Liosphex atratus 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 atratus

description: Liosphex atratus Lohrmann sp. nov.
(Figs 1, 2, 9, 12, 14, 21, 24, 29–31)
Holotype. Female. COSTA RICA: Limón, 16km W. Guápiles, 400m, 1 April 1991, P.Hanson (MUCR).
Paratypes. COSTA RICA: same data as holotype but 1 April 1992, P.Hanson (1 Ƥ, MUCR); Alajuela, San Ramón, Reserva Biológica Alberto Brenes, 900m, May 2000, P. Hanson (1 Ƥ, MUCR); Puntarenas, Peninsula de Osa, Cerro Rincón, 745 m, March 1991, Hanson & Godoy (1 Ƥ, MUCR); MEXICO: Sinola, 20mi. E. Concordia, 3000’, 12 August 1964, W. R. M. Mason (1 Ƥ, CNCI); Chiapas, San Christobal de las Casas, 11000’, 4 August 1962, H. E. Milliron (1 3, CNCI); Veracruz, S Ixhuatlan (SE Huatusco), coffee plantations along gravel road, 1130m, 17–18 July 1990, I. Yarom (2 3, SEMC).
Diagnosis. This species is quite similar to L. boreus and L. bribri especially in color pattern. It can easily been differentiated from L. bribri by the anterior margin of the pronotum which is not notched in L. atratus. The basal angle of the 1Rs cell of the forewing which is less than 90° in L. atratus differentiates this species from L. boreus where this angle is at least 90°. Additionally, the mouthparts are almost dark brown to black in L. atratus and pale brown to yellowish in L. boreus.
The females of L. atratus are unique among all Liosphex in having the hindtibia with two conspicuous, spinelike bristles on each side of insertion of shorter apical spur (Fig. 21).
Description of the female. Head (Figs 1, 2, 29): Maximum width in frontal view 1.5 mm [1.5–1.7 mm]. UID 1.55× [1.4–1.55×] LID. Distance between eye and insertion of antennae smaller than shortest distance between eye and mandible. Flagellomeres short (flagellomere II 2.9× [2.8–3.1×], flagellomere VII 1.8× [1.8– 1.9×] as long as wide). Apical bristles present on flagellomeres I–V, longer bristle on flagellomere I 1.0× its length. OOD 2.4× [2.2–2.5×], IOD 1.2× [1.2×], MOD 1.0× [1.0×] LOD.
Mesosoma (Fig. 11–12): Length of mesosoma: 2.6 mm [2.5–3.0 mm]. Anterior margin of pronotum without median notch (as in Fig. 20). Streptaulus in lateral view curved.
Wings: Maximum length of forewing: 6.5 mm [6.1–7.3 mm], 2.5× [2.45–2.5×] as long as mesosoma. Forewing 1cu-a inclivous, distad of M by 1.8× [1.8–2.3×] its length. M-cu distinctly curved. 1Rs 2.2–2.5× as long as high, its basal angle smaller than 90° (Fig. 9).
Legs: Forebasitarsomere short, length of antennal cleaner 0.45× [0.4–0.45×] its length (Fig. 15). Mid- and hindfemur with a few bristles spread over its distal dorsal area. Hindtibia with two bristles on each side of insertion of shorter apical spur (Fig. 21).
Metasoma: Tergite I 1.9× [1.4–1.9×] as long as wide. Visible parts of tergites covered all over with regularly distributed hairs.
Color (as in Figs 30–31): Basically dark brown to black except the following: labrum, clypeus except median black spot, gena, inner part of eye notch, anterior and posterior margin of propodeum and anterior part of metasomal segment II yellowish. Ventral side of antennae orange to pale brown. Wings pale brown, more intensive on anterior part of the forewing.
Pilosity: Body, including legs, largely covered with dense setae. Setae slightly shorter on head, mesoscutum and scutellum, and lacking on following structures: occiput, ventrolateral side of pronotum, median area of mesepisternum, ventral part of metepimeron, posteroventral of metepisternum, median part of lateral side of propodeum and anteroventral half of hindfemur.
Description of the male. Head, mesosoma and metasoma as in female except the following:
Head: Maximum width in frontal view 1.4–1.5 mm. Flagellomere II 2.5–2.7×, flagellomere VII 1.8–2.2× as long as wide. Longer bristle on flagellomere I 0.5–1.0× its length.
Mesosoma: Length of mesosoma: 2.5–2.9 mm.
Wings: Maximum length of forewing: 5.5–6.6 mm. Forewing 1cu-a distad from M by 1.9–2.1× its length.
Legs: Hindtibia without an additional bristle at its distal apex (which is characteristic for the female of this species). Tarsomeres II–IV with plantulae.
Life history. Almost nothing is known about the life history of Liosphex atratus. Only five females and three males are known, and these were collected at an altitude of 400–3350 m from April to August.
Etymological note. The specific epithet ‘ atratus ’ comes from Latin and means “dressed in black” referring to the almost completely black coloration of the species.
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 12-14, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.193731