Andrés Herrera & Angélica Penteado-Dias

Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luís, km 235, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brasil; andresfhf@gmail.com, angelica@ufscar.br

Dirección de correspondencia

Abstract

The parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae currently includes approximately 37 subfamilies worldwide. Banchinae subfamily is a cosmopolitan group with three tribes: Atrophini, Banchini and Glyptini, this last characterized with oblique grooves on tergites II-IV, a dorsal subapical notch on the ovipositor, and a median apical impression in the subgenital plate. From the latter tribe, the genus Sphelodon, with eight species reported, can be recognized for the presence of a prominent basolateral tooth in the first abdominal tergite. Significant previous comprehensive studies for that group have been done in Costa Rica by local and international experts, but it is highly probable that many species remain undescribed in the region; before this survey, only one species (S. annulicornis) was registered from Brazil. The material reviewed in this study was obtained from main entomological collections of Southeast and South Brazil, from localities corresponding to 17 of the 27 States of the country, although most of the specimens (70.3%) were collected in São Paulo State. Approximately 3 000 specimens of the subfamily have been examined, 29 belonging to Sphelodon. The description format in this work broadly follows previous works; the species were illustrated through SEM in low vacuum mode (without uncoated the specimens). Here five new species of the genus Sphelodon are described and illustrated, one of these (S. brunicornis), differs from the rest of the species by lacking a median band in the flagellum. An identification key to the Neotropical species is provided. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (4): 1621-1635. Epub 2011 December 01.

Key words: Glyptini, identification key, South America, taxonomy, wasps.

Palabras clave: avispas, clave de identificación, Glyptini, Suramérica, taxonomía

The material analyzed was obtained from the main entomological collections of Southeastern and Southern Brazil: Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brasil (DCBU), Universidade Federal de Paraná (UFPR), Museu de Zoologia Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP), Universidade Federal de Espírito Santo (UFES), Universidade Federal de Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Coleção Entomológica Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CEIOC), and from the Project Biota Noroeste UNESP São José de Rio Preto (UNESP-SJRP). More than 3 000 specimens of the subfamily Banchinae were reviewed, 29 corresponding to the genus Sphelodon.

Sphelodon boraceiensis Herrera n. sp. (Figs. 1, 8, 11, 16, 21)

Diagnosis: This species differs from S. annulicornis in its propodeal characteristics (with an enclosed area superomedia in S. annulicornis and without an enclosed area superomedia in S. boraceiensis n. sp. (Fig. 11)) and in the color pattern (e.g. propodeum pale yellow anteriorly with a transverse black band in S. annulicornis and orange in S. boraceiensis). It differs from S. wardae in the pronotum (in dorsal view with upper end of epomia forming a distinct tubercle in S. wardae, not tuberculate in S. boraceiensis) and also in its propodeal characteristics (with an enclosed area superomedia in S. wardae). It differs from S. guanacastensis in the mesopleuron which has some sparse setiferous punctures in S. boraceiensis, whilst S. guanacastensis has a closely and coarsely punctate mesopleuron. It differs from S. phoxopteridis in the color pattern (e.g. metasoma mostly black with transverse pale yellow bands in S. phoxopteridis, and orange in S. boraceiensis) and in lacking an occipital carina, while in S. phoxopteridis the lower end of the occipital carina is present. It differs from S. ugaldei in color pattern (e.g. gena and vertex yellow in S. ugaldei and black in S. boraceiensis). It differs from S. plaumanni n. sp. in the color pattern (e.g. face white with a black spot in S. boraceiensis and dull yellow in S. plaumanni), and in several aspects (e.g. terguites I and II with somewhat sinuous oblique grooves, and posterior margin of area basalis concave in S. boraceiensis and S. plaumanni with rather straight oblique grooves and a posterior part of area basalis sort of straight, nor convex, nor concave). This species differs from the nearctic species S. beameri in its color pattern (mostly orange in S. boraceiensis, mostly rufous in S. beameri, with a white band between flagellomeres 12 and 21 in S. boraceiensis, with a pale yellow band on flagellar segments 13-18 in S. beameri). It differs from the nearctic species S. concolor in number of flagellomeres (44 in S. boraceiensis, 37 in S. concolor) and in the color pattern (e.g. flagellar segments 14-15 weak pale in the latter species). It differs from the nearctic species S. nomene in propodeal characteristics (without an enclosed area superomedia in S. boraceiensis and with an enclosed one in S. nomene).

