Plagiomerus peruviensis (Girault)

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 : 51-53

Plagiomerus peruviensis (Girault)

( Figs 62-71; Hab. E 10, G 11)

Parahomalopoda peruviensis Girault, 1915b:171 . Holotype E, Peru, USNM, examined Plagiomerus peruviensis (Girault) ; Noyes, 1980:222.

DIAGNOSIS. Female (length about 0.8-1.3mm): head with frontovertex metallic green to dark blue, purple above scrobes; scape pale orange, extreme base dark brown, sometimes almost completely dark brown with only apex pale orange; funicle with F1-F2 brown, F-F4 mostly pale orange, funicle rarely completely pale brown; clava brown; fore coxa dark brown, rarely yellow; the mid femur with a broad, pale brown, subapical band, this sometimes dark brown, relatively broad and distinct; mid tibia with a dark brown subbasal band; fore wing often with a very weakly infuscate area adjacent to marginal vein; the head ( Fig. 64) varies from 3.0-3.7X as wide as the frontovertex, with smaller specimens having a relatively wider frontovertex; ocelli forming an angle of about 75-85°; antenna ( Figs 62, 63) with scape about 3.5X as long as broad, funicle with F1 and F2 anelliform, clearly smaller than F3-F4 and without linear sensilla, F3-F4 subequal, subquadrate and with very prominent linear sensilla; clava very nearly as long as pedicel and funicle combined; scutellum ( Fig. 65) medially with longitudinally elongate polygonally reticulate to lineolate-reticulate cells, with 2 apical bristle-like setae separated by slightly more than diameter of their own sockets; fore wing ( Fig. 66) with marginal vein ( Fig. 67) longer than stigmal vein; gastral tergites as in Fig. 68; hypopygium as in Figs 70, 71; ovipositor as in Fig. 69, exserted part about 0.3-1.2X as long as mid tibial spur. Male (length about 0.7-0.9mm): generally very similar to female but for structure of antenna or genitalia, antenna (Hab. 11) with scape slightly broadened about 3.5X as long as broad, pedicel about 1.5X as long as broad, funicle 2-segmented, both segments strongly transverse, anelliform and without linear sensilla; clava very long, about 6.5X as long as broad and 3X as long as pedicel and funicle combined, apex pointed, with a short finger-like projection; flagellum clothed in setae that are a little shorter than 0.5X diameter of segments; phallobase about 4-5X as long as broad, paramere with a very short subapical seta, cuspis seta present; digitus about 2X as long as broad with single apical hook; aedeagus slender about 12X as long as broad, about 0.5X as long as mid tibia and with apex acute.

DISTRIBUTION. Peru, Costa Rica (new record).

HOSTS. Recorded below from Diaspis boisduvalii Signoret ( Hemiptera : Diaspididae ) on banana, Musa sp. ( Zingiberales : Musaceae ) and from Diaspis sp. ( Hemiptera : Diaspididae ) on pineapple, Ananas comosus ( Poales : Bromeliaceae ), Also collected off Pentaclethra macroloba (Willd.) Kuntze ( Fabales : Fabaceae ) and Meliosoma vernicosa . (Liebm). Griseb. ( Proteales : Sabiaceae ).

MATERIAL EXAMINED.

Type material. Holotype E (on slide): “1144° 3ª Gen 1 sp 2?Encyrt Corcomba May 27. 10”; red label “19403” “ Parahomalopoda peruviensis Girault E type” ( USNM).

Non type material. COSTA RICA, 1E, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP, Sn Emilio 6-C, 27.iv-11.v.1985 (D. Janzen, I.D. Gauld); 1E, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP, SE 8C, 25.iv-16.v.1987 (D. Janzen, I.D. Gauld); 1E, Guanacaste, Cacao (ACG), 1100 m, 26.i-24.ii.1996 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Guanacaste, Est. Cacao (ACG) , 2km SW Cerro Cacao, LN 323100 375800, 1000-14000m, iv.1996 (C. Moraga); 1E, Guanacaste, Est. Cacao, (ACG) , 10°55’N 85°30’W, 1100m, 19-20.ii.2005 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Guanacaste, Maritza ( ACG), 700m, 20.i-24.ii.1996 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Guanacaste, PN Guanacaste, San Cristobal, #51848, 25.iii-16.iv.1996 (F.A. Quezada); 1E, Guanacaste, San Cristobal, 51849, 17.iv-17.v.1996 (F.A. Quezada); 1E, Guanacaste, RF Monte Alto, Fila Maravilla, LN 221350 381700, 800m, 23.x-24.xi.2001 (I. Jiménez); 1E, Guanacaste, PN Volcán Tenorio, Est. El Pilón, LN 298212 427913, 700m, #69218, 15-22.v.2002 (G. Carballo); 1E, Guanacaste, BN Diriá, Cerro Retallano, 600-700m, #65437, 18.x-15.xi.2001 (I. Jiménez); 1E, Guanacaste, ZP Nosara, Fila Maravilla, LN 221350 381700, 800m, #66663, 24.xi-21.xii.2001 (I. Jiménez); 1E, La Ceiba, LN 221100 382950, 600m, #65008, 21.ix-22.x.2001 (I. Jiménez); 1E, Guanacaste, PN Palo Verde, La Espuela, Q. Mula, LN 386300 260779, 10m, #61362, 10-20.i.2001 (I. Jiménez); 1E, Guanacaste, PN Palo Verde, Sect. Palo Verde, LN 260952 385020, 0-50m, #55156, 8-18.iii.2000 (I. Jiménez); 1E, Guanacaste, PN Palo Verde, Sector Palo Verde, Cerro Guayacán, LN 259350 389600, 140m, #53255, vii-viii.1999 (I. Jiménez); 1E, Guanacaste, PN Palo Verde, Sector Catalina, Puente Espuela, LN 385020 260952, 0m, #58295, 9.viii-8.ix.2002 (I. Jiménez); 1E, Alajuela, Fa Sn Gabriel, 2km W Dos Rios, 600m, vii.1988 (Gauld, Mitchell); 1E, Alajuela, RF Arenal, Sendero Pilón, LN 269100 457900, 600m, #53365, 14.x-3.xii.1998 (G. Carballo); 1E, Alajuela, RF Arenal, Sect. la Peninsula, LN 27150000 453800, 600m, #54382, i.2000 (G. Carballo); 3E, Alajuela, PN Arenal, Sect. La Peninsula, LN 453800 271500, 600m, i.2000, 17.vi.2000 and 15-25.iv.2001 (G. Carballo); 1E, Alajuela, PN Arenal, Sect. la Peninsula , 10°27’N 84°40’W, 600m, 25.ii.2003 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Alajuela, PN Arenal, 10°26’N 84°45’W, 617m, 21-28.ii.2005 (C. Hansson); 1E, Alajuela, PN Arenal, Sendero Ceibo, 10°27’N 84°44’W, 620m, 22-23.ii.2016 (J. S. Noyes); 1E, Alajuela, Aguas Zarcas, Las Chiles, cafe, iii.1990 (P. Hanson);2E, Heredia, La Selva BS, 50m, 22.i-3.ii.1991 (J.S. Noyes); 9E, Alajuela, San Carlos, Sarapiqui, ex Diaspis on Ananas comosus , 17.ii.2007 (A Zuñiga); 2E, Heredia, La Selva BS, 50m, 22.i-3.ii.1991 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Heredia, OTS La Selva, 10°26’N 84°01’W, 50-150m, 15-30.ix.1993; 1E, Heredia, OTS La Selva, 10°26’N 84°01’W, 100m, canopy fog Pentaclethra, FPM /03, 6.iii.1993 ( INBio / OET); 1E, Heredia, La Selva BS, 10°26’N 84°01’W, 50-150m, fog Pentaclethra macroloba, FPM /04, 6.v.1993 (INBio-OET);1E, Heredia, OTS La Selva, 10°26’N 84°01’W, 100m, canopy fog Pentaclethra macroloba , vii.1993 ( ALAS project); 3E, Heredia, OTS La Selva, 10°26’N 84°01’W, ix.1995, xi.1993 and iii.1996 ( ALAS); 1E, Heredia, Est. Biol. La Selva, 10°25’N 84°01’W, canopy fog Meliosoma vernicosa, FOT /44/01-40, 8.i.2000 (INBio-OET); 3E, Heredia, Est. Biol. La Selva, 10°26’N 84°01’W, 75m, ii.2003 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Heredia, Estación Biologica La Selva, 10°26’N 84°01’W, 26-29.ii.2008 (J.S. Noyes); 2E, Heredia, Estación Biologica La Selva ( OTS), 10°26’N 84°01’W, 75m, 22-23.ii.2017 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Heredia, 11km SE La Virgen, 10°20’N 84°04’W, 450-550m, 05/N/TN, 22.ii-20.iv.2003 ( INBio- OET – ALAS); 1E, Heredia, 16km SSE La Virgen, 10°16’N 85°05’W, 1050-1150m, 11/M/NOTN, 9.ii-21.iv.2001 ( INBio / OET – ALAS); 2E, Heredia, 16km SSE La Virgen, 10°16’N 85°05’W, 1050-1150m, 11/M/TN, 10.ii-27.iv.2001 ( INBio / OET – ALAS); 2E, Heredia, 9km NE Vara Blanca, 10°14’N 84°06’W, 1450-1550m, 15/M/TN, ii-iv.2005 ( INBio / OET – ALAS); 