Heterospilus carolinae Marsh

Marsh, Paul M., Wild, Alexander L. & Whitfield, James B., 2013, The Doryctinae (Braconidae) of Costa Rica: genera and species of the tribe Heterospilini, ZooKeys 347, pp. 1-474 : 216-217

Heterospilus carolinae Marsh sp. n. Figure 146

Female.

Body size: 3.5-4.0 mm. Color: body entirely dark brown; scape yellow with lateral longitudinal brown stripe, flagellum brown with apical white annulus, apical 5-7 flagellomeres brown; wings including stigma brown; legs yellow. Head: vertex granulate, often with transverse rugae behind ocelli; frons granulate; face granulate-rugose; temple in dorsal view narrow, sloping behind eye, width equal to 1/2 eye width; malar space 1/4 eye height; ocell-ocular distance about twice diameter of lateral ocellus; 24-28 flagellomeres. Mesosoma: mesoscutal lobes granulate; notauli weakly scrobiculate, meeting at scutellum in triangular weakly costate-rugose area; scutellum granulate; prescutellar furrow with 5 cross carinae; mesopleuron granulate; precoxal sulcus smooth, shorter than mesopleuron; venter granulate; propodeum with basal median areas margined, granulate, basal median carina absent, areola not margined, areolar area areolate-rugose, lateral areas entirely rugose. Wings: fore wing vein r shorter than vein 3RSa, vein 1cu-a beyond vein 1M; hind wing vein SC+R present, vein M+CU shorter than vein 1M. Metasoma: first tergum longitudinally costate, length greater than apical width; second tergum longitudinally costate; anterior transverse groove present, straight, posterior transverse groove present, both transverse grooves costate with row of deep pits; third tergum costate basally, weakly granular or smooth apically; terga 4-7 weakly granulate or smooth; ovipositor equal to length of metasomal terga 1 and 2 combined.

Holotype female.

Top label (white, printed) - Costa Rica: Puntarenas [;] R. F. Golfo Dulce, 24km. [;] W. Piedras Blancas, 200m [;] I.1993. P. Hanson; second label (red, partially printed and hand written) - HOLOTYPE [;] Heterospilus [;] carolinae [;] P. Marsh. Deposited in ESUW.

Paratypes.

1 ♀, same data as holotype with additional date of Feb. 1992 (ESUW). 1 ♀, Costa Rica: Guanacaste [;] Est. Pitilia, 700m [;] 9km. S de Santa Cecilia [;] viii-ix.1996, P. Rios & [;] C. Moraga, Malaise [;] L.N. 329950-380450 #47563 (ESUW). 3 ♀♀, COSTA RICA: [;] Heredia, Chilamate [;] 75m, xii 89-iii 1990, xi 1989 and IX-X 1989 [;] Hanson & Godoy (ESUW). 1 ♀, COSTA RICA: [;] Heredia, Chilamate [;] 75m, May 1989 [;] Coll. P. Hanson (ESUW). 1 ♀, top label - COSTA RICA, Heredia [;] Est. Biol. La Selva, 50- [;] 150m, 10°26'N, 84°01'W [;] Mar 1993, INBio-OET; second label - 02 Marzo 1993 [;] M/03/018 [;] Bosque primario; third label - INBio bar code (ESUW). 1 ♀, Costa Rica: Heredia [;] 3km. S. Puerto Viejo, [;] OTS, La Selva, 100m [;] xi.1992 P. Hanson (ESUW). 1 ♀, top label - COSTA RICA, Heredia: [;] Est. Biol. La Selva, 50- [;] 150m, 10°26'N, 84°01'W [;] Sep 1998, INBio-OET; second label - 03 Setiembre 1998 [;] Borde Suampo [;] M/18/716 (INBC). 2 ♀♀, COSTA RICA: Puntarenas [;] RF Golfo Dulce el 200m [;] 24km W Piedras Blancas [;] p. Hanson xi.1992 and xii.1992 (TAMU).

Comments.

This species is similar to Heterospilus zapotec but is distinguished by the entirely brown metasomal terga.

Etymology.

Named for Carolina Godoy who, along with her husband, Paul Hanson, has collected many braconids, and in appreciation for her and Paul’s hospitality during my visits to Costa Rica.