Epirhyssa eucnemis Porter 1978

Gómez, Isrrael C., Sääksjärvi, Ilari E., Puhakka, Liisa, Castillo, Carol & Bordera, Santiago, 2015, The Peruvian Amazonian species of Epirhyssa Cresson (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Rhyssinae), with notes on tropical species richness, Zootaxa 3937 (2), pp. 311-336 : 320-325

Epirhyssa eucnemis Porter 1978

( Fig. 5 f)

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Neotropical Epirhyssa by the combination of the following characters: 1) occipital carina joining hypostomal carina; 2) hind tibia prominently swollen; and 3) tergite II finely wrinkled.

Distribution. Peru.

Material examined. Paratype: Female ( BMNH) Peru, Chanchamayo, 8.VIII.1949, J.M. Schunke B.M. 1950-559.

Biological notes. Only two male specimens (holotype and paratype) collected from central Peruvian Amazonia are known.

Epirhyssa fusca Gómez & Sääksjärvi sp. n. ( Figs 5 B, 6E)

Type material. Holotype female ( USNM): Peru, Dept. of Madre de Dios, Erwin et al. leg., 356 m., fogging, 11° 56’ S, 71°17’ W, 6.X.1991.

Female ( Fig. 5 B). Fore wing length about 11 mm. Head with occipital carina present laterally strong, interrupted dorsally, joining hypostomal carina ( Fig. 6 E); posterior ocellus separated from eye by about 1.5 times its diameter; mandibles stout, lower tooth slightly longer than upper one; clypeus not trapezoidal, with margin convex, lateral corners not produced, centrally without small rounded apical tubercle; lower face about 1.25 times as broad as medially long; with setiferous punctures, centrally with transverse wrinkling; antenna slender with 27 flagellar segments; gena polished with strong dense setae ventrally. Mesosoma with strong epomia diverging from anterior margin of pronotum; mesoscutum with central lobe slightly overhanging pronotum, transverse rugae long and sharp, with fairly sparse short pubescence; mesopleuron polished, with dense setiferous punctures; subalar prominence strongly inflated; epicnemial carina short, ventrally not reaching above level of lower corner of pronotum; hind coxa in profile about 2.0 times as wide as deep; fore wing with cu-a about opposite Rs&M; first subdiscal cell broadened distally, its width near outer end about 2.0 times its basal width; abscissa of M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu about 0.8 times as long 2rs-m, Rs weakly and evenly bowed; propodeum very stout, finely granulate with long setae and with a median longitudinal depression; submetapleural carina sharp throughout. Metasoma with tergite I rather short and stout about 1.6 times as long as posteriorly broad, dorsally smooth and highly polished; tergite II about 1.1 times as long as posteriorly broad with close pubescence, posteriorly with sparse hairs, tergites III+ with finer and more uniformly short dense pubescence; ovipositor projecting beyond apex of metasoma by about 4.2 times length of hind tibia.

Coloration. A primarily dark brownish species; yellowish on band behind ocelli and eyes, face except centrally, flagellar segments 12–13 (and last one), pronotum, mesopleuron posteriorly and metapleuron. Metasoma brownish, tergites 1–5 posteriorly yellowish, ovipositor sheath light brown. Coxae and legs dark yellowish with small darker areas ventrally. Wings yellowish, fore wing with brownish band along costal area; pterostigma yellowish.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Neotropical Epirhyssa by the combination of the following characters: 1) body finely punctate with abundant setae; 2) propodeum very short and finely granulate with long setae; 3) tergite I stout and with wrinkles, about 1.6 times as long as posteriorly broad; and 4) mesoscutum with transverse rugae rounded, not sharp as in most other Peruvian species. Epirhyssa fusca sp. n. resembles E. pacheia Porter , but it can be distinguished by the convex shape of the clypeus and the fore wing with a brownish band along the costal area.

Biological notes. The only known specimen has been found in southern lowland Peruvian Amazonia by canopy fogging, nothing is known about its hosts.

Etymology. The name fusca refers to the brownish coloration of the species.

Distribution. Peru.

