Epelaspis wagneri 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 : 71-73

Epelaspis wagneri Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov.

( Fig. 13 A–E )

Type material. 1 female. Holotype. COLOMBIA, Jardín, Antioquia, Mesenia-Paramillo nature reserve , VIII.2019, Mazariegos, L. (1 female, CEUA).

Diagnosis. Epelaspis wagneri Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Neotropical species of Epelaspis by the combination of the following characters: (1) lateromedian longitudinal posteriorly with small crest ( Fig. 13D ); (2) small sulcus above pleural carina on the portion of area dentipara ( Fig. 13D ); (3) lateral longitudinal carina of propodeum presents only area externa and dentipara apex ( Fig. 13D ).

Description. Holotype female. Body length (head to T8) 3.46 mm.

Head. Frons polished, concave with antennal scrobe M-shaped, striae on the antennal scrobe, sparse punctation and short setae. Face mat, weak convex with punctation with setae ( Fig. 13C ). Carinae V-shaped starting from the antennal socket and extending to almost half of the face, culminating in a papilla ( Fig. 13C ). Clypeus weak rounded with sparse punctation and setae ( Fig. 13C ). Gena length 0.06 mm. Eye height 0.40 mm. Ocellus diameter 0.05 mm. Shortest distance between anterior and posterior ocelli 0.05 mm. Shortest distance between posterior ocellus and compound eye 0.12 mm. Shortest distance between posterior ocelli 0.05 mm.

Mesosoma . Pronotum polished, granulated with punctation and short setae. Epomia present in middle of pronotum.Epicnemial carina oblique.Epicnemium polished.Mesopleuron polished, granulate with sparse punctation. Metapleuron polished, granulate, sparse punctation and setae; area below juxtacoxal carina polished with punctation and submetapleural carina with small crest. Mesoscutum mat, granulate with punctation and short setae ( Fig. 13B ). Notaulus reaching before the center of mesoscutum ( Fig. 13B ). Scuto-scutellar groove polished with punctation. Scutellum polished with punctation and short setae. Propodeum polished, granulate with sparse punctation and setae; area basalis not anteriorly delimited; area superomedia not laterally delimited; posterior transverse carina with small crest; lateral longitudinal carina presents only area externa and dentipara apex; lateromedian longitudinal carina incomplete, posteriorly with small crest; small sulcus above pleural carina on the portion of area dentipara ( Fig. 13D ). Fore wing without ramulus ( Fig. 13E ). Legs with punctation, short setae and tarsus with denticles, one tibial spur in fore leg, two symmetrical tibial spurs in mid leg and hind leg. Fore wing length 3.17 mm. Hind femur length 0.63 mm. Hind tibia length 0.82 mm.

Metasoma. Tergites polished with sparse punctation and very sparse short setae ( Fig. 13B ). Tergite 1 with dorsolateral carina sinuous and without lateromedian carina. Tergite 2 with thyridium. Ovipositor with upper valve and lower vale smooth. Tergite 1 length 0.50 mm. Anterior width of tergite 1 0.12 mm. Posterior width of tergite 1 0.22 mm. Tergite 2 length 0.31 mm. Anterior width of tergite 2 0.25 mm. Posterior width of tergite 2 0.39 mm. Tergite 3 length 0.28 mm. Anterior width of tergite 3 0.39 mm. Posterior width of tergite 3 0.34 mm. Ovipositor length 0.71 mm.

Coloration. Body yellowish brown ( Fig. 13A ). Antenna brown; scape, pedicel, annellus and base of first flagellomere whitish yellow. Head brownish red, dorsal part black. Clypeus yellowish orange ( Fig. 13C ). Mandibular teeth whitish yellow with apex brownish red ( Fig. 13C ). Mesoscutum brown with yellowish brown parts and a dark brown spot on the anterior part near to pronotal collar ( Fig. 13B ). Propodeum brown with yellowish brown parts ( Fig. 13D ). Fore leg whitish yellow with tarsus brown. Base of mid tibia, mid tarsus, apex of hind coxa, apex hind femur, base of hind tibia and hind tarsus brown. Wings hyaline. Veins and pterostigma light brown ( Fig. 13E ). Tergite 1 brownish red; tergite 2 onwards brown with an posterior part whitish yellow ( Fig. 13B ).

Male. Unknown.

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

Host. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific epiphet wagneri pays tribute to Carlos Mario Wagner’s unwavering commitment to nature conservation and sustainable rural development. It honors his leadership in designing and implementing projects focused on bird and big cat conservation, as well as the promotion of birdwatching tourism in Colombia. Carlos Mario’s contributions have been recognized both locally and internationally, from receiving awards for his efforts in bird conservation through tourism to leading innovative initiatives such as the development of birdwatching routes for people with visual disabilities. His legacy symbolizes a dedication to environmental stewardship and conservation leadership in Latin America.

Discussion. Epelaspis wagneri Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. is most similar to the E. lulo Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. for the mesopleuron polished, granulate with sparse punctation and scuto-scutellar groove polished with punctation. However, E. wagneri Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. differs from E. lulo Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. in the following characters: thyridium present in tergite 2 (absent in E. lulo Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov.) and area petiolaris without longitudinal carinae parallel-side to lateromedian longitudinal carinae (longitudinal carinae parallel-side to lateromedian longitudinal carinae in E. lulo Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov.).

Figures

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

FIGURE 13. A–E: Epelaspis wagneri 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.