Aspicera utahensis Ashmead, 1896

ROS-FARRÉ, P. & PUJADE-VILLAR, J., 2013, <strong> Revision of the genus <em> Aspicera </ em> Dahlbom, 1842 (Hym.: Figitidae: Aspicerinae) </ strong>, Zootaxa 3606 (1), pp. 1-110 : 54

Aspicera utahensis Ashmead, 1896

( Figs 2c , 3b , 20a &b )

Aspicera utahensis Ashmead, 1896: 183 . Type in USNM.

Paraspicera utahensis (Ashmead) Weld, 1952: 166 .

Aspicera uthaensis (Ashmead) Ros-Farré & Pujade-Villar 2011a: 54 .

Type material: ( 1♀). HOLOTYPE female ( USNM) label data: “SaltLake, 14.6, Ut” white label, “Type 23281 U. S. N. M.” red label, “ Aspicera uthaensis ♀, type Ashm” USA.

Diagnosis. Aspicera uthaensis can be differentiated from other Aspicera species by a combination of characters: occiput with sharp carinae; lateral surface of pronotum coriaceous; scutellum very slightly convex, nearly flat; scutellum with a medium prominent interfoveal carina continuing straight to half of length, sinuous posteriorly; scutellar foveae with scarce oblique carinae; marginal pubescence of wing absent.

Redescription

Length. Male unknown; female 3.68 mm.

Coloration. Head, antennae, mesosoma and metasoma black. Antenna and leg medium brown. Wing veins medium brown.

Head. Frons coriaceous, rugose. Lateral frontal carinae curved, slightly prominent. Area between compound eye and lateral frontal carinae with transverse carinae. Gena in lateral view rounded, expanded, carinate. Vertex not incised, coriaceous, weakly rugose. Ocelli weakly prominent. Occiput coriaceous with weakly prominent transverse carinae basally and longitudinal carinae dorsally.

Antenna. Filiform. Antennal formula: 4(3): 1.5(2.5): 5.5(2): 4.5(2): 4.5(2): 4.5(2): 4(2): 4(2): 4(2): 3.5(2): 3.5(2): 4(2): 8(2).

Mesosoma. Lateral surface of pronotum coriaceous. Subpronotal plate not projected, dorsal margin pubescent. Scutum coriaceous, with very sparse small piliferous points. Lateral line incomplete, conspicuous. Anteroadmedian lines sharp, reaching 1/3–1/2 scutum length, parallel; median ridge sharp. Notauli posteriorly slightly weaker than median mesoscutal furrow, smooth with very small, weak transverse carinae, median mesoscutal furrow with weak transverse carinae. Area between notauli not prominent in lateral view. Parascutal sulcus narrow, ending near anterior margin of notauli, pubescent. Mesopleuron with oblique carinae and punctate on anterior 1/3, smooth posteriorly. Scutellum 0.9 times scutum length, emarginate. Scutellar foveae quite deep, with scarce oblique carinae, scutellar pits absent. Interfoveal carina prominent, slightly noticeable in lateral view, continuing until last third of scutellar disc. Scutellar disc coriaceous, rugose on posterior 2/3, very slightly convex, almost flat, slightly sloping towards basis of scutellar spine in lateral view. Scutellar spine 0.42 times length of scutellar disc, rugose, narrow, directed upwards in lateral view.

Wing. Wing membrane hyaline. Radial cell 2.11 times longer than wide. Wing pubescence reduced. Marginal pubescence absent until R2. R1 long. R2 straight, little curved apically. Rs+M absent.

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Nearctic: USA (Utah) ( Ashmead, 1896).

Figures

FIGURE 2. (a) Occiput of Aspicera belizini, (b) A. buffingtoni, (c) A. uthaensis, (d) metasoma of A. punctifrons, (e) propodeum of A. hartigi, (f) scutellum of A. foveata from Kovalev (1974: 283), (g) A. kerzhneri from Kovalev (1974: 283).

FIGURE 3. Radial cell of: (a) Aspicera tomasi, (b) A. uthaensis.

FIGURE 20. Aspicera utahensis Ashmead: (a) head and mesosoma in lateral view, (b) mesosoma in dorsal view.