Orthocentrus pallidus Veijalainen

Veijalainen, Anu, Broad, Gavin R. & Sääksjärvi, Ilari E., 2014, Twenty seven new species of Orthocentrus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae; Orthocentrinae) with a key to the Neotropical species of the genus, Zootaxa 3768 (3), pp. 201-252 : 224-225

Orthocentrus pallidus Veijalainen , sp. nov.

Figs 3 F, 7 F, 9 F, 12 F, 14 F.

Fore wing length 2.2–2.6 mm.

Face medially 1.2.x wider than high; face and head between eyes at ocelli papillate, eyes not setose, dorsal ridge of face inbetween antennal sockets without a median prominence; face in profile almost straight, impressed dorsally, edge of clypeus impressed, antennal sockets not on a distinct shelf; malar groove distinct, straight; maxillary palp long, reaching to mid coxa. In dorsal view, head posteriorly slightly concave, temples steeply narrowing and in lateral sides eyes reach occiput, posterior ocellus separated from eye by 1.3–1.5x ocellar diameter, anterior ocellus separated from eye by 1.7–2.0x ocellar diameter, without ocellar-ocular grooves. Minimum distance between antennal sockets about diameter of socket; antenna long, thin, slender, with 29–33 (n=44) elongate flagellomeres which gradually shortening towards apex; basal flagellomere 0.2x as wide as high and as long as scape; scape slightly curved, in frontal view slightly concave on lateral surface, convex on inner surface.

Mesosoma smooth and polished; mesoscutum lacking notauli; in profile, scutellum moderately high, metapleuron slightly convex; propodeum with posterior transverse carina present between lateral longitudinal carinae, median longitudinal carinae complete, and lateral longitudinal carinae reach up to the level of spiracles or slightly below, spiracles small.

Legs broad; coxae polished, femora polished, coriaceous on posterior surface, tibiae and tarsi coriaceousgranulate; hind coxa 1.1x as long as first tergite, hind femur 2.9x as long as high, hind tibia 3.4x as long as apical width; tibiae with spine-like setae.

Wings not particularly narrow; fore wing with areolet usually closed but 3rs-m sometimes very faint or absent, areolet about as wide as long, 3rs-m about twice as long as 2rs-m, 2m-cu meeting areolet at apical 0.6, vein Rs slightly upcurved; hind wing with vein cu-a intercepted at lower end, sometimes just slightly curved.

First tergite long elongate, apically slightly widening, 1.5–1.7x as long as apically wide; anteriorly polished with some coriaceous microsculpture, posterior half strigose, with two complete or posteriorly almost complete median longitudinal carinae, with transverse impressions originating at about middle of tergite, sloping posteriorly, not meeting centrally. Second tergite 0.8–1.0x as long as apically wide; rugose-strigose, with impressions originating at some distance from lateral edges at about middle of tergite below second thyridia, sloping anteriorly almost diagonally to anterior edge, sloping posteriorly almost horizontally, not meeting centrally, forming a somewhat triangular or roundish impression on the anterior half or 2/3 of tergite; basal thyridia oval/rectangular, second thyridia raised roundish areas. Third tergite with anterior edge and corners slightly impressed; second thyridia usually visible, small, round, raised areas. Remaining tergites smooth and polished. Ovipositor slightly upcurved, without notch; ovipositor sheaths with distinct backward-pointing setae.

Body largely setose except eyes, pronotum, mesopleuron and metapleuron; setae few and scattered on propodeum and lateral sides of coxae.

Individuals show variation in colouration. Yellow except mouthparts, sternites and fore and middle coxae, trochanters and trochantelli, creamy to light yellow. Yellow except antenna at least apically; dorsal head at interocellar area and genae behind eyes (sometimes dorsal head more extensively); sometimes mesoscutum at least with a patch posteriorly, axilla, scutellum and propodeum; anterior and posterior tergites (usually not third tergite); and often apical hind femur and tibia, brown to yellowish brown.

Male. As female but face creamy to light yellow.

Biology. Hosts unknown. The species has been collected relatively frequently in different forest types and vegetation layers in the western Amazonian lowlands, and the observations in Central America and Trinidad imply that the species has a wide distribution area in the Neotropics, if these specimens all represent the same species.

Etymology. Named after its generally rather pale appearance.

Comments. Compared with the other species that have a completely papillate face, O. pallidus does not have the antennal sockets on a protruding low shelf, the eyes are glabrous, and the face profile is flatter.

