Epirhyssa prolasia Porter 1978

Gómez, Isrrael C., Sääksjärvi, Ilari E., Puhakka, Liisa, Castillo, Carol & Bordera, Santiago, 2015, The Peruvian Amazonian species of Epirhyssa Cresson (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Rhyssinae), with notes on tropical species richness, Zootaxa 3937 (2), pp. 311-336 : 330-332

Epirhyssa prolasia Porter 1978

( Fig. 4 F)

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Neotropical Epirhyssa by the combination of the following characters: 1) occipital carina joining hypostomal carina; 2) apical part of the mesoscutum overhanging the pronotum; 3) submetapleural carina complete; 4) propodeum short with a median longitudinal channel; and 5) fore wing with a very weak blackish apical patch (difficult to see in the paratype examined). Epirhyssa prolasia resembles E. diatropis in general coloration. However, the smaller size, the weaker blackish apical mark of the fore wing and the more densely setose tergite II differentiate E. prolasia .

Distribution. Bolivia; Costa Rica; “ Ecuador or Peru ”; Panama; Peru; Trinidad & Tobago.

Material examined. Paratype: Female ( BMNH) Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Buena Vista, 12.VII.1972, Porter & Stange.

New material examined: Female ( MEKRB) Peru, La Merced, Fundo La Genova, AECID A/013484/07, 27.IX–11.X.2008.

Biological notes.This species has an ambiguous status concerning its presence in Ecuador. Porter (1978) reported one specimen from “ Ecuador or Peru ”. We have not found this species in the Ecuadorean material available to us. Porter (1978) recorded it from Panama and Bolivia, which makes us believe that it may also occur in Ecuador.

Epirhyssa sibinai Gómez & Sääksjärvi sp. n. ( Fig. 5 C)

Type material. Holotype female ( UNSM, currently on loan to ZMUT): Peru, Dept. Loreto, Reserva Nacional Allpahuayo-Mishana, 3°58’24” S, 73°25’45” W, 124 m., Gómez & Sääksjärvi leg., Malaise, 28.XI–4.XII.2011. Paratypes: Female, as above but 9–25.XI.2011. Female ( ZMUT): as above but 7–13.XI.2011. Female ( ZMUT): as above but Sääksjärvi et al. leg., Malaise, H2(1), XII.2000. Female ( ZMUT): as above but B3/7 (1), 16.XI–1.XII.1998. Female ( ZMUT): as above but Sääksjärvi et al. leg., Malaise, F1(8), 29.VI.2000. Female ( ZMUT): as above but Sääksjärvi et al. leg, Malaise, H1, 23.I.2001. Male ( ZMUT): Dept. Loreto, Alto rio Chambira 183m., Meza leg., 2.XI.2008. Female ( USNM): Ecuador, Dept. Orellana, Onkone gare, 216 m., Erwin et al. leg., fogging 0° 39’ S, 76°27’ W, 23.VI.1996. Male ( USNM): as above but 1.X.1996. Male ( ZMUT): as above but 29.VI.1994. Male ( ZMUT): as above but 5.II.1996. Male ( ZMUT): as above but 23.II.1995.

Female ( Fig. 5 C). Fore wing length about 16 mm. Head with occipital carina interrupted dorsally, laterally strong, ventrally evanescent, not joining hypostomal carina; mandibles stout, lower tooth longer than upper one; clypeus with margin concave, lateral corners angularly produced, medially with a rounded apical tubercle; lower face transverse, about 1.1–1.2 times as broad as medially long; antenna slender 33 segments with segments 1–5 yellowish, with apex of flagellum not clavate; gena with slight oblique wrinkling, with long setae ventrally. Mesosoma with strong epomia diverging from anterior margin of pronotum; mesoscutum with central lobe clearly overhanging pronotum and with short pale pubescence; mesopleuron polished, with sparse setiferous punctures; subalar prominence strongly inflated; epicnemial carina ventrally strong, reaching level of lower corner of pronotum; hind coxa long and slender, in profile about 3.5–3.8 times as long as deep; fore wing with cu-a opposite Rs&M; first subdiscal cell moderately broadened distally, its width near outer end about 1.5–1.7 times its basal width; abscissa of M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu about 0.25–0.35 times as long as 2rs-m; Rs weakly and evenly bowed; propodeum polished with sparse long setae laterally and strong median longitudinal depression; submetapleural carina small but sharp, sometimes incomplete. Metasoma with tergite I about 1.8–2.0 times as long as posteriorly broad, dorsally smooth and polished; tergite II polished, smooth, about 0.9–1.0 times as long as posteriorly broad, with indistinct thyridia, anteriorly with close pubescence, posteriorly with sparse hairs, tergites III+ with finer and more uniformly dense pubescence. Ovipositor projecting beyond apex of metasoma by about 4.2–4.5 times length of hind tibia.

Coloration. A primarily yellowish species with dorsal surface more orange, interocellar area and transverse band from eye to eye black. Part of head adjacent to occipital carina infuscate and flagellum brownish. Mesosoma yellow with upper part of pronotum, epomia, extreme anterior margin of mesopleuron, scutoscutellar groove and lower part of metanotum black; propodeum brown, anteriorly yellowish with median longitudinal channel black. Metasomal tergites orange brownish with apical part yellowish, ovipositor sheath brown. All legs orange with yellowish spots, with distal parts of tarsi infuscate. Wings hyaline with strong brownish band along costal area; pterostigma brownish.

