Brachycyrtus zani Gauld & Ward, 2000

Nascimento, Alexsandra C. & Fernandes, Daniell R. R., 2024, Synopsis of Brachycyrtus Kriechbaumer, 1880 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Brachycyrtinae) from Brazil, with description of two new species, Zootaxa 5430 (1), pp. 1-62 : 57-60

Brachycyrtus zani Gauld & Ward, 2000

( Figs. 56 , 57 )

Brachycyrtus zani Gauld & Ward, 2000: 34 . Holotype female, Costa Rica (EMUS) [Entomology Museum, Utah State University, Logan , Utah, USA].

Material examined. 4 ♀ ♀ and 1 ♂. BRAZIL. RN [Rio Grande do Norte]: Patu, Serra do Lima, Sítio / Miranda , / 6°6’18” S / 37°37’41” W / Malaise , x.2008 / D.R.R. Fernandes et al. [among others] legs. [collectors] (1 ♀, INPA) . ES [Espírito Santo]: Santa Teresa, Res. [Reserva] Biol. [Biológica] Augusto Ruschi / Trilha da cachoeira, 812 m / 19°54’29”S / 40°33’19”W / 10-17.xi.2012, Malaise 9 / Azevedo C.O. & eq. [team] col. [collectors] // UFES n° [number] 147393, (1 ♀, UFES); same, except Linhares / Floresta Nac. [Nacional] Goytacazes / 19°26’17”S / 40°04’27”W, 29.i-05.ii.2013, Malaise 3 / M. T. Tavares & eq. [team] col. [collectors] // UFES n° [number] 138755 (1 ♀, UFES); same, except Alfredo Chaves / Matilde, RPPN [Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural] Oiutrem / 20°33’S / 40°48”W, 600-800 m / 14-21.x.2009, Malaise / C.O. Azevedo & eq. [team] col. [collectors] // UFES n° [number] 75818 (1 ♀, UFES); same, except Alfredo Chaves / RPPN [Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural] Oiutrem / 20°33’S / 40°48’W, 600-800 m / 1421. x.2009, Malaise / C.O. Azevedo & eq. col. // UFES n° [number] 75882 (1 ♂, UFES) .

Diagnosis. Brachycyrtus zani can be differentiated from other Neotropical Brachycyrtus by the combination of the following characters: propodeum smooth and polished with sparse setae, area anterolateral black, area superomedia confluent with area petiolaris, anterior transverse carina complete to pleural carina, lateral longitudinal carina anteriorly incomplete extending forward from the area posteroexterna, posterior transverse carina absent so that the area dentipara and area posteroexterna form an elongated, area lateralis and coxalis forming a second elongated area ( Figs. 56D, 56G , 57E–F ).

Variation (n=5). Body length 4.07–4.10 mm. Antenna length 5.40 mm, 34 flagellomeres. Basal mandible width 0.10–0.14 mm. Ocellus diameter 0.31– 0.25 mm; distance between the posterior ocellus 0.10–0.13 mm. Frons width 0.46–0.50 mm. Face width 0.39–0.40 mm. Eye height 0.54–0.70 mm. Fore wing length 3.16–3.92 mm. Length tergite 1 0.75–0.92 mm; basal width tergite 1 0.15–0.20 mm; apical width tergite 1 0.21–0.29 mm. Tergite 2 more slender, about 1.5 times as long as wide; Length tergite 2 0.57–0.77 mm; basal width tergite 2 0.21–0.30 mm; apical width tergite 2 0.30–0.63 mm. Length tergite 3 0.48–0.56 mm; basal width tergite 3 0.30–0.67 mm; apical width tergite 3 0.33–0.71 mm. Length ovipositor 0.92–1.21 mm. Metapleuron can be whitish-yellow; metasoma can have black tergite 1, posteriorly whitish-yellow, tergites 2 and 3 can be black with a large yellow-white "V"-shaped spot posteriorly and from tergite 4 on can be anteriorly black with a broad white band posteriorly.

Geographical records. Brazil (Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo *, Rio Grande do Norte *), Costa Rica, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago ( Gauld & Ward 2000; Onody et al. 2009; Yu et al. 2016; Fernandes et al. 2023) ( Fig. 58 ).

Biological note. The host of this species is so far unknown.

Discussion. Brachycyrtus zani is morphologically similar to B. xorix , for having the ocelli forming an equilateral triangle, mainly in the set of carinae of the propodeum, propodeum smooth and polished with sparse setae, area anterolateral black, area externa and area spiracularis confluent, area basalis septate and not laterally delineated, anterior transverse carina complete to pleural carina, area superomedia confluent with area petiolaris, lateral longitudinal carina anteriorly incomplete extending forward from the area posteroexterna. In B. xorix area posteroexterna closed, but without the posterior transverse carina so that the lateralis and coxalis area form a single area. In contrast, in B. zani area posteroexterna not anteriorly delineated, posterior transverse carina absent so that the area dentipara and area posteroexterna form an elongated, area lateralis and coxalis forming a second elongated area. The variation in tergites 1–3 of the specimen recorded for Minas Gerais by Onody et al. 2009 is the same as those found for specimens from Espírito Santo and Rio Grande do Norte.

Remarks. Additional characters from the material examined of the states of Espírito Santo and Rio Grande do Norte ( Brazil) (n=5) (♀ and ♂) are the following: Head. Occipital carina extending directly to the base of the mandible. Dorsal view ( Figs. 56C , 57D ), distance between the anterior and posterior ocellus 0.03 mm; shortest distance between the posterior ocellus and the compound eye 0.09 mm. Front view ( Figs. 56B , 57C ), Frons smooth, polished and convex. Malar space 0.05 mm. Clypeus 2 times as wide as it is long, truncated apically. Mandible bidentate. Mesosoma. Dorsal view ( Figs. 56E , 57B ), mesoscutum with notaulus present, barely discernible; scuto-scutellar groove broad and shallow, smooth, not anteriorly limited by a carina. Scutellum with sparse fine punctate, as wide as it is long, moderately convex. Lateral view ( Figs. 56A , 57A ), propleuron polished with sparse fine setae. Mesopleuron polished, smooth; epicnemial carina ascending about middle from the anterior margin of the mesopleuron and ventrally approaching the posterior carina of the sternum; sternaulus short. Metapleuron smooth, polished. Wings. Fore wing length 3.92 mm; Hind wing length 2.35 mm; abscissa CU spectral. Metasoma. Apex of ovipositor lanceolate with three notches and without nodus ( Fig. 56F ).

Conflicts of Interest

Authors declare there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 56A–G. Brachycyrtus zani Gauld & Ward, 2000, female.(A) Lateral habitus. (B) Head, Frontal view. (C) Head, dorsal view. (D) Propodeum, dorsal view. (E) Body, dorsal view. (F) Ovipositor, lateral view. (G) SEM of propodeum, dorsal view.

FIGURE 57A–F. Brachycyrtus zani Gauld & Ward, 2000, male. (A) habitus; (B) body, dorsal view; (C) head, frontal view; (D) head, dorsal view; (E) propodeum; dorsal view; (F) SEM of propodeum; dorsal view.

FIGURE 58. Map of geographical records of Brachycyrtus zani Gauld & Ward, 2000 (Legend: the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Norte where the species occurs are highlighted in gray. Blue circle for new record, red triangle for previous record and yellow star for type locality).