Five new braconid species from Colombia (Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

Descriptions are given of five new braconid species and one new genus from Colombia: Aspilota stigmalis sp. n., Synaldis cauca sp. n., Telmogarbus gen. n., Telmogarbus olivai sp. n. (all Alysiinae); Blacus (Tarpheion) latestigma sp. n. (Blacinae) and Pseudorhysipolis inaequalis sp. n. (Rhysipolinae). Types are deposited in the A. Humboldt Institute, Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Bogota (Colombia). Critical remarks on the taxonomic position of the genus Synaldis are included. With 57 line drawings.


Introduction
In the Neotropical braconid material, sent by Dr. M. J. Sharkey (University of Kentucky) to me for identification, seven specimens were found which proved to represent five new species, one species also a new genus. The five species were collected in Colombia with Malaise traps. The new species are as follows (in brackets the respective subfamily name): Aspilota stigmalis sp. n. (Alysiinae: Alysiini), Blacus (Tarpheion) latestigma sp. n. (Blacinae), Pseudorhysipolis inaequalis sp. n. (Rhysipolinae), Synaldis cauca Fore wing as long as body. Pterostigma linear (Fig. 7), r long, 3.5 times as long as width of pterostigma. Second submarginal cell long, 3-SR 2.3 times as long as 2-SR, r-m as long as r. First discal cell: 1-M 1.9 times as long as 1-SR-M (Fig. 8).
First tergite ( Fig. 9) long, twice as long as posteriorly broad, spiracles large and at middle of tergite, pair of basal keels reaching spiracles, hind half of tergite striolate. Tergites 2-3 fully fused (i.e. border between tergites indistinct) and together with further tergites polished. Ovipositor sheath as long as mid tibia.
Male and host unknown. Distribution. Colombia. Diagnosis. The new species, Aspilota stigmalis, is nearest to A. phyllotomae Fischer (Fischer 1970: 124) with their common features being the transverse head in dorsal view, first tergite 2.1 times as long as broad posteriorly, dentation of mandible and chestnut brown ground colour of body. The two species are distinguished by the following characters (A. phyllotomae is known only by its original description : Fischer 1970: 125): Figures 1-9. Aspilota stigmalis sp. n.: 1 scape, pedicel and flagellomeres 1-2 2 head in dorsal view 3 mandible 4 paraclypeal pit 5 propodeum 6 hind femur 7 distal part of right fore wing 8 first discal cell of fore wing 9 tergites 1-3.

