Brachycyrtus convergens Cushman, 1936

Nascimento, Alexsandra C. & Fernandes, Daniell R. R., 2024, Synopsis of Brachycyrtus Kriechbaumer, 1880 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Brachycyrtinae) from Brazil, with description of two new species, Zootaxa 5430 (1), pp. 1-62 : 22-25

Brachycyrtus convergens Cushman, 1936

( Figs. 29 , 30 )

Brachycyrtus convergens Cushman, 1936: 20 . Holotype female, Panamá (USNM) [ National Museum of Natural History , Smithsonian Institution].

Habryllia convergens (Cushman) ; Walkley 1956: 320.

Material examined. 2 ♀ ♀. Holotype ♀ (scanned image) ( Fig. 29 ). PANAMA, Cano Saddle / Gatun L. [Lake] Pan / R C Shannon / v. 8. 23// Type No. 50624/ U.S.N.M. [National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution]// Brachycyrtus / convergens / type. Cush.// USNMENT 01583548 (http://n 2t.net/ark:/65665/3a93b7e4b-8d58- 404d-9b80-b7297c880f5d) (1 ♀, USNM). BRAZIL, Rondônia: Itapuã do/ Oeste Flona Jamari , 14-/ 28.vii.2017, 9°15’36”S –/ 62°54’46”W, Malaise, Z.F.M. / Silva & J.A. Rafael – RedeBIA (1 ♀, INPA).

Diagnosis. Brachycyrtus convergens can be differentiated from other Neotropical Brachycyrtus by the combination of the following characters: white band on flagellum (flagellomeres 18–23) ( Fig. 30A ); propodeum granulate with sparse setae with area anterolateral black, area superomedia confluent with area petiolaris, anterior transverse carina complete to pleural carina, area dentipara not completely delineated, area posteroexterna and coxalis closed, lateral longitudinal carina present only posteriorly extending forwards area posteroexterna and posterior transverse carina not delineated centrally ( Figs. 30D, 30G ).

Male. Unknown.

Variation (n=1). Body length 6.0 mm. Antenna length 5.0 mm; flagellomeres 18–23 whitish.

Geographical records. Brazil ** (Rondônia), Costa Rica and Panama ( Cushman 1936; Walkley 1956; Gauld & Ward 2000; Yu et al. 2016; Fernandes et al. 2023) ( Fig. 31 ).

Biological note. The host of this species is so far unknown. Brachycyrtus convergens is common in humid forests of Pacific and Atlantic coastal plains ( Gauld & Ward 2000).

Discussion. Brachycyrtus convergens is morphologically similar to B. cosmetus , mainly in the set of carinae on the propodeum, propodeum granulate with sparse setae, area basalis septate and not delineated laterally, area superomedia confluent with area petiolaris, anterior transverse carina complete to pleural carina, area dentipara not completely delineated, area posteroexterna and coxalis closed. In B. cosmetus does not have a white band on the flagellomeres, ocelli forming an isosceles triangle, lateral longitudinal carina anteriorly incomplete extending forward from the area posteroexterna ( Figs. 33D, 33G , 34E–F ). In contrast, in B. convergens a white band on flagellomeres 18–23, ocelli forming an equilateral triangle, lateral longitudinal carina present only posteriorly extending forwards, area posteroexterna and posterior transverse carina not delineated centrally ( Figs. 30D, 30G ).

Remarks. Additional characters of the material examined from Brazil (n=1) (♀) are the following: Head. Antenna slender. Dorsal view ( Fig. 30E ), ocellus diameter 0.31 mm; distance between the anterior and posterior ocellus 0.04 mm; shortest distance between the posterior ocellus and the compound eye 0.07 mm; distance between the posterior ocellus 0.15 mm. Front view ( Fig. 30B ), eye height 0.65 mm. Frons width 0.50 mm, smooth, polished and convex. Face width 0.41 mm. Malar space 0.09 mm. Basal mandible width 0.13 mm, bidentate. Mesosoma. Lateral view ( Fig. 30A ), propleuron polished, smooth. Pronotum polished, smooth. Mesopleuron polished, smooth; sternaulus absent. Metapleuron polished, smooth. Hind tibia with denticles, fine setae and with apical fringe and two asymmetrical apical spurs. Wings. Entirely hyaline iridescent; hind wing length 2.26 mm. Metasoma. Length tergite 1 0.92 mm, basal width tergite 1 0.16 mm, apical width tergite 1 0.35 mm. Length tergite 2 0.71 mm, basal width tergite 2 0.35 mm, apical width tergite 2 0.51 mm. Length tergite 3 0.54 mm, basal width tergite 3 0.51 mm, apical width tergite 3 0.55 mm. Length ovipositor 1.38 mm, apex of ovipositor slightly truncated with three teeth and without nodus ( Fig. 30F ).

Figures

FIGURE 29A–D. Brachycyrtus convergens Cushman, 1936, holotype female. (A) habitus; (B) head, frontal view; (C) tags. Photos: (A, B, C) Bekah Rogers, (D) Bekah Young.

FIGURE 30A–G. Brachycyrtus convergens Cushman, 1936, female. (A) Lateral habitus. (B) Head, Frontal view. (C) Head, dorsal view. (D) Propodeum, dorsal view. (E) Body, dorsal view. (F) Ovipositor, lateral view. (G) SEM of propodeum, dorsal view.

FIGURE 31. Map of geographical records of Brachycyrtus convergens Cushman, 1936 (Legend: the Brazilian state of Rondônia where the species occurs is highlighted in gray. Blue circle for new record, red triangle for previous record and yellow star for type locality).

FIGURE 33A–G. Brachycyrtus cosmetus (Walkley, 1956), female. (A) Lateral habitus. (B) Head, Frontal view. (C) Head, dorsal view. (D) Propodeum, dorsal view. (E) Body, dorsal view. (F) Ovipositor, lateral view. (G) SEM of propodeum, dorsal view.

FIGURE 34A–F. Brachycyrtus cosmetus (Walkley, 1956), male. (A) habitus; (B) body, dorsal view; (C) head, frontal view; (D) head, dorsal view; (E) propodeum; dorsal view; (F) SEM of propodeum; dorsal view.