Material examined. Holotype female: ‘ Ecuador, Dept. Orellana, Onkone Gare, 0º39’25.7’’ S, 76º27’10.8’’ W, canopy fog., 216.3 m, 6 Oct 1995, T.L. Erwin et al., Lot# 1216’ ( USNM).

Paratypes: 3 ♀ as holotype but collection dates and codes as follows: 2.VII.1995, Lot# 1068; 3.VII.1995, Lot# 1100; 22.VI.1996, Lot# 1579 (all USNM); 4 ♀ Peru, Dept. of Loreto, Iquitos area, Allpahuayo, 4–20.X.1998, clay, I.E.S., R.J. et al. leg., Malaise trap, APHI C2/4; 5 ♀ as previous but collection dates and codes as follows: 3– 17.XII.1998, C2/8; 10.VIII–4.IX.2000, C2/1; 16.VII–2.VIII.2000, APHI J1/10; 18.VIII–19.IX.2000, J1/12; 1– 15.XII.2000, J1/17; 3 ♀ Peru, Dept. of Loreto, Iquitos area, Allpahuayo, 17.XII.1998 – 20.I.1999, clay, I.E.S., R.J. et al. leg., Malaise trap, APHI C1/9; 1 ♀ as previous but code C2/9; 2 ♀ Peru, Dept. of Loreto, Iquitos area, Allpahuayo, 4–17.X.2000, white sand, Sääksjärvi, I.E. et al. leg., Malaise trap, APHI G3/14 (all MUSM); 5 ♀ as previous but collection dates and codes as follows: 8–24.III.2000, G2/3; 17–27.XII.2000, G2/18; 24.I.–20.II.2000, white sand, Sääksjärvi, I.E. et al. leg., Malaise trap, APHI, G3/1; 1–21.XII.2000, G3/17; 22.V–11.VI.2000, E1/7; 2 ♀ as previous but 24.III–16.IV.2000; G1/4; 2 ♀ as previous but 19.IX–4.X.2000, I1/13; 2 ♀ as previous but 28.XII.00 – 20.I.2001, I1/19; 1 ♀ Peru, Dept. of Loreto, Iquitos area, Allpahuayo, 17.XI–3.XII.1998, varillal, I.E.S., R.J. et al. leg., Malaise trap, APHI D2/7; 3 ♀ as previous but collection dates and codes as follows: 4–18.IX.1998, D1/2; 18.IX–4.X.1998, D1/3; 17.XII.1998 – 20.I.1999, D2/9; 2 ♀ Peru, Dept. of Loreto, Iquitos area, Mishana , 1– 16.XII.1998, clay, I.E.S., R.J. et al. leg., Malaise trap, APHI A2/8; 3 ♀ as previous but collection dates and codes as follows: 16.XII.1998 – 1.I.1999, A1/9; 1–16.XI.1998, A2/6; 16.XII.1998 – 1.I.1999, A2/9; 1 ♀ Peru, Dept. of Loreto, Iquitos area, Mishana , 1–16.XII.1998, varillal, I.E.S., R.J. et al. leg., Malaise trap, APHI B1/8; 2 ♀ as previous but collection dates and codes as follows: 16.XI–1.XII.1998, B2/7; 1–16.XII.1998, B3/8 (all ZMUT); 1 ♀ Costa Rica, Puntarenas Pv., Osa P. Golfo Dulce F.R., 24 km W Piedras Blancas, 200 m, VI–VIII.1991, I. Gauld & K. Gaston; 1 ♀ Belize, Orange Walk Prov., Rio Bravo Conservation Area, N. of Gallon Jug, 18.III.92, 82º06‘ W [written as E], 17º45’ N, I. Gauld; 2 ♀ Trinidad, St. George, St. Augustine, 15.VII–13.VIII.1976, Malaise trap, J.S. Noyes, B.M. 1976-462 (all BMNH); 1 ♂ Ecuador, Dept. Orellana, Onkone Gare, 216.3 m asl, 0º39’25.7’’ S, 76º27’10.8’’ W, 11.II.1995, canopy fogging, T.L. Erwin et al., Lot# 1027 ( USNM).

One male ( Orthocentrus sp. 24 M 87 ECU 1027) and one female paratype ( Orthocentrus sp. 24 F 108 ECU 1068) were sequenced by Veijalainen et al. (2012). They shared the same haplotype which differed clearly from those of the remaining individuals.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Lateral views: Orthocentrus wahlbergi species-group (in part). A: bicoloratus, B: flavifrons, C: harlequinus, D: mishana, E: nicaraguensis, F: pallidus. Scale 0.5 mm except in B 1.0 mm.