Heterospilus leviscutum 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 : 365-367

Heterospilus leviscutum Marsh sp. n. Figure 248

Female.

Body size: 2.5-3.0 mm. Color: body brown to dark brown, metasomal terga 3-5 honey yellow at apex, terga 6-7 honey yellow; scape brown; flagellum brown with apical 5-7 flagellomeres white, apical one often darker; wing veins brown, stigma yellow or light brown; legs yellow, femora with brown swelling dorsally, mid and hind femora brown on apical ⅓. Head: vertex smooth; frons smooth; face smooth; temple in dorsal view narrow, width less than 1/2 eye width; malar space greater than 1/4 eye height; ocell-ocular distance greater than 2.5 times diameter of lateral ocellus; 18-22 flagellomeres. Mesosoma: mesoscutal lobes smooth; notauli weakly scrobiculate, meeting posteriorly in unsculptured area but with two short longitudinal carinae; scutellum smooth; prescutellar furrow with 3 cross carinae; mesopleuron smooth; precoxal sulcus smooth, shorter than mesopleuron; venter smooth; propodeum with basal median areas margined, smooth, basal median carina present but short, areola not margined, areolar area rugose, lateral areas entirely rugose. Wings: fore wing vein r shorter than vein 3RSa, vein 1cu-a interstitial with vein 1M; hind wing vein SC+R present, vein M+CU shorter than vein 1M. Metasoma: first tergum longitudinally costate, length slightly greater than apical width; second tergum longitudinally costate; anterior transverse groove present, straight; posterior transverse groove weak or absent; third tergum costate basally, smooth apically; terga 4-7 smooth; ovipositor as long as metasomal terga 1-2 combined.

Holotype female.

Top label (white, printed) - Costa Rica: Puntarenas [;] R.F. Golfo Dulce, 3km. [;] S.W. Rincon, 10m [;] I.1992, P. Hanson; second label (red, partially printed and hand written) - HOLOTYPE [;] Heterospilus [;] leviscutum [;] P. Marsh. Deposited in ESUW.

Paratypes.

1 ♀, Costa Rica, Puntarenas [;] San Vito, Estac. Biol. [;] Las Alturas, 1500m [;] 15-31 Oct. 1991 P. Hanson (ESUW). 1 ♀, Costa Rica: Puntarenas, ACO [;] Golfito, R.F. Golfo Dulce [;] Est. Agujas, 250-350m [;] 4-20.vi.1999, J. Azofeifa [;] L.S. 276750-526550 #52746 [;] Amarilla (ESUW). 1 ♀, COSTA RICA: Puntar. [;] R.B. Carara, Estac. Quebrada Bonita, 50m [;] V-VI 1989, P. Hanson (ESUW). 1 ♀, Costa Rica: Puntarenas [;] San Vito, Las Cruces [;] Wilson Botanical Gardens [;] 18-22.iii.1990, 1150m [;] J.S. Noyes (ESUW). 6 ♀♀, Costa Rica: Alajuela [;] 5km. W. San Ramon [;] 1200m, X-1996, April 1997, ii.1997 and iv.1997 [;] O. Castro & P. Hanson (ESUW). 1 ♀, Costa Rica: Alajuela [;] San Carlos, R.F. Arenal [;] Sendero Pilon, 600m [;] 17-18.v.1999, G. Carballo [;] L.N.269100-457900 #53363 [;] Malaise trap (ESUW). 1 ♀, COSTA RICA: Guanac. [;] Sotobosque, W side [;] Volcan Cacao, 1100m [;] II 1989, I. Gauld (ESUW). 1 ♀, Costa Rica: Guanacaste [;] Est. Biol. Maritza, 600m [;] xi.1996, C. Zuniga, Malaise [;] L.N. 326900-373000 #47554 (ESUW). 1 ♀, COSTA RICA: [;] Guanacaste [;] Estac. Mengo [;] SW Volcan Cacao [;] 1100m, 1988-1989 (ESUW). 1 ♀, COSTA RICA: Guanac. [;] Arenales, W. side [;] Volcan Cacao, 900m [;] 1988-1989 (ESUW). 1 ♀, COSTA RICA: [;] San Jose [;] Ciudad Colon [;] 800m, iii-iv 1990 [;] Col. Luis Fournier (ESUW). 2 ♀♀, Costa Rica: San Jose [;] San Antonia de Escazu [;] 1300m, vi-vii.1998 [;] W. Eberhard (ESUW). 1 ♀, COSTA RICA: San Jose, [;] Cerro de la Muerte, [;] 26km N San Isidro, 2100m, [;] ii-v.1992 [;] Paul Hanson (ESUW). 1 ♀, Costa Rica: Cartago [;] Braulio Carillo N.P. [;] 600m, 25.iii.1990 [;] J. S. Noyes, coll. (ESUW). 1 ♀, Costa Rica: Cartago [;] Turrialba, CATIE [;] 14-15 March 1990 [;] 700m, J.S. Noyes (ESUW). 1 ♀, COSTA RICA, Limon [;] sur de Iriquois [;] 300m, 23/V/1987 [;] Col. Paul Hanson (MICR). 2 ♀♀, Est. Cacao, 1000-1400m, [;] Lado SO Vol. Cacao, [;] P.N.G., Prov. Guan. [;] COSTA RICA, C. [;] Chaves, Ago 1991, [;] L-N-323300,375700 (INBC). 1 ♀, COSTA RICA. Prov. Puntarenas. R.F. [;] Golfo Dulce. Est. Agujas. 300m. 12 [;] MAY 2001. J. Azofeifa. Libre [;] L_S_276750_526550 #63266 (INBC).

Comments.

The smooth and polished mesoscutum, flagellum with white apical flagellomeres, unsculptured area where notauli meet posteriorly and the short ovipositor are distinctive for this species.

Etymology.

The specific name is from the Latin levis, meaning smooth, polished, in reference to the smooth and polished mesoscutum.