Ypsilonigaster sharkeyi Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault, 2018

Fernandez-Triana, Jose L & Boudreault, Caroline, 2018, Seventeen new genera of microgastrine parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from tropical areas of the world, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 64, pp. 25-140 : 109-111

Ypsilonigaster sharkeyi Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault sp. n.

Fig. 43

Holotype.

Male, Republic of the Congo, CNC.

Holotype labels.

REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO:/Pool, Abio Lesio-Loun Pk,/330m, 09.xi.2008/ 3°06.020'S, 015°31.440'E /Sharkey & Braet. Second label: JMIC 0517.

Holotype locality.

REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, Abio-Lesio Louna Park, 3°06.020'S, 015°31.440'E, pool, 330m.

Diagnosis.

Ypsilonigaster sharkeyi can be distinguished from all other known species in the genus due to the unique sculpture pattern and shape of T1 (T1 width at anterior and posterior margins about the same, and with rather coarse sculpture on posterior 0.3).

Description.

Female unknown. Male. Body colour mostly yellow (but with antenna brown and tergites 3+ mostly brown). Body mostly smooth (including most of propodeum, entire scutellar disc, and most tergites except for posterior 0.3 of T1 and T2 which are coarsely sculptured), anteromesoscutum sparsely punctate. Scutoscutellar sulcus with 7 crenulae. Lunules relatively low (around 0.25 × height of lateral face of scutellum). Propodeum with strongly raised, median carina. Fore wing with small, slit-shaped areolet. Hind wing with vannal lobe slightly concave centrally, and without setae on that central area. Metafemur L 3.42 × its W. Metatibial inner spur L 1.65 × metatibia outer spur L; metatibia inner spur 0.55 × first segment of metatarsus L. T1 divided in three areas by a strong sulcus shaped as an inverted “Y”; T1 L 1.38 × T1 W at posterior margin. T2 subtriangular; T2 width at posterior margin 3.05 × T2 L Body measurements (mm). F2 L: 0.25; F3 L: 0.26; F14 L: 0.23; F15 L: 0.21; Malar sulcus L: 0.08; Mandible W: 0.10; T1 L: 0.46; T1 W at posterior margin: 0.33; T1 maximum W: 0.33; T2 W at anterior margin: 0.26; T2 W at posterior margin: 0.46; T2 L: 0.15; Metafemur L: 0.88; Metafemur W: 0.26; Metatibia L: 1.07; Inner spur L: 0.28; Outer spur L: 0.17; First segment of Metatarsus L: 0.50; Body L: 2.63; Fore wing L: 3.00. Mandible W is approximate.

Biology.

Host unknown.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality in southeastern Republic of the Congo.

Molecular data.

The holotype rendered an almost complete DNA barcode (621 bp), which represents BIN BOLD:AAV2124. That sequence is 8.02% different from the closest Microgastrinae in BOLD.

Etymology.

Named after Michael Sharkey, in recognition of his significant contributions to the knowledge of parasitoid wasps, and also for sending the first author valuable specimens -some of which were studied and are part of this paper.

Figures

Figure 43. Ypsilonigaster sharkeyi male holotype. A Habitus B Head frontal C Fore wing D Metasoma dorsal E Head and mesosoma, dorsal.