Brachycyrtus obelix Gauld & Ward, 2000

Nascimento, Alexsandra C. & Fernandes, Daniell R. R., 2024, Synopsis of Brachycyrtus Kriechbaumer, 1880 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Brachycyrtinae) from Brazil, with description of two new species, Zootaxa 5430 (1), pp. 1-62 : 32-35

Brachycyrtus obelix Gauld & Ward, 2000

( Fig. 38 )

Brachycyrtus obelix Gauld & Ward, 2000: 26 . Holotype female, Costa Rica (EMUS) [Entomology Museum, Utah State University, Logan , Utah, USA].

Material examined. 1 ♀. BRAZIL, AM [Amazonas]: Manaus, ZF 2 km / 02°35’21”S - 60°06’55”W, 16- / 30.ix.2016, Malaise grande 18 M / na torre, J.A.Rafael & F.F. / Xavier Fº (1 ♀, INPA) .

Diagnosis. Brachycyrtus obelix can be differentiated from other Neotropical Brachycyrtus by the combination of the following characters: mesoscutum yellowish-brown; propodeum entirely yellowish-brown; propodeum polished with coarse punctures and sparse setae anterolaterally, area superomedia confluent with area petiolaris, anterior transverse carina complete to pleural carina, lateral longitudinal carina delineated only posteriorly, posterior transverse carina present lateromedially so that the area dentipara is separated from the area posteroexterna, but the area lateralis is confluent with the area coxalis ( Figs. 38D, 38G ).

Male. Unknown.

Variation (n=1). Fore wing length 3.43 mm. Pronotum with epomia absent. Lateral longitudinal carina incomplete anteriorly. The spot on the mesopleuron and the posterior coxa may be brown.

Geographical records. Brazil (Amazonas**), Costa Rica ( Gauld & Ward 2000; Yu et al. 2016) ( Fig. 43 ).

Biological note. The host of this species is so far unknown.

Discussion. Brachycyrtus obelix is morphologically similar to B. oculatus mainly in the set of carinae of the propodeum, area externa and area spiracularis confluent, area basalis septate and not delineated laterally, area superomedia confluent with area petiolaris, anterior transverse carina complete to pleural carina, lateral longitudinal carina delineated only posteriorly, area dentipara not laterally delineated, area posteroexterna closed, posterior transverse carina present lateromedially, area coxalis not anteriorly delineated. In B. oculatus propodeum granulate with sparse setae with area anterolateral black ( Figs. 43D, 43G ). In contrast, in B. obelix propodeum entirely yellowish-brown, polished with coarse punctures and sparse setae anterolaterally ( Figs. 38D, 38G ).

Remarks. Additional characters of the material examined from Brazil (n=1) (♀) are the following: Body length 4.51 mm. Head. Antenna length 4.17 mm. Dorsal view ( Fig. 38C ), ocellus diameter 0.25 mm; distance between the anterior and posterior ocellus 0.03 mm; shortest distance between the posterior ocellus and the compound eye 0.11 mm; distance between the posterior ocellus 0.10 mm. Front view ( Fig. 38B ), eye height 0.64 mm. Frons width 0.47 mm. Face width 0.38 mm. Malar space 0.06 mm. Basal mandible width 0.11 mm, bidentate. Mesosoma. Dorsal view ( Fig. 38E ), mesoscutum with notaulus present, barely discernible. Scutellum punctate. Lateral view ( Fig. 38A ), pronotum with groove in the inferior anterolateral part. Mesopleuron smooth, polished and without punctate; epicnemial carina ascending about middle from the anterior margin of the mesopleuron and ventrally approaching the posterior carina of the sternum; sternaulus short. Metapleuron polished with sparse punctures. Wings. Fore wing with 1cu-a relative to post-furcal M&RS; 2m-cu with two bullae. Hind wing length 2.13 mm; abscissa CU spectral. Metasoma. Length tergite 1 0.76 mm. Apical width tergite 1 0.28 mm; basal width tergite 1 0.16 mm; Length tergite 2 0.64 mm; apical width tergite 2 0.57 mm; basal width tergite 2 0.30 mm. Length tergite 3 0.52 mm; apical width tergite 3 0.57 mm; basal width tergite 3 0.58 mm. Length ovipositor 0.99 mm, apex of ovipositor truncated with three teeth and without nodus ( Fig. 38F ).

Figures

FIGURE 38A–G. Brachycyrtus obelix Gauld & Ward, 2000, female. (A) Lateral habitus. (B) Head, Frontal view. (C) Head, dorsal view. (D) Propodeum, dorsal view. (E) Body, dorsal view. (F) Ovipositor, lateral view. (G) SEM of propodeum, dorsal view.

FIGURE 43A–G. Brachycyrtus oculatus Cushman, 1936, female. (A) Lateral habitus. (B) Head, Frontal view. (C) Head, dorsal view. (D) Propodeum, dorsal view. (E) Body, dorsal view. (F) Ovipositor, lateral view. (G) SEM of propodeum, dorsal view.