Mirax (Centistidea) politus, 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 : 113-114

Mirax (Centistidea) politus sp. n.

(Figs 70–77)

Material examined – Female holotype: Colombia , Boyacá SFF, Iguaque Qda. Carrizal, 3350 m, 5˚25’N / 73˚27’W, taken with Malaise trap, 21 January – 9 February 2001, leg. P. Reina (M 1247). – Holotype is in good condition: (1) glued on a card point by its hind part of mesosternum and pair of middle coxae, (2) left fore leg (except coxa) missing, (3) distal third of left wings bending backwards. Holotype is deposited in the Alexander Humboldt Institute, Villa de Leyva , Boyacá, Bogota ( Colombia) .

Etymology – The species name ”politus” refers to the polished body.

Description of the female holotype – Body 2.5 mm. Antenna long, 1.4 times as long as body, second flagellomere 1.25 times as long as first flagellomere, second flagellomere seven times as long as broad preapically, third flagellomere slightly shorter than second flagellomere (Fig. 77), penultimate flagellomere 3.5 times as long as broad. Head in dorsal view transverse (Fig. 70), 1.75 times as broad as long, eye 1.4 times as long as temple, temple rounded. In frontal view inner margin of eyes parallel, face 1.8 times as wide as high (Fig. 71, see arrows). Head polished. – Mesosoma in lateral view 1.3 times as long as high, polished. Metanotum as in cf. Fig. 116. Propodeum with a rhombus-form areola basalis, lat- erally from medio-longitudinal carina rather transversely carinulated (Fig. 72). Hind femur four times as long as broad medially, almost parallel-sided (Fig. 73). – Fore wing: pterostigma narrow, four times as long as wide, issuing r just proximally from its midpoint, 2–SR 1.6 times as long as width of pterostigma (Fig. 74). First discal cell high, 1–M 1.6 times as long as m–cu (Fig. 75). – Sclerotized (brown) plate of first tergite wide (its petiole unusually short), that of second tergite as in Fig. 76, membranous parts of tergites 1–3 not striolated. Ovipositor sheath short, as long as tarsomeres 2–3 of hind tarsus. – Antenna and meta- soma brown, pedicel apically brownish yellow. Head and mesosoma blackish brown, gena ventrally weakly rusty. Oral organs, tegula and legs yellow, tibiae and tarsi 2–3 brownish fumous. Wings hyaline, pterostigma yellow, veins yellowish to yellowish brownish.

Male and host unknown.

Distribution – Colombia.

Taxonomic position – The new species, Mirax (Centistidea) politus , is nearest to M. (C.) ubangus sp. n. considering their polished body and dark corporal colour, the two species are distinguished as follows:

1 Face in frontal view wide, 1.8 times as wide as high; inner margin of eyes parallel (Fig. 71, see arrows). Second flagellomere 1.25 times as long as first flagellomere (Fig. 77). Sclerotized (brown) plate of first tergite wide, that of second tergite short and wide, laterally evenly sclerotized as in Fig. 76. Fore wing: pterostigma narrow, four times as long as wide; 2–SR 1.6 times as long as width of pterostigma (Fig. 74). Scape and pedicel blackish brown, pedical apically brownish yellow. f: 2.5 mm. – Colombia M. (C.) politus sp. n.

– Face in frontal view less wide, 1.5 times as wide as high; inner margin of eyes faintly converging ventrally (cf. Fig. 79). First flagellomere just longer than second flagellomere (Fig. 90). Sclerotized (brown) plate of first tergite less long and widening somewhat angularly, that of second tergite long and narrow, laterally less sclerotized (Fig. 96). Fore wing: pterostigma rather wide, 2.8 times as long as wide, 2–SR 1.4 times as long as width of pterostigma (Fig. 94). Scape and pedicel variably brownish yellow to brown. fm: 1.9–2.1 mm. – Colombia M. (C.) ubangus sp. n.

In the key M. (C.) politus sp. n. runs to M. (C.) striatus PenteAdo- DiAs, see key-couplets 14–15.