Named after Prof. Rupert Wanninger, amateur and outreach entomologist from Donaustauf, Bavaria, Germany, collector of the type series.

Holotype, male, VENEZUELA: Bolívar, Escalera Km 110, el. 1, 000 m, 26.viii.1994, leg. Rupert Wanninger [Head width 11.8 mm, mandible length 29.5 mm, antenna length 65.3 mm, forewing length 80.4 mm] (CNIN-UNAM). Paratypes: VENEZUELA, [Bolívar], Guyana, Km 120, 1997, 1 male [genitalia dissected] (MIZA); [Bolívar], Escalera, [Km 110, 1, 000 m], 25.viii. 1999, [R. Wanninger], 1 female [genitalia dissected] (CNIN-UNAM); Bolívar, Escalera, Km 110, 1, 000 m, 2.ii.2001, leg. R. Wanninger, 1 female (ZSM); [Bolívar, Escalera, Km 110, no date, R. Wanninger], 1 male (ZSM), 1 female (RW).

Head and pronotum are reddish-brown, ferrugineous (Fig. 1–3), thus resembling in color species such as Corydalus cephalotes Rambur and Corydalus hecate MacLachlan, both with monomorphic mandibles (males with short mandibles with discrete dentition), or Corydalus batesii MacLachlan and Corydalus holzenthali Contreras-Ramos, with sexually dimorphic mandibles (males with elongate mandibles with reduced dentition). However, both color of body and wings most closely resembles Corydalus neblinensis Contreras-Ramos (Contreras-Ramos 1998, figs 124–127). In both species, antennae are paler than head and wings are pale reddish brown, unpatterned. However, in the new species ninth gonostyli are distinct (Figs 4, 5), with a narrowed apex (subclavate, unmodified in Corydalus neblinensis, Contreras-Ramos 1998, figs 26A, 26B). 10th sternite lobes (Figs 5, 6) are sclerotized, close to each other, convergent, and bluntly pointed (semimembranous, widely separated, and papilliform in Corydalus neblinensis, Contreras-Ramos 1998, fig. 26C). Females may be distinguished by the unpatterned reddish color and by a mandibular dentitional arrangement with an inner predental concavity and moderately separated first and second teeth (Figs 3, 8), similar to Corydalus nubilus and Corydalus crossi (Contreras-Ramos 1998, fig. 27I; Contreras-Ramos 2002, fig. 27).

Despite a close superficial resemblance to Corydalus neblinensis, Corydalus wanningeri sp. n., does not appear to be closely related to that or other kindred species, such as Corydalus batesii or Corydalus holzenthali. The new species appears to be closest to Corydalus crossi Contreras-Ramos, because of the structure of the 10th sternite and a basal protrusion of the 9th gonostylus. If so, the new species would be basal among species with elongate mandibles. At least, Corydalus wanningeri sp. n., should be basal with respect to species with a subclavate 9th gonostylus and non-incurvate 10th tergite, and so would lay out of Unnamed Group 1 (Contreras-Ramos 1998, table 36). However, a certain phylogenetic position of the new species would be known only after a formal phylogenetic analysis. Both Corydalus crossi and Corydalus wanningeri sp. n., share a Guayana Shield affinity.

Head width 11.8–12.8 mm (average 12.3, n = 3), mandible length 29.5–30.3 mm (average 29.9 mm, n = 3), antenna length 64.5–65.3 mm (average 64.9 mm, n = 2), forewing length 77.7–80.4 mm (average 79.5 mm, n = 3), antenna length/forewing length 0.81–0.83. Color uniform dark reddish-brown. Head dark reddish-brown, unpatterned, mandible elongate with reduced dentition (Figs 1). Clypeal margin thinly black, lateral projections moderately developed, flat to slightly concave, median projection shallowly incised (Fig. 7). Antenna 87–89-segmented, filiform, scape and flagellum pale brown, tip infuscate. Maxilla blackish, 4-segmented palp brown. Labial palp 3-segmented, pale brown, last segment elongate.

Pronotum dark reddish-brown, unpatterned. Forewing pale reddish-brown, semitranslucent, unpatterned; veins reddish-yellow, except basal half of Sc and R infuscate; M1+2 3-branched (variably 4-branched), M3+4 a single vein. Hindwing pale-reddish, semitranslucent, basal 1/4 of R infuscate.

Genitalia (Figs 4–6). Ninth tergum subquadrate, V-shaped internal inflection reaching midlength of tergum. Anal tubercle without lateral sclerites. Tenth tergites slightly longer than ninth tergum, digitiform; basal 1/3 wide, roundly concave (Fig. 4). Ninth gonostylus subclavate, about 4/5 as long as 10th tergite, with narrowed digitiform apex (Fig. 5). Ninth sternum subquadrate, semimembranous, posterolateral lobes moderately developed (Fig. 5). Membrane between 9th and 10th sternites with thickened wrinkled portion. Tenth sternite moderately convex, anteromedian margin slightly convex; anterolateral projections moderately developed, blunt; lobes well sclerotized, elongate-trianguloid, apically convergent (Fig. 6). Pregenital sacs apparently absent.

Forewing length 65.1–80.6 mm (average 74.1 mm, n = 3). Color of body and wings similar to male (Figs 2, 3). Mandible with base dark reddish-brown, rest blackish; shape similar to Corydalus nubilus Erichson and Corydalus crossi, basal preapical tooth moderately separated from second (Fig. 8; Contreras-Ramos 1998, fig. 27I; Contreras-Ramos 2002, fig. 27). Antenna filiform, pale brown.

Terminalia non distinct. Sternal pouch between 6th and 7th abdominal segments well developed. Eighth sternum moderately sclerotized, discontinuous with pleural area, posterior margin mesally semimembranous, concave.