Aulacus subflavus Smith, 2016

Smith, David R., 2016, Two unusual new species of Aulacus Jurine (Hymenoptera, Aulacidae) from South America, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 53, pp. 163-170 : 167-168

Aulacus subflavus Smith sp. n. Figs 10-15

Description.

Female (holotype). Length, 8.0 mm; forewing 6.0 mm; ovipositor 4.2 mm. Similar to Aulacus flavus except for the following differences: Pronotum white on dorsal half, black on ventral half (Figs 10 , 15 ). Head (Figs 11-13 ) with eyes larger; lower interocular distance 0.8 × eye height; in dorsal view straight behind eyes; in lateral view lower gena less produced with greatest width of gena half or less width of eye.

Male. Length, 7.5 mm. Color and structure similar to female.

Type material.

Holotype female, "Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., French Guyana, Kourou, Malaise trap (Piste Soumourou), 15-23.VIII.2001, Leg. D. Faure" with red holotype label ( RBINS). Paratypes: FRENCH GUIANA: Same data as for holotype (14 ♀, RBINS, USNM); Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Kourou, Piste Skoumourou, Malaise trap, XI.2002, Leg. D. Faure (9 ♀, 5 ♂, RBINS, USNM); Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Kourou, Piste Soumourou, Malaise trap, 1-8.IX.2001, Leg. D. Faure (1 ♀, RBINS). GUYANA: Kamakusa, British Guiana, IX.1922, H. Lang, J. Bequaert Collections (1 ♀, MCZ).

Other specimens.

BRAZIL: Sinop, M. Grosso, 12°31'S, 55°37'W, X.1974, M. Alvarenga (2 ♀, AEI); Vila Vera, 12°30'S, 50°30'W, October 1973, M. Alvarenga (2 ♀, AEI).

Distribution.

Brazil: Mato Grosso; French Guiana; Guyana.

Etymology.

From the Latin partly yellow, referring to the usual half yellow and half black pronotum.

Remarks.

The "other specimens" are structurally like this species but the mesosoma is entirely yellow orange and I prefer not to include them in the type series. The bicolored pronotum seems to be a helpful character, though several specimens have an entirely yellow pronotum. The side lobes of the mesonotum may be entirely black or partly orange. The length varies only by about ± 0.7 mm; the proportions of the ovipositor and forewing remain the same regardless of size.

Figures

Figures 10 - 15. Aulacus subflavus. 10 Lateral (scale bar = 1.0 mm) 11 Head, lateral 12 Head, dorsal 13 Head, front 14 Mesosoma, dorsal 15 Mesosoma, lateral (tubercle on axilla is shown immediately above base of wing).