Aphanistes augustoi, Alvarado, 2018

Alvarado, M., 2018, Nocturnal Aphanistes (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Anomaloninae) in the Neotropical region, with the description of five new species, Zootaxa 4369 (2), pp. 221-236 : 222-224

Aphanistes augustoi sp. n.

(Figs. 1–5, 30, 48)

Diagnosis. This species can be recognized by the following combination of features: ovipositor with a dorsal notch and not pre-apically swollen, a predominantly testaceous species with hind tarsomeres brownish and ovipositor valvae brownish with distal third testaceous.

Description. Female: fore wing length 11.3 mm.

Head. Clypeus (Fig. 2) convex, apically slightly concave and produced into a very distinct point that extends well beyond mandibles when closed, beak-like in appearance; mandibles short and stout, wide at base, tapering slightly, upper tooth longer than lower tooth; malar space very narrow, about 0.1× as long as basal mandibular width; frons strigulate with median longitudinal ridge reduced to a short carina from base of median ocellus to between toruli (Fig. 30); ocelli large, lateral ocellus separated from compound eye by about 0.3× its own maximum diameter, distance between ocelli 0.5× their own maximum diameter; distance between lateral ocelli and occipital carina 0.1× their own maximum diameters; occipital carina mediodorsally complete; occiput smooth, with punctures separated by 1–2× puncture width, except without setae at ocellar level; gena imbricate with punctures separated by 3–4× puncture width (Fig. 3); antenna with 39 flagellomeres.

Mesosoma. Pronotum imbricate with punctures separated by 2–2.5× puncture width, except strigose on ventral half and upwards along posterior margin. Mesoscutum with notauli barely impressed; smooth with punctures separated by 1–1.5× puncture width, except between notauli, on distal half rugulose. Mesoscutellar groove with similar texture as on mesoscutum. Mesoscutellum flat, smooth with deep punctures that give a rugulose appearance, punctures separated by 2–3× puncture width, without a distinct lateral carina. Mesopleuron without a transverse concavity; smooth with punctures separated by 1.5–2.5× puncture width, below subalar prominence striate; epicnemial carina present, extending to about 0.2× distance to upper margin (Fig. 5); metapleuron convex, reticulate, centrally produced into a shelf-like prominence. Propodeum reticulate as on metapleuron; carinae untraceable. Legs very slender, hind coxa dorsally 2.5× as long as deep; hind trochantellus dorsally longer than broad apically, 3.2× as long as deep. Fore wing (Fig. 1) with Cu1 between 1m-cu and Cu1a 1.1× as long as Cu1b; 2+3rs-m 2.6× as long as abscissa of M between 3rs-m and 2m-cu; 2+3rs-m joining M at approximately an angle of 140o. Hind wing with distal abscissa of Cu1 sclerotized throughout; distal abscissa of 1A sclerotized throughout.

Metasoma. Metasoma very slender; tergum II about 6.9× as long as posteriorly high (in lateral view); terga II to VIII finely punctate, with fairly long, fine pubescence on sides. Ovipositor about 0.6× as long as hind tibia; with a dorsal notch, not pre-apically swollen (Fig. 4).

PLATE 1 FIGURES 1–5. Morphology of Aphanistes augustoi , sp. nov. 1. Habitus in lateral view (scale bar = 5 mm) 2. Facial view 3. Head in lateral view 4. Ovipositor in lateral view 5. Mesosoma in lateral view.

Color. Predominantly testaceous (Fig. 1) except face, malar space, gena (on lower half, next to compound eyes), and mandible yellowish; metasomal tergum II dorsally brownish black; and distal half of hind femur, dorsally, hind tarsomeres, and ovipositor valvae brownish but with distal third testaceous (Fig. 1). Wings softly infuscate; pterostigma brown.

Male: Unknown.

Remarks. This species was revised by Gauld & Bradshaw (1997) who placed it within the crepuscularis species group. The paratype series varies from the holotype in the following details: antenna with 41 flagellomeres; lateral ocellus separated from compound eye by about 0.4× its own maximum diameter; fore wing with Cu1 between 1m-cu and Cu1a 0.9× as long as Cu1b; and, 2+3rs-m 3.4× as long as abscissa of M between 3rs-m and 2m-cu.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronymic honoring the author’s brother, Augusto Alvarado Gutiérrez.

Holotype: ♀, “ ECUADOR: Napo Pastaza, Sebundoi [ Sebundoy ; 0o30’N, 77o30’W;], 2600m. 11-12.ix.1977 / L. E Pena Coll. B.M. 1978–293” ( NHML); antenna missing.

Paratype: 1 individual of uncertain gender, same data as holotype except date 11-15.xi.1977 ( NHML); metasoma missing.