Orasema cerulea, 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 : 53-56

Orasema cerulea n. sp.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7E38BB49-5295-4136-8B16-DDF3C4560F96

( Fig. 28 )

Diagnosis. Distinguished from O. acuminata by the features given in the key.

Description. Female. Length 2.6–3.0 mm ( Fig. 28A ). Color. Head and mesosoma dark iridescent blue. Pedicel pale brown. Femora mostly brown, tips pale. Head ( Fig. 28B ). HW:HH = 1.1–1.2; face rugose-reticulate; IOD: EH = 1.7–1.9; MS:EH = 0.9–1.0; malar depression weakly impressed adjacent to mouth; supraclypeal area as long as broad, weakly rugose-reticulate; anteclypeus distinct, broadly rounded. FL:HH = 1.3–1.4; F2L:F2W = 2.1–2.8, F2L:F3L = 1.1–1.3; following funiculars subequal in length, gradually broader; clava subovate ( Fig. 28D ). Me-sosoma ( Fig. 28C, G, H ). ML:MH = 1.2–1.3. Axilla dorsally well above mesoscutellum; scutoscutellar sulcus narrowly separated from transscutal articulation; frenal line irregularly foveate; axillular sulcus weak and foveate. Upper mesepimeron smooth; lower mesepimeron nearly smooth with weak carinae. Metepisternum weakly rugose-areolate. HCL:HCW = 1.6–2.1, costate; HFL:HFW = 6.6–8.9. FWL:FWW = 2.5–2.7, FWL:ML = 2.3–2.5; basal area sparsely setose, speculum bare, costal cell and wing disc setose; submarginal vein with several long setae; stigmal vein slightly angled toward wing base. Metasoma. PTL:PTW = 5.4–6.5, PTL:HCL = 2.1–2.4, lateral margin rounded. Apical setae of hypopygium with one pair of long setae. Ovipositor with subapical carina present; first (ventral) valvula with 6–8 small, narrowly separated teeth, second (dorsal) valvula with 6 or 7 annuli that are broadly separated dorsally by smooth area ( Fig. 28F ).

Male. Unknown.

Hosts. Unknown.

Plant associates. Unknown.

Distribution ( Fig. 26 ). Costa Rica: AL; Honduras: YO. Collected in February and September.

Material examined. Holotype. HONDURAS. Yoro: Palo de Comba , 15°11’0”N, 87°39’0”W, 27.ix.1995, R. Cave, mid elevation secondary forest, Malaise Trap [♀, deposited in MZLU: UCRCENT00242604]. Paratypes. COSTA RICA. Alejuela: Playuelas, RNVS Caño Negro , 20m, 10 ° 57’13”N, 84° 44’51”W, 1–18.ii.1994, K. Martinez [1♀, INBIO: INBIOCRI001746776] . HONDURAS. Yoro: Palo de Comba , 15°11’0”N, 87°39’0”W, 27.ix.1995, R. Cave, mid elevation secondary forest, Malaise Trap [2♀, MZLU: UCRCENT00242603, UCRCENT00242605].

Etymology. From Latin cerule meaning “blue” in reference to the body coloration.

Figures

FIGURE 26. Distribution map of species in the Orasema acuminata species group.

FIGURE 28. Orasema cerulea. Holotype female (UCRCENT00242604): A, habitus, lateral; B, head, anterior; C, mesosoma, lateral; D, antenna; E, acrosternite, anterior; F, ovipositor, lateral; G, mesosoma, dorsal; H, propodeum, posterior.