Zonopimpla diazi Valera

Valera, Neicy & Díaz, Francisco, 2010, Nine new Zonopimpla Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) and key to species from Venezuela, Zootaxa 2438, pp. 37-51 : 39-41

Zonopimpla diazi Valera , sp. nov.

( Fig. 13 )

Female: Mandibles strongly tapered, upper tooth longer, stouter than lower tooth, upper tooth 1.2 times length, 2.7 width of lower tooth; malar space 0.5 times basal mandibular width; lower face polished, with sparse setiferous punctures, 1.1 times as wide as medially high from supraclypeal suture to level of insertion of antenna. Head in dorsal view with genae evenly rounded behind eye; posterior ocellus separated from eye by 1.3 times its own maximum diameter; ocelli forming a wide based isosceles triangle. Pronotum smooth, shining, with sparse fine hairs. Mesoscutum smooth, shining, with isolated fine hairs, anteriorly steeply rounded, notauli weakly impressed; mesopleuron polished, with scattered fine hairs; epicnemial carina reaching to level of lower corner of pronotum; metapleuron weakly convex, smooth, polished, almost glabrous; submetapleural carina complete. Propodeum in profile abruptly declivous, with scattered setiferous punctures laterally; pleural carina present. Fore wing length 8.6 mm; vein 3rs-m complete, enclosing an obliquely rhombic areolet; abscissa of Cu1 between 1 m-cu and Cu1b 1.8 times as long as Cu1b; hind wing with abscissa of Cu1 between M and cu-a slightly bowed, 2 times as long as cu-a. Metasoma moderately stout; tergite 1 about 1.25 times as long as posteriorly broad, with anteriorly smooth, broadly concave, central area defined laterally by longitudinal carinae on anterior 0.3 of tergite, posterior part of tergite shining, with scattered fine hairs centrally and laterally; tergite 1 in profile weakly convex, lateral carina present at anterior and posterior end of tergite; tergite 2 with convex central area polished, very sparsely punctuate; tergites 3–5 with biconvex central area. Ovipositor lenght 5.6 mm, projecting beyond apex of metasoma by 2.4 times the length of hind tibia; subgenital plate centrally membranous, ovipositor shaft straight, moderately stout and cylindrical, apex of lower valve not expanded laterally, not enclosing upper valve, with distinct oblique teeth; apex of upper valve steeply rounded, with very weak nodus.

Color: Head orange, posterior orbits brown; antennae black; palps orange. Mesosoma orange, central posterior area of propodeum black; fore and middle legs orange, middle legs with tarsi brown. Hind legs dark brown. Tegula similar in color to mesosoma. Wings slightly infumate, pterostigma brown. Metasoma black with lateral white stripes on tergites 1 and 2, lateral and hind margins of tergites 3–7 white. Ovipositor orange, sheath black.

Male: unknown.

Etimology: This species is named in honor of Dr. Francisco A. Díaz, the collector of the holotype.

Comments: Z. diazi is distinguished by combination of colors, being predominantly orange with some brown or black areas; wings slightly infumate and apex of upper valve steeply rounded, very weak nodus. Z. diazi is similar to Z. barbosai (unknown from Venezuela) by having head and mesosoma predominantly orange and metasoma black and white. However, Z. diazi is distinguished by presence of shorter ovipositor, middle legs orange, tarsus brown and punctuation on tergites. Tergites 1–3 of Z. diazi have fine punctuations, not easily visible, while in Z. barbosai these are clearly rough.

Material examined: holotype female, Venezuela, Aragua state, Henry Pittier National Park, via Guacamaya peak, 1100 m., IV-1988 (Díaz) ( UCOB)

Figures

FIGURE 13. Ovipositor of Zonopimpla diazi Va l e ra, sp. nov., Holotype Ƥ.