Vipio thoracica (Ashmead), 1900

Quicke, Donald L. J., Shaw, Scott R., Inayatullah, Mian & Butcher, Buntika A., 2020, The genus Vipio Latreille (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in the Neotropical Region, ZooKeys 925, pp. 89-140 : 89

Vipio thoracica (Ashmead), 1900 Figures 25 , 26

Glyptomorpha thoracica Ashmead, 1900: 295; Szépligeti, 1904: 15; Vipio thoracica : Shenefelt, 1978: 1863.

Type material.

Holotype, ♀, Glyptomorpha thoracica Ashmead, 1900, Grenada: W.I. Chantilly Est. (Windward side) (no date) (H.H. Smith) (BMNH 3.c.540).

Additional material examined.

Venezuela: 1 ♀, Puerto Cabello, 10.i.1940 (P. Anduze) (USNM).

Diagnosis.

Raised area present on the face; T I with strong dorso-lateral carina; metasoma widely ovate and densely striate; hypopygium short; ovipositor length/body length 0.5; mesosoma dark reddish black.

Description.

(females). Length of body 4.8-6.2 mm, of fore wing 5.2-6.2 mm, of ovipositor (part exserted beyond apex of abdomen) 2.4-3.1 mm and of antenna 5.1-6.2 mm.

Head. Antenna 1.0-1.1 × body length, with 39-45 flagellomeres; first flagellomere 2.0 × longer than wide, 1.5-1.6 × longer than 2nd, the latter 1.7 × longer than wide; median flagellomeres quadrate; terminal flagellomere acutely pointed apically; head transverse; face smooth; smooth and shiny; clypeus slightly rugulose, clypeal guard setae typical; HL 0.72-0.76 × HH; HW/HH 0.72-0.74; FH/FW 0.56-0.62; EH/HH 0.66-0.69 EH/FW 1.0-1.1; EW/EH 0.70-0.71; ITD 1.61-1.7 × TOD; MS 0.23-0.33 × EH; LMC 0.3 × HH; third segment of maxillary palpus 4.0 × longer than wide.

Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.74-1.8 × height; smooth and shiny; notauli smooth; propodeum smooth.

Wings. Fore wing: length of fore wing 1.0-1.1 × body length; PL/LRC 0.84-0.97; PW/PL 0.22-0.27; length of vein 3RSb 0.86-0.97 × combined length of r-rs and 3RSa; length of vein 1M 0.68-0.71 × length of (RS+M)a; vein 3RSa reaching wing margin 0.69-0.71 × distance between apex of pterostigma and wing tip. Hind wing: uniformly setose; apex of C+SC+R with one basal hamule.

Legs. Claw with pointed basal lobe.

Metasoma. Metasoma widely ovate. First metasomal tergite 0.8-1.3 × longer than wide, raised median area oval, rugose; dorso-lateral carina laminate; T II 2.0-2.25 × wider than long, basal areas smooth, oblique furrows strongly impressed, crenulate; T III 2.2-2.6 × wider than medially long; T III-V longitudinally striate, T III and IV with anterolateral areas; T V-VII smooth and shiny; hypopygium ending at apex of abdomen; ovipositor 0.5 × body length.

Colour. Face yellow, except a black, raised median area; palpi, tip of mandible, vertex, temple, occiput, and antenna black; metasoma reddish yellow to black. Wings smoky.

Male. Unknown.

Remarks.

This species resembles the Nearctic species V. rugator because of the presence of a raised area on the face, strong dorso-lateral carina of T I, widely ovate and densely striate metasoma, and short hypopygium. The relatively longer ovipositor (ovipositor length/body length 0.5) and reddish black mesosoma separate thoracica from rugator , in which the ovipositor is shorter (ovipositor length/body length 0.29-0.35) and the metasoma is yellow or reddish yellow.

Figures

Figure 25. Montaged light micrographs of Vipio thoracica. A Holotype, habitus lateral view B head, oblique view C mesosoma, lateral view D head, dorsal view E propodeum F mesoscutum and scutellum, dorsal view G wings.

Figure 26. Montaged light micrographs of Vipio thoracica. A Holotype, metasomal tergite I, oblique dorsal view B holotype, metasomal tergites II-IV.