Microchelonus exceptus, Papp, Jenő, 2016

Papp, Jenő, 2016, First Survey Of The Neotropical Species Of Microchelonus Szépligeti With Descriptions Of Twenty-Five New Species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Cheloninae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 62 (3), pp. 217-344 : 253-255

Microchelonus exceptus sp. n.

(Figs 182–191)

Materialexamined – Femaleholotype: CostaRica, SanJosé, Escazu, 28–31 May 1988, leg. F. D. Parker. – Holotype is in good condition: (1) glued direct to the pin by right gena andrightpropleuron; (2) rightforecoxa + femurlessvisibleowingtothemounting. Holotype is deposited in HNHM, Hym. Typ. No. 12234 .

Etymology – Thenewspeciesreceivedthename “exceptus” indicatingitsexceptional similarity to M. candidus sp. n.

Figs 182–197. 182–191. Microchelonus exceptus sp. n. (f, holotype): 182 = ultimate four flagellomeres, 183 = headindorsalviewwithindicationofitssculpture, 184 = headinlateral viewwithindicationofitssculpture, 185 = clypeus, 186 = propodealcarinaindorsalview, 187 = propodeum, 188 = hindfemur, 189 = distalpartofrightforewing, 190 = carapacein dorsalviewwithindicationofitssculpture, 191 = carapaceinlateralview. 192–197. Microchelonusfascis Papp, 2010 (f, holotype): 192 = scape, pedicelandproximal / distalpartof flagellomeres, 193 = headindorsalviewwithindicationofitssculpture, 194 = hindfemur + tibia, 195 = distalpartofrightforewing, 196 = carapaceindorsalviewwithindicationof itssculpture, 197 = posteriorthirdofcarapaceinventralview.

Description of the female holotype – Body 3.6 mm long. Antenna shorter than body (2.8 mmlong), andwith 16 antennomeres. Scapeglobose, 2.3 timesaslongasbroad (cf. Fig. 453). Firstflagellomerefivetimesaslongasbroadapically, furtherflagellomeresshorteningsothatpenultimateflagellomeresubcubic, 1.3 timeslongerthanbroad (Fig. 182). – Headindorsalviewtransverse, twiceasbroadaslong, eye 1.3 timesaslongastemple, templerounded (Fig. 183). OOLone- thirdlongerthanPOL. Eyeinlateralviewtwiceas highaswide, genabeyondeyeclearlybroadeningventrallyandjustwiderthaneye, gena polishedwithhairpunctures (Fig. 184 seearrows). Clypeus 1.25 timesaswidebelowas highmedially, itslowermarginconvex (Fig. 185). Clypeuspunctate, interpuncturesshiny. Facedenselyrugulose, headabovetransverso-denselysubstriolate, dull.

Mesosomainlateralview 1.4 timesaslongashigh. Mesoscutumscabrous, scutellum roughlyrugose (cf. Fig. 49). Propodealcarinawithfoursmalldenticules (Fig. 186), propodeumonitshorizontalsurfacewithamedianparallel-shapedareolabasalis, otherwise areolated (Fig. 187). Hindfemur 3.8 timesaslongasbroadmedially (Fig 188). Hindbasi- tarsusaslongastarsomeres 2–4 combined.

Forewingshorterthanbody (2.9 mmlong). Pterostigma 2.6 timesaslongaswide andisuing r justdistallyfromitsmiddle, r 1.4 timeslongerthan 3–SR, 1–R1 0.6 timesas longaspterostigma (Fig. 189 seearrows).

Carapaceindorsalview 1.8 timesaslongasbroadposteriorly, hindthirdofcarapace polished (Fig. 190). Carapaceinlateralview 3.8 timesaslongashighposteriorly, declivous behind (Fig. 191). Carapaceapico-ventrallynotincurved (cf. Fig. 108). Ovipositorsheath short, concealed.

Groundcolourofbodyblack. Scapeandpedicelbrownish. Flagellumblack, third flagellomereapicallyandfourthflagellomereentirelystrawyellow. Palpilightbrownish. Tegulablackish. Carapaceanteriorlyandbeforeitsmiddlewithatransverselemonyellow band. Forelegyellow, femurbrown. Middleandhindlegsblack, trochanters, femoraand tibiaebasallystrawyellow, tarsidarkwithlittleyellowishpattern. Wingsbrownishfumous, pterostigmadarkbrown, parastigmalemonyellow. Veinsyellowtobrownish, brown.

Maleandhostunknown.

Distribution – Costa Rica.

Taxonomic position – The new species, Microchelonus exceptus , is closest to M. candidus consideringtheircommonfeatures: longtempleindorsalview, short 1–R1 offorewingandyellowringofflagellum; thetwospeciesdiffer fromeachotherbythefollowingtraitskeyed: