Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes Gahan

Noyes, John Stuart, 2023, ENCYRTIDAE OF COSTA RICA (HYMENOPTERA: CHALCIDOIDEA), 4 Subfamily Encyrtinae: tribes Arrhenophagini, Habrolepidini, Cerapterocerini, Cheiloneurini, Trechnitini, Cercobelini, Polaszekiini, Protyndarichoidini, Gahaniellini and Syrphophagini (part), mainly primary parasitoids and hyperparasitoids of Coccoidea and Psylloidea (Hemiptera), Taxonomic Monographs on Neotropical Hymenoptera (Oxford, England) 2 (11), pp. 1-921 : 110-111

Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes Gahan

( Figs 247-250; Hab. E 42)

Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes Gahan, 1927b:18 . Holotype E, USA (New York), USNM, examined. Coccidencyrtus malloi De Santis, 1964:223-225 . Syntypes EG, Argentina. (MLP), not examined.

syn.nov.

DIAGNOSIS Female (overall length about 0.9mm): head dark brown to black with a weak to moderate metallic lustre; frontovertex generally coppery, mixed metallic dark green near anterior ocellus; scrobal area, temple and gena with a weak coppery to coppery purple sheen; scape, pedicel and flagellum mostly yellow, clava with apical segments dusky; mesoscutum bright metallic dark green mixed coppery anteriorly and near margins; scutellum dorsally virtually matt, but with a very weak coppery purple sheen, extreme side and apex weakly shining and slightly brassy; all coxae white, legs otherwise pale yellow; gaster mostly pale orange, side and apex of dorsum dark brown; gonostylus dark brown with apex pale orange; tangent of frontovertex forming an angle of about 105° with that of face; frontovertex about half head width; antenna ( Fig. 247) with scape nearly 4X as long as broad, funicle with F1 narrower than pedicel, F1-F3 relatively small, subequal, F4-F6 largest and longer than broad; linear sensilla present only on F4-F6; clava nearly as long as funicle, about 4.5X as long as broad; mandible with two acute teeth and an obtuse upper tooth; palp formula 3-2; scutellum ( Fig. 249) with 3 pairs of setae and longitudinally elongate polygonally reticulate to striate-reticulate sculpture, deeper than imbricate sculpture of mesoscutum; mid basitarsus with 5 or 6 ventral pegs; mid tibial spur slightly shorter than basitarsus; fore wing ( Fig. 250) with stigmal vein ( Fig. 248) longer than postmarginal vein and slightly longer than marginal vein; hypopygium reaching about 0.8X towards apex of gaster; ovipositor a little less than 3.5X as long as gonostylus and slightly exserted with exserted part slightly shorter than mid tibial spur. Male: unknown.

DISTRIBUTION. USA (Hawaii, New York, California), Bermuda, Brazil, Argentina, France (greenhouses), Italy, South Africa (see Noyes, 2019). Newly recorded below from Costa Rica and Spain (Canary Islands) (new records).

HOSTS. Recorded as a parasitoid of Diaspis boisduvalii Signoret ( Hemiptera : Diaspididae ) on Cattleya ( Gahan, 1927b) and from Diaspis bromeliae (Kerner) on pineapple, Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. ( Poales : Bromeliaceae ) ( Prinsloo, 1985). Recorded below from Aspidiotus nerii Bouché on banana, Musa L. ( Zingiberales : Musaceae ) (new record).

BIOCONTROL. Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes was introduced accidentally into a greenhouse in France from Brazil in 1970. The species was tested as a biocontrol agent of Diaspis boisduvalii Signoret , D. bromeliae (Kerner) and D. coccois (Lichtenstein) ( Hemiptera : Diaspididae ) on bromeliads in greenhouses in south-eastern France. Unfortunately, the tests showed that control was poor, probably as a result of low humidity and poor shade ( Panis & Pinet, 2001).

MATERIAL EXAMINED.

Type material. Holotype E: “0-3-P.3.c. Reared from E Diaspis boisduvalli on Cattleya Grace H. Griswold coll.” “USNMENT” “ Coccidencyrtus ochraceipes Gahan Type E Type No 29460 U.S” ( USNM).

Non type matrerial. BERMUDA, 1E, ex Diaspis boisduvalii Sign. on orchids, No 10438 of F. Bennett’s list of Nov. 23 1953, ix.1953 (F.D. Bennett). COSTA RICA, 1E, Heredia, Santo Domingo. INBio Parque, LN 526250 217400, 1100m, 1-12.iv.2002 ( D. Rubí, J.S. Noyes ); 1E, Heredia, Santo Domingo. INBio Parque, 9°59’N 84°06’W, 1100m, 12.ii.2011 (J.S. Noyes); 2E, Heredia, Santo Domingo. INBio Parque, 9°59’N 84°06’W, 1100m, 14.ii.2015 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Heredia, Santo Domingo. INBio Parque, 9°59’N 84°06’W, 1100m, 12.ii.2016 (J.S. Noyes). SPAIN, 2E, Islas Canarias, Tenerife, Guia de Isora, Finca Acevedo , ex Aspidiotus nerii on banana, No 102 (n 02-09) , 7.v.2009. ITALY, 1E, Campania, Portici ( NA), ex Diaspis boisduvalii on orchid stem . 20.vii.2002 (E. Guerrieri). SOUTH AFRICA, 7E, CP, East London, ex Diaspis bromeliae on pineapple, Gt 6386 , vii.1983 (G. Pettey). Material in NHMUK and MZUCR .

COMMENTS. I have attributed the name malloi to De Santis because there is no clear evidence in the original publication that shows that Blanchard was responsible for making the name available in way that satisfies the criteria of availability (ICZN, Article 50). I have not examined the type material of malloi , but it is clear from the description and recorded host that it must the same as ochraceipes Gahan.

Within Costa Rica the most similar species is viviana which also has the legs completely yellow. The two species can be separated on the palp formula, placement of the linear sensilla on the antennal funicle, the sculpture of the scutellum and colour of the gaster. In ochraceipes the palp formula is 3-2, linear sensilla are present on F4-F6, the scutellum has distinctly longitudinally elongate strigose to striate-reticulate sculpture and the gaster is mostly yellow, whereas on viviana the palp formula is 2-2, linear sensilla are present only on F6, the scutellum has rounded cellular sculpture and the gaster is mostly brown.