Microsphecodes peckorum Graham & Packer 2024

Microsphecodes peckorum Graham & Packer Figs. 2–10, 13, 25, 33–35, 37 & 39 Diagnosis: The combination of mesosoma varied in colour with extensive pale markings but the mesoscutum largely dark brown (Figs. 3–6), clypeus <4X as wide as long (Figs. 2 & 10), mesoscutum entirely lacking microsculpture except across anterior margin (Figs. 5 & 8) and T1 entirely and T2 partly orange brown to entirely yellow brown (Figs. 6 & 9) separates this species from all others except M. kathleenae. The two differ in a range of minor characteristics, but most readily in the relatively smaller ratio of IAD to AOD (Fig. 2 also compare figures 36 and 37) and the degree of setation, which differs most notably on the metasoma (compare figures 39 and 40). Description: Holotype female: Dimensions: Approximate body length 4.44 mm; forewing length 3.76 mm; head broader than long, width 1.34 mm, length 1.18 mm; intertegular distance 0.86 mm. Colouration: Black-brown except as follows: Mandibles yellow, apical 1/3 red-brown; labrum light brown apically; torulus and extreme base of scape yellow; pedicel orange, flagellum brown; pronotal lobe and tegula yellow; scutellum and metanotum orange-yellow; wing veins dark brown; wing membrane translucent. Legs orange-yellow except metacoxa dark brown, and metafemur brown except yellow at base and apex. T1 orange-yellow; T2 disc brown, the rest orange-yellow; T3–T4 brown with irregular apicolateral orange-yellow patch; T1–T4 apical impressed areas translucent yellow-brown; T5 brown, apical impressed area opaque brown; pygidial plate dark red-brown; S1 brown basally, orange-yellow apically, margins dark brown; S2–S4 yellow, apical impressed areas translucent yellow-brown; S5–S6 brown. Pubescence: pale yellowish, relatively sparse fine simple sub-erect to erect except when stated otherwise; hairs of face dense, somewhat plumose, on clypeus mostly longer than on rest of face; sparser and longer on vertexal area than on face, but shorter than longest hairs of clypeus; anterior surface of flagellum hairs dense and short with underlying placodea. Pronotal collar with sparse yellow hair dorsally, lateral surface with short hairs, pronotal lobe hairs plumose; side of mesosoma with dense somewhat plumose short white subappressed hairs with sparse long white hairs intermixed; metatibia hairs simple, longest apicoventrally, shorter than or equal to the apical width of tibia; dorsal surface of metatibia with fine pale bristles bearing few short branches on dorsal side of rachis. T1–T2 glabrous except for scattered hairs especially laterally and basally; T3–T5 hairs denser, of medium length on disc, longer laterally, short and white basally. S1 hairs long, sparse along midline, absent elsewhere; S2–S6 with scattered long hairs, S3–S5 with a transverse row of simple, posteriorly oriented hairs apically. Surface Sculpture: Integument shiny lacking microsculpture unless stated otherwise. Face densely punctate i<0.5d except sparser towards apex of supraclypeal area and towards ocelli mostly i~1d; impunctate around ocelli; vertexal area behind ocelli minutely roughened; genal area punctures small i~1d; hypostomal area very weakly imbricate, obscurely and sparsely punctate. Mesoscutum imbricate along anterior margin between notauli, punctures distinct, irregularly spaced mostly i=0.25–3d around margins, sparser on disc; mesoscutellum disc sparsely punctate, punctures smaller and denser i<d around margins; metanotum punctures obscure, irregularly spaced. Metapostnotum dorsal surface margined by strong carina; areolate, median pair of areolae on either side of a complete median carina take up most of the dorsal surface with smaller elongate areolae laterally. Preepisternum weakly rugose, more distinct anteriorly and below hypoepimeral area; both areas finely punctate i~1d except sparser dorsally on hypoepimeral area; mesepisternum punctures small and somewhat ovoid, i<d; metepisternum with coarse longitudinal striae; areolae on posterior surface of propodeum variable in size, irregular in shape. Tegula impunctate, weakly imbricate anteriorly. T1–T2 punctures very sparse and weak, T3–T5 punctures small, hair-bearing. Sterna weakly imbricate, punctures scattered and mostly hair-bearing. Structure: Mandible shorter than compound eye (0.7: 0.76 mm). Clypeus more than 3.5X broader than long (0.86 mm: 0.24 mm). Supraclypeal area convex, somewhat protuberant in profile. Frontal line carinate from below lower tangent of antennal socket to 1 MOD below median ocellus (MOD = 0.14 mm). Inner margin of compound eye convergent below: UOD:LOD 0.88 mm: 0.82 mm; ASD 0.1 mm, IAD 0.18 mm; supraclypeal area almost as wide as long, width 0.28 mm, length 0.3 mm; IOD:OOD 0.2 mm: 0.3 mm; vertex strongly convex in frontal view, upper tangent of compound eyes 0.5 MOD below lower tangent of median ocellus; genal area narrower than compound eye in profile (0.28 mm: 0.38 mm). F1 and F2 of similar length. Mesoscutum shorter than ITW (0.78 mm: 0.86 mm). Stigma large, 0.66 mm long, 0.24 mm broad, L:W <3:1; marginal cell 1.14 mm long, 0.35mm wide, free portion less than 3X as long as that subtending submarginal cells (0.92 mm: 0.32 mm); 1m-cu meets second submarginal cell slightly beyond middle, stigmal perpendicular just beyond 2r-m; hind wing with five hamuli. Pygidial plate apically rounded, surface concave. Variation: The two known specimens vary in details of colouration as indicated by comparing figures 5 & 6 with 8 & 9. Material Studied. Holotype female: VENEZUELA, Merida, Tabay LaMucuy, 1900 m, 18.VI–2.VIII. 1989, [8.62 -71.057] S.&J. Peck, M[alaise] T[rap] streamside meadow. Paratype female: VENEZUELA, Aragua, Parque Nac [ional]. H[enri]. Pittier, Rancho Grande, env[irons] [10 -67.6], 1100 m, 9.IV.1994, L. Masner, s[creen].s[weep]. Both specimens will be returned to the CNC pending completion of ongoing studies. Etymology: We are happy to name this new species after the collectors of the holotype, well-known Canadian entomologists Stewart Peck and Jarmilla Kukalova-Peck. Comments: This species is known from two localities separated by less than 450km (Fig. 13). The paratype was caught with a sweep net with an additional 1/ 4inch mesh to screen out large pieces of debris (Masner, personal communication).

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