Stethantyx propodeator 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 : 254-256

Stethantyx propodeator Khalaim et Broad , sp. nov.

( Figs 8 , 15 )

Comparison. Differs from other species of the genus by the dark reddish brown or black propodeum which is conspicuously darker than the remaining reddish orange mesosoma ( Fig. 15 ); S. tenoriosa sp. nov. also has a black propodeum and mostly reddish orange mesosoma but in this species the mesoscutum and scutellum are also black.

Description. Female. Body length about 6.0 mm. Fore wing length 3.7 mm.

Head very strongly narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view; temple 0.36× as long as eye width. Mandible slender, weakly narrowed basally, upper tooth much longer than lower tooth. Clypeus broad, lenticular, convex in lateral view, smooth and shining on lower half, and distinctly and densely punctate, smooth between punctures on its upper part. Malar space 0.65× as long as basal width of mandible. Flagellum of antenna narrowed towards apex, with 21–27 flagellomeres (26 flagellomeres in holotype); all flagellomeres elongate, flagellomeres 2 and 3 about 1.6× as long as broad. Inner eye orbits very weakly convergent ventrally. Face with weak central prominence. Face and frons finely granulate, dull, with fine and party indistinct punctures. Vertex and temple finely granulate, dull, without distinct punctures.

Notaulus with short transverse crest distant from anterolateral margin of mesoscutum and distinct pit behind crest. Mesoscutum with dense, partly indistinct punctures, weakly granulate to almost smooth between punctures. Scutellum with lateral longitudinal carinae well developed on its anterior c. 0.6 and vanishing posteriorly, usually with transverse carina on posterior end of scutellum. Foveate groove of mesopleuron situated in anterior 0.7 of mesopleuron, oblique, coarse, crenulate, usually with wrinkles anteriorly reaching anterior margin of mesopleuron. Mesopleuron very finely granulate to almost smooth, finely punctate, with smooth impunctate area above foveate groove. Propodeum finely granulate, dull, dorsolateral area indistinctly punctate, without wrinkles adjacent to carinae. Basal part of propodeum broad, slightly widened anteriorly or rectangular, 1.7× as long as broad, and half as long as apical area. Propodeal spiracle rather big, separated from pleural carina by 0.5–1.5× diameter of spiracle. Apical area flat, anteriorly truncate.

Fore wing ( Fig. 8 ) with veins Rs +2 r and Rs angled about 100°. Vein 2 rs-m about 1.6× as long as abscissa of M between 2 rs-m and 2 m-cu, both. Hind wing with cu 1& cu-a vertical. Hind femur 4.8× as long as broad, 0.89× as long as tibia.

First tergite almost 4.0× as long as posteriorly broad, smooth, petiole laterally striate. Glymma situated near middle of tergite 1, joining by very shallow, indistinct furrow to ventral part of postpetiole. Second tergite 2.2× as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression very long, more than 5.0× as long as broad. Ovipositor weakly upcurved, with very shallow dorsal subapical depression; sheath 1.23× as long as first tergite and 1.3× as long as hind tibia.

Head and tergite 1 of metasoma black; clypeus brownish yellow, palpi and mandible (teeth black) yellowish. Antenna brown to black, scape and pedicel ventrally sometimes yellowish. Mesosoma brownish orange, propleuron and anterior margin of pronotum sometimes yellowish, propodeum dark reddish brown or black, strongly contrasting with remaining mesosoma ( Fig. 15 ). Tegula yellowish to brownish orange. Fore and mid legs brownish yellow, fore coxa and trochanters white. Hind leg with coxa, trochanters and tarsus brownish yellow, femur predominantly brown, and tibia more or less infuscate, yellowish at apex. Pterostigma brownish black. Metasoma behind tergite 1 yellowish ventrally, brown to brownish black dorsally and laterally, hind margins of tergites pale.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. Ovipositor sheath 1.2–1.4× as long as tergite 1. Fore wing with vein 2 rs-m subequal to abscissa of M between 2 rs-m and 2 m-cu in one specimen from the Braulio Carrillo National Park (distinctly longer in other material).

Remarks. Some males of S. heredia sp. nov. also have the propodeum darker than the remaining mesosoma, but all these specimens have the face yellowish to reddish brown, distinctly lighter than the rest of the head (in S. propodeator the face is always black), and the propodeum has a basal keel (in S. propodeator the propodeum always has a broad basal area).