Coloration: Head with face mostly white with medium longitudinal brown spot; clypeus white, mandibles white with apex light brown; antenna ventrally with margin of scape and pedicel white, flagellomeres black with flagellomeres 12-21 white, flagellomeres 11 and 22 light brown. Gena, frons black, vertex with two yellow spots parallel to posterior ocelli and very close to eyes; labial and maxilar palps yellow. Mesosoma mostly orange, mesoscutum with two ferruginous spots (submedial one bigger than posterior one); propleuron, mesopleuron and metapleuron light orange. Wings hyaline with pterostigma brown. Fore legs light orange with tarsus infuscate, mid legs orange, with tarsus light brown, hind legs with coxa, trochanter and trochantellus orange, with tibia orange, with apex ferrugineous; tarsus mostly white, with tarsomere 1 ferruginous at base, tarsomere 5 mostly ferruginous. Metasoma orange, with triangular area of tergites II-IV orange ferruginous. Ovipositor orange; ovipositor sheaths dark brown, with apex brown.

Variation: Two female from the same locality have a dark orange mesosoma, and a dark brown metasoma; besides these, one of those two female (29.IV-21.V.2008) has the flagellomeres 13-21 white; the other female (28. VI-02.VI. 2008) has the flagellomeres 12-20 white, posterior transverse carina less sinuous, tergite I with tooth present but rather truncated, pointing to the side.

Holotype: Female BRASIL, SP, Salesópolis, Reserva Biológica Boracéia 23°39’ S 45°53.9’ W. Trilha dos Pilões, PT.6 19-22. VI.2002 Bandejas Amarelas APAguiar & ACCMacedo coll. BIOTA-FAPESP (MZUSP).

Paratypes. 2 Females BRASIL, SP, Salesópolis, Reserva Biológica Boracéia 45 W 53.9’, 23 S 39. Trilha dos Pilões, PT.4 (MZUSP). 19-22.VI.2002 Bandejas Amarelas APAguiar & ACCMacedo coll. BIOTA-FAPESP. 45 W 53’51.4", 23 S 39’ 03.6". Trilha dos Pilões, PT.3 9-15.I.2003 Malaise 863m ACCMacedo & JSFreitas coll. BIOTA-FAPESP (MZUSP).

Etymology: The specific name refers to the type-locality, the Boracéia Natural Reserve, located in the city of Salesópolis, SP, Brazil.

Sphelodon botucatensis Herrera n. sp. (Figs. 2, 9, 14, 19, 22)

Diagnosis: This species resembles S. annulicornis, S. brunicornis n. sp. and S. wardae in having a completely delineated area superomedia (Fig. 14). It differs from S. annulicornis in the number of flagellomeres and color pattern (39-40 flagellomeres in S. annulicornis, 43 in S. botucatensis n. sp.), from S. brunicornis n. sp. in the color of the flagellum. It differs from S. wardae in the color pattern and in epomia characteristics (in dorsal view with upper end of epomia forming a distinct tubercle in S. wardae, not tuberculate in S. botucatensis). This species differs from S. boraceiensis, S. phoxopteridis and S. ugaldei clearly in the color pattern and in propodeal characteristics (without an enclosed area superomedia in these species), and from S. guanacastensis in propodeum and mesopleuron characteristics (the current species has a closely and coarsely punctate mesopleuron). It differs from the species S. beameri and S. concolor in propodeal characteristics (without an enclosed area superomedia in these nearctic species and with a enclosed one in S. botucatensis) and from S. nomene (also neartic) in the color pattern (e.g. metasoma black ferruginous with transverse yellow bands in S. botucatensis, and mostly tawny-rufous in S. nomene).

