Microplitis jorgeluisi Fernandez-Triana

Fernandez-Triana, Jose, 2018, Ten unique and charismatic new species of Microgastrinae wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from North America, ZooKeys 730, pp. 123-150 : 138

Microplitis jorgeluisi Fernandez-Triana sp. n. Fig. 7

Holotype.

Female, CNC, UNITED STATES. Holotype locality: Camp Maxey, Lamar County, Texas, USA.

Holotype labels.

First label: USA: TX, Lamar Co./Camp Maxey/21.IX.-21.X.2003, MT/W. Godwin, SFASU/grassy site, lot # 88. Second label: MIC 000683.

Diagnosis.

The combination of enlarged and acute hypopygium; long, thick, and smooth ovipositor sheaths; bilobate glossa; metafemur relatively very short and robust; and head laterally with antennal socket shelf-like are very distinctive and unique among all described species of Nearctic Microplitis . See above (under M. julioalbertoi ) for further diagnostic characters to separate both species.

Description.

Head and mesosoma black (except for orange-brown clypeus and labrum), metasoma mostly reddish-brown, legs mostly orange-yellow (except for brown coxae). Wings entirely infumated, veins dark brown, pterostigma brown with yellow spot at base. Head finely sculptured, mesosoma and metasoma mostly smooth dorsally (except for finely sculptured T1). Ovipositor sheaths smooth, almost without setae (only very few and short setae near apex). Head not elongate; malar line shorter than mandible base; labrum and mandibles not enlarged; glossa slightly elongate and bilobate. Hypopygium elongate and sharply acute, projecting considerably beyond last tergum. Ovipositor sheaths relatively long. Fore wing with vein R1 much shorter than pterostigma. Legs with tarsal claws simple. Body measurements (mm). Body L: 4.9; fore wing L: 4.4; ovipositor sheaths L: 0.85 (approximate measurement); metafemur L/W: 1.10/0.45; metatibia L: 1.54; metatibia inner/outer spurs L: 0.16/0.15; first segment of metatarsus L: 0.50; F1/2/3/14/15/16: 0.30/0.28/0.27/0.15/0.14/0.21; ocular–ocellar line: 0.24; interocellar distance: 0.22; posterior ocellus diameter: 0.10.

Distribution.

United States: TX.

Etymology.

Named after my brother Jorge Luis, as appreciation for his love and for all the experiences we have lived together over the years (including helping me to collect insects).

Comments.

No biological or molecular data is known for this species.