Neotheronia juanitae Khalaim, 2021

Khalaim, Andrey I. & Ruíz-Cancino, Enrique, 2021, Darwin wasps of the subfamily Pimplinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Mexico: genera Neotheronia Krieger, Nomosphecia Gupta and Xanthopimpla Saussure, Zootaxa 4950 (3), pp. 401-440 : 411-412

9. Neotheronia juanitae Khalaim , sp. nov.

( Figs 16, 17 )

Material examined. Holotype female ( TAMU), Mexico, Jalisco, 16 km N of Autlan , 7.vii.1984, coll. Carroll, Schaffner & Friedlander.

Remarks. In the NHMUK collection, I have seen two old and badly preserved specimens of Neotheronia from the State of Guerrero which probably belong to N. juanitae (Khalaim pers. comm.): one male from “Venta de Zopilote, 2800 ft. ” with colour pattern of legs generally similar to that in N. tequila , but with hind trochanters yellow and mid basitarsus yellowish; and one female from “Amula, 6000 ft. ” with colour pattern of the body similar to that in N. tequila , but with a short ovipositor. These two specimens require additional study and are not included to the type material of N. juanitae .

Description. Female. Fore wing length about 10.0 mm.

Mandible moderately long, weakly tapered, with upper tooth slightly longer than lower tooth. Clypeus in anterior view strongly transverse, 2.3× as long as wide, with lower half somewhat impressed and lower margin slightly truncate, without median transverse ridge, in profile slightly convex in upper part and concave in lower part. Face 1.1× as broad as long, convex medially in upper part and deeply impressed medially just below antennal sockets, without distinct lateromedian vertical impressions. Lateral ocellus separated from eye by 1.1× its own maximum diameter. Occipital carina mediodorsally weakly dipped. Occiput with mediodorsal notch.

Pronotum with upper end of epomia almost as long as basal mandibular width; lower portion of epomia (that parallel with the anterior margin of the pronotum) distinct, slightly longer than basal mandibular width. Notauli anteriorly strongly impressed. Subalar prominence roundly convex. Epicnemial carina distinctly concave above lower corner, with upper end distinct, not reaching anterior margin of mesopleuron. Scutellum, in profile, convex, laterally carinate on anterior quarter. Submetapleural carina strongly raised, broadened anteriorly. Pleural carina complete, thin. Propodeum in profile long, weakly declivous posteriorly; transverse carina strong, almost in centre, with dorsolateral parts raised; median longitudinal carinae and lateral longitudinal carinae completely absent. Flange on hind margin of propodeum strongly raised laterally and moderately raised dorsally.

Fore wing with areolet moderately large, emitting vein 2m-cu well distal to centre, with upper corner pointed. Hind leg with outer surface of tibia bearing isolated small brownish bristles. Third segment of hind tarsus almost 3.0× as long as broad.

Metasoma with first tergite 2.5× as long as posteriorly broad, lateromedian longitudinal carinae present only anteriorly, but with a slightly angulate ridge extending back almost to the level of spiracle. First tergite, in profile, dorsally abruptly rounded in basal third. Metasoma behind first segment rather strongly depressed dorsoventrally. Second tergite with gastroceli large, oval. Ovipositor short and straight, subcylindrical, projecting beyond hind margin of subgenital plate by 0.35× length of hind tibia, or about as long as apical depth of metasoma; apex of lower valve with about 8 slightly oblique teeth, apex of upper valve smooth.

A generally yellow species with black markings. Head yellow; teeth of mandible, spots above antennal sockets, area around ocelli, hind margin of vertex and occiput dorsally brownish black to black. Antenna black; scape and pedicel yellow with dark brown markings dorsally.Mesosoma predominantly yellow. Pronotum with weak transverse black stripe mediodorsally and black vertical stripes on posterior margin. Mesoscutum with median longitudinal stripe, notaular regions anterolaterally and extreme lateral margins above tegula black. Scutoscutellar groove black. Mesopleuron with blackish spot on anterior margin at level of lower corner of pronotum, and black posterior margin ventrally from base of mid coxa to level of episternal scrobe. Anterior margin of propodeum and anterior margin of metapleuron black. Tegula yellow. Wings slightly infumate; fore wing with a black spot near the distal end of the marginal cell. Pterostigma brownish black. Legs predominantly yellow. Mid leg with tarsomeres 1 and 2 brownish yellow, tarsomeres 3–5 dark brown. Hind leg with coxa in apical third, femur in apical third and tarsus entirely black. Tergites 1 and 2 black in anterior half and yellow in posterior half; tergite 2 with thyridial regions yellow. Tergites 3–6 with large D-shape median black spots anteriorly; posterior halfs yellowish orange in tergites 3 and 4, and yellow in following tergites. Ovipositor sheath pale brown in basal half and black in apical half.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. The species is named in honour of our friend and colleague, expert in Braconidae, Juana Maria Coronado Blanco (UAT) .

Distribution. Mexico (Jalisco,? Guerrero).

Comparison. Morphologically and in colour pattern the new species is similar to N. tequila sp. nov., but distinct in having a very short ovipositor and yellow hind trochanters and tibia.

Figures

FIGURES 16–19. Neotheronia juanitae sp. nov., holotype, ♀: 16—apex of metasoma with ovipositor, lateral; 17—hind leg, lateral. Neotheronia zaldivari sp. nov., holotype, ♀: 18—head, antero-lateral; 19—mid and hind legs, lateral.