Snellenius mariamartachavarriae Fernandez-Triana & Whitfield

Fernandez-Triana, Jose L., Whitfield, James B., Smith, M. Alex, Kula, Robert R., Winnie Hallwachs, & Janzen, Daniel H., 2015, Revision of the genera Microplitis and Snellenius (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with a key to all species previously described from Mesoamerica, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 62 (2), pp. 137-201 : 156

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Braconidae

Snellenius mariamartachavarriae Fernandez-Triana & Whitfield sp. n. Figures 163-168

Holotype.

♂ in CNC. COSTA RICA: ACG, Guanacaste Province, Sector Santa Rosa, Casona Santa Rosa, 295m, 10.83381, -85.61271. ACG database code: 91-SRNP-864.

Diagnosis.

The combination of metasoma with T2-T3 entirely yellow and dark brown beyond T4, relatively wide T2 (1.9 × as long as wide at posterior margin), wings slightly infumated, metatibia spurs yellow white, metafemur entirely yellow orange, and metatibia mostly light in color (yellow orange, with anterior 0.2 yellow white, and only posterior 0.2 brown), separate this species from all other ACG Snellenius , except for Snellenius josesarukhani . It is distinguishable from the latter species by having five carinae in the scutoscutellar sulcus, scape and T4 entirely yellow, and host species ( Catephiodes sp.) found in dry forest.

Description.

Male. Scape color: Yellow. Mesosoma color: Reddish brown. Metasoma color: Mostly yellow orange, with only T5+ dark brown to black. Coxae color (pro-, meso-, metacoxa): Yellow, yellow, yellow. Femora color (pro-, meso-, metafemur): Yellow, yellow, yellow. Tibiae color (pro-, meso-, metatibia): Yellow, yellow, anterior 0.8 yellow and posterior 0.2 brown. Metatibia spurs color: Yellow. First segment of metatarsus color: Brown. Tegula and humeral complex color: Yellow, half pale and half dark. Wings: Hyaline. Pterostigma color: Brown with pale area centrally. Fore wing veins 1RS and (RS+M)a: Brown (same color as surrounding veins). Body length (head to apex of metasoma): 2.8 mm. Fore wing length: 2.7 mm. Ocular-ocellar line/posterior ocellus diameter: 1.8 x. Interocellar distance/posterior ocellus diameter: 1.3 x. Ocular-ocellar line/posterior ocellus diameter/interocellar distance: 0.18/0.10/0.13 mm. Antenna in males: Strongly flattened. Epicnemial carina: Present. Anteromesoscutum: With relatively shallower and sparser sculpture, central area not appearing elevated compared to lateral areas of anteromesoscutum, notauli slightly to strongly excavated. Scutellar disc sculpture: With deeper sculpture near margins, central part appearing slightly elevated and less sculptured. Number of carinae in scutoscutellar sulcus: Five. Metafemur length/width: 3.3 × (0.77/0.23 mm). Metatibia length: 0.98 mm. First segment of metatarsus length: 0.40 mm. Mediotergite 1 length/width at posterior margin: 2.0 x. Mediotergite 1 length/width at anterior margin/maximum width/width at posterior margin: 0.49/0.24/0.27/0.24 mm. Mediotergite 1 sculpture: Fully sculptured.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution.

Costa Rica, ACG.

Host.

Noctuidae : Catephiodes trinidadensis . Solitary parasitoid.

Molecular data.

None.

Etymology.

This species is named in honour of María Marta Chavarría in recognition of her contribution to understanding the plant biology of ACG.