Mirax (Centistidea) ruptus, 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 : 114-116

Mirax (Centistidea) ruptus sp. n.

(Figs 78–83)

Material examined – Female holotype: Honduras, Conés, Parque Nacional Cusuco, 5 km N of Buenos Aires, 15˚29’N / 88˚13’W, 15 August 1995, leg. R. Cave. – Holotype is in good condition: glued on a card point by its hind pleural part. Holotype is deposited in Zoologisk Museum, The University, Lund .

Etymology – The species name ”ruptus” refers to the ”interrupted” carina of propodeum (Fig. 80).

Description of the female holotype – Body 2.6 mm long. Antenna about as long as body, flagellomeres 1–2 equal in length, first flagellomere five times as long as broad preapically (cf. Fig. 62), penultimate flagellomere 3.6 times as long as broad. Head in dorsal view transverse (Fig. 78), almost 1.8 times as broad as long, eye 1.5 times as long as temple, temple rounded. Inner margin of eyes converging ventrally (Fig. 79, see arrows). Head uneven / subpunctate, dull. – Mesosoma in lateral view 1.4 times as long as high. Mesoscutum and scutellum uneven / subpunctate and dull. Metanotum as in Fig. 115. Propodeum polished, medio-longitudinal carina interrupted: its fore part missing, hind angle of propodeum rugulose (Fig. 80). Hind femur 3.3 times as long as broad medially (Fig. 81). – Fore wing: pterostigma 2.8 times as long as wide, issuing r from its midpoint, 2–SR 1.4 times as long as width of pterostigma (Fig. 82). First discal cell high, 1–M 1.6 times as long as m–cu, 1–SR–M weakly sclerotized anteriorly (cf. Fig. 88). – Sclerotized (brown) plate of first tergite spatulate, first tergite one-fourth longer than that of second tergite (Fig. 83), membranous part of third tergite large, together with tergites 1–2 finely striolate. Ovipositor sheath as long as tarsomeres 1–2 and half of 3rd tarsomere combined. – Ground colour of body brown. Antenna dark brown, ultimate four flagellomeres whitish. Face light brown. Oral organs and legs pale to whitish yellow, tibiae + tarsi 2–3 brownish fumous. Tegula light brownish. Membranous parts of tergites whitish. Wings faintly subhyaline, pterostigma and veins brownish yellowish.

Male and host unknown.

Distribution – Honduras.

Taxonomic position – The new species, Mirax (Centistidea) ruptus , is near to M. (C.) sulcatulus sp. n. based on their rounded temple in dorsal view, fine sculpture and more or less dull vertex + mesoscutum and brown corporal colour; the two species are distinguished by the following features:

1 Medio-longitudinal carina of propodeum fully present: extending from its fore to hind margins, otherwise propodeum rugulose with transverse carinulates (Fig. 86). Vertex between fore ocellus and occiput with a weak groove (Fig. 85). Sclerotized (brown) plate of second tergite half as long as that of first tergite, medio-longitudinal plate of second tergite short petiolate (Fig. 89). Pterostigma narrow, issuing r somewhat proximal from its midpoint, 2–SR straight and 1.3 times as long as width of pterostigma (Fig. 87). Flagellum fully brown. f: 1.8–2 mm. – Honduras

M. (C.) sulcatulus sp. n.

– Medio-longitudinal carina of propodeum interrupted: its fore part missing, otherwise propodeum polished (Fig. 80). Vertex without weak groove between fore ocellus and occiput. Sclerotized median (brown) plate of second tergite long narrow, nearly (0.75 times) as long as that of first tergite, medio-longitudinal plate of first tergite long petiole-shape (Fig. 83). Pterostigma slightly less narrow, issuing r from its midpoint, 2–SR faintly bent and 1.4 times as long as width of pterostigma (Fig. 82). Flagellum brown, ultimate four flagellomeres whitish. f: 2.6 mm. – Honduras M. (C.) ruptus sp. n.

The new species is also near to M. (C.) pendiasae sp. n. considering their common features: brown ground colour of body, rounded temple in dorsal view (Figs 63, 78) and large membranous part of third tergite (Fig. 89); the two species can be distinguished from each other using the following features key:

1 Medio-longitudinal carina of propodeum fully present: extending from its fore to hind margins, laterally from carina rather transversely rugulose with a few carinulate and areolate elements (Fig. 64). Fore wing: pterostigma 2.6 times as long as wide, issuing r proximally from its midpoint, 2–SR 1.7 times as long as width of pterostigma (Fig. 66). Sclerotized plate of second tergite half as long as that of first tergite (Fig. 68). Tegula pale yellow. f: 2.2 mm. – Honduras M. (C.) pendiasae sp. n.

– Medio-longitudinal carina of propodeum interrupted, its anterior part missing, otherwise propodeum polished (Fig. 80). Fore wing: pterostigma less wide, four times as long as wide, issuing r from its midpoint, 2–SR 1.4 times as long as width of pterostigma (Fig. 82). Sclerotized (brown) plate of second tergite one-fourth shorter than that of first tergite (Fig. 83). Tegula light brownish. f: 2.6 mm. – Honduras M. (C.) ruptus sp. n.

The new species is also near to M. (C.) striatus (Penteado-Dias) (Pen- teAdo- DiAs 1999: 192) based on their finely striate desclerotized (pale yellow) part of tergites 1–3, (almost) polished propodeum and dorsal form of head; they can be distinguished using the following key:

1 Medio-longitudinal carina of propodeum fully present, i.e. not interrupted proximally, otherwise propodeum polished with a few transverse rugulae (Fig. 9 in PenteAdo- DiAs 1999: 193). First flagellomere somewhat longer than second flagellomere (Fig. 7 l. c.). Fore wing: r indistinct (Fig. 10 l. c.). Sclerotized (brown) plate of first tergite broad and rather round, striolation of third tergite short (Fig. 11 l. c.). Ground colour of body yellow with brown to dark brown pattern, flagellum fully brownish. f: 1.6 mm. – Brazil M. (C.) striatus (Penteado-Dias, 1999)

– Medio-longitudinal carina of propodeum interrupted proximally, otherwise propodeum polished (Fig. 80). Flagellomeres 1–2 equal in length (cf. Fig. 62). Fore wing: r distinct (Fig. 82). Sclerotized (brown) plate of first tergite elongate (Fig. 83), striolation of second tergite long. Ground colour of body brown, flagellum also brown, ultimate four flagellomeres pale yellow. f: 2.6 mm. – Honduras M. (C.) ruptus sp. n. The new species, M. (C.) ruptus , stands alone with its interruted mediolongitudinal carina on propodeum (Fig. 80), in key see couplet 12.