Aneuclis aenigmatica Khalaim et Ruíz-Cancino, 2019

Khalaim, A. I., Ruíz-Cancino, E. & Coronado-Blanco, J. M., 2019, Aneuclis aenigmatica, a new remarkable species from Southwestern Mexico (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae), Russian Entomological Journal 28 (1), pp. 66-68 : 67-68

Aneuclis aenigmatica Khalaim et Ruíz-Cancino , sp.n.

Figs 1–4 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Holotype: ♂, Mexico, [State of] Jalisco, W of Guadalajara, Zapopan,ca. Hotel Intercity [20°41´48´´N, 103°27´13´´W], Yerbas [herbs], 1650 m, 22 September 2011, coll. J.M. Coronado-Blanco & E. Ruíz-Cancino (UAT).

DESCRIPTION. Male. Body length 3.25 mm. Fore wing length 2.65 mm.

Head roundly tapered behind eyes in dorsal view; gena almost 0.8 times as long as eye width ( Fig. 1 ). Eyes with short sparse setae. Clypeus ( Fig. 2 ) lenticular, 3.0 times as broad as long, more or less flat centrally, slightly convex laterally and in upper part, smooth and shining in lower 0.8, scabrous in upper 0.2, with distinct punctures in upper 0.3, separated from face by distinct groove. Mandible very weakly tapered, with upper tooth slightly longer and slightly broader than the lower. Malar space as long as basal mandibular width. Maxillary palp with 4 palpomeres, labial palp with 3 palpomeres. Antennae missing. Face with very weak median convexity. Face distinctly granulate, dull, impunctate; granulation on median convexity is shallower. Frons almost smooth, with very small scattered punctures. Vertex polished, with rare and very fine punctures. Gena smooth, very shallowly granulate near occipital carina and in lower part, with very fine and sparse punctures. Occipital carina absent dorsally, present ventrally and laterally. Hypostomal carina absent.

Mesosoma distinctly granulate, dull, without distinct punctures; granulation in centre of lateral and median lobes of mesoscutum shallow. Notaulus distinctly impressed and with strong longitudinal wrinkle on anterolateral side of mesoscutum ( Figs 3, 4 ). Scutellum weakly convex in lateral view, with lateral longitudinal carinae developed only at its extreme base. Epicnemial carina well developed, with upper end bent forwards and reaching front margin of mesopleuron at level of lower 0.3 of pronotum ( Fig. 3 ). Foveate groove very broad, shallow, extending in anterior 0.8 of mesopleuron, weakly upcurved anteriorly, entirely covered by irregular wrinkles ( Fig. 3 ). Propodeum with distinct basal keel which is about 0.4 times as long as apical area. Propodeal spiracle small, separated from pleural carina by almost 3.0 times diameter of spiracle. Transverse carina strong, with short adjacent wrinkles. Apical area narrowly rounded anteriorly, with fine irregular wrinkle; apical longitudinal carinae complete, reaching transverse carina anteriorly.

Fore wing ( Fig. 4 ) with second recurrent vein (2m-cu) postfurcal, absent in anterior half and vestigial in posterior half. Intercubitus (2rs-m) thick, longer than abscissa of cubitus between intercubitus and second recurrent vein (abscissa of M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu). First abscissa of radius (Rs+2r) thick, slightly arcuate, somewhat longer than width of pterostigma. First and second abscissae of radius (Rs+2r and Rs) meeting at right angle. Second abscissa of radius (Rs) somewhat sinuous. Metacarpus ( R 1) very short, slightly projecting beyond distal corner of radial cell ( Fig. 4 ). Second abscissa of postnervulus completely absent, thus brachial cell is open posteriorly. Hind wing with nervellus (cu1&cu-a) reclivous, slanted about 55° from horizontal. Legs slender; hind femur 4.0× as long as broad. Tarsal claws long, not pectinate, weakly curved at apex.

First metasomal tergite 3.8 times as long as posteriorly broad, slightly depressed, dorsally smooth, petiole laterally and ventrally striate; spiracles situated on lateral swellings in apical 0.6 of tergite; glymma absent. Second tergite almost 1.9 times as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression shallow, elongated. Metasoma behind first tergite strongly compressed.

Head (including clypeus) and mesosoma black; mouthparts brown to dark brown; mandible brownish yellow, darkened at base and with teeth dark red. Wings infumate with brown; tegula, pterostigma and veins brown. Fore and mid legs predominantly yellow-brown; coxae dark reddish brown; femora basally, tibiae apically and tarsi entirely darkened with brown. Hind leg with coxa brownish black; trochanters and femur dark brown (femur apically paler); tibia brownish basally to brownish black apically; and tarsus entirely blackish. Metasoma dark brown to brownish black.

Female. Unknown.

COMPARISON. The new species is immediately distinguished from other North American species of the genus by the occipital carina completely absent dorsally ( Fig. 1 ), entirely black clypeus ( Fig. 2 ) and fore wing with very short metacarpus ( Fig. 4 ). The species is also characterized by the head polished dorsally ( Fig. 1 ), notaulus with a strong wrinkle ( Fig. 4 ), wings infumate with brown and with vein 2m-cu almost completely obliterated ( Fig. 4 ). Unfortunately, A. aenigmatica sp.n. is represented by a single male lacking antennae, but its spectacular features will undoubtedly make possible recognition of its female.

ETYMOLOGY. The species is named from the Latin aenigmaticus (enigmatic).

DISTRIBUTION. Southwestern Mexico (Jalisco).

Acknowledgements. This work was supported by the PRODEP project “Taxonomical and biological studies of pests and natural enemies in Mexico ”. The work of the senior author was performed in the framework of the Russian State Research Project No. 01201351189 and supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No. 19-04- 00027).

Figures

Figs 1–4. Aneuclis aenigmatica sp. n., male, holotype: 1 — head and mesoscutum, dorsal view; 2 — head, front view; 3 — head, mesosoma and base of metasoma, lateral view; 4 — wings. Рис. 1–4. Aneuclis aenigmatica sp. n., самец, голотип: 1 — голова и меЗоскутум, сверху; 2 — голова, спереди; 3 — голова, меЗосома и основание метасомы, сбоку; 4 — крыльЯ.