Epelaspis constantinoi Lima & Fernandes, 2024

Lima, Adriane G. M., Pádua, Diego G., Araujo, Rodrigo O., Mazariegos, Luis A. & Fernandes, Daniell R. R., 2024, Revisiting the Darwin wasp genus Epelaspis Townes, 1970 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Phygadeuontinae): five new species, new records and a key to Neotropical species, Zootaxa 5468 (1), pp. 52-74 : 60-62

Epelaspis constantinoi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov.

( Fig. 6 A–E )

Type material. 1 female. Holotype. COLOMBIA, Jardín, Antioquia, Mesenia-Paramillo nature reserve (1800– 3000m altitude) 5°29’45.8”N 75°53’21.3”W, sweep nets, IV.2019, Mazariegos, L. (1 female, CEUA).

Diagnosis. Epelaspis constantinoi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Neotropical species of Epelaspis by the combination of the following characters: (1) pronotum with marginal striae; (2) lateral longitudinal carina of propodeum present only portion of area dentipara ( Fig. 6D ); (3) lateromedian longitudinal carina with edges parallel on area petiolaris ( Fig. 6D ).

Description. Holotype female. Body length (head to T8) 6.85 mm.

Head. Frons polished, granulated, concave with antennal scrobe M-shaped, striae on the antennal scrobe and in the entire dorsal part, sparse punctation and short setae. Face mat, granulated, weak convex with punctation with setae ( Fig. 6C ). Carinae V-shaped weak starting from the antennal socket and extending to almost half of the face, culminating in a papilla ( Fig. 6C ). Clypeus truncated with sparse punctation and setae ( Fig. 6C ). Gena length 0.15 mm. Eye height 0.88 mm. Ocellus diameter 0.11 mm. Shortest distance between anterior and posterior ocelli 0.07 mm. Shortest distance between posterior ocellus and compound eye 0.20 mm. Shortest distance between posterior ocelli 0.06 mm.

Mesosoma . Pronotum mat with punctation and marginal striae, short setae.Epomia present anteriorly. Epicnemial carina not oblique. Epicnemium polished with punctation. Mesopleuron mat, weak granulate with sparse punctation with setae. Metapleuron mat, weak granulate, sparse punctation with setae; area below juxtacoxal carina polished with punctation; submetapleural carina with small crest. Mesoscutum mat, granulated with punctation and short setae ( Fig. 6B ). Notaulus reaching on the middle of mesoscutum ( Fig. 6B ). Scuto-scutellar groove polished and smooth. Scutellum mat, granulated with punctation and short setae. Propodeum mat, granulated with sparse punctation and setae; area basalis not anteriorly delimited; area superomedia not laterally delimited; posterior transverse carina with large crest; lateral longitudinal carina present only portion of area dentipara and without sulcus above pleural carina on the portion of area dentipara; lateromedian longitudinal carina incomplete with edges parallels on area petiolaris; area externa with striae; area petiolaris and area postero-externa with rugae on part posterior ( Fig. 6D ). Fore wing without ramulus ( Fig. 6E ). Legs with punctation, short setae and tarsus with denticles; one tibial spur in fore leg, two asymmetrical tibial spurs in mid leg, two asymmetrical tibial spurs in hind leg. Fore wing length 5.31 mm. Hind femur length 2.03 mm. Hind tibia length 2.60 mm.

Metasoma. Tergites polished, with sparse punctation and very sparse short setae ( Fig. 6B ). Tergite 1 with dorsolateral carina incomplete near the spiracle and straight, without lateromedian carina. Tergite 2 with thyridium. Tergite 3 with a anterior band of punctation with setae. Ovipositor with upper valve and lower valve smooth, lower valve with notch pre-apical. Tergite 1 length 1.23 mm. Anterior width of tergite 1 0.17 mm. Posterior width of tergite 1 0.51 mm. Tergite 2 length 0.77 mm. Anterior width of tergite 2 0.70 mm. Posterior width of tergite 2 0.99 mm. Tergite 3 length 0.56 mm. Anterior width of tergite 3 0.98 mm. Posterior width of tergite 3 0.89 mm. Ovipositor length 2.21 mm.

Coloration. Body yellowish orange ( Fig. 6A ). Antenna brown; scape yellowish orange, pedicel yellowish brown, annellus and base of first flagellomere brownish red. Head yellowish orange, dorsal part brownish ( Fig. 6B ). Clypeus yellowish orange ( Fig. 6C ). Mandibular teeth whitish yellow with apex brownish red ( Fig. 6C ). Mesoscutum yellowish orange with brownish parts ( Fig. 6B ). Propodeum yellowish orange ( Fig. 6D ). Fore coxa whitish yellow with fore femur yellowish brown, fore tibia and fore tarsus brown. Mid and fore legs brownish red, except mid and fore coxa yellowish orange. Wings hyaline. Veins and pterostigma brown ( Fig. 6E ). Tergites yellowish red and tergites 2 and 3 with spot brownish red ( Fig. 6B ).

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Colombia (Antioquia) ( Fig. 1 ).

Host. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific epiphet constantinoi pays tribute to Emilio Constantino Chuaire, a distinguished Colombian agronomist, conservationist, and naturalist, commemorating his exemplary environmental stewardship and unwavering commitment to environmental studies. It stands as a lasting testament to his tireless efforts in promoting ecological consciousness and safeguarding natural ecosystems in Colombia. This symbolic gesture not only honors his profound influence on the scientific realm but also highlights the vital link between environmental advocacy and entomological exploration, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these disciplines in advancing environmental conservation.

Discussion. Epelaspis constantinoi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. is most similar to the E. anorus for the clypeus truncated and antennal scrobe M-shaped with striae. However, E. constantinoi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. differs from E. anorus in the following characters: pronotum with marginal striae (without marginal striae in E. anorus ), and metapleuron weakly granulated with sparse punctation (smooth in E. anorus ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mesenia-Paramillo nature reserve, Antioquia, Colombia.

FIGURE 6. A–E: Epelaspis constantinoi Lima & Fernandes, sp. nov. Holotype female. A: habitus, lateral view; B: habitus, dorsal view; C: head, frontal view; D: propodeum, dorsal view; E: fore wing, ventral view.