Ungla diazi sp. nov.

(Figures 4–7)

Holotype. Male: VENEZUELA. Lara state: P. N. [Parque Nacional] Yacambú, El Blanquito, 1463 m, 9.70649o N / 69.57608 o W, 28.iv–2.v.2003, J. Clavijo, R. Briceño, A. Chacón & Q. Árias Leg. [project S1-2000000479]. Deposited in the MIZA.

Diagnosis. U. diazi sp. nov. is the only Ungla species known to have ayellow flagellum marked with black laterally. The genae are golden below the eyes, and they have a black spot on the pleurostomal margin. Furthermore, the male abdomen has unenlarged spiracles, and sternites S4–S6 are densely covered with microtrichiae.

Description. Head (Fig. 4). Golden yellow; vertex smooth, with pair of brown, broad crescent-shaped, longitudinal marks; frons golden, unmarked; distal end of gena, lateral margin of clypeus marked with black. Maxillary, labial palpi black, with intersegmental areas golden. Antenna: scape golden, unmarked dorsally, with or without black mark on distolateral margin of frontal surface (Fig. 4 C–E); pedicellus golden, unmarked; flagellum yellow, marked with black laterally (Fig. 4 B).

Thorax (Fig. 4 A–B). Olive green, with dark brown or red-wine-colored lateral stripes; mesonotum, metanotum olive green, unmarked; pleural, sternal areas pale green; legs yellowish, with brown bristles. Wings (Fig. 5): forewings with longitudinal veins pale green, except A1–3 black; crossveins green, except basal subcostal crossvein, radial crossveins, inner, outer gradates black; hindwing with longitudinal and crossveins pale green.

Abdomen. Olive green densely covered with pale setae. Male terminalia (Fig. 6): A1–8 with unenlarged spiracles; circumference of spiracle on A8 ca. half that of callus cerci. T9+ect cone-shaped; callus cerci ovate, with 36 trichobothria. S8+9 elongate, ratio of ventral margin length: anterior margin height ca. 4: 1; S4–S6 densely covered by microtrichiae (Fig. 6 D). Gonarcal arch robust, with broad “U” shape; lateral apodemes with rounded, broad-based, horn on lower margin (Fig. 6 F–G). Female terminalia (Fig. 7). A1–8 with oval spiracles. T9+ect rectangular; callus cerci round, with ca. 33 trichobotria (Fig. 7 A–B); S7 quadrate, dorsal margin sinuous; ratio of ventral margin length: anterior margin height ca. 1: 1. Spermatheca pillbox-shaped, ventral impression deep, spermathecal duct elongate, ca. 1.6 times spermathecal height (Fig. 7 C–D). Subgenitale rectangular, dorsal lobes prominent, widely separated, with area below lobes small (Fig. 7 E).

Measurements (n=1). Head: width = 1.4 mm. Pronotum: length = 0.7 mm, width = 1.1 mm. Forewing: length = 12.6 mm, width = 4.3 mm, length/width ratio = 2.9: 1, intramedian cell length = 0.84 mm, maximum height of costal area = 0.8 mm, three inner, six outer gradates; hindwing: length = 11.3 mm, width = 3.3 mm, length/width ratio = 3.4: 1, three inner, five outer gradates.

Other material examined. Paratypes. VENEZUELA. Aragua state: P. N. Henri Pittier (formerly Rancho Grande) 1100 m, 27.vi.1974, 1♀, J. L. Garcia & J. Salcedo Leg. (MIZA); Lara state: P. N. Yacambú, El Blanquito, 9.70649o N / 69.57608 o W, 1463 m, 14–20. ix.2001, 1 ♀, R. Briceño, J. Clavijo, R. Paz & E. Arcaya Leg. [project S1- 2000000479] (MJMO); idem, 28.iv–4.v.2003; 1♂, J. Clavijo, R. Briceño, A. Chacón & Q. Árias Leg. (MJMO).

Species relationship. Externally, U. diazi sp. nov. is similar to U. yutajensis sp. nov. and U. favrei Navás. The three species have heads with golden coloration, genae and basolateral clypeus black; vertex with a pair of broad, cresent shaped, brown marks, and pronotum with dark brown or reddish brown lateral stripes. However, it is distinguished by the black marking on the lateral margin of the antenna and the male features of unenlarged abdominal spiracles and sternites S4–S6 densely covered with microtrichiae.

Known geographical distribution. Venezuela (Aragua, Lara).

Etymology. The species’ name is in honor of the entomologist Dr. Francisco Díaz, who is dedicated to studying the Venezuelan Pimplinae and other Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera); he guided my first steps into the amazing world of entomology.