Alaptus eriococci Girault, 1908

Serguei V. Triapitsyn, 2017, Revision of Alaptus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in the Holarctic region, with taxonomic notes on some extralimital species, Zootaxa 4279 (1), pp. 1-92 : 12-15

Alaptus eriococci Girault, 1908

( Figs 13–20)

Alaptus eriococci Girault 1908: 191 –194. Type locality: Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, USA. Alaptus eriococci Girault: Girault 1929 : 10 (key); Soyka 1939b: 31 (list); Peck 1963: 27 (catalog).

Type material examined. Lectotype female [USNM], here designated to avoid ambiguity regarding the identity of this species and its type specimens, on a short slide ( Fig. 13) labeled: 1. “ Alaptus eriococci n. sp. Girault 1908. 6 ♂, 2 ♀ Bred from Rhizococcus araucaria . Sept. 3, 1887. 45 [in pencil]”, 2. “Type ♀♂”, 3. [USNM bar code] “USNMENT 01049126”. The lectotype ( Fig. 14, circled on top of the coverslip in black ink) is in good condition, complete, mounted laterally under the same coverslip with 1 female and 6 male paralectotypes. Paralectotypes ( Figs 16, 17 ) [all on slides, USNM]: 1 ♀, 6 ♂: the above-mentioned specimens on the lectotype slide; 1 ♂: “ Alaptus eriococci Girault 1♂ 11937 Bred from Aspidiotus aurantii . (San Gabriel var.) In Los Angeles, Cal. Sept. 9, 1887 26 [in pencil]”; 2 ♀, 1 ♂: “ Alaptus eriococci Girault n. sp. 1908 2 ♀, 1 ♂ Bred from Rhizococcus araucariae Maskell Aug. 30, 1887 41. [in pencil]”; 1 ♀, 2 ♂: “ Alaptus eriococci Girault 1 ♂, 1 ♀ 11937 Bred from Rhizococcus araucaria . Sept. 1, 1887. 28 [in pencil]”; 1 ♀, 9 ♂: “Mymarid [in pencil] Alaptus eriococci Girault 9 ♂, 1 ♀ Bred from Rhizococcus araucaria . Sept. 2, 1887. 51 [in pencil]”; 2 ♀, 1 ♂: “ Alaptus eriococci Girault 1 ♂, 2 ♀ 11937 Bred from Rhizococcus araucaria Aug. 30, 1887. 43 [in pencil]”; 3 ♂ on separate slides: “ Alaptus eriococci Girault [followed by “ n. sp. ” or “1908” on two of these] 1♂ 11937 Bred from Rhizococcus araucaria . Aug. 29, 1887.” [numbers “36”, “38”, and “44” in pencil].

Material examined. BERMUDA [ISLANDS]: Bermuda Island , Paget Parish, 1.vi.1947 (“ Host - Diaspis visci ”) [3 ♀, 3 ♂, MLPA] . USA: CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles Co., Pomona, R.E. Campbell : 24.ii.1913 [4 ♂, UCRC] ; 26.ii.1913 [2 ♂, EMEC]. Mendocino Co., Hopland: Campovida Vineyard , 38°58’07’’N 123°05’54’’W, 151 m, 21.i–3.ii.2014, H. Wilson: on Quercus agrifolia [1 ♀, UCRC] ; on Salix sp. [1 ♀, UCRC]. Fetzer Vineyard, 38°59’22’’N 123°06’15’’W, 153 m, H. Wilson : 21.i–29.i.2014, on Prunus sp. [1 ♀, UCRC] ; 21.i–30.i.2014, on Baccharis pilularis [1 ♀, UCRC]; 21.i–1.ii.2014, on Vitis californica [1 ♀, UCRC]. Orange Co., Santa Ana , 16– 21.x.1912, R.K. Bishop (“ Ex Psocid eggs On Araucaria excelsa”) [12 ♂, UCRC] . Riverside Co.: Menifee Valley (hills on W end), 33°39’N 117°13’W, 508 m, 30.iv–13.v.1981, J.D. Pinto [2 ♂, UCRC] . Riverside , 20.xi.1933, S.E. Flanders (on Eriogonum sp.) [1 ♀, EMEC] . San Bernardino Co., Lake Arrowhead , viii.1974, J.M. Wenz (under pine) [2 ♀, USNM] . Ventura Co., Ventura, S.E. Flanders : 4.xii.1932 (on cypress) [6 ♀, 3 ♂, EMEC] ; 10.xi.1933 [1 ♀, 1 ♂, EMEC]; 18.xi.1933 (on cypress) [3 ♂, EMEC]; 28.xi.1933 [1 ♀, 1 ♂, EMEC]; 11.xii.1933 (on cypress) [4 ♀, 1 ♂, EMEC]. FLORIDA, Dade Co., Miami, Charles Deering Estate park, SW 167 St. & 72 Ave. , 26.viii– 11.xii.1986, S. & J. Peck [1 ♂, CNC] .

Extralimital material examined. BRAZIL: RIO DE JANEIRO, Seropédica, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, 12.vii.1962, P. DeBach (in “ Pinnaspis strachani Cooley ” material) [1 ♀, UCRC].

Redescription. FEMALE (lectotype). Head and mesosoma dark brown, gaster brown; antenna brown, legs light brown to brown.

Antenna ( Fig. 15) shorter than body; scape (including radicle) 5.6× as long as wide, almost smooth; funicle short, F1 shorter than pedicel and the shortest funicle segment, F2 the longest funicle segment and about 2.5× as long as wide, F3–F5 subequal in length, F5 the widest funicle segment; clava 3.7× as long as wide, apparently with 4 mps, almost as long as combined length of F2–F5.

