Orthocentrus malaris sp. nov.

(Figs 3 E, 9 K, 13 K, 16 K, 19)

Material examined. Holotype ♀: México, Hidalgo, Huasca de Ocampo, rancho Sta. Elena, MT3, 25.I–23.II.2006, leg. A.Contreras et al. (UNAM).

Description. Female. Fore wing length 3.6 mm.

Face medially 1.4 × as wide as high; face smooth, polished, sparsely punctate, eyes not setose, dorsal ridge of face inbetween antennal sockets sometimes without prominence; face profile straight except dorsally very slightly impressed, edge of clypeus straight, antennal sockets not on a distinct high shelf (Hw/Fp = 10.2); subocular sulcus distinct, sharp, strongly bent towards occiput; maxillary palp reaching slightly beyond fore coxa. In dorsal view, head posteriorly moderately concave, temples distinct, about 0.4 × eye width, posterior ocellus separated from eye by ocellar diameter, anterior ocellus separated from eye by 2.2 × ocellar diameter, ocellar-ocular grooves somewhat developed. Minimum distance between antennal sockets about 2/3 diameter of socket; antenna with 23 flagellomeres which gradually shortening towards apex of antenna; basal flagellomere 1.8 × as long as wide and about half of length of scape; scape in frontal view a little concave on lateral surface, convex on inner surface.

Mesosoma smooth and polished except for few striae postero-ventrally on pronotum, with weak microsculpture on propodeum; mesoscutum anteriorly with short notauli; in profile, scutellum somewhat high, metapleuron not particularly convex with striae and coriaceous scuplture posteriorly; propodeum with posterior transverse carina complete and strong, median longitudinal carinae complete, lateral longitudinal carinae complete, spiracles small.

Legs moderately stout; coxae and femora polished, femora with coriaceous microsculpture especially on posterior side, tibiae and tarsi coriaceous-granulate; hind coxa 1.0 × as long as first tergite, hind femur 3.1 × as long as high, hind tibia 4.1 × as long as apically wide; tibiae with spine-like setae.

Wings not particularly narrow; fore wing with areolet narrowly sessile, vein Rs straight; hind wing with nervellus inclivous, intercepted at lower 0.2.

First tergite slightly widening apically, 1.4 × as long as apically wide; coriaceous, with two strong median longitudinal carinae almost to posterior edge, with shallow transverse impressions originating at about middle of tergite, sloping posteriorly, not meeting centrally. Second tergite 0.95 × as long as apically wide; coriaceous, strigose medially; transverse groove near apical margin bending anteriorly near lateral margins, forming a somewhat oval uplifted area medially; basal thyridia large, round, contrastingly coloured, second thryridia indistinct; apical margin posterior to transverse furrow polished. Remainder of metasoma unsculptured, polished, lacking thyridia; third tergite with coriaceous longitudinal sculpture basally. Ovipositor thin, nearly straight, without distinct dorsal notch; ovipositor sheath with sparse, long, backwards-directed setae.

Body setose except eyes, frons, pronotum, mesopleuron and metapleuron, setae very scattered on metasoma and posterior sides of coxae.

Dark to blackish brown; frontal orbits light yellow from antennal sockets to mid-height of frons, upper edge of face yellowish creamy; mouthparts except for fuscous apical palpomeres and malar area posterior to subocular sulcus, small spot in the hind corner of pronotum and tegula creamy; clypeus and base of antenna ventrally light brown; fore and mid legs yellowish-brown, hind legs dark brown to brown except trochanter, trochantellus and subbasal band on tibia, narrow apical margin of second tergite yellow to orange; metasoma from third tergite brown.

Male. Unknown.

Biology. Hosts unknown. The only specimen was collected in high-elevation forest.

Distribution. Mexico (Hidalgo).

Etymology. Named after the contrastingly creamy malar space.

Comments. Compared with the other species that have a complete posterior transverse carina, short notauli, and closed areolet, head strongly transverse and frontal orbits with yellow marks not reaching level of anterior ocellus, unlike in O. khalaimi, O. montanus, O. montezuma and O. sierrae; subocular sulcus strongly bent towards occiput and basal flagellomere comparatively short, unlike in O. tlaxcalensis .