Opius nimifactus Fischer

Wharton, Robert, Daniels, Sophia, Shirley, Xanthe & Restuccia, Danielle, 2013, An opiine Braconidae (Hymenoptera) reared from Richardiidae (Diptera) and recognition of a new species group of Opius s. l., ZooKeys 289, pp. 65-101 : 88

Opius nimifactus Fischer Figs 2542

Opius (Pendopius) nimifactus Fischer, 1979b: 484-486 (key); 493-495 (description). Holotype female in AEIC (examined).

Opius (Pendopius) nimifactus : Yu et al. 2005, 2012 (electronic catalogs).

Type locality.

Brazil, Caruaru.

Type material.

Holotype. Female (AEIC), first label, first line: Caruaru, Brazil second line: May 1972 900m. third line: J. Lima

Paratypes.

Two females (not seen), same data as holotype except vi.1972; five females, three males (examined), same locality but iv.1972, M. Alvarenga.

Diagnosis.

Face distinctly punctate, punctures separated by about 2 × their diameter, strongly shagreened adjacent eye margin, otherwise largely smooth between punctures. Eye in lateral view 2.0-2.5 × longer than temple; temples in dorsal view not receding. Female antenna with 59-61 flagellomeres, male with 56-60 flagellomeres; setae on basal flagellomeres thick, dark. Mesoscutum anteriorly on nearly same plane as pronotum, without distinct anterior declivity; notaulus extending laterally towards tegula as groove bordered by distinct supramarginal carina, also extending to anterior margin of mesoscutum as a weak groove. Propodeum nearly smooth: finely rugulose punctate with shallow median trough anteriorly, becoming flat, without areola posteriorly. Fore wing 3RSa curved, about 1.4-1.7 × longer than 2RS; m-cu postfurcal. T1 declivitous anteriorly at about a 45 degree angle, pit delimited posterior-medially; surface smooth to weakly shagreened; dorsal carinae very weakly sinuate, nearly parallel-sided, weakly broadening subapically, weakly narrowing apically, not transversely carinate between dorsal carinae. T2 and T3 smooth, polished. Ovipositor short; ovipositor sheath about 0.3-0.4 × length of mesosoma. Head, body, hind coxa and femur pale orange; tegula and lateral margin of mesonotum dark brown to black, T5 with dark maculae laterally, T6 uniformly dark brown; antenna without pale subapical ring; wing darkly infumate.

Remarks.

This species was described from the female holotype plus 7 additional female and 3 male paratypes, all from same locality. Opius nimifactus is similar in many respects to Opius macrocornis , as detailed in the remarks section under that species. Opius macrocornis is more uniformly pale orange: lacking the black tegula and dark margins of the mesoscutum that characterize Opius nimifactus .