6E, Heredia, Sarapiquí, San Julián, ex Diaspis boisduvalii on banana, 14.iii.2018 (M. Solano); 5E, 1G, Heredia, Sarapiquí, San Julián, ex Diaspis boisduvalii on banana, 22.iii.2018 (M. Solano); 11E, Heredia, Sarapiquí, San Julián, Finca Altamira, Muestro 1, ex Diaspis boisduvalii on banana, 5.iv.2018 (M. Solano); 1E, Heredia, Santo Domingo, INBio Parque, LN 217300 526200, 1100m, TM, #65446, vii.2001 (R. Zuñiga); 1E, Heredia, Santo Domingo, INBio Parque, 1100m, 9°59’N 84°06’W, 13.ii.2016 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Cartago, Turrialba, CATIE, 22.ii.1991 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Cartago, 12.5km SE Turrialba, Rancho Naturalista, 9°50’N 83°334’W, 1000m, 12-14.ii.2017 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Puntarenas, Est. Altamira, Send. Los Gigantes, LS 331800 572100, 1460m, ii.2002 (C. Hansson, D. Rubí ); 1E, Puntarenas, Monteverde, Finca Canada Res., 22.viii-1.ix.1992 (D.C. Currie). 5E, Puntarenas, 13km NE Dominical, RB Rio Magnolia, 9°20’N 83°47’W, 800m, 22-24. ii.2015 (J.S. Noyes); 1E: Puntarenas, San Vito, Las Cruces, Wilson Bot. Gdns, 1300m, 24.ii.2002 (J.S. Noyes).2E, Puntarenas, San Vito, Las Cruces, Wilson Bot. Gdn, 8°46’N 82°57’W, 1300m, 15-26.ii.2006 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Puntarenas, San Vito, Las Cruces, Wilson Bot. Gdns, 8°46’N 82°57’W, 7-19.ii.2007 (C. Hansson); 4E, Puntarenas, 10km W Golfo Dulce, xii.1989 - iii.1990 (Hanson, Gauld); 12E, Puntarenas, 24 km W Piedras Blancas, 8°46’N 83°24’W, 200m, various dates vii.1990 - iv.1993 (P. Hanson); 3E, Puntarenas, Golfito, Est. Agujas, Cerro Rincón, LS 275500 521950, 645- 745m, #56675, 15.iv-5.v.2000 (J. Azofeifa); 1E, Puntarenas, RF Golfo Dulce, 3km SW Rincon, 10m, x-xii.1990 (P. Hanson); 1E, Puntarenas, PN Corcovado, Est. Agujas, LS 526550 276750, 300m, 11.ii.2002 (J. Azofeifa); 1E, Puntarenas, PN Corcovado, Est. Agujas, La Tigrilla, LS 274500 523600, 600m, #62423, 15.iii-28.iv.2001 (J. Azofeifa); 1E, Puntarenas, PN Corcovado, Los Patos, 8°33’N 83°30’W, 200m, ii.2000 (J.S. Noyes, J. Azofeifa); 1E, Limón, PN Braulio Carrillo, Est. Queb. Gonzalez, 10°09’N 93°57’W, 450m, 15.ii.2003 (J.S. Noyes); 2E, Limón, PN Cahuita, 5m, 1.iii.1991 (J.S. Noyes); 2E, Limón, RB Hitoy-Cerere, 14-19.i.1991 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Limón, RB Hitoy Cerere, 9°40’N 83°02’W, 100m, ii.2004 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Limón, RB Hitoy Cerere, 9°40’N 83°02’W, 100m, 24-26.ii.2008 (J.S. Noyes); 24E, Limón, Valle de Estrella, ex Diaspis boisduvalii Sign. on banana, 9.xi.1995 (J. Hernandez); 3E, Limón, RB Hitoy-Cerere, 100m, 14-19.i.1991 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Limón, RB Hitoy Cerere, Valle de la Estrella, Send. Toma de Agua, LN 184300 643500, 140m, #54234, 4.v.1999 (F. Umaña); 1E, Limón, RB Hitoy Cerere, Send. Toma de Agua, LS 643400 184600, 100m, #59085, viii-xi.2000 (F. Umaña); 1E, Limón, RB Hitoy Cerere, Send Espavel, LS 569800 401200, 500m, #59087, 17.viii-19.ix.2000 (F. Umaña); 1E, Limón, RB Hitoy Cerere, Est. Hitoy Cerere, LN 184600 643400, 140m, #52861, 17.vi-17. vii.1999 (F. Umaña); 11E, Limón, Pococí, La Rita, Cordobana, ex Diaspis boisduvalii on banana, 22.iii.2018 (M. Solano); 2E, 1G, Limón, Talamanca, Sixaola, ex Diaspis boisduvalii on banana, 22.iii.2018 (M. Solano). Material in MZUCR, MLP, UCR, USNM, CNC and NHMUK.

COMMENTS. The holotype of Parahomalopoda peruviensis is uncleared and mounted upside down under a single coverslip on a slide. The body is flattened and the antennae and one pair of wings are separated under the same coverslip. At some point the slide has been badly cracked and the whole thing then reinforced by being mounted onto a second slide. This makes examination of the dorsal parts at high magnification quite difficult, but I am confident that the material listed above from Costa Rica belongs to this species. Some larger specimens from Costa Rica agree very well with the holotype in that they have the band on the mid femur relatively broad, dark brown and well-defined whereas in the majority of specimens, which are smaller, this band is paler, narrower and less well-defined .