Stethantyx alajuela 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 : 231-234

Stethantyx alajuela Khalaim et Broad , sp. nov.

( Figs 1 , 11, 14 , 24, 25 )

Comparison. Belongs to a group of four species ( S. cecilia sp. nov., S. guanacasteca sp. nov. and S. puntarenasa sp. nov.) with a white-banded flagellum ( Fig. 14 ). Differs from three other species in this group by the welldeveloped, impressed notaulus ( Fig. 24, 25 ), propodeum with apical area broad anteriorly and with wrinkles peripherally, and shorter second metasomal tergite. It also differs from S. puntarenasa and S. guanacasteca by the black head with yellow face and clypeus ( Fig. 11 ), and from S. cecilia by the reddish orange mesosoma.

Description. Female. Body length about 7.3 mm. Fore wing length about 5.1 mm.

Head strongly rounded behind eyes in dorsal view; temple 0.44× as long as eye width. Mandible with upper tooth much longer than lower tooth. Clypeus broad, lenticular, convex in lateral view, mostly smooth, with sparse punctures on its upper half. Malar space about half as long as basal width of mandible. Flagellum of antenna with 32–40 flagellomeres (37 flagellomeres in holotype), all flagellomeres short; subbasal flagellomeres slightly elongate or as long as broad, middle and subapical flagellomeres as long as broad or transverse. Inner eye orbits weakly convergent ventrally. Face with strong central prominence, finely and very densely punctate over very finely granulate, almost smooth surface. Frons finely and very densely punctate, very finely granulate to smooth between punctures. Vertex and temple with sharp punctures, smooth and shining between punctures.

Notaulus as short to moderately long groove somewhat distant from anterolateral margin of mesoscutum ( Figs 24, 25 ). Mesoscutum with dense, shallow, indistinct punctures, weakly granulate to almost smooth between punctures, usually with longitudinal wrinkles medioposteriorly. Scutellum with lateral longitudinal carinae reaching its posterior end but usually not joining posteriorly ( Fig. 25 ). Foveate groove of mesopleuron situated in anterior 0.6–0.7 of mesopleuron, oblique, moderately broad, sharp and crenulate, not reaching anterior margin of mesopleuron ( Fig. 24 ). Mesopleuron finely and shallowly punctate, smooth and shining between punctures. Propodeum granulate, dorsolateral area usually very finely punctate, with short wrinkles adjacent to carinae. Basal part of propodeum short, 0.35× as long as apical area, with few longitudinal subparallel wrinkles. Propodeal spiracle rather big, round, separated from pleural carina by ≤ 0.5× diameter of spiracle, often spiracle adjacent to pleural carina. Apical area flat, anteriorly broad and usually rounded.

Fore wing ( Fig. 1 ) with veins Rs +2 r and Rs angled 120 to 135°. Vein 2 rs-m more than twice as long as abscissa of M between 2 rs-m and 2 m-cu. Hind wing with cu 1& cu-a distinctly inclivous. Hind femur 4.45× as long as broad, 0.84× as long as tibia.

First tergite 3.5× as long as posteriorly broad, entirely smooth. Glymma situated near middle of tergite 1, small, joining by very shallow, sometimes indistinct furrow to ventral part of postpetiole. Second tergite 1.47× as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression more than 4.0× as long as broad. Ovipositor weakly upcurved, with shallow dorsal subapical depression; sheath 1.74× as long as first tergite and 1.67× as long as hind tibia.

Head black; face, malar space, clypeus, palpi and mandible (teeth blackish) yellow. Antenna black, scape and pedicel ventrally yellowish, about 6 to 8 flagellomeres a little apical of middle of flagellum white. Mesosoma (including tegula) and first metasomal segment brownish orange, propleuron and anterior margin of pronotum yellowish (sometimes mesosoma with additional yellowish marks). Fore and mid legs yellowish, coxae and trochanters white. Hind leg brownish orange, tibia fuscous on its basal 0.7. Pterostigma black. Metasoma behind first tergite yellow ventrally to dark brown dorsally.

