Snellenius velvaruddae Fernandez-Triana & Whitfield

Fernandez-Triana, Jose L., Whitfield, James B., Smith, M. Alex, Kula, Robert R., Winnie Hallwachs, & Janzen, Daniel H., 2015, Revision of the genera Microplitis and Snellenius (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with a key to all species previously described from Mesoamerica, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 62 (2), pp. 137-201 : 159

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Braconidae

Snellenius velvaruddae Fernandez-Triana & Whitfield sp. n. Figures 196-202

Holotype.

♀ in CNC. COSTA RICA: ACG, Guanacaste Province, Sector Santa Rosa, Bosque San Emilio, 300m, 10.84389, -85.61384. ACG database code: DHJPAR0013342.

Paratype.♀ (CNC). COSTA RICA, ACG, database code: DHJPAR0013338.

Diagnosis.

The combination of metasoma color (T1-T2 orange yellow, T3 yellow, T4 light brown, T5+ brown), metatibia spurs orange brown, fore wing hyaline, and T1 length at least 2.3 × its width at posterior margin separate this species from all other ACG Snellenius .

Description.

Female. Scape color: Half yellow, half brown. Mesosoma color: Black. Metasoma color: T1-T2 orange yellow, T3 yellow, T4 light brown, T5+ brown. Coxae color (pro-, meso-, metacoxa): Yellow, light brown, brown. Femora color (pro-, meso-, metafemur): Orange yellow, orange yellow to light brown, brown. Tibiae color (pro-, meso-, metatibia): Orange yellow, orange yellow, mostly orange yellow (but with anterior 0.2 yellow white and posterior 0.2 brown). Metatibia spurs color: Orange brown. First segment of metatarsus color: Brown. Tegula and humeral complex color: Yellow, half yellow and half brown. Wings: Hyaline. Pterostigma color: Brown. Fore wing veins 1RS and (RS+M)a: Brown (same color as surrounding veins). Body length (head to apex of metasoma): 3.2-3.3 mm. Fore wing length: 2.9-3.0 mm. Ocular-ocellar line/posterior ocellus diameter: 1.9 x. Interocellar distance/posterior ocellus diameter: 1.7 x. Ocular-ocellar line/posterior ocellus diameter/interocellar distance: 0.17 –0.18/0.08– 0.09/0.15 mm. Antennal flagellomere 2 length/width: 2.6-2.8 × (0.25 –0.26/0.09– 0.10 mm). Antennal flagellomere 14 length/width: 2.1-2.3 × (0.17/0.07-0.08 mm). Length of flagellomere 2/length of flagellomere 14: 1.5 x. Epicnemial carina: Present. Anteromesoscutum: With relatively shallower and sparser sculpture, central area not appearing elevated compared to lateral areas of anteromesoscutum, notauli slightly to strongly excavated. Scutellar disc sculpture: With deeper sculpture near margins, central part appearing slightly elevated and less sculptured. Number of carinae in scutoscutellar sulcus: One centrally, with four other smaller and partially defined carinae. Metafemur length/width: 3.2-3.4 × (0.86 –0.87/0.25– 0.27 mm). Metatibia length: 1.07 mm (1.05-1.10 mm). First segment of metatarsus length: 0.42 mm (0.41-0.43 mm). Mediotergite 1 length/width at posterior margin: 2.3-2.4 x. Mediotergite 1 length/width at anterior margin/maximum width/width at posterior margin: 0.52 –0.54/0.26–0.27/0.25–0.26/0.22– 0.24 mm. Mediotergite 1 sculpture: Fully sculptured.

Male. Unknown.

Host.

Unknown.

Molecular data.

One haplotype, two sequences (two barcode-compliant) in BOLD.

Etymology.

This species is named in honour of in recognition of Velva Rudd in recognition of her contribution to understanding the plant biology of ACG.