Mnioes soqta Alvarado 2020

Ballon-Estacio, Ricardo & Alvarado, Mabel, 2024, Three new species of parasitoid wasps of the genus Mnioes Townes, 1946 (Ichneumonidae: Banchinae) in a humid forest in Peru, Zootaxa 5523 (2), pp. 269-283 : 281

Mnioes soqta Alvarado 2020

Comments. The females of M. soqta Alvarado 2020 and the newly described species, M. chunka sp. nov. and M. chusaq sp. nov., are quite similar. The initial presumption was that all the individuals with blackish patches in the wings belonged to the already described species M. soqta Alvarado 2020 ; but two distinctive colour patterns in the wings were found in the males, suggesting that more than one species may be present. To supplement species identification, we included sequences of CO1 marker and to our surprise three species mentioned were found. With that information we re-examined the specimens to determine if there was a patron that could allow its identification using morphological features, and these features are mentioned in the diagnosis and key.

This species was collected predominantly in the forest (47 individuals), and just two individuals were collected in the shaded-coffee plantation, showing its preference for well-preserved forest. Additionally, it is present throughout the year.

Material examined. Non-type material: 1♀ forest, 15.III.2022, Malaise; 2♀♀ forest, 01.III.2022, Malaise; 1♀ forest, 29.IV.2022, Malaise; 3♀♀ forest, 13.IV.2022, Malaise // 1♀ MUSM-HYM 0294 [leg removed] ; 3♀♀ forest, 05.V.2022, Malaise // 1♀ MUSM-HYM 0294 [leg removed, COI obtained]; 4♀♀ and 1♂ forest, 07.VII.2022, Malaise // 1♀ MUSM-HYM 0204 [leg removed, COI obtained], ♂ MUSM-HYM 0204 [leg removed, COI obtained]; 3♀♀ forest, 02.VIII.2022; 2♀♀ forest, 16.VIII.2022, Malaise // 1♀ MUSM-HYM 0242 [leg removed, COI obtained]; 1♀ and 1♂ forest, 30.VIII.2022, Malaise // ♀ MUSM-HYM 0244 [leg removed, COI obtained], ♂ [genitalia extracted]; 2♀♀ and 1♂ forest, 15.IX.2022, Malaise // and ♂ MUSM-HYM 0339 [leg removed, COI obtained]; 2♂♂ forest, 29.IX.2022, Malaise // 1♂ MUSM-HYM 0221 [leg removed, COI obtained]; 1♀ forest, 11.X.2022, Malaise // MUSM-HYM 0388 [leg removed, COI obtained]; 1♀ forest, 25.X.2022, Malaise; 3♀♀ forest, 20.XI.2022, Malaise; 2♀♀ forest, 20.XII.2022, Malaise; 2♀♀ forest, 03. I.2023, Malaise; 2♀♀ forest, 13. I.2023, Malaise; ♀ forest, 29. VIII.2022, yellow pan trap; 2♀ forest, 30. VIII.2022, yellow pan trap; 1♀ shaded-coffee plantation, 09.VI.2022, Malaise // MUSM-HYM 0241 [leg removed] ( MUSM) .