Physotarsus flavipennis Zhaurova

Zhaurova, Kira & Wharton, Robert, 2009, A revision of Physotarsus Townes (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ctenopelmatinae), with description of 18 new species, Zootaxa 2207, pp. 1-52 : 25-26

Physotarsus flavipennis Zhaurova , n. sp. ( Figs 32 , 33 )

Diagnosis. Lateral ocelli separated by about 1.0X their widest diameter from each other and about 2.0X their widest diameter from eye margin. Antenna with 44–47 flagellomeres. Pronotum mostly glabrous, sparsely punctate along anterior margin. Mesoscutum shiny, very sparsely punctate on anterior 0.3. T1 about 1.7X as long as broad. Head yellow with a median black stripe on frons and vertex. Mesosoma yellow and black. Metasoma with T1–T6 yellow on basal half, black on apical half. Hind femur predominantly orange, proximal 0.6 of tibia yellow, rest dark orange to brown, tarsomeres yellow. Fore wing light yellow-brown, apex infumate.

The distinctly punctate mesopleuron in combination with the distinctive wing color readily separates this relatively large-bodied species from all other described Physotarsus . Both P. adriani and P. castilloi have similarly bicolored wings but much smoother bodies.

Description. Female: Body ( Fig. 32 ) 8.6–9.1 mm, fore wing = 6.6–9.0 mm. Head ( Fig. 33 ): Clypeal margin widely subtruncate laterally, with thick, rounded central lobe. Clypeus about 3.8X as wide as long, divided medially by very shallow transverse depression. Face covered with short to very short setae; setae longer, slightly less dense on clypeus. Anterior tentorial pits elongate and upcurved laterally. Malar space about 0.5–0.7X width of mandibular base. Face 2.0–2.2X as broad as long, moderately protruding dorsally in profile, sparsely punctate laterally, punctures quite strong and dense medially, occasionally coalescing to appear slightly rugose. Interantennal area flat, area immediately behind antennae weakly concave turning convex before reaching ocelli. Anterior margin of torulus situated at about 0.7 of eye height. Interantennal distance greater than distance between lateral ocelli. Widest diameter of torulus 1.4–1.6X widest diameter of median ocellus. Lateral ocelli separated by about 1.0x their widest diameter from each other and about 2.0X their widest diameter from eye margin. Area between lateral ocelli slightly depressed, area immediately behind ocelli not sharply declivitous. Antenna with 44–47 flagellomeres, first flagellomere 5.7–7.0X longer than wide, 1.3–1.4X widest transverse diameter of eye, second flagellomere 0.6–0.7X length of first. Occipital carina present on ventral 0.6–0.7 of head. Mesosoma: Anterior margin of pronotum medially emarginate, laterally rounded and slightly upcurved. Lateral groove of pronotum well-developed, crenulate to rugulose, extending over dorsal 0.7–0.8, sometimes complete to posterior margin. Pronotum mostly glabrous, impunctate medially, sparsely punctate anterolaterally. Mesoscutum shiny, very sparsely punctate on anterior 0.3. Epicnemial carina parallels anterior margin of mesopleuron. Mesopleuron moderately punctate. Metapleuron evenly setose. Propodeum without carinae; impunctate medially, densely punctate laterally. Tarsal claws with stout setae basally. Fore wing stigma narrow, approximately 4.0X longer than wide; Rs+2r arising from basal 0.4 of stigma; marginal cell about 3.1–3.2X longer than wide; 2rs-m 1.9–2.9X longer than abscissa of M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu; Cu1a about 0.7X length of 2cu-a; cu-a weakly to distinctly antefurcal relative to Rs&M, more rarely interstitial. Hind wing M+Cu weakly bowed; basal abscissa of Rs 1.3–1.5X longer than rs-m; 1st abscissa of Cu1 1.5–2.3X longer than cu-a. Metasoma: T1 about 1.7X as long as broad; surface in profile flat basally, convex posteriorly, dorsal tendon within very shallow basal groove, not delimited distally; spiracles not protruding in profile; dorsolateral carina extending 0.6–0.8X distance to spiracle. Cerci somewhat oval, not or only barely protruding, not prominent.

Male: Subgenital plate with wide, deep, truncate median incision, its margin even. Aedeagal margin not toothed. Structure and color otherwise about as in female, with fore wing measurements slightly more variable and hind wing cu-a often longer (Cu1a 1.3–1.4X longer than cu-a)

Color. Head yellow with a median black band on frons and vertex, often extending as narrow line to dorsal tubercle on face; occiput black. Antenna orange basally, yellow subapically, dark brown to black over apical 0.25, scape and pedicel usually black dorsally. Pronotum almost entirely and mesopleuron mostly black; mesoscutum and metapleuron with varying amounts of yellow and black, with yellow on mesoscutum usually confined to anterolateral margin, notaular lines and posteromedially; mesoscutellum yellow, propodeum yellow with narrow black margin anteriorly. Metasoma usually with T1–T6 yellow on basal half, black on apical half. Hind leg with coxa yellow and black, femur predominantly orange, proximal 0.6 of tibia yellow, remainder dark orange to brown, tarsomeres yellow. Fore wing light yellow-brown, apex infumate.

Material Examined. Holotype Ψ ( AEIC, Type No. 3852): [ USA, Texas] first line of data label: “Fredericksburg” second line: “V.11.1988 Tex.” third line: “H. & M. Townes”. Paratypes: 14 Ψ 9 ɗ, same data as holotype except dates ranging 30.iv–17.v.1988 ( AEIC, TAMU); 1 ɗ, Texas, Kerrville, 12.v.1988 (H&M Townes) ( AEIC).

Remarks. This species forms a group with several others noted above, defined by the deep, truncate emargination of the male subgenital plate. Physotarsus flavipennis is much different in appearance because of its larger body size and distinctive wing color. It is known only from central Texas.

The species name is derived from Latin for yellow and wing, referring to the yellow wings.

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 32. Habitus, face, and male genitalia. 29 – 31, Physotarsus emarginatus n. sp.; 29, habitus; 30, face; 31, male genitalia, ventral view. 32, P. flaivpennis n. sp., habitus.

FIGURES 33 – 36. Habitus and face. 33, Physotarsus flavipennis n. sp., face. 34 – 35, P. foveatus n. sp.; 34, habitus; 35, face. 36, P. gineus n. sp., habitus.