Fore wing ( Fig. 14) 10.9× as long as wide; disc slightly infumate and bare except for 3 setae in a median row and the admarginal rows; longest marginal seta about 5.1× maximum wing width. Hind wing about 15× as long as wide; disc more strongly infumate, with 1 row of setae closer to posterior margin; longest marginal seta 6.2× maximum wing width.

Ovipositor ( Fig. 14) not exserted beyond apex of gaster, occupying about 0.5× its length, and 0.8× length of metatibia.

Measurements of the lectotype (µm). Body 382; head 91; mesosoma 152; gaster 167; ovipositor 100. Antenna: scape (including radicle) 88; pedicel 33; F1 18; F2 23; F3 21; F4 21; F5 22; clava 89. Fore wing 327:30; longest marginal seta 152. Hind wing 318:21; longest marginal seta 130.

Variation (paralectotypes). Body length 312–437 µm; scape (including radicle) 3.7–4.7× as long as wide; clava 3.4–3.6× as long as wide and often as long as combined length of F3–F5 plus about half length of F2; fore wing 9.7–11.7× as long as wide, disc with 1–3 setae in a median row, longest marginal seta 4.5–5.3× maximum wing width; hind wing 16–17× as long as wide; ovipositor 0.8–0.9× length of metatibia.

MALE (paralectotypes). Body length 283–412 µm. Similar to female except for normal sexually dimorphic features and the following. Antenna ( Fig. 18 ) with scape 3.7–4.2× as long as wide, flagellar segments short, F1 shorter than pedicel, F2 slightly longer than F1. Fore wing ( Fig. 19 ) 9.2–10.8× as long as wide; disc with 2–5 setae in a median row. Gaster often dark brown; genitalia ( Fig. 20 ) length 48–55 µm.

Diagnosis. Females of A. eriococci are extremely similar to those of A. schmitzi Soyka that have 1–3 setae in an incomplete median row on the fore wing disc. These two nominal species are separated in the key based on some minor differences in the proportions of the scape of the female antenna and their geographical distribution, but there is a chance that they might be conspecific. I am reluctant, however, to synonymize them here without having at hand any supporting molecular or biological data.

Distribution. Nearctic: Bermuda * and USA; Neotropical: Brazil *.

Hosts. Unidentified Psocoptera.

Comments. I have also examined the following specimens that differ somewhat from the typical A. eriococci , particularly the females ( Fig. 21 ) having a relatively longer ovipositor and usually more setae in the median row on the fore wing disc, but that is just not quite enough to justify description of a new species; thus, for the present they are tentatively assigned to this species. USA: CALIFORNIA: Mendocino Co., Fetzer-Sundial Vineyard, 13231 Old River Rd., 38°59’22’’N 123°06’15’’W, 153 m, collected 17.ii.2014, emerged 28.ii.2014, H. Wilson (from unknown host on alder, Alnus sp.) [1 ♀, UCRC]. Santa Barbara Co.: Montecito, 2.vii.1975 (“Suction Trap oak-woodland”) 28.xi.1974 [1 ♂, EMEC]. Santa Barbara ([in R.L. Doutt’s handwriting] “suction trap oak woodland”): 28.xi.1974 [3 ♀, 2 ♂, EMEC]; 29.xi.1974 [5 ♀, 6 ♂, EMEC]; 30.xi.1974 [2 ♀, 3 ♂, EMEC]. Ventura Co., Saticoy, 6.xii.1934, S.E. Flanders (on apple) [1 ♀, EMEC]. Descriptive notes are provided below to facilitate their recognition. FEMALE. Body length 340–410 µm. Body dark brown except mesosoma lighter laterally; appendages brown.

Antenna shorter than body; scape (including radicle) 4.4–5.0× as long as wide, slightly longitudinally striate; F1 much shorter than pedicel and as long as F4 and F5, F2 the longest funicle segment and about 3× as long as wide, F3 slightly shorter than F2 and slightly longer than F4, F4 and F5 the widest funicle segments; clava 3.0–3.6× as long as wide, apparently with 4 mps, a little shorter than combined length of F2–F5 or occasionally about as long as combined length of F3–F5. Fore wing 9.6–10.0× as long as wide; disc slightly infumate and with a row of 3–8 setae in a median row besides the admarginal rows; longest marginal seta about 5.1× maximum wing width. Hind wing about 14× as long as wide; disc a little more strongly infumate, with 1 row of short setae closer to posterior margin; longest marginal seta 5.2× maximum wing width. Gaster longer than mesosoma; ovipositor not exserted beyond apex of gaster, occupying about 0.6× its length, and 1.1–1.2× length of metatibia. MALE. Body length 340–400 µm. Antenna with scape 3.4–4.2× as long as wide, Fl shorter than pedicel, F2 a little longer than F1. Fore wing 9.1–10.0× as long as wide, with 3–9 setae in a median row. Genitalia length 73–76 µm.

Figures

FIGURE 21. Alaptus? eriococci ♀ (Fetzer-Sundial Vineyard, 38 ° 59 ’ 22 ’’ N 123 ° 06 ’ 15 ’’ W, Mendocino Co., California, USA), habitus.

FIGURES 16 – 20. Alaptus eriococci (paralectotypes). 16, ♀ habitus; 17, ♂ habitus; 18, ♂ antenna; 19, ♂ fore and hind wings; 20, ♂ genitalia.