Aphelagathis rociofernandezae Sharkey

Sharkey, Michael J., Chapman, Eric G., Janzen, Daniel H., Hallwachs, Winnie & Smith, M. Alex, 2015, Revision of Aphelagathis (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Agathidinae, Agathidini), Zootaxa 4000 (1), pp. 73-89 : 82-83

Aphelagathis rociofernandezae Sharkey n. sp.

( Fig. 8 )

Diagnosis. Much like A. verticalis but not sympatric. Distribution from Mexico south to Costa Rica, pale specimens with extensive propodeal sculpture.

Description. Body length 5.7 (6.4 female paratype). Fore wing length 4.5 (5.7 female paratype). Ovipositor length 4.1 (female paratype). Body color mostly yellow except melanic as follows: antenna including scape, apices of hind femur and tibia, and most of hind tarsomeres, apical metasomal segments darkened (metasomata of most paratypes entirely yellow, heads of most paratypes entirely yellow but several with ocellar triangle black, one specimen from Mexico and another from Costa Rica have more extensive black color on the vertex and occiput ( Fig. 8 F). One male specimen, tentatively assigned to this species, has melanic color on the propodeum ( Fig. 8 I)). 45 flagellomeres. Fore wing moderately and evenly infuscate. Propodeum mostly rugose with a median cell defined by a pair of longitudinal carinae that merge anteriorly (the pair of carinae is weaker anteriorly in most paratypes; one male specimen, tentatively assigned to this species, lacks the prominent pair of carinae and the rugae appear more randomly situated ( Fig. 8 I). Cub of hind wing barely pigmented (or not pigmented).

Host Data. A. rociofernandezae has been reared twice from ACG pasture grass-eating caterpillars of rain forest hesperiine Hesperiidae , Morys valerius valda Evans (DHJPAR0009368) and Morys lyde (Godman) DHJ01 (DHJPAR0049654). These, along with three rearings of Zamicrodus Janzen 03 (code name for the undescribed species) attacking Quasimellana sethos (Mabille) , are the only confirmed rearings of agathidine Braconidae encountered in a sample of 31,500+ wild-caught ACG hesperiine Hesperiidae caterpillars during 31 years of inventory of ACG rain forest, dry forest and cloud forest, a sample that contains 3,500+ of rearing records of Tachinidae , Ichneumonidae , Braconidae , Eulophidae and other parasitoids (Janzen et al. 2009). The wasp larva exits the prepupal hesperiine larva and spins a thin glassine-silk cocoon inside the "cocoon" or pupation chamber constructed by the prepupal caterpillar by lightly silking the grass blade forming a closed tube.

Etymology. Named in honor of Sra. María del Rocío Fernández Salazar, the Directora of the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, in recognition of her bravery and fortitude in accepting the challenge of the integration of the former national biodiversity collections of INBio (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad) into those of the national biodiversity collections of the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, beginning 27 March 2015.

Specimens examined. Holotype ♂: Costa Rica, Alajuela, Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Sector Rincon Rain Forest, Palomo, 96 m., Latitude: 10.96187, Longitude: -85.28045, Lambert coordinates: North 326911 East 396267, 30.vii.2012, leg. Keiner Aragon, ex. Morys lyde Hesperiidae , (AEI, DHJPAR0049654). Paratypes. Costa Rica: Guanacaste: 1♂, ex. Morys valerius valda , Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Sector Pitilla, Pasmompa, 440 m., Latitude: 11.01926, Longitude: -85.40997, Lambert coordinates: North 333308, East 382132, 1.xii.2004, leg. Manuel Rios (AEI, DHJPAR0009368). 1♂, 10°26’N, 85°33’W, v.1989 (HIC). Heredia: 9♀, 10°26’N, 84°01’W (INBIO, HIC (H6179)). Puntarenas: 1♀, 1♂, L_S_27800_529600 (INBIO). 1♂, 8°36’N, 83°06’W (UAAM). Limon: 8♂, L_S_28600_567500 (INBIO, HIC (H1207)). Mexico: Tamaulipas: 1♀, 1♂, 16°45’N, 94°12’W, 7– 16.i.1999 and 31.ii-6.iii.1999 (HIC). Chiapas: Tapachula, 22°01’N, 97°48’W, 24.ii-6.xi.1972 (AEI).

Molecular data. DHJPAR0009368 (ASBR635-06), DHJPAR0049654 (ASHYB2448-12), H1207 (ATRMK552-11).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Aphelagathis rociofernandezae holotype ♂ (except C which is a ♀ paratype, and E and H which are taken from a ♂ paratype). A. lateral habitus. B. lateral habitus showing antennal length. C. lateral habitus showing ovipositor length. D. wings. E. dorsal habitus (holotype). F. dorsal habitus (paratype). G. lateral head and mesosoma. H. propodeum (holotype). I. propodeum (paratype).