Sendaphne bennetti Fernandez-Triana & Whitfield, 2014

Fernandez-Triana, Jose L., Whitfield, James B., Smith, M. Alex, Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2014, Revision of the neotropical genus Sendaphne Nixon (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 41, pp. 1-29 : 6

Sendaphne bennetti Fernandez-Triana & Whitfield sp. n.

Figs 37-44

Holotype.

Male, CNC. MEXICO, Durango, 39km W of La Ciudad, 2120m; 2.vii.1964; coll. WRM Mason. DNA Voucher code: CNCHYM 07032.

Diagnosis.

This species is morphologically similar to Sendaphne broadi from Ecuador, but S. bennetti has a wider mediotergite 1 (length 4.0 × its width at posterior margin vs 6.0 × in Sendaphne broadi ), a less transverse first discal cell in the fore wing (1.3 × as wide as high vs 2.0 ×), and a geographical distribution far apart.

Description.

Head color: black. Mesosoma color: black. Tegula color: yellow. Metasoma color (dorsally): mediotergites 1, 2 and anterior half of 3 yellowish-red, rest dark brown to black. Metacoxa color: yellow. Anatomical line tangent to posterior margin of anterior ocellus crossing beneath anterior margin of posterior ocelli. Ocular-ocellar line: 0.21 mm. Interocellar distance: 0.14 mm. Posterior ocellus diameter: 0.09 mm. Body length: 4.1 mm. Fore wing length: 4.0 mm. Metacoxa length: 1.1 mm. Metafemur length: 1.2 mm. Metatibia length: 1.4 mm. T1 length/width at posterior margin: 0.60 mm/0.12 mm. T2 length/width at posterior margin: 0.35 mm/0.35 mm.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality in Mexico.

Molecular data.

No DNA could be recovered from the specimen sampled.

Comments.

Even though only one male specimen is known, it is sufficiently distinctive to warrant description. This species is the northernmost known distribution of the genus Sendaphne .

Etymology.

Named after Dr. Andrew Bennett of the Canadian National Collection, Ottawa, and Canadian expert on Ichneumonidae , in appreciation for his support and encouragement to study braconid wasps.

Figures

Figures 37 - 44. Sendaphne bennetti, male holotype. 37 Habitus, lateral view 38 Habitus, dorsal view 39 Fore wing 40 Head and mesosoma (partially), dorsal view 41 Head, fronto-lateral view 42 Metasoma, dorsal view 43 Metasoma, lateral view 44 Scutellar disc, propodeum and T 1 - T 2 (partially), dorsal view.