Amputoearinus flavocacumen Lindsay and Sharkey

Lindsay, Cheryl & Sharkey, Michael, 2006, Revision of the genus Amputoearinus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae) with fourteen new species, Zootaxa 1329, pp. 1-27 : 10-12

Amputoearinus flavocacumen Lindsay and Sharkey sp.n. ( Figs. 2 e, 6f)

Diagnosis: This species can be hard to differentiate from other species of Amputoearinus because the distinguishing characteristic is antenna melanic with yellow tips. Some specimens have antenna tips broken and otherwise morphological characters mirror those of Amputoearinus seltmannae . Differences in the degree of depression of the median areola of the mesosoma, and the shape of the propodeal projection help differentiate these species. A. flavocacumen has a gradual depression from posterior to anterior of the median areola of the mesosoma and propodeal structure reduced to a very small protuberance anteromedially. A. seltmannae has a steep depression posteriorly of the median areola of the mesosoma and a well defined protuberance anteromedially of the propodeum.

Description: Holotype Ψ

Body length: 6.1(5.9–8.4) mm. Color: body yellow except melanic as follows: flagellomeres except yellow tips, scape laterally, midtarsus and hind tibia distally, hind tarsus; ovipositor sheaths; posterior three terga darker yellow than anterior terga; forewing banded from base yellow, infuscate, yellow, infuscate; foremargin infuscate throughout (cf. Fig. 4 g). Head: antenna with 39 (39–46) flagellomeres. Mesosoma: scutellar sulcus lacking longitudinal carina (cf. Fig. 6 d); projection of propleuron blunt ( Fig. 6 f); median areola of mesosoma gradually depressed from posterior to anterior of mesosoma with sharp carinae laterally and posteriorly (cf. Fig. 7 c); propodeal sculpture reduced to small protuberance anteromedially (cf. Fig. 5 f); margin between metepimeron and metepisternum smooth lacking transverse carinae (cf. Fig. 7 b); mesopleural suture with weak transverse carinae; carina bordering subpronope posteriorly, extending to anterior margin of pronotum (cf. Fig. 6a ); length of midtibial spur 0.5mm; length of midbasitarsomere 0.6mm; midtibia with 2–3 pegs at midlength, lacking pegs apically; hind tibia with 2–3 pegs apically; forewing length 5.9 (6.2–7.9)mm. Metasoma: median syntergite 2+3 length 1.3mm, width 1.0mm.

Variation: paratype males: body yellow except for melanic as follows: antenna, with tips yellow, midtarsomere apically, hind tibia apically; propodeum completely smooth; median areola of mesosoma not as depressed posteriorly. Female paratype from French Guiana with propodeum completely smooth; median areola of mesosoma only slightly depressed posteriorly; forewing with yellow patch in basal third.

Etymology: from the Latin flavus for yellow, and cacumen for extreme point, because of the yellow tipped antenna of this species.

Specimen examined: HOLOTYPE. Ψ, PERU, Quince Mil, [13°13’44”S 70°45’36”W], 20–30.x.1962, R.D. Shenefelt, (AEI).

PARATYPES. BRAZIL, Ψ, Utinga, Belem, [23°37’60”S 46°31’60”W], xii. [19]66, S.J. Oliveira, (antennae tips broken off), (AEI). FRENCH GUIANA, Ψ, Regina Road Roura-Kaw, km 40, 04°32’01”N 52°07’45”W, alt 276m, Kaw Mountain, Oct. 2004, O. Morvan leg, (antennae tips broken), (HIC). PERU: ♂, Pucallpa, [7°50’60”S 72°43’W], 200m, Loreto, 21–31.x.1964, collector J. Schunke, (LACM). ♂, Quince Mil, [13°13’44”S 70°45’36”W], 10–15 xi-1962, (head broken off and placed on triangular point, along with left hind wing), (AEI).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Lateral habiti. a) A. alafumidus b) A. boringi. c) A. erudio d) A. fernandezi e) A. flavocacumen f) A. galbus.

FIGURE 4. Lateral habiti a) A. seltmannae b) A. sharanowskiae c) A. surinen d) A. variegatus Forewings e) A. planusfunditus f) A. sharanowskiae g) A. seltmannae.

FIGURE 5. Forewings: a) A. niger b) A. pectusacutum c) A. alafumidus. Propodeal sculpture: d) ♂ A. flavocacumen e) Ψ A. galbus f) Ψ A. gloriae g) Ψ A. matamata h) Ψ A. niger.

FIGURE 6. a) A. variegatus carina bordering subpronope posteriorly, extending to anterior margin of pronotum b) A. galbus carina bordering subpronope posteriorly, not extending to anterior margin of pronotum c) A. boringi dorsal view showing presence of carina on scutellar sulcus d) A. pectusacutum dorsal view showing absence of carina on scutellar sulcus e) A. pectusacutum projection of propleuron acute f) A. flavocacumen projection of propleuron blunt.

FIGURE 7. a) Ψ A. galbus margin between metepimeron and metepisternum with transverse carinae b) Ψ A. sharanowskiae margin between metepimeron and metepisternum smooth, lacking transverse carinae c) Ψ A. gloriae dorsal view showing median areola of mesosoma depressed medially with sharp carinae laterally and posteriorly d) ♂ A. pectusacutum dorsal view showing median areola of mesosoma not depressed medially, lacking sharp carinae laterally and posteriorly.