Epsilogaster

Bortoni, Marco Aurélio, Souza-Gessner, Carolina Da Silva & Penteado-Dias, Angélica Maria, 2016, The subfamily Mendesellinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Brazil, with the description of six new species, Zootaxa 4200 (3), pp. 406-416 : 407-408

Key for Epsilogaster species (modified from Pitz 2004)

1 Head and mesosoma black to dark brown...................................................................2

- Head and mesosoma fulvous ( Figs 1 , 3 ), sometimes shaded with brownish infuscation...............................5

2 Transverse carinae of propodeum not complete, median areola with transverse carinae across it, but not contiguous, with transverse carinae outside areola; antenna with 23 flagellomeres; first metasomal tergite 1.5 × as long as maximum anterior width, with medial portions flattened or barely raised....................................... E. bicolor Whitifield & Mason

- At least one transverse carina of propodeum complete through median areola; first metasomal tergite about 2.0 × as long as maximum width, if shorter, then second metasomal tergum with well defined E-shaped structure; medial portion variable; antenna with variable number of flagellomeres..............................................................3

3 First metasomal tergite with medial portion raised in lateral view; antenna with 22 flagellomeres; propodeum with one clearly defined transverse carina....................................................... E. palenque Whitfield & Mason

- First metasomal tergite not raised medially in lateral view, number of antennal flagellomeres variable; propodeum with more than one clearly defined transverse carinae................................................................. 4

4 Metapleuron usually without rugulose sculpturing over most of its length; if rugulose sculpturing present, then only over distal third; mesopleuron smooth except sternaulus multifoveate and subalar depression with scattered striate sculpturing; antenna with 22 to 24 flagellomeres; propodeum with few transversal carinae............... E. williami Figueroa, López & Valerio

- Metapleuron with prominent carinae and spaced rugulose sculpturing over most of its surface; mesopleuron essentially nitid

except for sternaulus with large scrobiculate sculpturing that reaches and fuses with scrobiculate sculpturing from posterior and dorsal margins of mesopleuron; antenna with more than 24 flagellomeres; propodeum with transverse carina throughout............................................................................ E. antoniae Valerio & Whitfield 5 Longitudinal carinae of first metasomal tergite at least strong to midlength of tergum; sometimes very near lateral edge of terg- ite posteriorly (Fig. 4)................................................................................. 6

- Longitudinal carinae of first metasomal tergite weak or so laterally placed as to be difficult to discern ( Fig. 3 )........... 9

6 Middle arm of E-shaped sclerotization of second metasomal tergite ending abruptly at or before midlength of tergite......7

- Middle arm of E-shaped sclerotization of second metasomal tergite ending posterior to midlength of tergite..............8

7 Surface of posterior half of first metasomal tergite smooth; ovipositor sheaths strongly darkened.................................................................................................... E. dureno Whitfield and Mason

- Surface of most of first metasomal tergite coarsely sculptured; ovipositor sheaths weakly darkened or yellowish......................................................................................... E. tico Whitfield and Mason

8 Ovipositor about as long as hind tibia; lateral carinae of first metasomal tergite extending from anterior edge to about three fourths its length......................................................................... E. fullertoni Pitz

- Ovipositor 1.5 × length of hind tibia; lateral carinae extending at most to midlength of first metasomal tergite (Fig. 4)............................................................................................ E. whitfieldi sp. n.

9 First metasomal tergite about 1.5 × as long as maximal width...................... E. braziliensis Whitfield and Mason

- First metasomal tergite more than 2.0 × as long as maximal width..............................................10

10 Wings infuscate ( Fig. 1 )............................................................................... 11

- Wings hyaline............................................................... E.panama Whitfield and Mason

11 Propodeum with a series of transverse carinae, some of which pass through elongate areola. E. faviolae Valerio & Whitfield

- Propodeum with a tranverse carina on apical third that do not pass through areola ( Fig. 3 )................ E. masoni sp. n.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map for the new species of Epsilogaster.

FIGURES 2 – 3. Epsilogaster masoni sp. n. 2, habitus, lateral view; 3, propodeum, T 1 and T 2, dorsal view; Figs 4 – 5, Epsilogaster whitifieldi sp. n. 4, habitus, lateral view; 5, propodeum, T 1 and T 2, dorsal view.