Sesioctonus philipi Sharkey and Briceño, 2005

Briceño, Michael J. Sharkey Rosa A., 2005, Review of Sesioctonus Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae) from Colombia with descriptions of five new species, Zootaxa 1002 (1002), pp. 45-58 : 53-54

Sesioctonus philipi Sharkey and Briceño sp. n.

FIG. 1a

Diagnosis. Distinguished from all other known species of Sesioctonus by the following suite of characters. (RS+M)a vein of fore wing complete, hind tibia with 8–10 spines; fore and mid coxae melanic; coloration unique Fig. 1a.

Description.

♀. Length. Length of body, excluding ovipositor, 4.1 mm.

Head. Antenna with 28 flagellomeres. Interantennal space without sharp longitudinal keel. Antennal sockets not excavated. Face without median longitudinal carina. Gena not expanded posteroventrally. Occipital tubercles absent. Occiput not excavated. Mandible concave. Outer tooth of mandible longer than inner tooth. Maxillary palpus with 5 palpomeres. Third and fourth labial palpomeres not fused. Mesosoma . Subpronope elongate. Scutellar depression with strong median longitudinal carina and several weak lateral longitudinal carinae. Scutellum convex. Median areola of metanotum smooth, without rugosities, without median longitudinal carina, and lacking lateral carinae. Propodeum convex. Median longitudinal carina of propodeum absent. Epicnemial carina absent (a few rugae, that may be remnants of the carina, occur on the anterior margin of the mesopleuron). Fore tibial spines absent. Mid tibia with 4 spines. Hind tibia with 9 spines. Hind femur 3.4 times as long as wide. (RS+M)a vein of fore wing incomplete. 3RSa vein of fore wing absent. 2 nd submarginal cell of fore wing petiolate. 2­1A vein of hind wing tubular. CUb vein of hind wing absent. Hind wing with 3 hamuli. Metasoma. Median tergite of first metasomal segment without pair of lateral longitudinal carinae. First metasomal median tergite without depression posterad spiracle. Length: width ratio of first metasomal median tergite 1.1. Ovipositor length 3.6 mm.

Color. Black except chalk­white as follows: metasomal segment 1 and parts of metasomal segments 2–5. Wings weakly infuscate.

♂. The sole male differs from the holotype female as follows: length 4.3 mm; two median longitudinal carina of propodeum present near posterior margin; mid tibia with 5 spines; hind tibia with 11 spines; mouthparts pale brown; first metasomal median tergite mostly melanic.

Note. Both specimens were collected at an altitude of 3,350 meters, increasing the altitudinal range of the genus by almost 1000 meters.

Etymology. Named after Philip Sharkey, son of the senior author.

Material examined. Holotype. ♀. COLOMBIA, Boyacá, SFF Iguaque Qda. Carrizal, 5º25'N 73º27'W, 3,350m., Malaise, 17.viii.2000 – 1.ix.2000, P. Reina Leg. M.520 (IAvH).

Paratype. COLOMBIA: ♂, same data as holotype, ( HIC) .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.