1(2)
Propodeum granulo-rugulose and not areolate, spiracles of propodeum and first tergite small, i.e. usual in size. Antenna with 14-15 antennomeres, flagellomeres 1-2 equal in length (each about three times as long as broad) and equally thick. Eye in dorsal view just shorter (cf. Abb. 33 in Fischer 1970: 33) to as long as temple. Fore wing: r slightly longer than width of pterostigma, right antenna broken, with 15 antennomeres, (3) right fore wing creased apicoposteriorly. Etymology. The new species is named after the type locality, "Cauca". Description. Body 2.6 mm long. Antenna as long as body and with 21 antennomeres. First flagellomere three times as long as broad apically, further flagellomeres gradually shortening and indistinctly attenuating so that penultimate flagellomere 2.5 times as long as broad. Head in dorsal view less transverse or subcubic (Fig. 10), 1.7 times as broad as long, eye almost 2.9 times as long as temple, temple rounded. Ocelli medium-sized, OOL almost three times as long as POL. Eye in lateral view nearly 1.5 times as high as wide and nearly 1.6 times as wide as temple, temple beyond eye evenly widened (Fig. 11, see arrows). Lower tooth of mandible somewhat small, mandible twice as long as broad between upper and lower teeth (Fig. 12). Paraclypeal pit short, i.e. distance between pit and eye as long as length of paraclypeal pit itself (Fig. 13). Maxillary palp one-sixth longer than height of head.
First tergite (Fig. 16) 2.8 times as long as broad posteriorly, moderately broadening posteriorly. Pair of keels merging into fine striation; spiracles close beyond middle of tergite. Tergites 2-3 fused and as long as first tergite, together with further tergites polished. Ovipositor sheath as long as mid tibia.
Male and host unknown. Distribution. Colombia. Diagnosis. The new species, Synaldis cauca, is near to S. acutidens Fischer as both have a mandible with three spiky teeth, SR1 more than twice as long as r + 3-SR combined and dark bodies; the two species are distinguished as follows (S. acutidens is known by its original description : Fischer 1967:  Head in dorsal view 1.7 times as boad as long; eye almost 2.9 times as long as temple (Fig. 10). Propodeum with medio-longitudinal carina and with areolation, spiracles small (Fig. 14). Antenna with 21 antennomeres. Hind femur 4.1 times as long as broad distally (Fig. 15). First tergite 2.6 times as long as broad, widening less posteriorly (Fig. 16). Lower tooth of mandible somewhat small (Fig. 12) Taxonomic remark. The single distinctive generic feature of the genus Synaldis Foerster that differentiates it from Aspilota Foerster (the confluent first and second submarginal cells of the fore wing, or absence of vein 2-SR) has been questioned since more than a century. Wharton (1980: 34) points out: "There are undoubtedly species of Aspilota in which only the Synaldis-type venation occurs. But the grouping of such species at a subgeneric level would be misleading, since it is based on a single character strongly subject to convergence." Fischer is the first specialist consistently maintaining Synaldis as a valid genus. To confirm and support his taxonomic standpoint he states (Fischer 1993: 453): "Da diese Gattungen [of the genusgroup Aspilota] überwiegend diagnostischen Charakter haben und auch Übergänge aufweisen (und es übrigens auch keine objektiven Kriterien für das Aufstellen von Taxa der Gattungs-Gruppe gibt), erscheint mir das Beibehalten der verhältnismäßig leicht abgrenzbaren Synaldis Foerster gerechtfertigt und für die praktische Arbeit zweckmäßig." A second expert, Belokobylskij (2002), also considers Synaldis as a valid genus: in his key to the species of the Russian Far East the species are arranged under this genus. I am quite convinced that the species with Synaldis-form fore wing venation is evolving in our present epoch (in geochronological sense). In this conception the missing vein 2-SR is an unambiguous character for the Synaldis species, consequently this feature is a "true generic" alar formation. The loss of vein 2-SR is a convergent feature within the subfamily Alysiinae and also in the family Braconidae. The other convergent feature of Synaldis species (sensu Fischer) is the "long" versus "short" tentorial pit (occurring in several alysiine genera). The species with a "short" tentorial pit (i.e. pit not reaching compound eye) are in a small majority over the species with a "long" pit (i.e. pit reaching compound eye). I consider this feature also as an evolutionary process. There are evolving the Synaldis species with common generic feature: missing the vein 2-SR (apomorphic) and forming the tentorial pit in two forms: in "short" and "long" pits. This taxonomic standpoint corresponds unambiguously with Fischer's one: Synaldis is a valid genus. However, several American (and also some European) specialists refute the validity of the genus Synaldis, emphasizing the complexity of these features and giving less evolution-ary significance to the presence / absence of vein 2-SR. Currently it seems difficult to decide whether the presence or absence of the "short" and "long" tentorial pit is plesiomorphic or apomorphic, respectively. In the case of vein 2-SR it is generally considered that its presence is plesiomorphic and its absence is apomorphic. By the way, there are rarely occurring "Synaldis" specimens (one versus hundred to thousand specimens) which show transitional status: vein 2-SR is (very) faintly present (considered as atavistic feature) --confirming the viewpoint that this venational mark is on the course to be stabilized. If we accept the hypothesis that the primary process within Synaldis species is the process of the loss of 2-SR and the formation of the tentorial pit is the secondary process in the evolution of this genus then Synaldis is evidently tenable as a "good" genus.

2.) Distinction between Gnathopleura and Telmogarbus:
The new genus runs to Gnathopleura Fischer in Wharton's (1997: 88-98) identification key to the alysiine genera of the Neotropical Region, their common feature is the fourth tooth between teeth 1 and 2 (Figs 20, 29, see arrows); the distinction between them is presented here.

