Ophion clave Schwarzfeld

Schwarzfeld, Marla D. & Sperling, Felix A. H., 2014, Species delimitation using morphology, morphometrics, and molecules: definition of the Ophionscutellaris Thomson species group, with descriptions of six new species (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), ZooKeys 462, pp. 59-114 : 85-88

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Ichneumonidae

Ophion clave Schwarzfeld sp. n. Figures 10d, 11d; Plate 4

Type material.

Holotype: ♀ (MS12193, DNA6944, GenBank KF594831, KF615972, KF616352): CAN: AB: Spruce Grove, 13 km South, 53.4 -113.9, 28 v-2 vi 1989, Malaise, A.T.Finnamore (CNC)

Paratypes: 13 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂. CAN: AB: 2 ♀♀(MS12198-99) Same data as holotype (CNC); 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀ (MS13746, DNA7383, GenBank KF594963; MS13749, DNA7381, GenBank KF594961; MS13748; MS13752) Jenner Bridge, S. Jenner, riparian willow/sagebrush shrub, 50.844 -111.154, 2 vi 2010, UV trap, G.Anweiler (CNC); 1 ♀ (MS1689, DNA7391, GenBank KF594970) Jenner rodeo grounds, 50.842 -111.151, 07 vi 2007, Light, G.Anweiler (CNC); 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (MS71, DNA7382, GenBank KF594962; MS72) Jenner rodeo grounds, 50.842 -111.151, 09 v 2007, UV trap, M.Schwarzfeld (CNC); 1 ♀ (MS1434) Jenner rodeo grounds, 50.842 -111.151, 26 v 2007, UV trap, J.Dombroskie & G.Anweiler (CNC); 1 ♀ (MS12386) 17 km S of Stettler, Lowden Springs Conserv. Area, aspen/buckbrush/grassland, 822m, 52.154 -112.713; 26 v 2010; UV; C.D.Bird (CNC); 1 ♂ (MS11578) 17 km S of Stettler, Lowden Springs Conserv. Area, native prairie, 825m, 52.154 -112.712, 24 v 2009, UV, C.D.Bird (CNC). MB: 1 ♀ Brandon, 29.v.49, light trap (NFRC); ON: 2 ♀♀ (MS10758, MS10763) Leeds, Grenville Co. Long Mtn, 44.487 -76.008, 27 iv 2009, B.C.Schmidt (CNC); 1 ♀ Waterloo Co., Cambridge, malaise, 18-21.v.1992, Skevington & Cannings (RBCM)

Etymology.

“Clave” is the Spanish word for key, and refers to the arrangement of the propodeal carinae, which resemble an old-fashioned keyhole. It is also the fundamental rhythm in salsa music, which was undoubtedly playing as this species was being described. It is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

ATC of propodeum U-shaped above ASu; stemmaticum raised; occipital carina rounded; face coarsely densely punctate (most punctures separated by less than their diameter), and punctures connected by strong microreticulation; Wing L: 10.5-12.4 mm; Flag: 52-60. This species is most similar to Ophion brevipunctatus , but can be distinguished by the sculpture of the face, the more extensive yellow orbits and the smaller size. This species is also similar to Ophion idoneus and Ophion importunus , but can be most easily distinguished by the strongly convex ATC.

Description.

Head: Eyes slightly convergent to nearly parallel in frontal view; stemmaticum raised, sulci surrounding stemmaticum complete or nearly so; IOD/OL: 0.53-1.00; OOD/OL: 0.13-0.29; occipital carina rounded, OC/OL: 0.67-0.92; temple receding, approximately equal to width of eye in lateral view; clypeus weakly convex in lateral view and very weakly separated from face, coriaceous with irregularly scattered coarse punctures, often interspersed with at least a few minute punctures, smaller and denser towards lateral and dorsal margins, less dense than on face (see variation), CH/CAW: 0.49-0.67; face evenly coarsely punctate, most punctures separated by less than their diameter and connected by strong microreticulation, smaller on sides than in centre (see variation); FW/FH: 1.18-1.26; antennae with 52-60 flagellomeres, F1: 3.00-4.17, F20: 1.36-1.83; MS/MW: 0.43-0.63; GI/MW: 0.36-0.67

Mesosoma:Female: Mesoscutum polished to subpolished (see variation), evenly, shallowly punctate with small to minute punctures; mesopleuron coriaceous with strong punctures separated by approximately their diameter, polished with sparse minute punctures above mesopleural fovea; epicnemial carina of females with pleurosternal angle approximately 90°, and more or less sharp, varying from slightly acute to slightly obtuse; SL/SW: 1.23-1.58; lateral carina strong along anterior third to two-thirds of scutellum; metapleuron coriaceous with strong punctures separated by approximately their diameter; Male: Same, except SL/SW: 1.43-1.67; pleurosternal angle of epicnemial carina rounded and slightly obtuse.

Propodeum: Female: ATC strong, strongly arched above ASu (so anterior margin of ASu is highly convex), occasionally weak to obsolete along AE; PTC present (occasionally obsolete) along ASu, usually produced as small crests where intersects with MLC, obsolete to absent between AD and APE, strong along AJC; MLC weak and slightly convergent along ASu, strong (occasionally weak) and distinctly convergent (but not meeting) along AP; LLC weak to strong along AJC, otherwise absent; PC strong, not connected to spiracle; spiracular area slightly to strongly sloping, closely punctate, subpolished to coriaceous; posterior area rugulopunctate basally, strongly wrinkled apically; Male: Same pattern but all carinae tending to be weaker.

Wings: Wing L: 10.5-12.4 mm, CI: 0.39-0.59, AI: 1.13-2.16, SDI: 1.16-1.30, ICI: 0.52-0.93; veins dark brown to black, stigma light brown; fore wing with ramellus absent or present, discocubital cell entirely trichiose except for well-defined fenestra under stigma (not extending below prestigma).

Legs:Female: CL/CW: 1.58-1.93; FL/FW: 7.00-8.59 (♀), 7.00-7.18 (♂), MT1/MT2: 2.01-2.26 (♀); MTS: 0.72-0.88; Male: Same, except MT1/MT2: 1.69-2.02.

Metasoma: Sides of petiole gently divergent from spiracles to apex in females, more abruptly expanded at spiracles in males.

Colour: Reddish-orange; palps, mandibles and/or scutellum sometimes slightly paler; orbits narrowly yellowish; tegula and mesepimeron yellowish.

Variation.

There is some geographic variation in this species, with less morphological variation in specimens from within each locality than there is between localities.

2 ♀♀ have clypeal punctures more densely and regularly spaced than in remaining specimens; 2 ♀♀ have facial punctures slightly smaller and facial microreticulation slightly weaker that in the remaining specimens; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (from same locality) with mesoscutum coriaceous.

Seasonality.

This species has been collected from late April until early June.