Aulacus costaricensis SMITH, 2008

Smith, David R., 2008, Aulacidae of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America (Hymenoptera), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 58 (2), pp. 267-355 : 282-284

Aulacus costaricensis SMITH , new species

( Figs 18-21 )

Diagnosis:

Entirely black, only tarsi mostly whitish; forewing apex black. Head shining, no discernable punctures; mesoscutum shining, with coarse transverse carinae which are stronger posteriorly, but few punctures. Hind coxa smooth, shining.

Female:

Length, 11.0 mm; forewing length, 9.0 mm; ovipositor length 13.0 mm. Color: Black. Tarsi mostly whitish. Wings hyaline, veins and stigma black; apex of forewing black. Ovipositor sheath with white band. Head: Antennal length 3.3X head width. Lower interocular distance subequal to eye height; malar space 0.3X eye height ( Fig. 18 ). In dorsal view, narrowing behind eyes, about 0.6X eye length ( Fig. 19 ). Head smooth and shining with fine white pubescence, pubescence densest in lower inner orbits and malar area; gena and vertex practically impunctate; frons punctate, punctures almost contiguous ( Figs 18, 19 ). Mesosoma: Propleuron smooth, shining, almost impunctate. Mesoscutal middle lobe with few punctures and transverse carinae; mesoscutal lateral lobes shining, inner margins with transverse carinae; notauli meeting posteriorly anterior to transscutal articulation ( Fig. 21 ); axillae punctate; mesoscutellum punctate with few transverse carinae at center; pronotum finely punctate with anterior margin, diagonal line, and line perpendicular to diagonal line reticulate; mesopleuron, metapleuron, and propodeum mostly reticulate with posterior margin of mesopleuron narrowly scrobiculate ( Figs 20, 21 ). Hind coxa smooth and shining, 2.1X longer than broad; diagonal ovipositor groove at center on inner surface. Hind basitarsus 1.1X length of remaining tarsal segments combined. Metasoma: Smooth, shining, with fine white pubescence on segments 6 to apex. Ovipositor length 1.4X forewing length.

Male: Length, 12.5 mm; forewing length, 10.5 mm. Color and structure similar to female.

Types: Holotype: Female, labeled “Fca. Cafrosa, 1300 m, Est. Las Mellizas, P. Intgernac. La Amistad , Prov. Punt., Costa Rica, M. Ramirez, Jun 1991, L-S-316100, 596100” and “Costa Rica INBIO CRI000 604300” ( INBio) (Fca.” = Finca ). Paratype: COSTA RICA: Puntarenas: Monteverde , 18-24 July 1990, coll. G. C. Snelling (1 ♂, LACM) .

Other specimen: Costa Rica, Prov. Puntarenas, Monte Verde area , 13-1700 m, 10°18'N, 84°48'W, 4-9.vi-1983, F. T. Hovore (1 ♀, CHAH) .

Etymology: Named for Costa Rica, the country of collection.

Remarks:

The holotype and paratype have most of the hind tarsus white. The other specimen has the hind tarsus black, and I prefer not to include it in the type series although all other features are identical to the types.

Figures

Figs 18-21: Aulacus costaricensis. 18 Head, front. 19 Head, dorsal. 20 Mesosoma, lateral. 21 Mesosoma dorsal.