Elampus macuxi Lucena

Lucena, Daercio A. A. & Gomes, Rayane S., 2016, New species of Elampus Spinola, 1806 (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae), with a key to the Neotropical species of the genus, Zootaxa 4117 (4), pp. 555-566 : 560-562

Elampus macuxi Lucena , sp. nov.

( Figs 13–18 )

Diagnosis. Male. Marginal area of terga without basolateral translucent border, except partial translucent rim present on T3. Scapal basin irregularly punctuated with discrete zones of cross-ridging medially. Dorsal surfaces of head, mesosoma and metasoma punctuated. Dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and apical teeth of mandibles with distinct reddish highlights. Metanotum rectangular posteriorly, longer than broad. Tarsal claws with single subsidiary tooth. Female. Unknown.

Description (holotype). Male. Body size: 3.9 mm ( Fig. 13 ). Coloration: integument primarily metallic light green; mesosoma metallic light green with distinct reddish highlights; metasoma metallic light green; marginal area of terga without basolateral translucent border, except partially marked latero-distally on T3; sterna green with lateral brownish areas; wing membrane light with brown veins; femora and tibiae greenish; tarsi brownish. Head: scapal basin with discrete zones of cross-ridging medially and irregular rugulose punctation basolaterally ( Fig. 18 ); scape and pedicel greenish; flagellomeres brownish and elongated, with silvery erect setae; F1 longer than broad; malar space extremely short (about 0.2 × MOD); mandibles huge, with three distinct teeth and conspicuous reddish highlights ( Fig. 18 ); subantennal space narrow, about 1 MOD long; upper genal space broad, longer than 2.5 × MOD; genal area sculptured posteriorly, forming a discrete longitudinal division ( Fig. 13 ); posterior genal margin delimited by carina; upper frons with definite punctuation; vertex with shallow and separated punctures; genal space, from medium to upper portions, with wide shiny interspaces; genal space with scarce and well separated punctures. Legs: fore femur not elbowed, without keel-like projection ventrally; legs without distinct punctuation, except by tiny punctures noticed externally; tarsal claws with single subsidiary tooth. Wings: R1 absent; M strongly arched, arising at cu–a; Rs short and curving away from distal margin of wing. Pronotum: lower lateral pronotal surface with distinct fovea; dorsal surface regularly punctuated and distinct red-to-golden highlights ( Fig. 14 ). Mesopleuron: omaulus and scrobal carina very sharp; mesopleural surface coarsely punctuated. Scutum: notauli marked by thin lines; definite punctuation surround the notauli; distinct red highlights medially ( Fig. 14 ). Metanotum: rectangular, much longer than broad ( Fig. 16 ); large and coarse punctuation. Propodeum: with pointed teeth basolaterally, posteriorly with sinuous edges. Metasoma: basolateral margins of terga without translucent border, just partially marked on T3; T3 with large dark brown spots basolaterally ( Fig. 17 ); T3 apical margin near to rounded, without medial notch ( Fig. 15 ); integument of apical T3 with stretch marks ( Fig. 15 ); metasoma with shallow and tiny punctuation; T3 with largest punctures distally ( Fig. 15 ). Measurements (in mm): fore wing = 2.54; length and width of head = 0.74 and 1.17; LID = 0.70; ocular length = 0.62; MOD = 0.1; length of scape = 0.35; F1 and F2 = 0.22 and 0.14; width of pronotum = 1.05; length and width of metanotum = 0.46 and 0.27; length of scutum = 0.58; distance between the tegulae = 0.93.

Variation. The species is known only by four specimens and they are identical in all specific features. General body size 3.8–3.9 mm.

Material examined. Holotype, Ƌ: “Surumu, Roraima IX.1966 M. Alvarenga & F.M. Oliveira col. / MZSP 0 4675 / HOLOTYPE Elampus macuxi Ƌ Lucena (red label)” [ MZUSP]. Paratypes, 3Ƌ: Surumu, Roraima IX.1966, coll. M. Alvarenga & F.M. Oliveira / MZSP 0 4560, 04678–04679 / PARATYPE Elampus macuxi Ƌ Lucena (handwritten green label) [ MZUSP].

Distribution. Brazil (Roraima) ( Fig. 12).

Etymology. The name is a tribute to the ethnicity Macuxi , the native inhabiting the region among Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela, where the specimen was caught. Informally, “ Macuxi ” is also the gentile adjective for person native from Roraima state.

Remarks. The species most closely resembles Elampus puertoricensis Huber, 1980 and E. viridis Cresson, 1865 . These taxa share the unusual rounded apical margin of T3, reddish highlights on dorsum of mesosoma and tarsal claws with one small vertical tooth. The red, golden or coppery colors are usual in the Nearctic and Palearctic species, but unusual for Neotropical taxa. Elampus macuxi Lucena , sp. nov. is easily distinguishable from these species by sculptured genal area and the prominent mandibles. Additionally, the basolateral margins of terga without translucent border, large brown spots on lateral of T3, shape of metanotum and sculptures of scapal basin are diagnostic for this species.

Figures

FIGURES 13, 14. Elampus macuxi, sp. nov., holotype, ♂. 13. Habitus, lateral view. 14. Pronotum, dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 15 – 18. Elampus macuxi, sp. nov.. 15. T 3 apical margin, posterior view, punctures omitted on right side. 16. Metanotum, dorsal view, punctures omitted. 17. Metasoma, lateral view. 18. Head, frontal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.