3.) Distinction between Cratospila and
Telmogarbus: disregarding the number of mandibular teeth, the new genus will run to Cratospila Foerster (Wharton 1997: 88-98) by virtue of their delicate body shape, very long flagellomeres and long first tergite; the two genera differ from each other by the features in the key below.
Taxonomic remark. The three genera related to the new genus Telmogarbus are known to me by the following material: 1.) Cratospila by females and males of C. circe Haliday; 2.) Gnathopleura by a few Neotopical species; 3.) Kritscherysia by two male paratypes of K. longimembrum Fischer and the original description. Etymology. The new species is dedicated to its collector, Mr. G. Oliva. Description. Female: Body 3.6 mm long. Antenna long, twice as long as body, with 33 antennomeres. Flagellomeres very long, flagellomeres 1-2 equal in length and ten times as long as broad apically (Fig. 34), subsequent flagellomeres slightly shortening so that penultimate flagellomere four times as long as broad. Head in dorsal view transverse (Fig. 36), 1.8 times as broad as long, eye 4.5 times as long as temple, temple rounded, occiput weakly excavate. OOL somewhat more than twice as long as POL. Eye in lateral view 1.25 times as high as wide and 2.4 times as wide as temple, temple beyond eye evenly wide (Fig. 37). Mandible 1.8 times as long below as broad between upper and lower teeth, fourth tooth between upper and middle teeth, every tooth pointed (Fig. 20). Paraclypeal pit as long as distance between pit and compound eye (Fig. 35). Segments of maxillary palp long, palp about 1.5 times as long as height of head. Head polished.
First tergite (Fig. 33) 1.8 times as long as broad behind, weakly broadening posteriorly, spiracles before middle of tergite; pair of basal keels meeting at spiracle and posteriorly diverging, reaching hind end of tergite. Hind half of tergite medially between keels longitudinally substriate, otherwise polished. Tergites 2-3 fused and as long as first tergite, together with further tergites polished (Fig. 33). Ovipositor sheath as long as first tergite or hind basitarsus + half of second tarsomere.
Description. Male paratype. Similar to female holotype. Body 3.5 mm long. Antenna with 31 antennomeres. Head in dorsal view 1.8 times as broad as long. Pterostigma wide, 5.7 times as long as wide. Dark colour somewhat more extensive.

Subfamily Blacinae
Blacus ( Description. Body 2.5 mm long. Antenna somewhat longer than body and with 25 antennomeres. First flagellomere six times as long as broad apically and 1.5 times as long as second flagellomere, subsequent flagellomeres shortening so that penultimate flagellomere twice as long as broad. Head in dorsal view (Fig. 41) distinctly twice as broad as long, eye almost four times as long as temple, temple receding. Occiput carinate. Ocelli elliptic, OOL twice as long as POL. Malar suture present. Maxillary palp somewhat longer than height of head. Eye in lateral view 1.3 times as high as wide. Head polished.
Fore wing almost as long as body. Pterostigma wide (Fig. 44), 2.6 times as long as wide, r issuing somewhat distal to middle, r 0.8 times as long as width of pterostigma. 2-SR nearly 1.6 times as long as r, 3-SR + SR1 slightly bent and reaching tip of wing, 2-M short. First subdiscal cell open distally (Fig. 45, see arrow). Hind wing: cu-a slightly proximal to middle of vein M+CU + 1-M (Fig. 46, see arrow).

1(2)
Fore wing: pterostigma narrower, 3-3.3(3.6) times as long as wide, r as long as width of pterostigma, 2-M long (Fig. 48). Eye in dorsal view 2.3 times as long as temple, temple slightly less receding, head in dorsal view slightly less transverse: 1.9 times as broad as long (Fig. 49). Hind femur 5.5-6.2 times as long broad distally (Fig. 50). First tergite more broadening posteriorly ( Fig. 101 in van Achterberg 1976: 264 Fore wing: pterostigma wide, 2.6 times as long as wide, r 0.8 times as long as width of pterostigma, 2-M short (Fig. 44). Eye in dorsal view 3.8 times as long as temple, temple slightly more receding, head in dorsal view clearly transverse, twice as broad as long (Fig. 41). Hind femur five times as long as broad distally (Fig. 42). First tergite hardly broadening posteriorly ( Etymology. The species name inaequalis refers to the unequal lengths of 3-SR and 2-M of the fore wing (Fig. 55).
Description. Body 3.3 mm long. Antenna (right one) somewhat longer than body and with 30 antennomeres. First flagellomere a little longer than second, first flagellomere 3.5 times as long as broad apically, subsequent flagellomeres shortening and attenuating so that penultimate flagellomere 3.6 times as long as broad. Head in dorsal view transverse (Fig. 51), almost 1.7 times as broad as long, eye fairly large: 7.5 times as long as temple, temple receding. Ocelli small, elliptic, OOL twice as long as POL. Eye in lateral view 1.3 times as high as wide and 5.4 times as wide as temple, beyond eye evenly wide (Fig. 52). Horizontal diameter of oral opening twice as long as shortest distance between opening and eye. Maxillary palp as long as height of head. Occipital carina completely removed from hypostomal carina. Face and gena smooth and shiny, vertex subgranulose, subshiny to matt.
Mesosoma in lateral view nearly twice as long as high. Mesoscutum, scutellum and propodeum granulose, otherwise mesosoma smooth and shiny. Pronope absent.