Stethantyx cartagoa Khalaim et Broad

Khalaim, Andrey I. & Broad, Gavin R., 2013, Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Costa Rica, part 2. Genera Megalochus gen. nov. and Stethantyx Townes, Zootaxa 3693 (2), pp. 221-266 : 238-239

Stethantyx cartagoa Khalaim et Broad , sp. nov.

( Figs 51, 52 , 57 )

Comparison. Similar to S. orosia sp. nov. and S. pseudoorosia sp. nov., but differs from these species by the longer distance between the propodeal spiracle and pleural carina, greater number of flagellomeres ( Fig. 57 ), foveate groove of mesopleuron usually not reaching the anterior margin of mesopleuron, and the longer ovipositor. Often the hind leg is extensively black or dark brown, much darker than in S. orosia or S. pseudoorosia .

Description. Female. Body length about 8.7 mm. Fore wing length almost 5.7 mm.

Head strongly rounded behind eyes in dorsal view; temple 0.52× as long as eye width. Mandible with upper tooth distinctly longer than lower tooth. Clypeus broad, 2.9× as broad as high, lenticular, slightly convex in lateral view, smooth, with rather dense punctures on its upper 0.6. Malar space about half as long as basal width of mandible. Flagellum of antenna with 26–33 short flagellomeres (28 flagellomeres in holotype), distinctly tapered towards apex; subbasal flagellomeres slightly elongate to square, mid and subapical flagellomeres square to slightly transverse ( Fig. 57 ). Inner eye orbits very weakly convergent ventrally. Face very weakly prominent centrally. Face and frons granulate, dull, very densely punctate. Vertex and temple finely granulate (temple centrally almost smooth), with fine and moderately dense punctures.

Notaulus as tubercle somewhat distant from anterolateral margin of mesoscutum, or short wrinkle. Mesoscutum very finely granulate, with fine and dense punctures. Scutellum with lateral longitudinal carinae usually extending from to posterior 0.5–0.7, but sometimes reaching posterior end and joining posteriorly. Foveate groove of mesopleuron situated in anterior 0.6–0.8 of mesopleuron, rather broad and deep, upcurved anteriorly, with strong transverse wrinkles not reaching, or sometimes reaching anterior margin of mesopleuron ( Fig. 51 ). Mesopleuron distinctly and rather densely punctate, finely granulate peripherally and almost smooth between punctures centrally. Propodeum finely granulate, dorsolateral area finely but distinctly punctate, usually with short wrinkles adjacent to carinae; apical area sometimes slightly uneven or partly transversely wrinkled; all carinae strong. Basal area of propodeum broad, 1.4–1.7× (1.65× in holotype) as long as broad, 0.65× as long as apical area and 0.24–0.33× as broad as propodeum (measured between propodeal spiracles in dorsal view); basal longitudinal carinae well developed, weakly diverging anteriorly ( Fig. 52 ). Propodeal spiracle big, separated from pleural carina by 1.5–2.5× diameter of spiracle. Apical area flat, anteriorly broadly truncate ( Fig. 52 ).

Fore wing with veins Rs +2 r and Rs angled about 105–110°. Vein 2 rs-m as long as or longer than abscissa of M between 2 rs-m and 2 m-cu. Hind wing with cu 1& cu-a inclivous to almost vertical. Hind femur 5.2× as long as broad, 0.8× as long as tibia.

First tergite slender, 4.1× as long as posteriorly broad, smooth, petiole striate laterally and sometimes also dorsally. Glymma situated near or slightly behind middle of tergite 1, usually small, joining by weak furrow to ventral part of postpetiole. Second tergite 2.2× as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression more than 4.0× as long as broad. Ovipositor weakly upcurved, with shallow dorsal subapical depression; sheath (1.3)1.65–2.2× as long as first tergite (2.2× in holotype) and 2.1× as long as hind tibia.

Head black; clypeus yellowish or dark brown in its lower 0.3–0.4 and black in upper part, palpi and mandible (teeth blackish) brownish yellow. Antenna usually entirely black, sometimes scape and pedicel brownish ventrally. Mesosoma brownish orange. Tegula brownish orange to dark brown. Legs of holotype strongly darkened, predominantly black; paratypes with legs almost completely black to brownish yellow with only hind femur and tibia darkened. Pterostigma blackish. Metasoma predominantly brownish black to black, ventrally yellowish, tergites 2+ usually with pale band dorsoposteriorly.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. This is a rather polymorphic species, varying especially in the leg colour. One female from Estación El Pilón has an unusually short basal area of the propodeum, about as long as broad, rather strongly widened anteriorly, and only 0.45× as long as the apical area. Two females from Limón Prov. have the ovipositor sheath 1.3– 1.4× as long as the first tergite.

Etymology. Named after the type locality, Cartago province of Costa Rica.

Material examined. Holotype female (INBio), Cartago Prov., Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre, National Park Tapantí, Quebrada Segunda, 1250 m, III.1992, coll. G. Mora.

Paratypes. Alajuela Prov.: 2 Ƥ (INBio) National Park Volcán Tenorio, N of volcano Tenorio, Guatuso, 1500– 1600 m, V–VII.2005, coll. J.A. Azofeifa. 3 Ƥ (INBio) National Park Volcán Tenorio, 1.5 km SW of Cerro Camela, Estación El Pilón, 700–800 m, VI–IX.2006, coll. J.A. Azofeifa. Guanacaste Prov.: 1 Ƥ (INBio) Las Pailas, 2.75 km S of Cerro Braun, 1250 m, V.1996, coll. O. Espinoza & A. Masís. 1 Ƥ (ZISP) Guanacaste National Park, 9 km S of Santa Cecilia , Estación Pitilla, 700 m, VII–VIII.1992, coll. S. Moraga. Heredia Prov.: 2 Ƥ (BMNH) Braulio Carrillo National Park, 9.5 km E of El Tunel, 1000 m, IV–V, X–XI.1989, coll. I.D. Gauld. Limón Prov.: 2 Ƥ (INBio, ZISP) Sector Cerro Cocori, Francisca de Elías Rojas, 150 m, II–V.1992. Puntarenas Prov.: 2 Ƥ (BMNH, ZISP) Osa Peninsula, Cerro Rincón, 745 m, I and III.1991, coll. E. Quiros. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) San Vito, Botanical Garden Las Cruces, 1200 m, V.1988, coll. I.D. Gauld & P. Mitchell.

Distribution. Costa Rica ( Alajuela , Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia , Limón, Puntarenas).

Figures

FIGURES 47 – 52. Stethantyx punarenasa sp. nov., Ƥ: 47 — mesosoma, left; 48 — mesoscutum and scutellum, dorsal; 49 — propodeum, dorsal. Stethantyx sanjosea sp. nov., Ƥ: 50 — mesosoma, dorsal. Stethantyx cartagoa sp. nov., Ƥ: 51 — mesosoma, left; 52 — propodeum, dorsal. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 56 – 59. Stethantyx cacaoensis sp. nov., Ƥ: 56 — habitus, left (holotype). Stethantyx cartagoa sp. nov., Ƥ: 57 — antenna, left. Stethantyx mesoscutator sp. nov., 3: 58 — head and mesosoma, left; 59 — propodeum and base of metasoma, dorsolateral.