Stethantyx cecilia 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 : 239-240

Stethantyx cecilia Khalaim et Broad , sp. nov.

Comparison. Similar to S. niger sp. nov. as both have an almost entirely black head and mesosoma, but differs from this species by a broad white band on the flagellum, the absence of notauli and a longer second metasomal tergite. Differs from three other species with a white-banded flagellum ( S. alajuela sp. nov., S. guanacasteca sp. nov. and S. puntarenasa sp. nov.) by the black head and mesosoma.

Description. Female. Body length 6.7 mm. Fore wing length about 4.25 mm.

Head rounded behind eyes in dorsal view; temple short, 0.33× as long as eye width. Mandible slender, very weakly narrowed towards apex, upper tooth distinctly longer than lower tooth. Clypeus broad, lenticular, slightly convex in lateral view, smooth on lower part, with dense, distinct punctures on its upper 0.3–0.5. Malar space 0.4× as long as basal width of mandible. Flagellum of antenna with 30–32 flagellomeres (31 flagellomeres in holotype); subbasal flagellomeres 1.2–1.4× as long as broad, middle and subapical flagellomeres slightly elongate. Inner eye orbits very weakly convergent ventrally. Face with central prominence, very densely punctate, dull. Frons distinctly and very densely punctate, dull. Vertex and temple finely punctate, very finely granulate and dull to almost smooth and shining.

Notaulus entirely absent or as uneven area near anterolateral margin of mesoscutum. Mesoscutum with dense, distinct punctures, very finely granulate and dull between punctures. Scutellum with lateral longitudinal carinae developed in its anterior 0.6–0.7. Foveate groove of mesopleuron situated in anterior 0.6–0.7 of mesopleuron, oblique, deep, with strong transverse wrinkles, usually not reaching anterior margin of mesopleuron. Mesopleuron rather densely punctate, smooth and shining between punctures centrally. Propodeum with dorsolateral area moderately densely punctate, finely granulate to almost smooth between punctures; apical area finely granulate, finely and densely punctate (punctures sometimes indistinct). Basal area of propodeum distinct, narrow, distinctly widened anteriorly, 0.5–0.6× as long as apical area; basal longitudinal carinae distinct. Propodeal spiracle separated from pleural carina by 0.5–1.0× diameter of spiracle. Apical area flat, roundly pointed anteriorly.

Fore wing with veins Rs +2 r and Rs angled about 110–115°. Vein 2 rs-m about 4.0× longer than abscissa of M between 2 rs-m and 2 m-cu (subequal in one paratype from Braulio Carrillo National Park). Hind wing with cu 1& cu-a slightly inclivous.

Hind femur 4.86× as long as broad, 0.84× as long as tibia.

First tergite 4.3× as long as posteriorly broad, dorsally smooth, finely striate laterally before glymma. Glymma situated slightly behind middle of tergite 1, small, joining by very shallow furrow to ventral part of postpetiole. Second tergite 2.4× as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression shallow, more than 4.0× as long as broad. Ovipositor weakly upcurved, with shallow dorsal subapical depression; sheath 1.4× as long as first tergite and 1.23× as long as hind tibia.

Head, mesosoma (including tegula) and tergite 1 of metasoma black; palpi, mandible (teeth reddish black), lower 0.7 of clypeus, propleuron and anterior margin of pronotum brownish yellow. Scape of antenna entirely or only ventrally brownish yellow, pedicel brownish, flagellum fuscous with 6 to 8 flagellomeres somewhat distal to middle of flagellum whitish. Legs yellowish brown, fore and mid coxae and trochanters white. Hind tibia and tarsus sometimes fuscous. Pterostigma brownish black. Metasoma behind first tergite yellowish to yellowish brown, tergite 2 and basal half of tergite 3 dorsally brown to black.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. Named after the type locality, [Santa] Cecilia .

Material examined. Holotype female (INBio), Guanacaste National Park, 9 km S of Santa Cecilia , Estación Pitilla, 700 m, VIII.1994, coll. C. Moraga.

Paratypes. Alajuela Prov.: 1 Ƥ (ZISP) 4 km SW of Dos Ríos de Upala, Estación San Ramón, 680 m, VIII– IX.1996, coll. F.A. Quesada. San José Prov.: 1 Ƥ (MUCR) Braulio Carrillo National Park, 9.5 km E of El Tunel, 1000 m, VI.1989, coll. P. Hanson.

Distribution. Costa Rica ( Alajuela , Guanacaste, San José).