Epirhyssa ignisalata sp. n. Gómez & Sääksjärvi sp. n. ( Figs 5 A, 6D)

Type material. Holotype female ( UNSM, currently on loan to ZMUT): Peru, Dept. Loreto, Allpahuayo Mishana, 3°58’ S, 73°25’ W, Sääksjärvi et al. leg., Malaise, I1 (14), 15.X.2000. Paratypes: Female ( UNSM), as above but I1 (8), 29.VI.2000. Female ( UNSM), as above but I1, 20.I.2000. Female ( UNSM), as above but J1(7), 11.VII.2000. Female ( ZMUT), as above but D1/9, 17.XII–20.I.1998. Female ( ZMUT), as above but H1, I. XII.2000. Female ( ZMUT), as above but H1, 1–16.III.2000. Female ( UNSM), Peru, Dept. Cusco, La convención, Echarate 12°33’ S, 73°05’ W, 1430m., 18–21.IX.2010, Carranza & Rossi leg. Male ( ZMUT), Peru, Dept. Cusco, La convención, Echarate 12° 33’ S, 73° 05’ W, 1381m., 27–29.I.2010, Carranza & Rossi leg.

Female ( Fig. 5 A). Fore wing length about 15 mm. Head with occipital carina interrupted dorsally, ventrally strong, joining hypostomal carina ( Fig. 6 D); mandibles stout, lower tooth slightly longer than upper one; clypeus with margin concave, lateral corners not angularly produced, medially with a rounded apical tubercle; lower face transverse, about 1.2 times as broad as medially long; antenna slender with about 36 segments, apex of flagellum not clavate; gena smooth and polished with long setae ventrally. Mesosoma with strong epomia diverging from anterior margin of pronotum; mesoscutum with central lobe not overhanging pronotum, with short dense pale pubescence; mesopleuron polished, with sparse setiferous punctures; subalar prominence strongly inflated; epicnemial carina reaching level of lower corner of pronotum; hind coxa long and slender, in profile about 3.4–3.5 times as long as deep; fore wing with cu-a opposite Rs&M; first subdiscal cell moderately broadened distally, its width near outer end about 1.8–2.0 times its basal width; abscissa of M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu about 0.2 times as long as 2rs-m, Rs weakly and evenly bowed; propodeum short, polished with sparse long setae laterally and median longitudinal depression; submetapleural carina small but sharp throughout. Metasoma with tergite I about 2.4–2.8 times as long as posteriorly broad, dorsally smooth; tergite II polished, smooth, about 1.2–1.3 times as long as posteriorly broad with close pubescence, tergites III+ with finer and more uniformly dense pubescence; ovipositor projecting beyond apex of metasoma by about 5.4–5.5 times length of hind tibia.

Coloration. A primarily yellowish species with dorsal surface more orange, interocellar area and transverse band from eye to eye black, part of head adjacent to occipital carina infuscate, flagellum brownish.

Mesosoma yellow with upper part of pronotum, epomia, extreme anterior margin of mesopleuron, scutoscutellar groove and lower part metanotum black; propodeum brown, anteriorly yellowish with median longitudinal channel black. Metasomal tergites orange brownish with apical part yellowish, ovipositor sheath brown. All legs orange with yellowish spots, with distal parts of tarsi infuscate. Wings uniformly yellowish; pterostigma yellowish.

Male. Similar to female but smaller and slenderer with fore wing length about 9 mm and body more densely pubescent; antenna with about 36 segments; tergite I about 3.5 times as long as posteriorly broad and tergite II about 1.7 times as long as posteriorly broad.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Neotropical Epirhyssa by the combination of the following characters: 1) occipital carina joining hypostomal carina; 2) tergite I polished and elongate; 3) propodeum smooth and polished, with median longitudinal depression; and 4) ovipositor long, about 5.5 times the length of the hind tibia. Epirhyssa ignisalata sp. n. resembles E. sibinai sp. n. and E. diatropis Porter in size and general coloration; however, the wing color pattern differentiates the three species. Another similar species is E. oranensis Porter ; however, the latter is smaller in size and has tergite I with longitudinal wrinkling.

Biological notes. This species has been found in lowland Amazonia and the Andes Amazonian interface in Peru, nothing is known about its hosts.

Etymology. The name ignisalata (fire wing) refers to the yellowish wings of the species. This name was proposed by many Finnish participants, e.g. by many children, in the naming competition.

