Apleurotropis assis, Hansson, Christer, 2010

Hansson, Christer, 2010, Apleurotropis Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) new to tropical America, including six new species and biological records, Zootaxa 2563, pp. 35-52 : 45-47

Apleurotropis assis sp. nov.

( Figs 17–21 , 43, 44 )

Diagnosis. Scutellum close to anterior margin with longitudinal lateral grooves ( Fig. 20 ); costal cell with ventral surface with a complete row of setae ( Fig. 35 ); frontal suture straight ( Fig. 17 ); all coxae and femora dark and metallic; postmarginal vein 3.4X as long as stigmal vein; petiole 0.7–0.8X as long as wide in female and 1.0–1.4X as long as wide in male, in female without median carina ( Fig. 21 ); dorsellum smooth and shiny without 2 large foveae anteriorly ( Fig. 21 ). Similar to A. strix but dorsellum smooth without large anterolateral foveae, and female petiole smooth ( A. strix with dorsellum with 2 foveae anterolaterally ( Fig. 30 ) and female petiole with median carina ( Fig. 30 )).

Description. FEMALE. Length 2.0– 2.1 mm.

Antenna dark brown, scape pale at very base. Frons below frontal suture golden-green, above suture metallic bluish-purple. Vertex golden-green. Mesoscutum, scutellum and propodeum metallic bluish-green with purple tinges, or golden-green with blue tinges. Coxae golden-green; femora dark brown; tibiae and tarsi white. Forewing hyaline with a weak infuscate spot medially. Petiole golden-red or golden-green. Gaster with tergites 1–3 metallic bluish-purple or bluish-green, remaining tergites metallic dark purple.

Antenna as in Fig. 43 . Frons below frontal suture with raised and strong reticulation, above suture with engraved and weak reticulation ( Fig. 17 ). Vertex with engraved and weak small-meshed reticulation ( Fig. 19 ).

Mesoscutum with engraved and strong reticulation, posterior 1/3 with a weak median groove ( Fig. 20 ); notaular depressions smooth and shiny. Scutellum slightly convex with engraved and strong reticulation, laterally and posteriorly smooth ( Fig. 20 ). Axillae with engraved and very weak reticulation ( Fig. 20 ). Dorsellum smooth without two large foveae anterolaterally ( Fig. 21 ). Propodeal callus with two setae ( Fig. 21 ). Forewing rounded, speculum closed below. Petiolar foramen triangular.

Petiole dorsally smooth and shiny, 0.7–0.8X as long as wide, mediolaterally without a spine ( Fig. 21 ). Gaster ovate with apex pointed.

MALE. Length 1.3–1.5 mm.

Scape usually dark brown as in female, one specimen with scape pale with apical ¼ dark. Entire frons metallic bluish-green. Scutellum golden-green, metallic bluish-green, or metallic dark purple. Colour otherwise as in female.

Antenna as in Fig. 44 . Head otherwise as in female.

Petiole 1.0–1.4X as long as wide, with or without mediolateral spine. Scutellum frequently flat. Mesosoma and metasoma otherwise as in female.

Distribution. Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico.

Biology. Parasitoid on Tischeria spp. ( Lepidoptera : Tischeriidae ) on Coussapoa villosa (Moraceae) and Gouania polygama (Rhamnaceae) , and from unidentified lepidopteran leafminers on unidentified Asteraceae .

Material examined. Holotype female ( CNC) labeled “ Dominican Republic: Barahona, 7 km NW Paraiso, 200 m, 27.xi–4.xii.1991, L. Masner & S.B. Peck”.

Paratypes. 5Ψ 7ɗ on cards. COSTA RICA. Alajuela: Parque Nacional Arenal, Sendero Pilón, 600 m, 10˚28'N 84˚45'W, 21–28.ii.2005, C. Hansson (1Ψ, CH). Guanacaste: Parque Nacional Guanacaste, Santa Rosa, 5.x.1990, J. Memmott, ex Lepidoptera sp4 on Compositae (1Ψ 1ɗ, BMNH) and 18.x–8.xi.1986 (1ɗ, BMNH), 22.viii.1989 (1Ψ, INBio); Parque Nacional Guanacaste, Sector Santa Rosa, 3.ix.1989, J. Memmott, ex Tischeria sp. on Gouania polygama (1ɗ, BMNH); Zona Protectorada Nosara, Fila Maravilla, 800 m, LN 221350/381700, 24.xi–21.xii.2001, I. Jimenez (1Ψ, INBio). Heredia: Estacion Biologica La Selva, 50–150 m, 10˚25'N 84˚01'W, 26.v.1998, L.M. LaPierre, ex Tischeria sp. on Coussapoa villosa (3ɗ, INBio, USNM) and 17.viii.1998 (1ɗ, BMNH). MEXICO. Chiapas: Ocozacoautla, 8.viii.1990, 1800–2200', J.B. Woolley (1Ψ, TAMU).

Etymology. No specific meaning intended.

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 21. Apleurotropis assis sp. nov. 17, head frontal, female. 18, head frontal, male. 19, vertex, female. 20, mesosoma dorsal, female. 21, propodeum, female.

FIGURES 36 – 46. Apleurotropis spp. nov., antenna lateral. 36, A. albicaulis, female. 37, A. albicaulis, male. 38, A. albiscapus, female. 39, A. albiscapus, male. 40, A. anemia, female. 41, A. anemia, male. 42, A. strix, female. 43, A. assis, female. 44, A. assis, male. 45, A. ficaria, female. 46, A. ficaria, male.

FIGURES 32 – 35. Apleurotropis spp. nov. 32, A. anemia, mesosoma and petiole, female. 33, A. albicaulis, mesosoma and petiole, female. 34, A. anemia, base of forewing, cs = costal cell. 35, A. assis, base of forewing, cs = costal cell.

FIGURES 27 – 31. 27 – 30. Apleurotropis strix sp. nov. 27, head frontal, female. 28, vertex, female. 29, mesosoma dorsal, female. 30, propodeum, female. 31, A. anemia sp. nov., pronotum lateral, female, arrow points at longitudinal carina.