Female: Fore wing length 6.1mm; hind wing length 3.5mm. Clypeus 1.3x as broad as long; lower face very weakly convex, smooth; malar space 0.8x as long as basal mandibular width; frons flat and smooth; occipital carina more or less entirely absent, with short vestige laterally; head in dorsal view with gena rounded behind eyes. Antenna with 43 flagellomeres. Pronotum long, not swollen above epomia, epomia itself strong but short, not reaching upper margin of pronotum; mesoscutum punctulate with setae, laterally with punctures finer and weaker; notauli present, but weak and shallow; mesopleuron mostly punctulate with setae; epicnemial carina rather sinuous, reaching anterior margin of mesopleuron, exceeding level of lower corner of pronotum; sternal part of mesothorax 1.3x as long as mid coxa. Metapleuron punctulate with setae, with transverse carina at posterior margin of submetapleural carina. Pleural carina complete and strong (Fig. 14); propodeum with dorsal carinae almost complete, delineating enclosed area superomedia; lateral longitudinal carina present on anterior margin until anterior transverse carina; posterior transverse carina sinuous, forming an "M" shape (Fig. 14). Fore tibia with spur normally developed, 1.4x as long as breadth of tibia; mid tibia without conspicuous denticles on outer surface, with spurs nearly equal, longer 1.1x length of shorter. Fore wing with abscissa of Cu1 between 1m-cu and Cu1a 1.5x as long as Cu1b; hind wing with length of abscissa of Cu1 between M and cu-a 0.4x as long as combined lengths of this vein and cu-a. Metasoma (Fig. 19) with tergite I smooth with some setiferous punctures, with lateromedian longitudinal carinae very weak, in dorsal view present on anterior 0.2; tergite I in lateral view, with spiracle positioned anterior to centre, about 0.3 of way along; base with rather truncated lateral tooth, margin pointing laterally (Fig. 22); tergite II 1.0 as long as posteriorly broad, with oblique grooves strongly impressed, with central triangular area smooth, lateral area similar but with some isolated setae; tergites II-IV similar though latter with oblique grooves weaker, with some setae specially in lateral area. Ovipositor of moderate length, 1.9x as long as hind tibia.

Holotype: Female BRASIL, SÃO PAULO, Botucatu, 48 W 26’41", 22 S 53’07", VI, 1986, 804m, H.C.Almeida col. (UFPR).

Etymology: The name of this species refers to the city of Botucatu (SP, Brazil), the type-locality.

Sphelodon brunicornis Herrera n. sp. (Figs. 3, 10, 15, 20)

Diagnosis: This species differs from the other described species of the genus as the antennal flagellum lacks a median white band.

Female: Fore wing length 9.1mm; hind wing length 6.5mm. Clypeus 1.5x as broad as long; lower face flat and smooth; malar space 0.7x as long as basal mandibular width; frons flat and smooth; occipital carina dorsally centrally interrumpted, its lower end reaching hypostomal carina before mandibular base; head in dorsal view with gena very strongly constricted behind eyes, flat. Pronotum long, not swollen above epomia, the epomia itself strong but short, not reaching upper margin of pronotum; mesoscutum centrally rather finely and sparsely punctate with hairs, laterally weakly punctulate with setae; notauli quite strongly impressed anteriorly; mesopleuron polished with some sparse punctures; epicnemial carina dorsally sinuous, not reaching anterior margin of mesopleuron and exceeding level of lower corner of pronotum; sternal part of mesothorax 1.4x as long as mid coxa. Metapleuron uniformly finely and sparsely punctate, with a transverse stria at the anterior margin of the submetapleural carina, and a strong carina from posterior margin of submetapleural carina and apical margin of metapleuron. Pleural carina complete and strong (Fig. 10); propodeum with carinae complete and strong, delineating elongate enclosed area superomedia (Fig. 10). Fore tibia with spur normally developed, 2.2x as long as breadth of tibia; mid tibia without conspicuous denticles on outer surface and with spurs nearly equal, the longer 1.2x length of shorter. Fore wing with abscissa of Cu1 between 1m-cu and Cu1a 1.7x as long as Cu1b; hind wing with length of abscissa of Cu1 between M and cu-a 0.8x as long as combined lengths of this vein and cu-a. Metasoma (Fig. 15 with tergite I smooth, with lateromedian longitudinal carinae quite strong, present on anterior 0.6; tergite I in lateral view, with spiracle positioned anterior to centre, about 0.3 of way along, base with a rather rounded lateral tooth, margin pointing laterally (Fig. 20); tergite II 1.0 as long as posteriorly broad, with oblique grooves strongly impressed, with central triangular and lateral areas smooth and with some fine and sparse pubescence; tergites II-IV similar though the latter with the oblique grooves very weak, almost vestigial. Ovipositor of moderate length, 1.7x as long as hind tibia.