Male. Malar space shorter. Flagellum with 35–39 segments, often entirely black, without pale band; pale band, if present, consists of 4 to 5 flagellomeres. Mesosoma yellowish, mesoscutum brownish orange. Fore and mid legs, hind coxa, trochanters, dorsal and ventral sides of femur white. Propodeal spiracle adjacent to pleural carina. Tergite 2 about twice as long as anteriorly broad.

Variation. Some specimens are conspicuously darker than the holotype and have the mesosoma predominantly reddish brown, mid femur and hind coxa brown, hind femur and tarsus blackish, and metasoma, including first segment, predominantly dark brown to black. Sometimes all flagellomeres, except the basal one, are transverse. Tergite 2 of the metasoma is usually 1.5–1.8× as long as anteriorly broad, but sometimes almost twice as long as anteriorly broad.

Etymology. Named after the type locality, Alajuela province of Costa Rica.

Material examined. Holotype female (BMNH), Alajuela Prov., Finca San Gabriel, 2 km W of Dos Ríos, 600 m, VI.1988, coll. I.D. Gauld & P. Mitchell.

Paratypes. Alajuela Prov.: 3 Ƥ (BMNH) Guanacaste National Park, Estación Pitilla, 680 m, X.1988, coll. I.D. Gauld & P. Mitchell. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) same data, but I.1989. 2 Ƥ (BMNH) Chilamate, Selva Verde, 75 m, VII– VIII.1989, coll. I.D. Gauld. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) same data, but XI.1989. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) La Selva Biological Station, 50 m, II.1991, coll. J.S. Noyes. La Selva Biological Station, 3 km S of Puerto Viejo, 10º26ʹ N, 84º01ʹ W, second growth, IV.1989, coll. H.A. Hespenheide: 1 Ƥ (BMNH) IV.1988, 4 Ƥ (BMNH) IV.1989. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) same data, but V.1988, coll. Brown. 1 Ƥ (INBio) Biological Reserve San Ramón, 800 m, III.1995, coll. G. Carballo. 1 Ƥ (INBio) National Park Volcán Tenorio, Estación El Pilón, 1.5 km SW of Cerro Carmela, 700–800 m, VIII–IX.2006, coll. J.A. Azofeifa. Guanacaste Prov.: Santa Rosa National Park, coll. D. Janzen & I.D. Gauld: 3 Ƥ (BMNH) IV– VI.1985, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) V–VI.1985, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) VI–VII.1985, 4 Ƥ (BMNH) VII–VIII.1985, 3 Ƥ (BMNH) VIII.1985, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) IX–X.1985, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) V.1986, 2 Ƥ (BMNH) VII.1986, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) VII–VIII.1986, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) XI.1986. 5 Ƥ (BMNH) same locality, V–VIII.1984, coll. D. Janzen & W. Hallwachs. Guanacaste National Park, Estación (Casa) Maritza, volcano Orosi, 560 m, coll. I.D. Gauld & P. Mitchell: 3 Ƥ (BMNH) V.1988, 7 Ƥ (6 Ƥ BMNH, 1 Ƥ ZISP) VI.1988, 6 Ƥ (5 Ƥ BMNH, 1 Ƥ ZISP) VII.1988, 21 Ƥ (BMNH) X.1988, 2 Ƥ (BMNH, ZISP) VII–VIII.1989. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) same locality, 1989, coll. I.D. Gauld. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) Guanacaste National Park, Estación Mengo (=Cacao), volcano Cacao, 1000 m, VI–XII.1987, coll. I.D. Gauld & D. Janzen. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) same data, but VI.1988. 1 Ƥ (INBio) Macizo Miravalles, Estación Cabro Muco, 1100 m, IX–X.2003, coll. J.A. Azofeifa. 1 Ƥ (INBio) La Cruz, Estación (Casa) Maritza, 600 m, IX.1996, coll. C. Zuñiga. 2 Ƥ (INBio) National Park Rincón de la Vieja, Estación Las Pailas, 800 m, coll. III.1993, VI.1994, coll. D.G. García. 1 3 (INBio) Las Pailas, 4 km S of Cerro Braun, 1100 m, II.1996, coll. J.A. Ugalde. 4 Ƥ (INBio) Guanacaste National Park, Cerro Pedregal, Estación Cacao, 1000 m, VII.1989 – III.1990. (INBio) Guanacaste National Park, Estación Mengo (=Cacao), Arenales, 1100 m, VI.1990. Same locality, 1000–1400 m: 1 Ƥ (INBio) 1990, 1 Ƥ & 2 3 (INBio) V– VI.1991, 1 Ƥ (INBio) 1991. 2 Ƥ & 1 3 (INBio) same locality, VII.1996, coll. J.A. Ugalde. 2 Ƥ (ZISP) National Park Guanacaste, 9 km S of Santa Cecilia , Estación Pitilla, 700 m, VIII.1993, coll. C. Moraga. Heredia Prov.: La Selva Biological Station, 10º26ʹ N, 84º01ʹ W, 50–150 m: 1 Ƥ (INBio) IV.1991, 1 Ƥ (MUCR) X.1992, 1 3 (INBio) IV.1993, 1 Ƥ (ZISP) XII.1993. Limón Prov.: 1 Ƥ (BMNH) Tortuguero National Park, Estación Cuatro Esquinas, 0–10 m, IV–V.1989, coll. J. Sojano. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) same data, but VI–VII.1989. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) Biological Reserve Hitoy Cerere, 100 m, I.1991, coll. J.S. Noyes. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) 4 km NE of Bribri, 50 m, IV–V.1990, coll. I.D. Gauld. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) same data, but VII–VIII.1990, coll. I.D. Gauld. 1 Ƥ (INBio) Amubri, 70 m, III.1994, coll. G. Gallardo. 1 3 (INBio) Biological Reserve Hitoy Cerere, Estación Hitoy Cerere, 100 m, I.1993, coll. G. Carballo. 2 Ƥ (INBio) Sector Cerro Cocori, Francisca de Elías Rojas, 150 m, VIII.1992, V.1993, coll. E. Rojas. 3 3 (INBio) Biological Reserve Hitoy Cerere, Estación Hitoy Cerere, 100–200 m, III.1991, XII.1992, I.1993, coll. G. Carballo. Puntarenas Prov.: Osa Peninsula, Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, 3 km SW of Rincón de Osa , 10 m, coll. I.D. Gauld & K. Gaston: 6 Ƥ (BMNH) VIII.1991, 5 Ƥ (BMNH) IX.1991, 3 Ƥ (BMNH) X.1991, 2 Ƥ (BMNH) XI.1991, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) VI.1992, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) VIII.1992, 4 Ƥ (BMNH) IX.1992, 5 Ƥ (BMNH) X.1992, 25 Ƥ (BMNH) XI.1992, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) II.1993, 3 Ƥ (BMNH) III.1993, 2 Ƥ (BMNH) IV.1993. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) same locality, IX–XI.1989, coll. I.D. Gauld. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) Osa Peninsula, Rancho Quemado, 2 km N camino Drake, 275 m, X.1990, coll. E. Quiros. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) Osa Peninsula, 8 km S of Rincón de Osa , Coopermati, 30 m, X.1990, coll. A. Retana. Osa Peninsula, Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, 5 km W of Piedras Blancas, 100 m, coll. I.D. Gauld & K. Gaston: 1 Ƥ (BMNH) X.1991, 2 Ƥ (BMNH) XI.1992, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) IX.1993, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) VIII.1993. Osa Peninsula, Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, 24 km W of Piedras Blancas, 200 m, II.1991, coll. I.D. Gauld & K. Gaston: 1 Ƥ (BMNH) XII.1991, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) VIII.1993, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) IX.1993. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) Las Cruces, 6 km S of San Vito de Java, 1200 m, VII–VIII.1988, coll. I.D. Gauld & P. Mitchell. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) I–II.1989. 4 Ƥ (2 Ƥ BMNH, 2 Ƥ ZISP) Osa Peninsula, Puerto Jiménez, 10 m, IX.1992, coll. I.D. Gauld & K. Gaston. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) XI.1992. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) Osa Peninsula, 23 km N of Puerto Jiménez, La Palma, 10 m, X.1991, coll. I.D. Gauld & K. Gaston. Osa Peninsula, Rancho Quemado, 200 m, coll. M. Segura, A. Marín, F.A. Quesada & A. Gutiérrez: 5 3 (INBio) IX.1992, 1 3 (INBio) X.1992, 1 Ƥ & 2 3 (INBio) XI.1992, 1 3 (INBio) XI–XII.1992, 1 Ƥ (INBio) V.1993. 1 Ƥ (INBio) Osa Peninsula, Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve, Estación Aguijas, 300 m, IX–X.2002, coll. J.A. Azofeifa et al. 1 Ƥ (ZISP) same data, but XII.2000. 1 Ƥ (INBio) Estación Sirena, 1–100 m, II.1995, coll. G. Fonseca. 1 3 (INBio) Centro Juvenil Tropical, Sendero Mirador, 100 m, VII.1997, coll. M. Lobo. 1 3 (INBio) National Park La Amistad, Francisca Cafrosa, Estación Las Mellizas, 1300 m, III.1990, coll. M. Ramirez & G. Mora. 1 3 (INBio) Lepanto, Karen Mogensen, 315 m, IX–X.2003, coll. D. Bricetto. San José Prov.: 3 Ƥ (BMNH) Ciudad Colón, Francisca San Luis, 800 m, VI–VII.1990, coll. I.D. Gauld. 1 Ƥ (BMNH) same data, but VIII–IX.1990. San Antonio de Escazú, 1300 m, coll. W.G. Eberhard: 5 Ƥ (BMNH) IX–X.1987, 2 Ƥ (BMNH, ZISP) V.1988, 3 Ƥ (2 Ƥ BMNH, 1 Ƥ ZISP) VI.1988, 2 Ƥ (BMNH) VIII.1988, 5 Ƥ (BMNH) IX.1988, 1 Ƥ (BMNH) IX–X.1988. 1 Ƥ (MUCR) San Antonio de Escazú, 1300 m, XI.1988, coll. P. Hanson.