Distribution. Peru.

Epirhyssa iiapensis Gómez & Sääksjärvi sp. n. ( Fig. 3 C)

Type material. Holotype female ( UNSM, currently on loan to ZMUT): Peru, Dept. Loreto, Reserva Nacional Allpahuayo-Mishana, 3°57’49” S, 73°24’93” W, 124 m., Gómez & Sääksjärvi leg., Malaise, 5–11.XII.2011. Paratypes: Female ( ZMUT), as above but clay, Sääksjärvi et al. leg., Malaise, H2, 16.III–1.IV-2000. Female ( USNM), Ecuador, Dept. Orellana, Onkone gare, 216 m., Erwin et al. leg., fogging 0° 39’ S, 76°27’ W, 7.II.1996. Female ( Fig. 3 C). Fore wing length about 11–12 mm. Head with occipital carina present laterally interrupted dorsally, not joining hypostomal carina; posterior ocellus separated from eye by about 1.6–1.7 times its diameter; mandibles stout, lower tooth slightly longer than upper one; clypeus centrally with a small tubercle; lower face about 1.2 times as broad as medially long, polished with sparse setae; antenna slender with 37 flagellar segments; gena highly polished with very sparse setae ventrally. Mesosoma with epomia close to anterior margin of pronotum; mesoscutum with central lobe not overhanging pronotum, transverse rugae discontinuous and sharp with short sparse pubescence; mesopleuron polished, with scattered setiferous punctures; subalar prominence inflated; epicnemial carina ventrally reaching level of lower corner of pronotum; hind coxa in profile about 3.5–3.7 times as wide as deep; fore wing with cu-a opposite Rs&M; first subdiscal cell broadened distally, its width near outer end about 1.7–1.8 times its basal width; abscissa of M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu about 0.8–0.9 times as long 2rs-m, Rs weakly and evenly bowed; propodeum highly polished with scattered setae without median longitudinal depression; submetapleural carina present (very weak in one specimen). Metasoma with tergite I about 4.5–4.8 times as long as posteriorly broad, dorsally highly polished; tergite II about 2.4–2.7 times as long as posteriorly broad, highly polished, tergites III+ highly polished; ovipositor projecting beyond apex of metasoma by about 4.6–4.8 times length of hind tibia.

Coloration. A red-blackish species; head and mesosoma entirely reddish orange, metasoma entirely blackish, with bluish reflections. Ovipositor sheath dark brown, pterostigma blackish.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Neotropical Epirhyssa by the combination of the following characters: 1) tergite I highly polished and very elongate; 2) propodeum highly polished without a trace of a median longitudinal depression; 3) metasoma entirely blackish, with a slight purple-bluish reflection. Epirhyssa iiapensis sp. n. is closely related to E. pertenuis Porter. The three main characters that differentiate E. iiapensis sp. n. from the latter are the dark metasoma, tergite I with strong protuberances close to the spiracles and tergite II highly polished in the basal area.

Biological notes. This species is currently restricted to western lowland Amazonia, nothing is known about its hosts.

Etymology. The name iiapensis refers to the Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP) for its great efforts in studying and protecting the Peruvian Amazonia.

Distribution. Ecuador, Peru.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Habitus of Epirhyssa spp.: (females): A— E. cochabambae; B— E. braconoides; C — E. iiapensis sp. n. (holotype); D— E. pertenuis paratype; E— lutea sp. n. (holotype); F— E. zaphyma.

FIGURE 5. Habitus of Epirhyssa spp.: (A—D females, E—F males): A— E. ignisalata sp. n. (holotype); B— E. fusca sp. n. (holotype); C— E. sibinai sp. n. (holotype); D— E. peruana; E— E. wisei (holotype); F— E. eucnemis (paratype).

FIGURE 6. Head and mesosoma of Epirhyssa spp.: lateral view: A— E. simpirae sp. n. (holotype); B— E. lamolinensis sp. n. (holotype); C— E. perufinlandensis sp. n. (holotype). Head, occipital carina in lateral view (arrow): D— E. ignisalata sp. n. (holotype); E— E. fusca sp. n. (holotype). Mesoscutum: F— E. perufinlandensis sp. n. (holotype); G— E. peruana.