Etymology. Named after its characteristic dark reddish brown propodeum which is conspicuously darker than the rest of the mesosoma.

Material examined. Holotype female (BMNH), Puntarenas Prov., Osa Peninsula, Cerro Rincón, 745 m, X.1990, coll. E. Quiros.

Paratypes. Alajuela Prov.: 1 Ƥ (INBio) Sector Cerro Chato, 1100 m, IX–X.1997, coll. G. Carballo. 3 Ƥ (2 Ƥ INBio, 1 Ƥ ZISP) National Park Volcán Tenorio, N of Volcán Tenorio, Guatuso, 1500–1600 m, V–VII.2005, coll. J.A. Azofeifa. Guanacaste Prov.: Guanacaste National Park, 9 km S of Santa Cecilia , Estación Pitilla, 700 m, coll. C. Moraga & P. Ríos: 1 3 (INBio) V.1990, 1 Ƥ (INBio) II.1992, 1 Ƥ & 1 3 (INBio) III–IV.1992, 1 Ƥ (INBio) X– XI.1992. 1 Ƥ (INBio) Macizo Miravalles, Estación Cabro Muco, 1100 m, IX–X.2003, coll. J.A. Azofeifa. 1 Ƥ (INBio) Sector San Ramón, 4.5 km WSW of Dos Ríos de Upala, 860 m, V–VI, VIII–IX.1996, coll. F.A. Quesada & D. Briceño. 3 Ƥ (INBio) National Park Volcán Tenorio, volcano Tenorio, 1650 m, VIII–X.2003, coll. J.A. Azofeifa. Heredia Prov.: 3 Ƥ (BMNH) Chilamate, Selva Verde, 75 m, IX–X.1989, coll. I.D. Gauld. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) same data, but XI.1989. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) Braulio Carrillo National Park, 9.5 km E of El Tunel, 1000 m, XII.1989, coll. I.D. Gauld. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) La Selva Biological Station, 3 km S of Puerto Viejo, 10º26ʹ N, 84º01ʹ W, IV.1988, coll. H.A. Hespenheide. 1 Ƥ (INBio) La Selva Biological Station, 10º26ʹ N, 84º01ʹ W, 50–150 m, I.1994. Limón Prov.: 1 Ƥ (ZISP) 16 km W of Guápiles, edge of Braulio Carrillo National Park, 400 m, X–XI.1989, coll. I.D. Gauld. Puntarenas Prov.: 2 Ƥ (BMNH) same data as holotype. Osa Peninsula, Rancho Quemado, 2 km N camino Drake, 275 m, coll. E. Quiros: 2 Ƥ (BMNH) X.1990, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) XI.1990, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) XII.1990 (head absent). 1 Ƥ (BMNH) Osa Peninsula, Francisca La Jilba, 24 km S of Puerto Jiménez, 100 m, XI.1990, coll. E. Quiros. 1 3 (INBio) Biological Reserve Carara, Estación Quebrada Bonita, 50 m, V.1994, coll. R.M. Guzmán. San José Prov.: 1 Ƥ (BMNH) San Antonio de Escazú, 1300 m, IX–X.1987, coll. W.G. Eberhard. 2 Ƥ (INBio) Estación Santa Elena, Sendero El Llano, 1800 m, X–XI.1996, coll. E. Alfaro.

Distribution. Costa Rica ( Alajuela , Guanacaste, Heredia , Puntarenas, San José).

Figures

FIGURES 7 – 10. Wings of Stethantyx spp., Ƥ: 7 — S. orosia sp. nov.; 8 — S. propodeator sp. nov.; 9 — S. puntarenasa sp. nov.; 10 — S. sanjosea sp. nov.

FIGURES 11 – 15. Stethantyx alajuela sp. nov., Ƥ: 11 — head, frontal; 14 — whole insect without wings, left. Stethantyx heredia sp. nov., Ƥ: 12 — head, frontal. Stethantyx sanjosea sp. nov., Ƥ: 13 — head, frontal. Stethantyx propodeator sp. nov., Ƥ: 15 — head, mesosoma and first metasomal segment, left.