Coloration: Head mostly black. Lower face partly yellow, clypeus and mandible yellow. Apex of mandibles ferruginous. Gena posteriorly ferruginous, anteriorly surrounding area of eye dark orange. Labial and maxilar palps orange. Antenna brown, pedicel orange on dorsal margin. Mesosoma orange. Fore wing with two brown bands, one near the middle, the other at the posterior margin; pterostigma yellow; hind wing infuscate (hyaline yellow). Fore and mid legs orange, hind legs with coxa, trochanter, trochantellus and base of femur dark orange, tibia and tarsus light brown. Metasoma mostly orange, with tergites V+ ferruginous. Ovipositor orange, ovipositor sheaths black.

Holotype: Female BRASIL, PA, Canindé, Rio Gurupí. IV 1963 Malkin & Pinheiros col. (UFPR). Specimen condition: antenna incomplete (left antenna with 25 flagellomeres, right antenna with 37 flagellomeres).

Etymology: The specific name refers to the characteristic color of the antennae.

Sphelodon plaumanni Herrera n. sp. (Figs. 4, 13, 18, 23)

Diagnosis: This species resembles S. boraceiensis, S. guanacastensis, S. phoxopteridis and S. ugaldei in not having a delineated area superomedia (Fig. 13). It differs from S. guanacastensis in characteristics of the mesopleuron; the latter species has a closely and coarsely punctate mesopleuron. That of S. plaumanni is rather smooth. It differs from S. phoxopteridis in that in this species the lower end of the occipital carina is distinct, while in S. plaumanni it is absent. It differs from S. ugaldei in the number of flagellomeres (39-40 in S. ugaldei, 45 in S. plaumanni) and in the color pattern (e.g. gena and vertex pale yellow in S. ugaldei, and black in S. plaumanni). It differs from S. boraceiensis in the color pattern (e.g. scape and gena mainly yellow in S. plaumanni and scape and gena mostly black in S. boraceiensis) and in others features (e.g. terguite I with lateral longitudinal striae at posterior margin and lateromedian longitudinal carina, after transverse posterior carina, very weak and some straight in S. plaumanni and terguite I smooth at posterior margin and lateromedian longitudinal carina, after transverse posterior carina, strong and sinuous in S. boraceiensis). It differs from S. annulicornis, S. botucatensis and S. brunicornis, in the color pattern and propodeal characteristics (with a completely delineated area superomedia in these species). It differs from S. wardae in propodeum and epomia characteristics (in dorsal view with upper end of epomia forming a distinct tubercle in S. wardae, not tuberculate in S. plaumanni). This species differs from the species S. beameri and S. concolor in the color pattern (e.g. mostly orange and flagellomeres 13-22 white in S. plaumanni and mostly rufous and flagellomeres 13-18 pale yellow in S. beameri; flagellomeres 14-15 weak pale in S. concolor). It differs from S. nomene in propodeal characteristics (without an enclosed area superomedia in the neotropical species and with an enclosed the nearctic one).

