Stethantyx limona Khalaim et Broad

Khalaim, Andrey I. & Broad, Gavin R., 2013, Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Costa Rica, part 2. Genera Megalochus gen. nov. and Stethantyx Townes, Zootaxa 3693 (2), pp. 221-266 : 246-247

Stethantyx limona Khalaim et Broad , sp. nov.

( Fig. 55 )

Comparison. Similar to S. osa sp. nov. and S. pseudoosa sp. nov. in colour pattern and structure but differs from these species by the narrower basal area of the propodeum ( Fig. 55 ), shorter lateral longitudinal carinae of the scutellum and the longer ovipositor. Also differs from S. sanjosea sp. nov., which has a similar pattern of propodeal areolation, by the almost entirely black head with only the clypeus yellowish orange, a darker hind leg and the somewhat longer ovipositor.

Description. Female. Body length about 6.1 mm. Fore wing length 4.0 mm.

Head strongly rounded behind eyes in dorsal view; temple 0.42× as long as eye width. Mandible with upper tooth much longer than lower tooth. Clypeus broad, lenticular, flat or slightly convex in lateral view, smooth, finely and densely punctate on its upper 0.4. Malar space about 0.25× as long as basal width of mandible. Flagellum of antenna narrowed towards apex, with 28–30 flagellomeres (30 flagellomeres in holotype); all flagellomeres about 1.2–1.4× as long as broad. Inner eye orbits very weakly convergent ventrally. Face with central prominence. Face and frons finely and very densely punctate over finely granulate, dull surface (punctures partly indistinct because of granulation). Vertex and temple finely granulate, dull, very fine indistinct punctures.

Notaulus as tubercle distant from anterolateral margin of mesoscutum, or sometimes with weak wrinkle extending from anterolateral margin of mesoscutum. Mesoscutum finely granulate, with very fine and dense punctures. Scutellum with lateral longitudinal carinae short, extending from its base to 0.3–0.4 of length of scutellum. Foveate groove of mesopleuron situated in anterior 0.6 of mesopleuron, strongly oblique, rather narrow, crenulate, not reaching anterior margin of mesopleuron. Mesopleuron very finely granulate, dull, very finely punctate. Propodeum finely granulate, dull, dorsolateral area with very fine and moderately dense punctures, without wrinkles adjacent to carinae. Basal area of propodeum narrow, weakly widened anteriorly, about 2.5× as long as broad, 0.45× as long as apical area ( Fig. 55 ) and about 0.1× as broad as propodeum (measured between propodeal spiracles in dorsal view); basal longitudinal carinae well developed. Propodeal spiracle separated from pleural carina by 0.5–1.0× diameter of spiracle. Apical area flat, anteriorly rounded.

Fore wing with veins Rs +2 r and Rs angled about 110°. Vein 2 rs-m as long as or slightly longer than abscissa of M between 2 rs-m and 2 m-cu. Hind wing with cu 1& cu-a vertical. Hind femur 4.4× as long as broad, 0.84× as long as tibia.

First tergite 3.7× as long as posteriorly broad, smooth, petiole laterally finely striate before glymma, sometimes apex of petiole also finely striate dorsally. Glymma situated near or slightly behind middle of tergite 1, joining by fine furrow to ventral part of postpetiole. Second tergite 2.1× as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression more than 4.0× as long as broad. Ovipositor upcurved, with shallow dorsal subapical depression; sheath about 2.2× as long as first tergite and twice as long as hind tibia.

Head black; clypeus brownish yellow, palpi and mandible (teeth blackish) yellow, lower part of face slightly reddish. Antenna brownish black basally to black apically. Mesosoma (including tegula) reddish orange, mesoscutum sometimes blackish anteriorly and centrally. Legs brownish yellow, hind femur more or less darkened with brown, hind tibia fuscous except apex, hind tarsus fuscous. Pterostigma dark brown to brownish black. Metasomal segment 1 brownish black to black. Metasoma behind tergite 1 yellowish in ventral half and dark brown to brownish black in dorsal half, tergite 2 dorsally with yellow posterior band narrow and tergites 3+ with posterior pale band wider.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. All specimens are very uniform, without obvious variation.

Etymology. Named after the type locality, Limón province of Costa Rica.

Material examined. Holotype female (BMNH) Limón Prov., 16 km W of Guápiles, edge of Braulio Carrillo National Park, 400 m, II.1989, coll. I.D. Gauld.

Paratypes. Limón Prov.: 3 Ƥ (2 Ƥ BMNH, 1 Ƥ ZISP) same data as holotype, but IV, X–XI.1989. 2 Ƥ (MUCR) same data, but II.1989, coll. P. Hanson.

Distribution. Costa Rica (Limón).

Figures

FIGURES 53 – 55. Stethantyx sanjosea sp. nov., Ƥ: 53 — propodeum, dorsal; 54 — mesosoma and hind leg, left. Stethantyx limona sp. nov., Ƥ: 55 — propodeum, dorsal. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.