Aulacus gracielae Santos and Mazariegos 2024, sp. nov.

Aulacus gracielae Santos and Mazariegos sp. nov.

Figs 2–3.

Examined material. HOLOTYPE ♀. Colombia, Antioquia: Jardín; Mesenia-Paramillo nature reserve; Olinguito sector; 5.519166, -75.862185; 2280 m; Malaise trap; viii.2020; L. Mazariegos and col. gp. (CEUA).

Diagnosis. Female. A. gracielae sp. nov. is distinct from all other known species of Aulacus according to the following combination of morphological characteristics: head black; mesosoma reddish-orange; all femurs and tibias black and tarsi mostly white; fore wings hyaline with a black apical spot and metasoma mostly black, with petiole reddish-orange; metanotum with transverse carinae.

Description. Female. Body 10.3 mm; Fore wing 9.2 mm; Ovipositor 11.7 mm. Color. Head black; mesosoma and pro, mid and hind coxae reddish orange, trochanters reddish, legs from trochantellus black, except mid-basitarsus whiteish, and hind three most proximal tarsomeres white; Fore wing hyaline, slightly amber at the proximal half and with black apex; stigma and veins black, more brownish at the hyaline area; metasoma predominantly black, with the T1 partially reddish orange at its anterior half; ovipositor sheath black with white band at its distal third.

Head. Integument smooth and shining, without punctures on frons, with fine silvery pubescence, densest on clypeus, malar space, mandibular base and gena; lower interocular distance 0.7 × eye height (1.7 mm); malar space 0.3 × eye height; antennal length 3.2 × head width.

Mesosoma. Integument with areas finely punctuate with whitish setae at the pronotum, scutellum, metanotum, propodeum, and mainly on pro-, meso- and metapleuron, and legs; polished areas at the meso- and metapleuron, and posteriorly on the pro-, mid- and hind coxa (Fig. 2A); mesoscutum median and lateral lobes, and mesoscutellum transversely carinate; ventral portion of the mesopleuron and propodeum reticulate.

Metasoma. Integument polished with tiny golden setae on T6, T7, and from S2 to S6; ovipositor sheath with subapical white band (Fig. 2A).

Male. Unknown.

Host. Unknown

Distribution: Colombia (Antioquia)

Etymology. The epiphet “ gracielae ” is in honour of the groundbreaking contributions and resilience of Dr. Graciela Hurtado de Mazariegos (1921-2020), OB/GYN and the second female doctor in Colombia’s history. She practised her profession for six decades until the age of 92, and by challenging preconceived notions, she paved the way for other women to enter the medical field. In a distinctive and well-deserved homage to her enduring legacy, we name this Aulacus species after her, highlighting the interconnectedness of various disciplines and honours the multifaceted impact of women in science.