Orasema johnsoni, Baker & Heraty, 2020

Baker, Austin J. & Heraty, John M., 2020, The New World ant parasitoid genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), Zootaxa 4888 (1), pp. 1-84 : 61

Orasema johnsoni species group

( Figs 32–34)

Diagnosis. Recognized by the following combination of characters: head and mesosoma smooth but setose ( Figs 33F, 34F), eyes strongly setose ( Figs 33B, 34B), and funicle generally 8-segmented ( Figs 33D, 34D; note: several antennal mutations in specimens).

Description. Female. Length 2.1–3.3 mm. Color. Head and mesosoma dark with green, blue, and purple iridescence. Pedicel, anellus, mandible, maxilla, and labium brown. Femora brown; tibiae yellow. Wing venation pale brown. Gaster brown with iridescence. Head. Head in frontal view subtriangular; scrobal depression shallow, laterally rounded, smooth; supraclypeal area slightly broader than long, smooth; clypeus smooth; epistomal sulcus vaguely defined; anterior tentorial pit strongly impressed; anteclypeus distinct, straight. Labrum with 4 digits. Palpal formula 3:2. Occiput imbricate, emarginate in dorsal view, dorsal margin abrupt. Scape not reaching median ocellus. Pedicle globose. Clava subovate. Mesosoma. Mesoscutal midlobe densely setose; lateral lobe smooth. Axilla smooth, dorsally rounded, on roughly same plane as mesoscutellum; scutoscutellar sulcus irregularly foveate, broadly separated from transscutal articulation; mesoscutellar disc as long as broad, smooth; frenum and axilla smooth. Propodeal disc areolate, with irregular median carina; callus mostly smooth with minute impressions, densely setose. Propleuron convex, smooth. Postpectal carina weak. Upper and lower mesepimeron smooth; transepimeral sulcus distinct. Metepisternum laterally smooth. Hind coxa smooth; hind femur evenly covered with short, dense setae. Fore wing with marginal fringe relatively long; submarginal vein with several long setae; marginal vein with minute setae; stigmal vein slightly longer than broad, slightly angled toward wing apex; postmarginal vein longer than stigmal vein. Metasoma. Petiole cylindrical, linear in profile, areolate, ventral sulcus present with margins widely separated. Apical setae of hypopygium with several long hairs on each side of midline. Ovipositor with subapical carina present; first (ventral) valvula without teeth, second (dorsal) valvula with 8–10 annuli that are narrowly separated dorsally, carinae coalescing.

Male. Unknown.

Phylogenetics. There is no molecular data for this species group, but 8 funiculars suggests that they may belong within the xanthopus - festiva - lasallei - stramineipes clade, which contains almost all 8-funicular taxa except for the wayqecha and tolteca groups. Alternatively, the general body shape and setation suggests that they may be within the coloradensis - sixaolae - monstrosa clade ( Fig. 1).

Key to species of the Orasema johnsoni species group

1) Valvifer rounded ( Fig. 33E); mesoscutal midlobe with weak costate sculpture ( Fig. 33F); frenal line weak but complete ( Fig. 33F) ( Brazil and Uruguay)........................................................... Orasema johnsoni n. sp.

- Valvifer digitate ( Fig. 34E); mesoscutal midlobe completely smooth ( Fig. 34F); frenal line absent or incomplete medially ( Fig. 34F) ( Brazil).................................................................... Orasema spyrogaster n. sp.