Aphanistes ruthae, Alvarado, 2018

Alvarado, M., 2018, Nocturnal Aphanistes (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Anomaloninae) in the Neotropical region, with the description of five new species, Zootaxa 4369 (2), pp. 221-236 : 228-230

Aphanistes ruthae sp. n.

(Figs. 18–23, 34, 42–44, 48)

Diagnosis. This species can be recognized by the following combination of features: ovipositor without a dorsal notch and pre-apically markedly swollen, distance between ocelli 0.2× the lateral ocellus maximum diameter, and predominantly testaceous species with the orbits and face predominantly yellowish.

Description. Female: fore wing length 14.9–16.3 mm.

Head. Clypeus (Fig. 20) convex, apically slightly concave and produced into a very distinct point that extends well beyond mandibles when closed, beak-like in appearance; mandibles short and stout, wide at base, tapering slightly, upper tooth longer than lower tooth; malar space very narrow, about 0.1× as long as basal mandibular width; frons smooth, slightly rugulose around median ocellus, median longitudinal ridge reduced to a short carina from base of median ocellus to between toruli (Fig. 34); ocelli large, lateral ocellus separated from compound eye by about 0.1× their maximum diameter, distance between ocelli 0.2× their maximum diameter; distance between lateral ocelli and occipital carina 0.2× their maximum diameters; occipital carina mediodorsally complete; occiput imbricate with punctures separated by 0.4–0.8× puncture width; gena imbricate with punctures separated by 1–2× puncture width; antenna with 50 flagellomeres.

Mesosoma. Pronotum smooth with punctures separated by 1–1.5× puncture width, except strigose on ventral half and upwards along posterior margin. Mesoscutum with notauli barely impressed; smooth with punctures separated by 1–1.5× puncture width, except in lateral lobes centrally imbricate with punctures separated by 0.5–1× puncture width and medial lobe in distal third rugulose. Mesoscutellar groove scrobiculate. Mesoscutellum slightly concave, imbricate with punctures separated by 3–4× puncture width, with distinct lateral carina reaching 0.6× to posterior margin of mesoscutellum. Mesopleuron (Fig. 22) smooth with punctures separated by 3–4× puncture width in upper half and separated by 2–3× puncture width in lower half; lower half of posterior margin next to mesopleural suture broadly strigate and dorsally (upper speculum) softly strigate; epicnemial carina present, extending to about 0.5× distance to upper margin, but not reaching it; sternaulus as a shallow impression from softly to strongly rugose, extending about halfway across the mesopleuron; metapleuron convex, reticulate, centrally not produced into a shelf-like prominence. Propodeum (Fig. 23) reticulate as on metapleuron; carinae untraceable. Legs very slender, hind coxa dorsally 2.0× as long as deep; hind trochantellus dorsally longer than broad apically, 2.0× as long as deep. Fore wing with Cu1 between 1m-cu and Cu1a 1.1× as long as Cu1b; 2+3rs-m 4.8× as long as abscissa of M between 3rs-m and 2m-cu; 2+3rs-m joining M at approximately an angle of 150o. Hind wing with distal abscissa of Cu1 sclerotized throughout; distal abscissa of 1A spectral.

Metasoma. Metasoma very slender; tergum II about 6.1× as long as posteriorly high (in lateral view); terga II to VIII finely punctate, with fairly long, fine pubescence on the sides. Ovipositor about 0.3× as long as hind tibia; without a dorsal notch, pre-apically markedly swollen (Fig. 21).

Color. Predominantly testaceous except face, and orbits (except next to lateral ocelli) yellowish; wings weakly uniformly yellowish, softly infuscate apically; and, pterostigma brown.

Male: Similar to female except: malar space very narrow, about 0.1–0.2× as long as basal mandibular width; distance between ocelli 0.5× their maximum diameter; 48–53 flagellomeres; tergum II about 7.3× as long as posteriorly deep; fore wing, vein 2+3rs-m 0.8–11× as long as abscissa of M between 3rs-m and 2m-cu.

Male terminalia. Metasomal tergum VIII fused to metasomal tergum IX, not divided medially. Sternum VIII 0.5x as wide as long; distal end homogenously convex. Genitalia with parameres not fused dorso-basally, separated from gonobase (Fig. 42); in lateral view (Fig. 44), 0.6× as wide as long (wide measured at the level of the basidorsal most point, and, length from that point to the most distal end), distal margin more or less convex without a notch. Volsella (in ventral view) with digitus flattened, projecting sideways; cuspis flattened, projecting sideways; apodeme of volsella distally turned to the side (Fig. 43). Aedeagus apically downturned; apodeme of aedaegus reaching to distal margin of gonobase. Gonobase complete (forming a ring); in ventral view, centrally, with soft triangular expansions anteriorly.

Remarks. There is some variation in the size of the individuals, this has been reflected in the number of antennomeres, smaller specimens have less antennomeres 44–48. Additionally, the paratype series varies from the holotype in the following details: distance between lateral ocelli and occipital carina 0.2–0.3× their maximum diameters; hind coxa dorsally 2.0–2.2× as long as deep; hind trochantellus dorsally longer than broad apically, 2.1– 2.4× as long as deep. Fore wing with Cu1 between 1m-cu and Cu1a 1.0–1.2× as long as Cu1b, 2+3rs-m 3.1–4.2× as long as abscissa of M between 3rs-m and 2m-cu, and tergum II about 6.0–6.7× as long as posteriorly deep.

This species is quite similar to A. guatemalenus (beside the feature mentioned in the key), A. guatemalenus has the lateral ocelli separated from compound eye by about 0.3× its own maximum diameter, distance between ocelli 0.6× its own maximum diameter, and distance between lateral ocelli and occipital carina 0.1× its own maximum diameter; additionally, A. guatemalenus has the posterior margin of mesopleuron, next to mesopleural suture, weakly striate.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a matronym honoring the author’s sister Ruth Alvarado Gutiérrez.

Holotype: ♀, “ PERU: CU, La Convención , Echarate, Monte Carmelo, 12º26’21”S / 72º59’21.1”W 1349m . 23.ii.2011. Light trap M. Alvarado & E. Razuri.” (MUSM).

Paratypes (2♂, 3♀,): 2♀, “ PERU: CU, La Convención , Echarate, CC. [Comunidad campesina] Otsanampiato 12º39’39.55”S / 73º09’24.92”W 1654m. 15.ix.2010. Light [trap] M. Alvarado y J. Peralta.” ; 2 ♂ “ PERU: CU, La Convención , Echarate, C. [Comunidad campesina] Monte Carmelo 12º26’06.80”S / 72º59’14.64”W 1327m. 28.ix.2010. Light [trap] J. Peralta. ”; and , 1♀ “PERU: PA, Oxapampa, PN [National Park] Yanachaga Chemillen, Refugio el Cedro, 75º21’26.6”W /10º32’43.2”S 2397m. 07.v.2011, C. Carranza leg” (all in MUSM).

PLATE 4 FIGURES 18–23. Morphology of Aphanistes ruthae , sp. nov. 18. Habitus, in lateral view (scale bar = 5 mm) 19. Head in lateral view 20. Facial view 21. Ovipositor in lateral view 22. Mesosoma in lateral view 23. Propodeum.