Neotheronia veracruzana Khalaim, 2018

Khalaim, Andrey I., Kasparyan, Dmitri R. & López-Ortega, Maurilio, 2018, New records and descriptions of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) from Mexico, Zootaxa 4486 (1), pp. 1-30 : 21-23

61. Neotheronia veracruzana Khalaim , sp. nov.

( Figs 24–27 )

Comparison. The new species possesses a very short ovipositor which does not project beyond the apex of the metasoma ( Fig. 27 ). Among 30 species occurring in Central America and Mexico, only four have such short ovipositor: N. brandtae Gauld , N. charli Gauld , N. lizzae Gauld and N. lloydi Gauld , all were described from Costa Rica and unknown in Mexico ( Gauld 1991, Gauld et al. 1998). Neotheronia veracruzana differs from these four species by its propodeum lacking any longitudinal carinae, with only transverse carina present ( Fig. 27 ). It also differs from N. brandtae and N. lloydi by its first tergite with short lateromedian longitudinal carinae (extending to almost hind margin of the tergite in N. brandtae and N. lloydi ) and small gastrocoeli (exceptionally large in N. brandtae and N. lloydi ), and from N. charli and N. lizzae by its predominantly yellow body (orange in N. charli and N. lizzae ). In the key to Costa Rican species of Neotheronia ( Gauld 1991: 388) , the new species runs to N. lizzae in couplet 30, but may easily be distinguished from this species by characters given above.

Description. Female. Fore wing length 9.7 mm.

Mandible moderately long, weakly tapered, with upper tooth slightly longer than the lower tooth; booth teeth rather broad and obtuse apically ( Fig. 24 ). Malar space very short, about 0.1× as long as basal mandibular width ( Fig. 25 ). Clypeus in anterior view 2.3× as long as wide, almost flat in upper part and slightly impressed in lower half, with lower margin weakly convex, without median transverse ridge ( Fig. 25 ). Face almost 1.2× as broad as high (from supraclypeal suture to base of antenna), strongly convex in upper part, with a pair of shallow submedian longitudinal impressions and deeply impressed dorsally between antennal sockets ( Fig. 24 ). Lateral ocellus separated from eye by 1.25× its own maximum diameter. Occipital carina rather strongly dipped. Occiput with a strong mediodorsal notch.

Pronotum with upper end of epomia quite strong, somewhat longer than basal mandibular width; lower portion of epomia distinct, somewhat shorter than the upper portion. Notauli anteriorly deeply impressed, reaching 0.6 of mesoscutum posteriorly. Subalar prominence roundly convex. Epicnemial carina with upper end far from anterior margin of mesopleuron, reaching to about level of lower corner of pronotum. Scutellum in profile weakly convex, laterally carinate on anterior 0.3–0.4. Submetapleural carina raised, broadened anteriorly. Pleural carina complete, weak, slightly bowed. Propodeum with only transverse carina slightly before the centre; longitudinal carinae completely absent ( Figs 25, 27 ). Transverse carina of propodeum quite strong, conspicuously raised dorsolaterally; median longitudinal carinae represented by a pair of small tubercles anteriorly. Flange on hind margin of propodeum strongly raised. Propodeum polished and glabrous dorsally, dorsolaterally and posteriorly, with sparse setae only on its lateral sides.

Areolet moderately large, emitting second recurrent vein (2m-cu) well distal to centre, with upper corner obtuse. Hind leg with outer surface of tibia bearing 7–8 brownish inconspicuous bristles. Third segment of hind tarsus about 2.2× as long as broad.

Metasoma with first tergite twice as long as posteriorly broad, lateromedian longitudinal carinae present anteriorly and extending back to almost level of spiracle, or anterior 0.4 of tergite ( Fig. 27 ). First tergite, in profile, dorsally rounded in basal half and more or less straight in apical half. Second tergite with gastrocoeli shallow and inconspicuous. Ovipositor compressed, straight and short, as long as apical depth of metasoma ( Fig. 27 ); apex of lower valve with 7 to 9 fine teeth, apex of upper valve smooth.

A generally yellow species with a few black and brown markings. Teeth of mandible black. Holotype with dorsal margin of vertex laterally brownish; paratype with upper part of occiput (above foramen magnum) extensively black-marked, and hind margin of vertex laterally with small blackish markings. Antenna black; scape and pedicel yellow with black markings on dorsal and outer sides; basal flagellomere ventrally yellowish brown. Mesoscutum with blackish narrow median longitudinal stripe and notaular region anteriorly; scutoscutellar groove, posterior lower margin on mesopleuron and furrow in front of propodeum black ( Fig. 25 ). Tegula yellow. Wings slightly brownish infumate; fore wing with a brown spot at apex of marginal cell. Pterostigma brownish black. Legs yellow with hind tarsus black ( Fig. 26 ) and one or two distal tarsomeres of mid leg brownish. First tergite blackish dorsally in basal 0.2 (holotype) or 0.4 (paratype). Tergites 2 to 6 dorsally with transverse subproximal black band. Ovipositor sheath black, brownish basally.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. Paratype is darker than the holotype, with more extensive black markings on back of head, mesoscutum and tergite 1.

Etymology. The species is named after the type locality, State of Veracruz.

Material examined. Holotype female ( UNAM), Mexico, Veracruz, Xalapa , N 19°30′, W 96°55′, 1279 m,

Malaise trap, 14–25.VII.2015, coll. M. López-Ortega.

Paratype. Mexico, Veracruz: 1 ♀ ( UAT) same data as holotype, but 25.VII–7.VIII.2015.

Distribution. Mexico (Veracruz).

Figures

FIGURES 24–27. Neotheronia veracruzana sp. nov., holotype (24–26) and paratype (25), female: 24—head, front; 25—head and mesosoma, lateral; 26—hind leg, lateral; 27—propodeum and metasoma, lateral.