Male. Similar to female but smaller, with fore wing length about 9–12 mm. Body more densely pubescent, tergite I about 2.3–2.5 and tergite II about 1.2–1.4 times as long as posteriorly broad.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Neotropical Epirhyssa by the combination of the following characters: 1) occipital carina not joining hypostomal carina; 2) apical part of the mesoscutum overhanging the pronotum; 3) first tergite smooth and polished; 4) propodeum short with a median longitudinal channel; and 5) fore wing with a strong dark band along the costal area. Epirhyssa sibinai sp. n. resembles E. ignisalata sp. n. and E. diatropis Porter in size and general coloration. However, the dark band on the fore wing and the occipital carina not joining the hypostomal carina differentiate E. sibinai sp. n.

Biological notes. This species occur currently in western lowland Amazonia, nothing is known about its hosts.

Etymology. The name of this elegant species, sibinai , refers to Dr. Jorge Sibina, who is the father-in-law of IES. Jorge Sibina worked for many years as a medic in different remote areas of the Peruvian Amazonia and has been a great inspiration for IES.

Distribution. Ecuador, Peru.

Epirhyssa simpirae Gómez & Sääksjärvi sp. n. ( Figs 2 H, 6A, 7C)

Type material. Holotype female ( UNSM, currently on loan to ZMUT): Peru, Dept. Loreto, Reserva Nacional Allpahuayo Mishana, 3°57’49” S, 73°24’93” W, 124 m., Gómez & Sääksjärvi leg., Malaise, 29.VIII–4.IX.2011. Paratypes: Female ( UNSM): as above but Sääksjärvi et al. leg., E1(11), 18.VIII.2000. Female ( ZMUT) as above but Sääksjärvi et al. leg., H1(11), 18.VIII.2000.

Female ( Fig. 6 A). Fore wing length about 12 mm. Head with occipital carina present, laterally strong, interrupted dorsally, not joining hypostomal carina; posterior ocellus separated from eye by about 1.6–1.7 times its diameter; mandibles stout, lower tooth slightly longer than upper one; clypeus ( Fig. 2 H), with margin slightly concave, lateral corners angularly weakly produced, medially with an apical tubercle; lower face transverse, about 1.1 times as broad as medially long; antenna slender with 32 flagellar segments; gena smooth and polished with sparse long setae ventrally. Mesosoma with strong epomia diverging from anterior margin of pronotum; mesoscutum with fairly sparse, short, pale pubescence; mesopleuron polished, with sparse setiferous punctures; subalar prominence strongly inflated; epicnemial carina ventrally strong, reaching above level of lower corner of pronotum; hind coxa in profile about 1.8–2.0 times as wide as deep. Fore wing with cu-a slightly distal to Rs&M; first subdiscal cell moderately broadened distally, its width near outer end about 2.0 times its basal width; abscissa of M between 2rs-m and 2m-cu about 0.3 times as long 2rs-m; Rs weakly and evenly bowed. Propodeum short, polished, with sparse, long setae laterally and with a weak median longitudinal depression; submetapleural carina short but sharp. Metasoma with tergite I stout ( Fig. 7 C), about 1.2–1.3 times as long as posteriorly broad, dorsally smooth and polished; tergite II polished and smooth, about 0.7–0.8 times as long as posteriorly broad, with indistinct thyridia, anteriorly with close pubescence, posteriorly with sparse hairs; tergites III+ with finer and more uniformly dense pubescence; ovipositor projecting beyond apex of metasoma by about 3.8–4.0 times length of hind tibia.

Coloration. A primarily yellowish brownish species, with the following areas black: interocellar area and transverse band from eye to eye, area close to occipital carina, anterior and posterior margins of mesopleuron, mesosternum, scutoscutellar groove and lower part of metanotum, median longitudinal channel of propodeum. Flagellum brown, ovipositor sheath brown. Wings yellowish, pterostigma brown.

Male. Unknown.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other Neotropical Epirhyssa by the combination of the following characters: 1) robust and compact species; 2) tergite I very short and stout, about 1.2 times as broad as long; 3) propodeum short with a median longitudinal channel; 4) mesosternum black; and 5) wings slightly yellowish.

Biological notes. This species occur currently in lowland northern Peruvian Amazonia, nothing is known about its hosts.

Etymology. We are pleased to give the name suggested by Sandro Ramos Zárate ( Peru), who won the Peruvian competition to name this beautiful species. The name refers to the Simpira creature from Peruvian Amazonian mythology.

Distribution. Peru.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Head of Epirhyssa spp.: frontal view: A— E. cochabambae; B— E. braconoides (paratype); C— E. zaphyma; D— E. amazonica; E— E. diatropis; F— E. wisei, (female); G— E. isthmia; H— E. simpirae sp. n. (holotype).

FIGURE 4. Habitus of Epirhyssa spp.: (females): A— E. electronigra sp. n. (holotype); B— E. cuscoensis sp. n. (holotype); C— E. diatropis (paratype); D— E. wisei; E— E. isthmia; F— E. prolasia.

FIGURE 5. Habitus of Epirhyssa spp.: (A—D females, E—F males): A— E. ignisalata sp. n. (holotype); B— E. fusca sp. n. (holotype); C— E. sibinai sp. n. (holotype); D— E. peruana; E— E. wisei (holotype); F— E. eucnemis (paratype).

FIGURE 6. Head and mesosoma of Epirhyssa spp.: lateral view: A— E. simpirae sp. n. (holotype); B— E. lamolinensis sp. n. (holotype); C— E. perufinlandensis sp. n. (holotype). Head, occipital carina in lateral view (arrow): D— E. ignisalata sp. n. (holotype); E— E. fusca sp. n. (holotype). Mesoscutum: F— E. perufinlandensis sp. n. (holotype); G— E. peruana.

FIGURE 7. First metasomal tergite of Epirhyssa spp.: A— E. lutea sp. n. (holotype); B— E. zaphyma; C— E. simpirae sp. n. (holotype); D— E. lamolinensis sp. n. (holotype); E— E. perufinlandensis sp. n. (holotype); F— E. nigrithorax.