Ten new species of Meteorus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Ecuador reared at the Yanayacu Biological Center for Creative Studies Author Jones, Guinevere Z. Author Shaw, Scott R. text Zootaxa 2012 3547 1 23 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.210884 e6efb3d9-8914-46bc-a052-44fde1e7a91b 1175-5326 210884 Meteorus luteus Jones , new species ( Figs 23–27 ) Holotype Female . Body length 5.0 mm; fore wing length 4.5 mm . Body color: Head orange with dark yellow face; body yellow, becoming darker yellow dorsally; mandibles yellow with dark orange teeth; light yellow palpi; fore coxae cream; light yellow fore tibia; wings transparent light brown with brown venation; tergum one dark yellow; tergite two yellow; ovipositor yellow with brown sheath. Head: Antenna with 29 flagellomeres; flagellar length/width ratios as follows: F1 = 2.3, F2 = 3.5, F3 = 3.3, F27 = 1.6, F28 = 1.1, F29 = 3.0; ocelli small, OCOD 1.5 X OCD; eyes nearly parallel and large, head height to eye height ratio 1.4, face maximum width to minimum width ratio 1.1; minimum face width to clypeus width ratio 1.2; malar space 3.7 X mandible width; mandibles strongly twisted; clypeus and face finely rugose; frons smooth; occipital carina complete. Mesosoma: Lightly defined mesonotal lobes, notauli rugose; longitudinally rugose pronotum; mesopleuron smooth with foveolate sternaulus; metapleuron smooth; propodeum areolate-rugose ( Fig. 26 ). Legs: Hind coxae rugose; tarsal claws simple. Wings: Veins r and 3 RSa equal in length; r vein 3.3 X longer than (RS + M)b at 2RS insertion ( Fig. 27 ). Metasoma: Ovipositor long, 2 times longer than first tergite; first tergite longitudinally costate. Variation of paratype females. Body length 5.0–6.0 mm; 29 flagellomeres on unbroken antennae. Variation of paratype males. Body length 4.8–5.0 mm; antennae with 29 flagellomeres. Cocoon. Light brown; ovoid; moderately baled with silk; corpus 4.5 mm in length; cap 2.0 mm long, nipple paler than corpus and cap; suspension thread attached to posterior end of corpus. Material examined. Holotype female: Ecuador : Napo Province, reared at Yanayacu Biological Station with database number YY #20652, S 00°35.9’ W 77°53.4’ , 2163 m , collected 12 February 2007 , Isla de las Palmas, parasitoid pupated 10 March 2007 , adult wasp emerged 28 March 2007 , host caterpillar Nymphalidae : Acraeinae: Actinote species, associated plant is an unknown species of Tessaria (Asteraceae) . Deposited in UWIM . Paratypes : Ecuador : Napo Province, reared at Yanayacu Biological Station, S 00°35.9’ W 77°53.4’ , 2163 m , collected Isla de las Palmas. One female, YY #20563 collected 12 February 2007 , parasitoid pupated 23 February 2007 , adult wasp emerged 16 March 2007 . One female, YY #20568 collected 12 February 2007 , parasitoid pupated 10 March 2007 , adult wasp emerged 28 March 2007 . One female, YY #20569 collected 12 February 2007 , parasitoid pupated 10 March 2007 , adult wasp emerged 28 March 2007 . One female, YY #20657 collected 12 February 2007 , parasitoid pupated 20 March 2007 , adult wasp emerged 10 April 2007 . One female, YY #20659 collected 12 February 2007 , parasitoid pupated 20 March 2007 , adult wasp emerged 5 April 2007 . One male, YY #19748 collected 14 December 2006 , parasitoid pupated 16 January 2007 , adult wasp emerged 7 February 2007 . One male, YY #20570 collected 12 February 2007 , parasitoid pupated 10 March 2007 , adult wasp emerged 28 March 2007 . One male, YY #20600 collected 12 February 2007 , parasitoid pupated 23 February 2007 , adult wasp emerged 10 March 2007 . One male, YY #20603 collected 12 February 2007 , parasitoid pupated 20 March 2007 , adult wasp emerged 5 April 2007 . One male, YY #20651 collected 12 February 2007 , parasitoid pupated 10 March 2007 , adult wasp emerged 28 March 2007 . One male, YY #20658 collected 12 February 2007 , parasitoid pupated 20 March 2007 , adult wasp emerged 12 April 2007 . Host caterpillar Nymphalidae : Acraeinae: Actinote species, associated plant is an unknown species of Tessaria (Asteraceae) . Deposited in UWIM . Distribution. Known only from the type localities in Napo Province, Ecuador . Biology. Meteorus luteus is a solitary species reared from larvae of Nymphalidae : Acraeinae: Actinote species (species undetermined). Known familiarly as “olivio”, these host caterpillars were found feeding on Tessaria (Asteraceae) . FIGURES 23–25. 23.—Lateral habitus of Meteorus luteus , new species : holotype female; 24.—Face of Meteorus luteus , new species : holotype female; 25.—Cocoon of Meteorus luteus , new species . FIGURES 26, 27. 26.—Scanning electron micrograph of Meteorus luteus , new species : lateral view of propodeum and metasoma (100x); 27.—Scanning electron micrograph of Meteorus luteus , new species : showing presence of vein (RS + M)b at vein 2RS insertion point. Etymology. From Latin for “yellow”, named for their mostly yellow coloration. Comments. Meteorus luteus shares the following characteristics: long ovipositor, large eyes, small ocelli, vein (RS + M)b present with M. oreo , but M. luteus is easily distinguished by its yellow coloration and finely rugose face ( M. oreo face is black and white).