Tiphia vandervechti Allen 1972

Tiphia (Tiphia) vandervechti

T. vandervechti is one of several metallic-colored species of Tiphia described from Northern South America or the Amazon Valley. These species have no structural characters alien to Tiphia and do not seem closely related to each other. They are very rare in collections. T. vandervechti is known only from the holotype specimen. It differs from T. caerulea, also from northern South America, in having a much elongated tegula. It resembles T. chalybea of the Amazon Valley in having a much elongated tegula, but differs from that species in having only a rudimentary transverse carina of the dorsal pronotum, and in having a distinct anteromedian escarpment on the scutum.

HOLOTYPE.—♀; “Raleigh Falls,” Coppename River, Surinam, 17–V–1963 (E. v.d. Vecht) (RNH).

FEMALE.—Body entirely metallic dark green.

Front with irregularly coalesced punctures on lower third and in a row along inner eye orbits; medially on upper front with an irregularly distributed cluster of 15 exceptionally large punctures and several large secondaries; with 2 interspaces as wide as an ocellus. Antennal flagellum uniformly brown. Mandible with a conspicuous, sharply pointed preapical denticle. Mouth parts typical of Tiphia.

Dorsal pronotum with very coarse primary punctures, medially confined to anterior two-fifths, transverse carina present except on a narrow median gap. Lateral pronotum with a conspicuous, narrow groove across middle disc. Scutum with short anteromedian escarpment well-separated from notaulices, medially with plaque of punctures of first-degree density. Mesopleuron on outer disc with large primary punctures generally of third-degree density but with some rows of second-degree, and with a few widely scattered secondaries; subtegular area without dense microsetae. Legs except tarsi dark metallic green. Tibia with a strong ridge on inner face; sensorium ovoid, about twice as long as wide and not more than a seventh width of joint. Hind basitarsus not grooved. Tegula about twice as long as wide with apical margin truncate; broadly but faintly shagreened. Fore and hind wing black. Forewing with stigma separated by more than its length from basal vein; radius with a conspicuous bend in its first section without backward-directed spur; radial cell 4.0 times as long as wide.

Dorsal propodeum outside areola strongly sculptured with a combination of faint rugulae and punctures fading laterally to faint shagreening; areola less than twice as long as apical width, with concave sides, broader at apex than at base, with ladder-like rugulae on each side of triangular median carina. Lateral propodeum on upper part with rugulae coarse and widely separated; lower part with narrow belt of dense microsetae on ventral border. Tergum 1 with a smooth, regular transverse carina not bordered with punctures or short ridges; preapical band an irregular belt of coarse punctures, not impressed and one or two punctures wide. Intermediate terga sparsely punctate with very small punctures, the apical row on terga 3 and 4 separated from apices by 6 to 8 times diameter of largest punctures. Sternum 2 with a perceptible anteromedian callosity. Pygidium finely punctate on basal half; impunctate part glossy and almost free of wrinkles or shagreening.

Length 12.5 mm.

MALE.—Unknown.