Epelaspis boteroi Lima & Fernandes, 2024

Lima, Adriane G. M., Pádua, Diego G., Araujo, Rodrigo O., Mazariegos, Luis A. & Fernandes, Daniell R. R., 2024, Revisiting the Darwin wasp genus Epelaspis Townes, 1970 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Phygadeuontinae): five new species, new records and a key to Neotropical species, Zootaxa 5468 (1), pp. 52-74 : 58-60

Epelaspis boteroi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov.

( Fig. 5 A–E )

Type material. 1 female. Holotype. COLOMBIA, Jardín, Antioquia, Mesenia-Paramillo nature reserve , VIII.2019, Mazariegos, L. (1 female, CEUA).

Diagnosis. Epelaspis boteroi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other Neotropical species of Epelaspis by the combination of the following characters: (1) scuto-scutellar groove mat with rugae; (2) lateromedian longitudinal carina with vestigial part on posterior portion of area petiolaris ( Fig. 5B ); (3) ovipositor with lower valve with notch pre-apical and four teeth on apex.

Description. Holotype female. Body length (head to T8) 5.44 mm.

Head. Frons polished, concave with antennal scrobe M-shaped, striae on the antennal scrobe, sparse punctation and short setae. Face mat, weak granulated and weak convex with punctation with setae ( Fig. 5C ). Carinae Wshaped weak starting from the antennal socket and extending to almost half of the face, without papilla ( Fig. 5C ). Clypeus rounded with sparse punctation and setae ( Fig. 5C ). Gena length 0.24 mm. Eye height 0.58 mm. Ocellus diameter 0.09 mm. Shortest distance between anterior and posterior ocelli 0.04 mm. Shortest distance between posterior ocellus and compound eye 0.20 mm. Shortest distance between posterior ocelli 0.39 mm.

Mesosoma . Pronotum mat, granulated with punctation, short setae. Epomia present anteriorly. Epicnemial carina not oblique. Epicnemium polished with punctation. Mesopleuron mat, granulate with sparse punctation with setae. Metapleuron mat, granulate, sparse punctation with setae; area below juxtacoxal carina mat with punctation; submetapleural carina with small crest. Mesoscutum mat, granulate with punctation and short setae ( Fig. 5B ). Notaulus reaching on the middle of mesoscutum ( Fig. 5B ). Scuto-scutellar groove mat with rugae. Scutellum mat, granulated with punctation and short setae. Propodeum mat, granulated with sparse punctation and setae; area basalis not anteriorly delimited; area superomedia not laterally delimited; posterior transverse carina with small crest; lateral longitudinal carina vestigial on area externa; lateromedian longitudinal carina incomplete with vestigial on posterior portion of area petiolaris; area petiolaris and area postero-externa with rugae; without sulcus above pleural carina on the portion of area dentipara ( Fig. 5D ). Fore wing without ramulus ( Fig. 5E ). Legs with punctation, short setae and tarsus with denticles, one tibial spur in fore leg, two asymmetrical tibial spurs in mid leg and hind leg. Fore wing length 4.79 mm. Hind femur length 1.31 mm. Hind tibia length 1.31 mm.

Metasoma. Tergites polished with sparse punctation and very sparse short setae ( Fig. 5B ). Tergite 1 with dorsolateral carina weak sinuous, without lateromedian carina. Tergite 1 with striae. Tergite 2 with thyridium. Ovipositor with upper valve smooth and lower valve with notch pre-apical and four teeth on apex. Tergite 1 length 0.85 mm. Anterior width of tergite 1 0.18 mm. Posterior width of tergite 1 0.45 mm. Tergite 2 length 0.57 mm. Anterior width of tergite 2 0.54 mm. Posterior width of tergite 2 0.81 mm. Tergite 3 length 0.43 mm. Anterior width of tergite 3 0.84 mm. Posterior width of tergite 3 0.78 mm. Ovipositor length 2.11 mm.

Coloration. Body whitish yellow ( Fig.5A ).Antenna brown; scape, pedicel, annellus and base of first flagellomere yellowish orange. Head whitish yellow, dorsal part yellowish orange ( Fig. 5B ). Clypeus whitish yellow ( Fig. 5C ). Gena yellowish orange. Mandibular teeth whitish yellow with apex brownish red ( Fig. 5C ). Mesoscutum yellowish orange with brownish parts ( Fig. 5B ). Propodeum yellowish orange with a central spot on the center ( Fig. 5B ). Fore leg whitish yellow except fore tibia yellowish orange and fore last tarsus brown. Mid leg whitish yellow except for mid tarsus and base of mid tibia brown. Hind leg whitish yellow, except apex of mid coxa, trochantellus, apex of hind femur, base of hind tibia and tarsus brown. Wings hyaline. Veins and pterostigma light brown ( Fig. 5E ). Tergites whitish yellow, and tergite 1 black and 2 onwards with spot black dorsally ( Fig. 5B ).

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Colombia (Antioquia) ( Fig. 1 ).

Host. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific epiphet boteroi is in honor of Jaime Diego Botero Vélez and encapsulates his profound commitment, unwavering determination, and wholehearted reverence for the environment, mirroring Jaime Diego’s lifelong voyage as a custodian of nature and champion of conservation at the Nirvana nature reserve. Jaime Diego has devoted his life to safeguarding ancient, endangered trees like Aniba perutilis , and has a dedicated commitment to nurturing and conserving the diverse flora and fauna within the “Forest of the new being”. His mission is to leave the natural environment improved, as a genuine expression of gratitude to his existence.

Discussion. Epelaspis boteroi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. is most similar to the E. tavoi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. mainly for the fore wing without ramulus, metapleuron polished, granulate with sparse punctation and area below juxtacoxal carina with punctation. However, E. boteroi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. differs from E. tavoi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov. in the following characters: lateral longitudinal carina of propodeum present (absent in E. tavoi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov.), and scuto-scutellar groove with rugae (smooth in E. tavoi Lima & Fernandes , sp. nov.).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mesenia-Paramillo nature reserve, Antioquia, Colombia.

FIGURE 5. A–E: Epelaspis boteroi Lima & Fernandes, sp. nov.. Holotype female. A: habitus, lateral view; B: habitus, dorsal view; C: head, frontal view; D: propodeum, dorsal view; E: fore wing, ventral view.