Male: Fore wing length 6.7mm; hind wing length 4.7mm. Clypeus 1.5x as broad as long; lower face with weak median swelling; malar space 0.7x as long as basal mandibular width; frons flat and smooth; occipital carina absent; head in dorsal view with gena rounded behind eyes. Antenna with 45 flagellomeres. Pronotum long, not swollen above epomia, epomia itself strong and long but not reaching upper margin of pronotum; mesoscutum uniformly punctulate with setae; notauli weakly impressed anteriorly; mesopleuron with setiferous punctures at ventral and anterior margins; epicnemial carina weakly impressed, somewhat sinuous at dorsal margin, not reaching the anterior margin of mesopleuron and exceeding level of lower corner of pronotum; sternal part of mesothorax 1.4x as long as mid coxa. Metapleuron punctulate with setae and with transverse stria at posterior margin of submetapleural carina. Pleural carina complete (Fig. 13; propodeum with posterior transverse and anterior transverse carinae present, lateral longitudinal carina present anteriorly until spiracle level, lateromedian longitudinal carina present anteriorly until joining anterior transverse carina (Fig. 13). Fore tibia with spur normally developed, 2.9x as long as breadth of tibia; mid tibia without conspicuous denticles on outer surface, and with spurs nearly equal, longer 1.1x length of shorter. Fore wing with abscissa of Cu1 between 1m-cu and Cu1a 2.0x as long as Cu1b; hind wing with length of abscissa of Cu1 between M and cu-a 0.6x as long as combined lengths of this vein and cu-a. Metasoma (Fig. 18) with tergite I smooth with some small setiferous punctures, with lateromedian longitudinal carinae very weak, in dorsal view with vestiges present until 0.83 of length; tergite I in lateral view with spiracle positioned anterior to centre, about 0.3 of way along, base with a sharp lateral tooth, apex pointing down (Fig. 23); tergite II 1.2 as long as posteriorly broad, with oblique grooves strongly impressed, with some few sparse setiferous punctures in central triangular and lateral areas; tergites II-IV similar though the latter with the oblique grooves weak and with more setiferous punctures than tergite II.

Coloration: Head: Face and clypeus dull yellow with apex brown ferruginous, vertex brown ferruginous, with two yellow spots parallel to ocelli close to eyes, ocelli dark orange, frons mostly brown ferruginous with two lateral strips close to eyes, eyes brown with black spots; scape and pedicel ventrally yellow, dorsally yellow infuscate. Flagellomere 1 brown, outer side with orange strip; flagellomeres 2-12 brown, flagellomere 13 mostly yellow; flagellomeres 14-22 yellow; flagellomeres 23+ brown. Gena dorsally ferruginous brown, ventrally yellow. Maxillary and labial palps orange. Mesosoma orange; propleuron, mesopleuron and metapleuron light orange. Wings hyaline with pterostigma brown. Fore legs orange, mid legs orange with tarsus brown; hind legs, coxa, trochanter, trochantellus, femur orange, tibia mostly orange with apex ferruginous, tarsus mostly yellow, tarsomere 1 with basal half ferruginous, tarsomere 5 ferruginous. Metasoma with tergites I-II dark orange, tergites IV+ ferruginous.

Holotype: Male. BRASIL: Santa Catarina, Nova Teutônia, 52 W 25’5127", 27 S 09’49", IX/1967 F. Plaumann leg. (UFPR).

Etymology: This species is named in honour of F. Plaumann, who collected the one known specimen.

Sphelodon zuleidei Herrera n. sp. (Figs. 5, 6, 7, 12, 17)

Holotype: Female, BRASIL, RJ, Teresópolis, Parque Nacional Serra dos Orgãos 42 W 56’, 22 S 26’ Armadilha Malaise 43 31.X-05. XI.2004 ALBG Peronti e equipe col. (UFES)

Etymology: This species is named in honour of our colleague Zuleide Ramiro.