Allophrys compressor Khalaim & Broad

Khalaim, Andrey I. & Broad, Gavin R., 2012, Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Costa Rica, part 1. Genera Allophrys Förster, Barycnemis Förster and Meggoleus To w ne s, Zootaxa 3185, pp. 36-52 : 43

Allophrys compressor Khalaim & Broad , sp. nov.

( Figs 7, 8 , 24 )

Comparison. This species is immediately recognizable by its very strongly compressed body: head in dorsal view as long as broad (always distinctly transverse in other species), temple in dorsal view as long as eye width (always much shorter, at most 0.65 x in other species), malar space 2.5 x as long as basal width of mandible (at most 1.2 x in other species), mesosoma 3.2 x as long as broad (at most 2.8, usually about 2.3 x in other species), and second tergite of metasoma 3.7 x as long as anteriorly broad (at most 3.4, usually 1.8–2.5 x in other species). Allophrys compressor sp. nov. is also characterized by the very thin, straight, horizontal foveate groove of the mesopleuron and the predominantly smooth head and mesosoma.

Description. Female. Body length 3.3 mm. Fore wing length 2.45 mm.

Head weakly and roundly narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view; temple as long as eye width. Mandible very slender, upper tooth distinctly longer than lower tooth. Clypeus large, with sparse punctures, smooth and shining between punctures. Malar space about 2.5 x as long as basal width of mandible ( Fig. 7 ). Antenna basally slender, with 14 flagellomeres; subbasal flagellomeres about 2.4 x as long as broad, subapical flagellomeres slightly elongate; flagellomeres 3–5 with conspicuous, flagellomere 6 with rudimental subapical finger-shaped structures on outer surface ( Fig. 8 ). Face finely granulate, dull, impunctate. Frons, vertex and temple smooth and shining, impunctate. Occipital carina complete.

Mesosoma elongate, strongly compressed laterally, 3.2 x as long as broad. Notaulus absent. Mesoscutum and scutellum finely granulate, dull, impunctate. Foveate groove of mesopleuron very thin, straight, horizontal. Mesopleuron smooth, punctulate. Propodeum with dorsolateral area granulate laterally to smooth dorsally, apical area granulate, without basal area, with very thin median groove dorsally; basal part of propodeum 1.2 x as long as apical area. Distance between propodeal spiracle and pleural carina subequal to diameter of spiracle. Apical area long, flat, anteriorly roundly pointed; apical longitudinal carinae weak but complete, reaching transverse carina anteriorly.

Fore wing with vein 2 m-cu postfurcal. Vein 2 rs-m longer than abscissa of M between 2 rs-m and 2 m-cu. Vein Rs +2 r about as long as width of pterostigma. R 1 not reaching apex of fore wing. Hind wing with vein cu 1& cu-a strongly reclivous (angle 45°).

Legs moderately slender; hind femur slightly thickened, 3.4–3.7 x as long as broad. Hind spurs slightly curved at apex. Claws thin, very long, not pectinate.

First tergite slender, 5.4 x as long as posteriorly broad, round in cross-section, gradually and very weakly widened from base to apex in dorsal view, smooth (petiole with few weak striae laterally). Glymma absent. Second tergite 3.7 x as long as anteriorly broad. Thyridial depression more than 5.0 x as long as broad. Ovipositor short, weakly upcurved; sheath slightly shorter than first tergite or hind tibia.

Head and antenna black; lower part of clypeus brownish, palpi and mandible (teeth reddish) yellow, scape and pedicel of antenna ventrally brown. Mesosoma and first metasomal segment black. Tegula yellowish. Pterostigma brownish black. Fore leg with coxa, trochanters and femur brownish yellow, tibia and tarsus fuscous. Mid leg with coxa brown, trochanters brownish yellow, femur yellow-brown, tibia and tarsus fuscous. Hind leg dark brown, tibia lighter on basal 0.6. Metasoma behind first tergite predominantly dark brown.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. One paratype from Buenos Aires has a much shorter flagellum with subbasal flagellomeres only 1.6 x as long as broad, and subapical flagellomeres somewhat transverse. Otherwise it is similar to the other two specimens.

Etymology. Named after its strongly compressed body.

Material examined. Holotype female ( BMNH) San José Prov., Cerro de la Muerte, Quercus forest, 2700 m, VI.1988, coll. I.D. Gauld & P. Mitchell (hind legs broken, tarsus absent).

Paratypes. Puntarenas Prov.: 1 Ƥ ( ZISP) Monteverde Biological Reserve, Estacion La Casona, 1520 m, VIII.1991, coll. J.A. Ugalde & E. Phillips. 1 Ƥ ( INBio) Sector Altamira, Buenos Aires, 1 km SE del Cerro Bioley, 1150–1350 m, X.1994, coll. Z. Fuentes.

Distribution. Costa Rica (Puntarenas, San José).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Allophrys sp., Ƥ: 1 — head, latero-ventro-posterior. Allophrys barycnemica sp. nov., Ƥ: 2 — head with antenna, left; 3 — mesosoma and hind leg (without tarsus), left. Allophrys bribria sp. nov., Ƥ: 4 — head with antenna, left; 5 — mesosoma and first metasomal segment, left; 6 — apex of metasoma with ovipositor, left. Allophrys compressor sp. nov., Ƥ: 7 — anterior part of mesosoma and head with antenna, left; 8 — flagellomeres 4 to 8 of antenna, left.

FIGURES 22 – 28. Allophrys bribria sp. nov., Ƥ: 22 — whole insect, left; 23 — head, dorsal. Allophrys compressor sp. nov., Ƥ: 24 — head with antennae, latero-ventro-anterior. Allophrys megafrons sp. nov., Ƥ: 25 — whole insect, left. Allophrys noyesi sp. nov., Ƥ: 26 — whole insect, left; 27 — head, dorsal. Barycnemis costaricensis sp. nov., Ƥ: 28 — whole insect, left.