Alphomelon josecortesi Fernandez-Triana & Shimbori, 2023

Fernandez-Triana, Jose L., Shimbori, Eduardo M., Whitfield, James B., Penteado-Dias, Angelica M., Shaw, Scott R., Boudreault, Caroline, Sones, Jayme, Perez, Kate, Brown, Allison, Manjunath, Ramya, Burns, John M., Hebert, P. D. N., Smith, M. Alex, Hallwachs, Winnifred & Janzen, Daniel H., 2023, A revision of the parasitoid wasp genus Alphomelon Mason with the description of 30 new species (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), ZooKeys 1175, pp. 5-162 : 5

Alphomelon josecortesi Fernandez-Triana & Shimbori sp. nov.

Figs 42A-G , 43A-G , 48A-F , 97B , 99B

Type material.

Holotype. Costa Rica • Female, CNC; Guanacaste, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Sector Pitilla, Sendero Orosilito, 10°58'59.88"N, 85°26'10.32"W, 900m; 14.I.2013; ex. Vertica subrufescens ; coll. Freddy Quesada; Voucher code: DHJPAR0051219; Host voucher code: 13-SRNP-30133.

Paratypes. Costa Rica • 37 females, 3 males, CNC; CNC1801997, CNC1801998, CNC1801999, CNC1802000, CNC1802001, CNC1802002, CNC1802003, DHJPAR0041756, DHJPAR0052937, CNC1802004, CNC1802005, CNC1802006, CNC1802007, CNC1802008, CNC1802009, DHJPAR0051213, CNC1802010, CNC1802011, CNC1802012, CNC1802013, CNC1802014, CNC1802015, CNC1802016, CNC1802017, CNC1802018, CNC1802019, CNC1802020, DHJPAR0055445, CNC1802021, CNC1802022, CNC1802023, CNC1802024, CNC1802025, CNC1802026, CNC1802027, CNC1802028, CNC958823, CNC958824, CNC958825 (additional specimens in a gel capsule associated with that specimen), DHJPAR0034230.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (ACG).

Biology.

Gregarious, reared from Vertica subrufescens on at least 34 palm species ( Arecaceae ).

DNA barcoding.

BINBOLD:AAB6733.

Etymology.

Named in honor of Sr. José Cortés in honor of his decades of teamwork in the ACG parataxonomist team.

Diagnostic description.

White patch on gena: extending to occiput and onto clypeus. Tegula/humeral complex color: yellow/brown or brown/brown. Mesonotum color: mostly dark brown to black. Metasoma color: mostly black or dark brown. Tarsal claws spines: 3 or 4. Pterostigma shape: comparatively more elongate, its length ≥ 3.0 × its central height and more triangular with its two lower margins more or less straight. T1 sculpture: strongly sculptured on at least apical half or more. T1 central ridge: clearly marked by two raised carinae. T2 sculpture: entirely to mostly smooth. Ovipositor sheaths length: longer than first segment of metatarsus. Body length: 4.1-4.2 mm. Fore wing length: 4.0-4.3 mm.

Figures

Figure 42. Alphomelon josecortesi Fernandez-Triana & Shimbori holotype female DHJPAR 0051219 A head, frontal B head, lateral C habitus, lateral D wings E metasoma, lateral F metasoma, dorsal G mesosoma, dorsal.

Figure 43. Alphomelon josecortesi Fernandez-Triana & Shimbori paratype female CNC 1802002 A ovipositor, lateral B habitus, lateral C head, frontal D head, lateral E wings F metasoma, dorsal G mesosoma, dorsal.

Figure 48. Alphomelon josecortesi Fernandez-Triana & Shimbori paratype female DHJPAR 0051213. A habitus, lateral B head, frontal C wings D mesosoma, dorsal E metasoma, dorsal F propodeum and T 1, dorsal.

Figure 97. Parasite cocoons A Alphomelon hazelcambroneroae 17 - SRNP- 27155 - DHJ 731343 B Alphomelon josecortesi 15 - SRNP- 32024 - DHJ 728940.

Figure 99. Parasite cocoons and caterpillars A Alphomelon manuelriosi 15 - SRNP- 31843 - DHJ 728686 B Alphomelon josecortesi 15 - SRNP- 2670 - DHJ 704019.