Aulacus veracruz SMITH, 2008

Smith, David R., 2008, Aulacidae of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America (Hymenoptera), Beiträge Zur Entomologie = Contributions to Entomology 58 (2), pp. 267-355 : 281-282

Aulacus veracruz SMITH , new species

( Figs 14-17 )

Diagnosis:

Orange with propodeum and antenna black; forewing apex black; head shining with shallow punctures; mesonotum finely punctate with transverse carinae.

Female:

Length, 14.0 mm; forewing length, 10.2 mm; ovipositor length 14.0 mm. Color: Orange with antennal flagellum brownish and mesosternum and propodeum black; metasoma with first segment except base and segments 4 to apex brownish. Mid- and hind coxae and hind legs brownish, hind tarsus white. Ovipositor sheath missing, black at base. Wings hyaline, veins and stigma black; forewing with black spot at apex. Head: Antennal length (12 segments present) 2.5X head width. Inner margins of eyes subparallel, lower interocular distance subequal to eye height; malar space 0.3X eye height ( Fig. 14 ). Head from above straight behind eyes for short distance, then narrowing, distance behind eyes 0.7X eye length ( Fig. 15 ). Vertex and frons with widely scattered punctures, separated by flat shining interspaces two or more times puncture diameters; punctures less dense on gena ( Figs 14, 15 ). Mesosoma: Propleuron shining, without sculpture. Mesoscutum with transverse carinae; notauli meeting posteriorly at about the transscutal articulation ( Fig. 15 ); axilla smooth; mesoscutellum with transverse carinae at center, more reticulate at side; pronotum smooth, shining with diagonal band of carinae; mesopleuron with mesepisternum finely punctate on upper third, coarsely reticulate on lower two-thirds, mesepimeron smooth and shining anteriorly, with carinae posteriorly, mesosternum reticulate; metapleuron with large smooth, shining spot on upper third, reticulate on lower two-thirds; propodeum shining, few transverse carinae dorsally, reticulate laterally and on venter ( Figs 16, 17 ). Hind coxa smooth and shining, 2X longer than broad. Hind basitarsus 1.1X longer than length of remaining tarsal segments combined. Metasoma: Smooth, shining, with fine white pubescence on segments 4 to apex. Ovipositor length 1.4X forewing length.

Male: Unknown.

Holotype: Female , labeled “ Mexico: Veracruz, 10 June 1965, G. N. Ross,” “ G. N. Ross Colln., MGCL Accession #2006-20” ( FSCA).

Etymology: Based on the State of Veracruz, Mexico; a noun in apposition.

Remarks:

The large size (14 mm), orange coloration and smooth, unsculptured hind coxae should distinguish this species. The size is rather large for an Aulacus species.

Figures

Figs 14-17: Aulacus veracruz. 14 Head, front. 15 Head, dorsal. 16 Mesosoma, lateral. 17 Mesosoma, dorsal.