Stethantyx loretosa Khalaim & Sääksjärvi, 2013

Khalaim, Andrey I., Sääksjärvi, Ilari E. & Bordera, Santiago, 2013, Tersilochinae of Western Amazonia (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Genus Stethantyx Townes, part 1, Zootaxa 3741 (3), pp. 301-326 : 311-313

Stethantyx loretosa Khalaim & Sääksjärvi , sp. nov.

( Figs 21–24 , 55 )

Comparison. This species is similar to S. amazonica sp. nov. and S. niger Khalaim & Broad in having an almost entirely black head and mesosoma, but differs from these species by very long and narrow basal area of propodeum, darker propleuron and pronotum, shorter ovipositor and smaller size; it also differs from S. amazonica in having black flagellum without distinct pale band, and from S. niger in having longer malar space, lack of notaulus and longer second tergite.

Description. Female. Body length 4.35 mm. Fore wing length 2.9 mm.

Head very strongly rounded behind eyes in dorsal view; temple 0.44× as long as eye width. Mandible slender, upper tooth much longer than lower tooth. Clypeus lenticular, flat or very weakly convex in lateral view, smooth, finely punctate in upper 0.3. Malar space 0.4–0.5× as long as basal width of mandible. Antennal flagellum narrowed towards apex, with 25–27 flagellomeres (26 flagellomeres in holotype); all flagellomeres, except basal and apical ones, slightly elongate to square. Face, frons, vertex and temple granulate, dull, with fine and dense punctures on face, frons and vertex (punctures often indistinct).

Notaulus absent or as short wrinkle or tubercle. Mesoscutum finely granulate, finely and densely punctate. Scutellum granulate, punctate, with lateral longitudinal carinae reaching from its base to posterior 0.5–0.7. Foveate groove situated in anterior 0.7 of mesopleuron, deep and broad, upcurved anteriorly, with strong transverse wrinkles. Mesopleuron more or less smooth centrally, usually finely punctate, finely granulate peripherally. Propodeum granulate, dorsolateral area granulate and finely punctate (punctures sometimes indistinct). All carinae strong, slightly raised, with very short adjacent wrinkles. Basal area of propodeum long and narrow, widened anteriorly, about 3.0× as long as broad and about 0.6× as long as apical area. Propodeal spiracle separated from pleural carina by 0.5–1.5× diameter of spiracle. Apical area flat, pointed or roundly pointed anteriorly; apical longitudinal carinae complete.

Fore wing with first and second sections of radius angled about 115–120°. Intercubitus somewhat longer than abscissa of cubitus between intercubitus and second recurrent vein. Metacarpus reaching apex of fore wing. Hind wing with nervellus slightly reclivous.

Legs slender. Hind femur 4.8× as long as broad, and 0.9× as long as tibia. Hind spurs almost straight.

First tergite slender, 4.3× as long as posteriorly broad, smooth, petiole strongly striate laterally before glymma. Glymma situated somewhat behind middle of tergite, joining by very fine groove to ventral part of postpetiole. Second tergite 2.0–2.2× as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression long, more than 3.0× as long as broad. Ovipositor upcurved, with shallow dorsal subapical depression; sheath 0.9× as long as first tergite and 0.82× as long as hind tibia.

Head and mesosoma black; clypeus yellow to brownish yellow with brownish upper margin; palpi and mandible (teeth black) yellow. Antenna entirely brown; scape, pedicel and base of flagellum ventrally sometimes yellowish. Propleuron and anterior margin of pronotum yellowish brown or reddish brown. Tegula dark brown. Pterostigma brown. Legs yellow to brownish yellow; hind leg with femur brownish, tibia and sometimes also tarsus infuscate. First metasomal tergite brownish black to black, remaining tergites predominantly yellow to brownish yellow, anterior parts of tergites 2 and 3 dorsally dark brown or black (sometimes metasoma extensively brown or dark brown dorsally).

Male. Flagellum with 27–29 segments. Malar space shorter. Metasoma behind first tergite dorsally extensively brown or dark brown. Otherwise similar to female.

Variation. Colour pattern of mesosoma varies from dark reddish brown to black. Some specimens from Allpahuayo and Mishana have flagellum with weak and inconspicuous pale band, or without pale band.

Etymology. Named after the type locality, Loreto region in Peru.

Material examined. Holotype female (UNSM), Peru, Loreto reg., Iquitos Area, Mishana, clayish soil, 1– 16.XI.1998, coll. I.E. Sääksjärvi et al.

Paratypes. Peru, Loreto: 1 ♀ (UNSM) Iquitos Area, Allpahuayo, clayish soil, 11–29.VI.2000, coll. I.E. Sääksjärvi et al. Iquitos Area, Mishana, clayish soil, coll. I.E. Sääksjärvi et al.: 1 ♂ (UNSM) 16.IX–1. X.1998, 5 ♂ (4 ♂ UNSM, 1 ♂ ZISP) 1–16. X.1998, 1 ♂ (CEUA) 16.X–1. XI.1998, 3 ♂ (2 ♂ UNSM, 1 ♂ ZISP) 16.XI– 1. XII.1998, 1 ♂ (BMNH) 1–16. XII.1998, 1 ♀ & 13 ♂ (13 ♂ ZMUT, 1 ♀ ZISP) 16.XII.1998 – 1.I.1999. Ecuador, Orellana : 1 ♀ (USNM) Onkone Gare, 0º39′25.7′′ S, 76º27′10.8′′ W, 216.3 m, canopy fogging, 8.X.1995, coll. T.L. Erwin et al.

Distribution. Peru (Loreto), Ecuador ( Orellana ).

Figures

FIGURES 21 – 24. Stethantyx loretosa sp. nov., ♀, holotype: 21 — head with antennae, anterolateral; 22 — propodeum, dorsolateral; 23 — second metasomal segment, dorsal; 24 — apex of metasoma with ovipositor, lateral.

FIGURES 52 – 55. Stethantyx spp., ♀, holotypes, habitus: 52 — S. amazonica sp. nov.; 53 — S. aurantia sp. nov.; 54 — S. juninensis sp. nov.; 55 — S. loretosa sp. nov. Scales 1.0 mm.