Glyptapanteles carlrettenmeyeri Arias-Penna, sp. nov. Fig. 46

Female.

Body length 1.91 mm, antenna length 2.20 mm, fore wing length 1.91 mm.

Type material.

Holotype: COSTA RICA • 1♀; 97-SRNP-9592, DHJPAR0000096; Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Guanacaste, Sector Horizontes, Quebrada San Pancho; 90 m; 10.74769, -85.58577; 09.x.1997; gusaneros leg.; caterpillar collected in fifth instar; long lines of parallel cordwood cocoons on each side of the larva, somewhat separate; adult parasitoids emerged on 25.x.1997; (CNC) . Paratypes. • 49 (4♀, 0 ♂) (45♀, 0 ♂); 97-SRNP-9592, DHJPAR0000096; same data as for holotype; (CNC) .

Diagnosis.

Vertex in lateral view rounded (Fig. 46A), dorsal groove on axillary trough of scutellum with semicircular/parallel carinae (Fig. 46B, C), distal antennal flagellomere subequal in length with penultimate, mesoscutum distinctly punctate throughout (Fig. 46B), temple punctate, propodeum without median longitudinal carina (Fig. 46C), petiole on T1 virtually parallel-sided over most of length, but narrowing over distal 1/3, finely sculptured (Fig. 46D, G), fore wing with vein 1 cu-a straight, r vein curved, outer side of junction of r and 2RS veins not forming a stub (Fig. 46I), dorsal outer depression on hind coxa present (Fig. 46A), inner margin of eyes diverging slightly at antennal sockets, and lateral grooves delimiting the median area on T2 clearly defined and reaching the distal edge of T2 (Fig. 46D, G).

Coloration

(Fig. 46A). General body coloration brown-black except scape, pedicel, clypeus, mandibles, tegulae, dorsal and ventral furrows on pronotum, both ends on propleuron, epicnemial ridge, ventral edge of mesopleuron, mesosternum, distal corners on mesoscutum and lateral ends on PFM with yellow-brown/reddish brown tints; glossa, maxillary and labial palps yellow. Eyes and ocelli silver. Fore and middle legs yellow, except fore yellow-brown coxae, brown middle coxae and brown claws; hind legs yellow-brown except coxae, distal half of femora, mostly distal of tibiae and tarsomeres brown. Petiole on T1 brown, contours darkened and sublateral areas ivory/pale yellow; T2 with median area brown, contours darkened, adjacent area wide and together with the median area forming a rectangle-shape, and lateral ends ivory/pale yellow; T3 brown with proximal corners ivory/pale yellow, distally with a yellow/whitish band; T4 and beyond completely brown; distally each tergum with a narrow whitish transparent band. In lateral view, T1-3 completely pale yellow/ivory; T4 and beyond brown. S1-3 completely pale yellow/ivory; S4 and beyond completely brown.

Description.

Head (Fig. 46A). Head rounded with pubescence long and dense. Proximal three antennal flagellomeres longer than wide (0.18:0.04, 0.18:0.04, 0.15:0.04), distal antennal flagellomere subequal in length with penultimate (0.08:0.06, 0.07:0.06), antenna longer than body (2.20, 1.91); antennal scrobes-frons shallow. Face convex with scattered finely punctate and interspaces wavy, and longitudinal median carina present. Frons with punctuate sculpture. Temple wide with punctate sculpture and interspaces wavy. Inner margin of eyes diverging slightly at antennal sockets; in lateral view, eye anteriorly convex and posteriorly straight. POL shorter than OOL (0.08, 0.12). Malar suture present. Median area between lateral ocelli without depression. Vertex laterally rounded and dorsally wide.

