Exochus ablatus Gauld & Sithole, 2002

Melo, Ivy Frizo De, Araújo, Carolina Rodrigues & Penteado-Dias, Angélica Maria, 2015, New species of Exochus Gravenhorst and Trieces Townes (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Metopiinae) and first record of seven species from Brazil, Zootaxa 4059 (1) : -

Exochus ablatus Gauld & Sithole, 2002

( Figs. 2–4 )

Diagnosis. This species is easily recognizable by its color pattern ( Fig.2 ), having the mesosoma orange and the metasoma entirely black ( Gauld, et al., 2002).

Remarks. Some Brazilian specimens presented slight color variations in vertex, metasoma and propodeum, compared with E. ablatus holotype (BMNH). The variations observed are not as significant enough to consider the possibility of a new species. The holotype vertex is black, comprising the entire frons and the area around the ocelli reaching the eye orbits, but the size of this black spot varies and may be very small in some specimens comprising only the interocellar area and a part of vertex ( Fig. 3 ). The holotype has an entirely black metasoma, while some Brazilian specimens present a light yellow line or spots in the distal end of tergites III + ( Fig. 4 ). Few specimens showed a brown spot in the central area of the propodeum ( Fig. 4 ). Some variations was found in both males and females.

Distribution. Costa Rica, Brazil. The specimens were collected in Brazilian savannah (Assis), tropical rainforest (São Luís do Paraitinga) and semideciduous forest (Mogi Guaçu), all localities in São Paulo State, in Southeast of Brazil.

Biology. Unknown.

Material examined. ( BMNH) Holotype ♀, Costa Rica, Heredia Prov., Braulio Carrillo National Park, 9.5 km E for el Tunel, 1000 m, vii–x.1990, Gauld & Hanson colls. ( DCBU) 1 ♀, Brazil, SP, São Luís do Paraitinga, State Park of Serra do Mar, Santa Virgínia Center, conservation area, point 2C, 23°19’54.6” S 45°06’00.2” W, yellow pan-trap, 13.IV.2013, I.F, Melo coll.; 3 ♀, Brazil, SP, Assis, Assis Ecological Station, Brazilian savannah, 22°35’14” S 50°22’38” W, Malaise trap, 26.VIII.2008, C. Silva coll.; 3 ♀, same locality, 04.X.2008; 3 ♀ and 4 ♂, same locality, 29.XII.2008; 2 ♀ and 1♂, Brazil, SP, Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, State Park of Vassununga, Giant foot-Brazilian Savannah, 21°40’56” S 47°37’13” W, Malaise trap, 29.XII.2006, A.M.P. Dias coll.;1 ♀, same locality, 14.XI.2006; 1 ♀, same locality, 10.VII.2006; 3 ♀, same locality, 18.I.2006; 1 ♂, same locality, 02.X.2006; 1 ♂, same locality, 22.VIII.2006; 1 ♀, Brazil, SP, Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, State Park of Vassununga, Giant foot-Riparian forest, 21°40’56” S 47°37’13” W, Malaise trap, 22.VIII.2006, A.M.P. Dias coll.; 1 ♀, Brazil, SP, Mogi Guaçu, Mogi Guaçu Ecological Station, 22°14’57” S 47°10’26” W, Malaise trap, 05.III.2007, A.M.P. Dias coll.; 3 ♀, same locality, 05.II.2007; 1 ♂, same locality, 22°14’57” S 47°10’26” W, Malaise trap, 05.III.2007, A.M.P. Dias coll.; 1 ♂, same locality, 22°14’57” S 47°10’26” W, Malaise trap, 23.III.2007, A.M.P. Dias coll.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 5. Exochus spp. 2 – 4, Exochus ablatus, ♀: 2, habitus, lateral; 3, head, dorsolateral; 4, mesoscutum, propodeum and metasoma, dorsal. 5, Exochus izbus, ♀: 5, habitus, lateral.