Mirax (Centistidea) sulcatulus, Papp, 2013

Papp, J, 2013, Eleven New Mirax Haliday, 1833 Species From Colombia And Honduras And Key To The Sixteen Neotropical Mirax Species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Miracinae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 59 (2), pp. 97-129 : 117-119

Mirax (Centistidea) sulcatulus sp. n.

(Figs 84–89)

Material examined – Female holotype: Honduras, Fco. Morazan, San Antonio de Oriente Uyuca, 6 March 1997, leg. G. Hansson. – Holotype is in good condition: glued on a card point by its mesosternum. Holotype is deposited in Zoologisk Museum, The University, Lund .

Etymology – The species name ”sulcatulus” refers to the weak groove on middle of vertex between the hind two ocelli (Fig. 85).

Description of the female holotype – Body 1.8 mm long. Antenna slightly longer than body, about as long as fore wing. Flagellomeres 1–2 equal in length, first flagellomere six times as long as broad preapically (cf. Fig. 1), penultimate flagellomere three times as long as broad. Head in dorsal view transverse (Fig. 84), 1.7 times as broad as long, eye 1.7 times as long as temple, temple rounded. Inner margin of eyes converging ventrally (cf. Fig. 79, see arrows). Vertex between hind two ocelli with a fine groove (”sulcatulus”) extending from fore ocellus to occiput (Fig. 85). Head polished, vertex subshiny. – Mesosoma in later- al view 1.4 times as long as high, polished, mesoscutum just uneven and subshiny. Metanotum as in cf. Fig. 116. Propodeum with a strong medio-longitudinal carina, transversely carinulate and rugulose as in Fig. 86. Hind femur 3.3 times as long as broad medially (cf. Fig. 81). – Fore wing: pterostigma rather narrow: 2.8 times as long as wide, issuing r just proximally from its midpoint, 2–SR almost 1.2 times as long as width of pterostigma (Fig. 87). First discal cell less high, 1–M 1.6 times as long as m–cu, 1–SR–M weakly sclerotized anteriorly and just longer (25:23) than 1–M, parallel nerv (3–CU1 + CU1a) missing (Fig. 88, see arrows). – Sclerotized (brown) plate of first tergite spoon-shape, that of second tergite curved, lateral plate of second tergite weakly sclerotized, membranous part of third tergite unusually large and quadrate-form (Fig. 89), membarnous parts of tergites 1–3 striolate. Ovipositor sheath as long as hind basitarsus. – Antenna and body brown, pedicel light brown. Membranous parts of tergites 1–3 whitish. Oral organs pale yellow. Tegula yellow. Coxae, trochanters and femora pale yellow, rest of legs yellow. Wings hyaline, pterostigma brown, veins brownish to yellowish.

Male and host unknown.

Distribution – Honduras.

Taxonomic position – The new species, Mirax (Centistidea) sulcatulus , is nearest to M. (M.) lithocolletidis Ashmead based on their shared features: fine groove on vertex between hind pair of ocelli and subopaque head + mesosoma, the distinction between the two species is restricted to a few features as follows:

1 Propodeum ”with a grooved line at middle” (subgeneric difference). ”The head and thorax feebly rugose or punctulate.” (quotations after AshmeAd 1893: 378). ”Thorax mostly brownish-black; abdomen blackish beyond second tergite;” (quotation after Muesebeck 1922: 10); face and legs yellow. fm: 1.5–1.6 mm. – Canada, USA M. (M.) lithocolletidis Ashmead, 1893

– Propodeum with a strong medio-longitudinal carina, laterally of it with transversely carinulate and rugulose (Fig. 86; subgeneric difference). Head and mesosoma almost smooth. Antenna and body brown, legs pale yellow. f: 1.8 mm. – Honduras M. (C.) sulcatulus sp. n.

Figs 77–89. 77: Mirax (Centistidea) politus sp. n. (female, holotype): flagellomeres 1–3. – 78–83: Mirax (Centistidea) ruptus sp. n. (female, holotype): 78: = head in dorsal view, 79 = head in frontal view, 80 = propodeum, 81 = hind femur, 82 = pterostigma and 2–SR of right fore wing, 83 = tergites 1–2. – 84–89: Mirax (Centistidea) sulcatulus sp. n. (female, holotype): 84 = head in dorsal view, 85 = groove on vertex between hind two ocelli, 86 = propodeum, 87 =

pterostigma and 2–SR of right fore wing, 88 = first discal cell, 89 = tergites 1–3.

The new species is also near to M. (C.) fuscus sp. n. by their brown corporal ground colour and similar form of the sclerotized parts of tergites 1–2, the two species can be separated by the following key:

1 Temple in dorsal view receded, head twice as broad as long, vertex without weak groove between hind pair of ocelli (Fig. 39). Flagellomeres 1–2 less long, first flagellomere one-fourth longer than second flagellomere, first flagellomere 3.6 times as long as broad preapically (Fig. 38). Sclerotization of tergites 1–2 as in Fig. 44, straight lateral part of second tergite evenly sclerotized (Fig. 44), membranous part of third tergite small. Hind femur three times as long as broad medially (Fig. 41). Scape yellowish. f: 1.8 mm. – Colombia M. (C.) fuscus sp. n.

– Temple in dorsal view rounded, head 1.7 times as broad as long, vertex with a weak groove between fore ocellus and occiput (Fig. 84). Flagellomeres 1–2 long, equal in length, first flagellomere six times as long as broad preapically (cf. Fig. 1). Sclerotization of tergites 1–2 as in Fig. 89, curved lateral part of second tergite weakly sclerotized, membranous part of third tergite large and quadrate-form (Fig. 89). Hind femur 3.3 times as long as broad medially (cf. Fig. 81). Scape brown. f: 1.8 mm. – Honduras M. (C.) sulcatulus sp. n.

In the key M. (C.) sulcatulus sp. n. runs to M. (C.) pendiasae sp. n., see keycouplet 13.