergite. Second and third tergites 1.2, 0.9 × as long as its apical width respectively. First tergite longitudinally rugose-striate with midlongitudinal carina, sparsely setose (Fig. 4E). Second tergite longitudinally rugose-striate, with indistinct midlongitudinal carina, sparsely setose (Fig. 4F). Third tergite longitudinally rugose-striate, sparsely setose (Fig. 4F). Remaining tergites largely unsclerotised. Ovipositor sheath sparsely setose. Ovipositor sheath approximately 1.3 × as long as hind femur (Fig. 3A).

Colour. Body black except flagellomeres, face, maxillary and labial palps, frons, vertex laterally, temple, lateral pronotum 2/3 rd, mesopleuron medially and anteriorly, metapleuron anteriorly, notaular line, scutellum posterior half, fore leg, mid leg, hind leg except posterior 2/3 rd hind femur, sternites yellow.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Karnataka, India.

Host. Unknown.

Ecology. The specimen was collected by malaise trap from dry deciduous forest dominated by Terminalia trees.

Etymology. We dedicate this species to late Ketha Gowda, a brilliant, dedicated and diligent collection assistant who worked with DRP in BR Hills.

Comparative diagnosis. This new species is similar to K. longi based on the characters mentioned in the key. It differs from K. longi in having the following characters (besides features mentioned after K. longi description); first flagellomere 1.6 × longer than 2 nd and 3 rd (1.3 × in K. longi), frons without a pair of carinae laterally (a pair of lateral carinae distinct in K. longi), precoxal sulcus of mesopleuron slightly curved (straight in K. longi), second metasomal tergite 1.2 × as long as its apical width (1.5–1.6 × in K. longi).