Liosphex bribri Lohrmann, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Lohrmann, Volker
name: Ohl, Michael
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2010
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Rhopalosomatidae
Liosphex
Liosphex bribri

description: Liosphex bribri Lohrmann sp. nov.
(Figs 16, 19, 35–37)
Holotype. Female. COSTA RICA: Puntarenas, Golfo Dulce, 24km W. Piedras Blancas, 200m, February 1992, P. Hanson (MUCR).
Paratypes. COSTA RICA: same data as holotype (2 3, MUCR); same data as holotype, but March 1992, P. Hanson (1 Ƥ, LOHR); same data as holotype, but March 1993, P. Hanson (1 Ƥ, MUCR; 1 Ƥ, BMNH); same data as holotype, but April 1993, P. Hanson (1 Ƥ, AEIC); same data as holotype, but May 1993, P. Hanson (1 Ƥ, MUCR); Heredia, Puerto Viejo, February 1980, 50m, Rain Forest, W. Mason (1 Ƥ, CNCI); same data, but OET-La Selva, 100m, IV–V 1993, Hanson & Godoy (2 Ƥ, MUCR); Heredia, Puerto Viejo Sarapiquí, Estación Biológica La Selva, 15 April – 2 May 1993, M/01/80 (1 3, DZUP); same data, but 16 April – 3 May 1993, M/ 14/93 (1 Ƥ, DZUP); PANAMA: Panama, Metropolitan, 10–17 Mayo 1994, V. Rodriguez, Malaise trap, ANAE 2, (1 3, MIUP); Panama, Pipeline Rd Km 8, 9 May 1981, R. W. Brooks (1 Ƥ, SEMC); PERU: Madre de Dios, Rio Tambopata Riserve, 30 km (air) SW Puerto Maldonado, 290m, 12°50’ S 69°20’W, 25–30 April 1984, W. J. Pulawski (1 Ƥ, CASC).
Diagnosis. Liosphex bribri is unique among all Liosphex in the combination of the following characters: Anterior margin of pronotum with median notch (Fig. 19); flagellomere II 3.0–3.3× as long as wide; basically dark brown to blackish with some pale yellowish or whitish markings.
Although this species resembles most characters of the North American species L. boreus, especially in color, it can easily be distinguished from it by the anterior margin of the propodeum which is notched in this species.
Description of the female. Head (Figs 16, 35): Maximum width in frontal view 1.6 mm [1.5–1.6 mm]. UID 1.65× [1.6–1.8×] LID. Flagellomeres short (flagellomere II 3.05× [3.0–3.3×], flagellomere VII 1.85× [1.7–1.9×] as long as wide). Apical bristles present on flagellomeres I–V, longer bristle on flagellomere I 1.0× its length. OOD 2.3× [2.2–2.4×], IOD 1.1× [1.0–1.1×], MOD 1.0× [1.0–1.2×] LOD.
Mesosoma: Length of mesosoma: 2.6 mm [2.4–2.7 mm]. Anterior margin of pronotum with median notch (Fig. 19). Streptaulus in lateral view curved.
Wings: Maximum length of forewing: 5.7 mm [5.5–5.7 mm], 2.2× [2.1–2.2×] as long as mesosoma. Forewing 1cu-a distad by M by 2.35× [1.8–2.65×] its length. M-cu distinctly curved. 1Rs 2.35× [2.1–2.4×] as long as high, its basal angle almost rectangular.
Legs: Forebasitarsomere short, length of antennal cleaner 0.35× [0.35–0.4×] its length. Mid- and hindfemur with a few bristles spread over its distal dorsal area. Hindtibia with two bristles on only one side of insertion of shorter apical spur (as in Fig. 22).
Metasoma: Tergite I 1.8× [1.6–1.9×] as long as wide.
Color (as in Figs 36–37): Head and mesosoma basically black except the following: Mouthparts except mandibular teeth, labrum, clypeus, gena, inner part of eye notch, anterior and posterior margin of pronotum, tegula, posterior end of scutellum, metanotum and mesosternal lobes whitish. Fore- and midleg pale yellow to whitish with brown markings, tarsi brown, hindleg brown with yellow markings, tarsi brown. Dorsolateral side of antennae brown, ventrolateral side yellow to orange. Metasoma dark brown except the following: posterior end of tergite I, anterior section of tergites II–III pale yellow to whitish (whitish markings on tergites II–III more extended in the specimen from Peru); wings distally brownish.
Pilosity: Body, including legs, largely covered with dense setae. Setae distinctly shorter on head, mesoscutum and scutellum, and lacking on following structures: occiput, ventrolateral side of pronotum, median area of mesepisternum, ventral part of metepimeron, anteroventral of metepisternum, median part of lateral side of propodeum and posteroventral half of hindfemur.
Description of the male. Head, mesosoma and metasoma as in female except the following:
Head: Maximum width in frontal view 1.3 mm. Flagellomere II 3.0× as long as wide, flagellomere VII 2.1–2.2× as long as wide. Longer bristle on flagellomere I 0.6–0.65× its length.
Mesosoma: Length of mesosoma: 2–2.2 mm.
Wings: Maximum length of forewing: 4.6–4.7 mm, 2.1–2.3× as long as mesosoma. Forewing 1cu-a distad M by 1.6–1.8× its length.
Legs: Tarsomeres II–IV with plantulae.
Life history. Almost nothing is known about the life history of Liosphex bribri. 13 females and three males are known and these were collected at an altitude of 50–300 m from February to May. One female was collected in a rain forest.
Etymological note. The specific epithet ‘ bribri ’ is the name of the homonymous, indigenous people in Costa Rica; it is a noun in apposition.
description: Published as part of Lohrmann, Volker & Ohl, Michael, 2010, World revision of the wasp genus Liosphex Townes, 1977 (Hymenoptera: Rhopalosomatidae), pp. 1-43 in Zootaxa 2384 on pages 16-18, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.193731