Liosphex achuar 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 achuar

description: Liosphex achuar Lohrmann sp. nov.
(Figs 26–28)
Holotype. Female. ECUADOR: Sucumbios, Sacha Lodge, 0° 30’S 76° 30’W, 270m, 13–23 June 1994, P. Hibbs, Malaise trap (CNCI).
Paratypes. COSTA RICA: Puntarenas, Golfo Dulce, 24km W. Piedras Blancas, 200m, II 1992, P. Hanson (1 3, MUCR); Limón, 16km W. Guápiles, 400m, i–iv. 1991, P. Hanson (1 3, MUCR); ECUADOR: Napo or Pastaza, Dureno, 150m. 23–30 October 1977 (1 Ƥ, BMNH); [Napo] Ongota, 8 km SE Tena, May 1963, L. Pena (1 Ƥ, MCZC, paratype of L. varius); PANAMA: Las Cumbres, 22–26 August 1982, ground, H. Wolda (1 3, PMAE); PERU: Madre de Dios, Avispas, 400m, 10–30 September 1962, Pena (1 3, MCZC, paratype of L. varius).
Diagnosis. Females of L. achuar are unique among all Liosphex in the combination of the following characters: flagellomeres of moderate length (flagellomere II 3.8×, flagellomere VII 2.7–2.8× as long as wide); anterior margin of pronotum without median notch (as in Fig. 20); forewing 1cu-a distad of M by 2.2– 2.45× its length; wings stramineous, more intensively on anterior part of the forewing; body stramineous with black markings.
This species is very similar to L. longicornis, especially in the color pattern, but it can easily be distinguished by the anterior pronotal margin which is not notched in L. achuar (pronotal margin notched in L. longicornis) and the ratio of flagellomere II which is significantly higher in L. longicornis.
Description of the female. Head (Fig. 26): Maximum width in frontal view 1.7 mm [1.6–1.7 mm]. UID 1.65× [1.45–1.65×] LID. Flagellomeres of moderate length (flagellomere II 3.8× [3.8×], flagellomere VII 2.8× [2.7–2.8×] as long as wide). Apical bristles present on flagellomeres I–V (in one specimen also present on VI), longer bristle on flagellomere I 1.0× its length. OOD 2.6× [2.3–2.6×], IOD 1.0× [1.0–1.1×], MOD 1.1× [1.1×] LOD.
Mesosoma: Length of mesosoma: 2.9 mm [2.8–3.0 mm]. Anterior margin of pronotum without median notch (as in Fig. 20).
Wings: Maximum length of forewing: 7.1 mm [6.7–7.1 mm], 2.45× [2.35–2.45×] as long as mesosoma. Forewing 1cu-a inclivous, distad by M by at least 2.4× [2.2–2.4×] its length. 1Rs 2.2–2.35× as long as high, its basal angle smaller than 90° (Fig. 9). Hindwing Rs reclivous.
Legs: Forebasitarsomere short, length of antennal cleaner 0.4× [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 inseration of shorter apical spur (as in Fig. 22).
Metasoma: Tergite I 2.1× [2.1–2.3×] as long as wide.
Color (as in Figs 27–28): Basically stramineous except the following: Antennae pale brown to orange. Vertex between upper parts of the eyes, teeth of mandible, median area on pronotum, upper part of propleuron, anterior part of mesopleuron/sternite, marginal areas on mesoscutum, anterior third of scutellum and two longitudinal stripes on propodeum (not reaching its end) black. Visible parts of metasomal segments III–VI brown. Wings stramineous, more intensively on its anterior part. Wing veins brown.
Pilosity: Body, including legs, largely covered with dense setae. Setae 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: Within the type series, there is one male specimen (Costa Rica, Limón) which is extremely small. Because of its small size, the ratios of this specimen do not match the range given for the rest of the series. Therefore, all measurements and ratios for this specimen are given separately in square brackets.
Head: Maximum width in frontal view 1.6–1.7 mm [1.2 mm]. Flagellomere II 3.5–3.8× [3.0×], flagellomere VII 2.4–2.6× [2.0×] as long as wide. Longer bristle on flagellomere I 0.35–0.4× its length. OOD 2.0–2.4×, IOD 1.0×, MOD 1.0× LOD.
Mesosoma: Length of mesosoma: 2.7–3.0 mm [1.9 mm].
Wings: Maximum length of forewing: 6.6–6.8 mm [4.7 mm], 2.3–2.45× as long as mesosoma. Forewing 1cu-a inclivous, distad by M by 1.8–2.0× [1.4×] its length.
Legs: Tarsomeres II–IV with plantulae.
Life history. Almost nothing is known about the life history of Liosphex achuar. Only three females and four males are known, and these were collected at an altitude of 200–400 m from February (Costa Rica) to September (Peru). One female has been collected with a Malaise trap.
Etymological note. The specific epithet refers to the indigenous ‘ Achuar ’ tribe in Ecuador and Peru. The word ‘ Achuar ’is a composition of the two words "Shuar" (= person), and "Achu" (a sturdy palm, also known known as “aguaje”). The Achu Shuar are "the people of the aguaje palm,” and are more commonly known by the contraction ‘ Achuar ’. It is a noun in apposition.
Note. The paratype series of L. achuar includes two specimens, which are part of the original type series of L. varius Townes, 1977.
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 8-12, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.193731