Fusimirax gracilis Whitfield, 2025

Whitfield, James B., Fernandez-Triana, Jose L. & Boudreault, Caroline, 2025, Two new Neotropical genera of Miracinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) with unusual metasomal morphology, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98, pp. 509-524 : 509-524

Fusimirax gracilis Whitfield sp. nov.

Figs 6 A – F , 7 A – F

Type materials.

Holotype. • Female, Dominican Republic: Rancho Arriba , 26-III-1978, 400 m, L. Masner, CNC 5342834 ( CNC) .

Paratypes. • 3 males, Dominican Republic: Baharona, 4 km N. Paraiso , 150 m, 22-III-91, L. Masner, CNC 5342835 , CNC 5342836 , CNC 5342837 ; • 2 males, Dominican Republic: Colonia, Cord. Central , 1000 m, 25-III-1978, L. Masner (LM), CNC 5342838 , CNC 5342839 . All deposited in CNC.

Description.

Size. Body length 1.6 mm; fore wing length 1.7 mm.

Coloration. Head, mesosoma (except lighter brown propleuron) and metasomal syntergite dark brown, T 1 light yellowish and posterior segments of metasoma lighter brown; mandibles and palpi pale yellowish; scape pedicel and proximal two flagellomeres pale yellow-brown, remaining flagellomeres shading gradually to very slightly darker brown at distal end of antenna; legs entirely pale yellow-brown; tegulae and pigmented portions of wing venation (including pterostigma) very pale yellow-brown; laterotergites of T 1 and T 2 whitish; entire venter of metasoma very pale except slightly darker anterior half of hypopygium; ovipositor sheaths pale yellow-brown.

Morphology. Face rather smooth, convex to a weak ridge medially; antennae slightly shorter than body, slender, with apical flagellomeres about 2 × as long as broad; propleuron with smooth dorsal and ventral grooves joined together posteriorly by another smooth groove; mesoscutum with satiny reflections and sparsely but distinctly punctate except smoother posterior margin; notauli poorly defined but extending over anterior half; scutellum smooth, nearly flat and longer than broad; mesopleuron very faintly sculptured, with poorly-defined groove / depression centrally; metanotum mostly deeply sunken, with abortive cross-carinae and medial boss raised only over posterior half; propodeum weakly sculptured, with percurrent longitudinal medial carina crossed by distinct angled transverse carinae just past midlength; T 1 very narrow and elongate, abruptly broadening at posterior end to meet T 2; laterotergal region of T 1 strongly whitish, with central striation; T 2 and T 3 fused to form longitudinally sculptured elongate syntergite which broadens gradually to T 2 / T 3 flared and weakly grooved junction, parallel-sided over T 3; laterotergal regions of T 2 and T 3 whitish, with some regions of striation; T 4 evenly sclerotized but weakly pigmented and translucent; hypopygium evenly sclerotized to fairly sharp tip; ovipositor nearly straight; sheaths less than half as long as hind tibiae with setae over distal half.

Male (Fig. 7 A – F ). This is the only species of Fusimirax for which there are males known (five specimens). These tend to be significantly more lightly colored over much of the body, sometimes with relatively broader syntergites (lower elevation specimens). T 4 is also medially partially desclerotized, only in males.

Variation. As described above for males.

Distribution.

So far known only from Dominican Republic, but extending from 150 m to 1000 m elevation, thus overlapping elevationally with the other species of this genus.

Biology.

Not known, but host presumed to be a small leaf-mining caterpillar as with other Miracinae .

Notes.

Based on available material, this may be the most common Fusimirax , but we have so few overall that it would be difficult to extrapolate much.

Etymology.

The specific epithet “ gracilis ” refers to the small and delicate body of these wasps, especially pronounced in this species but true to some extent for most Miracinae.

Figures

Figure 6. Fusimirax gracilis Whitfield, holotype female A lateral habitus B head and prothorax, anteroventral view C fore wing D head and anterior of mesonotum, dorsal view E mesosoma and metasoma, dorsal view F head and mesosoma, dorsal view.

Figure 7. Fusimirax gracilis Whitfield, paratype male CNC 5342838 A lateral habitus B head and prothorax, anteroventral view C wings D head and anterior of mesonotum, dorsal view E mesosoma and metasoma, dorsal view F head, mesosoma, dorsal view .