Orasema acuminata, Baker & Heraty, 2020

Baker, Austin J. & Heraty, John M., 2020, The New World ant parasitoid genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), Zootaxa 4888 (1), pp. 1-84 : 50-53

Orasema acuminata species group

( Figs 26–28 )

Diagnosis. Recognized by the following combination of characters: antenna with 7 funiculars ( Figs 27D, E , 28D ),

mesoscutum and mesoscutellum coarsely rugose-areolate and mesoscutum in dorsal view with curvature of lateral lobe discontinuous with curvature of midlobe ( Figs 27F , 28G ), eyes bare ( Figs 27B , 28B ), antecostal sulcus smooth ( Fig. 28E ).

Description. Female. Length 2.6–3.7 mm. Color. Scape yellow; anellus pale brown; flagellum dark brown. Mandible pale brown with dark edges; maxilla and labium pale brown. Coxae brown with iridescence; tibiae yellow. Fore wing hyaline; venation pale brown. Petiole same as mesosoma; gaster dark brown with iridescence. Head. Head in frontal view subtriangular; scrobal depression shallow, laterally rounded, with transverse striae; longitudinal groove between eye and torulus absent; eyes bare; clypeus smooth; epistomal sulcus vaguely defined; anterior tentorial pits deeply impressed. Labrum with 4 digits. Mandibular formula 3:2; palpal formula 3:2. Occiput imbricate, emarginate in dorsal view, dorsal margin rounded; temples present. Scape not reaching median ocellus. Pedicle small and globose. Flagellum with 7 funiculars; anellus disc-shaped. Mesosoma. Mesoscutal midlobe rugose-areolate, moderately setose; lateral lobe rugose-areolate, curvature of lateral lobes discontinuous with curvature of midlobe in dorsal view; notauli deep. Axilla rugose-areolate; scutoscutellar sulcus broad, regularly foveate; mesoscutellar disc as long as broad, rugose-areolate; frenum and axillula rugose-areolate. Propodeal disc flat, without depression or carina, areolate; callus areolate, with several long setae. Propleuron convex, imbricate. Prepectus triangular dorsally, strongly narrowed ventrally, rugose-areolate. Mesepisternum areolate, broadly rounded anterior to mid coxa; postpectal carina weak. Transepimeral sulcus distinct. Hind femur densely setose laterally. Fore wing with marginal fringe relatively long; marginal vein setose; stigmal vein slightly longer than broad; postmarginal vein several times longer than stigmal vein. Hind wing costal cell setose. Metasoma. Petiole cylindrical, linear in profile, rugose, ventral sulcus absent. Antecostal sulcus smooth; acrosternite posteriorly rounded ( Fig. 28E ).

Male. Length 2.6–3.2 mm. (Known only for O. acuminata ).

Phylogenetics. Only one species, O. acuminata , has been sampled for molecular data, and was referred to as “ Orasema _nsp_nr_brasiliensis_PER_AE_D4889” by Baker et al. (2020). This species was the sister to the majority of the Orasema xanthopus group in most analyses ( Baker et al. 2020).

Key to species of the Orasema acuminata species group

1) Clava strongly pointed ( Fig. 27D, E ); sculpture on face more rugose than reticulate ( Fig. 27B ); upper mesepimeron areolate ( Fig. 27C ); femora mostly light brown ( Fig. 27A ); body color green-blue-purple ( Ecuador and Peru)................................................................................................... Orasema acuminata n. sp.

- Clava subovate ( Fig. 28D ); sculpture on face more reticulate than rugose ( Fig. 28B ); upper mesepimeron smooth ( Fig. 28C ); femora dark brown ( Fig. 28A ); body color dark blue ( Honduras).............................. Orasema cerulea n. sp.

Figures

FIGURE 26. Distribution map of species in the Orasema acuminata species group.

FIGURE 27. Orasema acuminata. Holotype female (UCRCENT00415025): A, habitus, lateral; B, head, anterior; C, mesosoma, lateral; D, antenna; F, mesosoma, dorsal; G, propodeum, posterior. Paratype male (UCRCENT00247959): E, antenna.

FIGURE 28. Orasema cerulea. Holotype female (UCRCENT00242604): A, habitus, lateral; B, head, anterior; C, mesosoma, lateral; D, antenna; E, acrosternite, anterior; F, ovipositor, lateral; G, mesosoma, dorsal; H, propodeum, posterior.