Stethantyx nigrofemorata Khalaim et Broad

Khalaim, Andrey I. & Broad, Gavin R., 2013, Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Costa Rica, part 2. Genera Megalochus gen. nov. and Stethantyx Townes, Zootaxa 3693 (2), pp. 221-266 : 250-251

Stethantyx nigrofemorata Khalaim et Broad , sp. nov.

( Figs 60–63 )

Comparison. Similar to S. osa sp. nov. and S. pseudoosa sp. nov. in having a black flagellum, black head with yellow clypeus ( Fig. 60 ), reddish orange mesosoma ( Fig. 61 ) and broad rectangular basal area of the propodeum ( Fig. 62 ), but differs from these species by the conspicuous yellow and black pattern of the hind leg (coxa and both trochanters yellow; femur, tibia and tarsus black; Fig. 63 ) and weaker elongate basal area of the propodeum ( Fig. 62 ). Also differs from S. osa by the longer ovipositor, and from S. pseudoosa by the broader foveate groove of the mesopleuron, longer lateral longitudinal carinae of the scutellum and a greater distance between the propodeal spiracle and pleural carina.

Description. Female. Body length about 6.3 mm. Fore wing length 3.75 mm.

Head strongly rounded behind eyes in dorsal view; temple 0.38× as long as eye width. Mandible slender, upper tooth much longer than lower tooth. Clypeus broad, almost 2.9× as broad as high, lenticular, almost flat in lateral view, smooth and impunctate on lower half, finely punctate on upper half. Malar space half as long as basal width of mandible. Flagellum of antenna almost filiform, with 25 flagellomeres; subbasal flagellomeres about 1.5× as long as broad, subapical flagellomeres weakly elongate. Face with weak central prominence. Face and frons finely granulate, dull, finely and densely punctate. Vertex and temple finely granulate, with fine and shallow punctures.

Notaulus as short wrinkle. Mesoscutum finely granulate and densely punctate. Scutellum with lateral longitudinal carinae complete (weak in posterior half), reaching posterior end of scutellum and joining posteriorly. Foveate groove of mesopleuron situated in anterior 0.7 of mesopleuron, deep and broad, with strong transverse wrinkles, clearly separated from anterior margin of mesopleuron. Mesopleuron punctate, peripherally finely granulate, centrally smooth between punctures. Propodeum finely granulate, dorsolateral area also indistinctly punctate, without wrinkles adjacent to carinae; all carinae well developed. Basal area of propodeum rectangular, not widened anteriorly, very weakly elongate, 1.15× as long as broad, 0.4× as long as apical area and 0.25× as broad as propodeum (measured between propodeal spiracles in dorsal view) ( Fig. 62 ). Propodeal spiracle separated from pleural carina by 1.5× diameter of spiracle. Apical area flat, anteriorly truncate ( Fig. 62 ).

Fore wing with veins Rs +2 r and Rs angled 110°. Vein 2 rs-m twice longer than abscissa of M between 2 rs-m and 2 m-cu. Hind wing with cu 1& cu-a straight, vertical. Hind femur 4.7× as long as broad, 0.88× as long as tibia.

First tergite slender, 4.35× as long as posteriorly broad, smooth, petiole laterally striate. Glymma small, situated near middle of tergite 1, joining by very fine furrow to ventral part of postpetiole. Second tergite 2.55× as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression very shallow, more than 4.0× as long as broad. Ovipositor weakly upcurved, probably with weak dorsal subapical depression (extreme apex of single known specimen hidden between mid and hind coxae); sheath 1.6× as long as first tergite and hind tibia.

Head black; small mark next to base of mandible, clypeus, palpi and mandible (teeth black) yellowish. Antenna black, scape dark brown ventrally. Mesosoma (including tegula) brownish orange; propleuron and anterior margin of pronotum yellowish. Legs yellow to brownish yellow, hind femur almost immaculately black (pale at extreme base), hind tibia and tarsus blackish. Pterostigma dark brown. Tergite 1 of metasoma black. Metasoma behind tergite 1 brownish yellow ventrally to brownish black dorsally, tergites 2+ dorsally with posterior pale band.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. From the Latin nigro (black) and femur (thigh) after the characteristic colour pattern of the hind leg, with an almost immaculately black femur.

Material examined. Holotype female (INBio), Limón Prov., Biological Reserve Hitoy Cerere, Estación Hitoy Cerere, Sendero Espavel, 560 m, on light, 31.I.2006, coll. B. Gamboa, M. Moraga, B. Hernández & J.A. Azofeifa. Distribution. Costa Rica (Limón).

Figures

FIGURES 60 – 65. Stethantyx nigrofemorata sp. nov., Ƥ: 60 — head, frontal; 61 — head and mesosoma, left; 62 — propodeum, dorsal; 63 — metasoma and legs, left. Stethantyx tenoriosa sp. nov., Ƥ: 64 — head and mesosoma, left; 65 — propodeum and base of metasoma, dorsolateral.