Mesosoma (Fig. 46 A–C, E). Mesosoma dorsoventrally convex. Mesoscutum proximally convex and distally flat, punctation distinct throughout, interspaces wavy/lacunose. Scutellum triangular, apex sloped and fused with BS, scutellar punctation distinct throughout, in profile scutellum flat and on same plane as mesoscutum, phragma of the scutellum partially exposed; BS only very partially overlapping the MPM; ATS demilune with short stubs delineating the area; dorsal ATS groove with semicircular/parallel carinae. Transscutal articulation smooth and shiny with small and homogeneous foveae, area just behind transscutal articulation nearly at the same level as mesoscutum (flat). Metanotum with BM wider than PFM (clearly differentiated); MPM circular and bisected by a median longitudinal carina; AFM without setiferous lobes and not as well delineated as PFM; PFM thick and smooth; ATM proximally with semircular/undulate carina and distally smooth. Propodeum without median longitudinal carina, proximal half weakly curved with rather coarse sculpture and distal half with a shallow dent at each side of nucha; distal edge of propodeum with a flange at each side and without stubs; propodeal spiracle distally framed by faintly concave/wavy carina; nucha surrounded by very short radiating carinae. Pronotum with a distinct dorsal furrow, dorsally with a well-defined smooth band; central area of pronotum smooth, but both dorsal and ventral furrows with short parallel carinae. Propleuron with fine punctations throughout and dorsally with a carina. Metasternum flat or nearly so. Contour of mesopleuron convex; precoxal groove smooth, shiny and shallow, but visible; epicnemial ridge elongated more fusiform (tapering at both ends).

Legs. Ventral margin of fore telotarsus entire, but with a tiny curved seta, fore telotarsus almost same width thought and longer than fourth tarsomere (0.10, 0.05). Hind coxa with punctation only on ventral surface and dorsal outer depression present. Inner spur of hind tibia longer than outer spur (0.11, 0.07), entire surface of hind tibia with dense strong spines clearly differentiated by color and length. Hind telotarsus as equal in length as fourth tarsomere (0.10, 0.09).

Wings (Fig. 46I, J). Fore wing with r vein curved; 2RS vein straight; r and 2RS veins forming a weak, even curve at their junction and outer side of junction not forming a stub; 2M vein slightly curved/swollen; distally fore wing [where spectral veins are] with microtrichiae more densely concentrated than the rest of the wing; anal cell 1/3 proximally lacking microtrichiae; subbasal cell proximal half smooth; veins 2CUa and 2CUb completely spectral; vein 2 cu-a absent; vein 2-1A proximally tubular and distally spectral, although sometimes difficult to see; tubular vein 1 cu-a straight, incomplete/broken and not reaching the edge of 1-1A vein. Hind wing with vannal lobe very narrow, subdistally and subproximally straightened, and setae absent proximally, but scattered distally.

Metasoma (Fig. 46A, F–H). Metasoma laterally compressed. Petiole on T1 finely sculptured only laterally, virtually parallel-sided over most of length, but narrowing over distal 1/3 (length 0.29, maximum width 0.15, minimum width 0.09), petiole with scattered pubescence and concentrated in the first distal third. Lateral grooves delimiting the median area on T2 clearly defined and reaching the distal edge of T2 (length median area 0.12, length T2 0.12), edges of median area polished and lateral grooves deep, median area broader than long (length 0.12, maximum width 0.19, minimum width 0.08), T2 with a distinctive row of pubescence only at the distal margin. T3 longer than T2 (0.17, 0.12) and with a distinctive row of pubescence only at the distal margin. Pubescence on hypopygium dense.

Cocoons. White or beige oval cocoons with silk fibers evenly smooth. Two parallel cordwood cocoons on each side of the larva.

Comments.

The ventral furrow of pronotum is wide, the intersection between dorsal and ventral furrows is wide, there with long parallel carinae.

Male.

unknown

Etymology.

Carl W. Rettenmeyer (February 10, 1931 - April 9, 2009) was an American biologist who specialized in army ants ( Ecitoninae).

Distribution.

Parasitized caterpillar was collected in Costa Rica, ACG, Sector Horizontes (Quebrada San Pancho), during October 1997 at 90 m.

Biology.

The lifestyle of this parasitoid species is gregarious.

Host.

Isogona natatrix Guenée ( Noctuidae, Catocalinae) feeding on Celtis iguanaea ( Ulmaceae). Caterpillar was collected in fifth instar.