Distribution. Costa Rica ( Alajuela , Guanacaste, Heredia , Limón, Puntarenas, San José).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Wings of Stethantyx spp., Ƥ: 1 — S. ajajuela sp. nov.; 2 — S. curvator sp. nov.; 3 — S. guanacasteca sp. nov.; 4 — S. heredia sp. nov.; 5 — S. niger sp. nov.; 6 — S. notaulator sp. nov.

FIGURES 11 – 15. Stethantyx alajuela sp. nov., Ƥ: 11 — head, frontal; 14 — whole insect without wings, left. Stethantyx heredia sp. nov., Ƥ: 12 — head, frontal. Stethantyx sanjosea sp. nov., Ƥ: 13 — head, frontal. Stethantyx propodeator sp. nov., Ƥ: 15 — head, mesosoma and first metasomal segment, left.

FIGURES 24 – 29. Stethantyx alajuela sp. nov., Ƥ: 24 — mesosoma, left; 25 — mesoscutum and scutellum, dorsal. Stethantyx aprica sp. nov., Ƥ: 26 — head, frontal; 27 — mesosoma and first metasomal segment, left; 28 — propodeum, posterolateral. Stethantyx altamira sp. nov., Ƥ: 29 — mesosoma, left. Scale bars (except Fig. 27) = 0.1 mm, scale bar for Fig. 27 = 0.2 mm.