Adelencyrtus chionaspidis (Howard)

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 : 33-36

Adelencyrtus chionaspidis (Howard)

( Figs 15-21; Hab. E 3)

Encyrtus chionaspidis Howard in Howard & Ashmead, 1896:637. Syntypes E, Sri Lanka, USNM, image examined.

Encyrtus moderatus Howard, 1897:152 . Lectotype E, designated by Noyes (1979:144-145), Grenada (WI), NHMUK, examined. syn.nov.

Adelencyrtus chionaspidis (Howard) ; Ashmead, 1900:401.

Adelencyrtus femoralis Compere & Annecke, 1961:53 . Lectotype E, designated by Noyes, (1979:144-145), India, USNM, not examined. Synonymy with moderatus by Noyes (1979:144-145). syn.nov.

Adelencyrtus miyarai Tachikawa, 1963a:131 . Holotype E, Japan, KYUN, not examined. Synonymy with moderatus by Noyes (1979:144-145). syn.nov.

Adelencyrtus mysorensis Hayat, Alam & Agarwal, 1975:82 . Holotype E, India (Karnataka), BMNH, examined. Synonymy with moderatus by Hayat (1981:14). syn.nov.

Adelencyrtus moderatus (Howard) ; Noyes, 1979:144-145.

DIAGNOSIS. Female (length about 0.6-1.2mm): head dark brown to black with a distinct metallic lustre; frontovertex with a metallic green or blue-green sheen, generally purple anteriorly above scrobes but coppery purple immediately above scrobes and deep metallic blue between eye and scrobe; scrobes mostly metallic green mixed coppery purple, dorsal part of antennal prominence dark metallic blue; temple, gena and mouth margin with a coppery purple sheen, temple somewhat mixed metallic green; antenna mostly pale yellow, pedicel and occasionally apex of clava slightly dusky; thorax dark brown to black; pronotum with a dull, mixed coppery purple and metallic green sheen; mesoscutum and axilla with a dull, mixed coppery purple and dark blue sheen; tegula dark brown; scutellum with a dull coppery purple sheen, side and apex with a relatively strong metallic green and coppery sheen; mesopleuron with a weak, metallic blue, purple and brassy sheen; legs generally pale yellow to very pale orange, but hind coxa pale brown towards base and hind femur mostly brown; wings hyaline, venation pale yellow; propodeum dark brown with a weak brassy and purple sheen, side with a strong metallic coppery purple and dark blue to green sheen; gaster dark purple-brown, dorsally with a coppery purple sheen mixed slightly brassy and green, Gt1 with a distinct dark metallic blue or green and purple sheen, side and venter with coppery, blue, brassy and green reflections; gonostylus dark brown; head in profile about 1.3X as high as deep, in facial view about 4X as wide as frontovertex, which is narrowest a little behind posterior ocelli; a conspicuous, long setae present on margin behind each posterior ocellus; a short, oval depression adjacent to eye near occipital margin; ocelli forming an angle of about 75°; frontovertex shiny, with relatively deep, polygonally reticulate to imbricate-reticulate sculpture of mesh size mainly subequal eye facet, deepest and more polygonally reticulate in ocellar area; temple and gena with relatively shallow, longitudinally elongate imbricate-reticulate sculpture; scrobes with relatively shallow, irregular sculpture, almost smooth; interantennal prominence and mouth margin with shallow, polygonally reticulate sculpture; scrobes shallow, indistinctly margined, narrowly ∩-shaped; interantennal prominence dorsally rounded; antenna as in Figs 15, 16; scape hardly broadened and flattened, about 3.5X as long as broad; F1-F3 subequal and strongly transverse, F4 subequal or a little larger and transverse, F5-F6 larger, subequal and subquadrate, linear sensilla present only on F4-F6, or F5-F 6 in smaller specimens; clava slightly longer than funicle, sutures parallel, sensory area small, at apex only giving it a pointed or slightly rounded appearance; eye slightly overreaching occipital margin, clothed with very conspicuous setae, each of which is a little longer than diameter of facet; malar sulcus absent; mandible with four teeth; thorax ( Fig. 17) with pronotum hardly exposed behind head, its posterior margin broadly V-shaped and strongly emarginate medially; pronotum and mesoscutum with imbricate-reticulate to polygonally reticulate sculpture that is coarser than in ocellar area, but about as deep; scutellum with fine, longitudinally elongate, polygonally reticulate sculpture that is conspicuously deeper than that on mesoscutum, side and extreme apex completely smooth and shiny; visible part of mesoscutum about 2X as broad as long; scutellum about 1.2X as broad as long, fore wing about 2.7X as long as broad with venation and setation as in Figs 20, 21; costal cell with 3 or 4 dorsal setae at apex; propodeum with 4 or 5 moderately conspicuous setae outside spiracle; gaster with hypopygium reaching about 0.5X to apex; last tergite about as long as mid tibia, with apex narrowly rounded; hypopygium as in Fig. 19; ovipositor ( Fig. 18) slightly exserted, the exserted part about 0.5X length of mid tibial spur or about 0.2X mid tibia. Male (length about 0.7-1.0mm): very similar to female but for structure of antenna and genitalia; antennal funicle with 2 anelliform segments, clava very long, slender and slightly curved, about 8X as long as broad and about as long as head width; fore wing with linea calva not interrupted; genitalia with aedeagus very slender, apex acute, digiti well developed, each about 2X as long as broad and with a single apical hook.

DISTRIBUTION. USA (Florida); Cuba, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent, Grenada, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkmenistan, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Pakistan, India, Indonesia (Java), China, Japan, Fiji (see Noyes, 1979 and Noyes, 2019), also recorded below from Jamaica (new record), Nigeria (new record) and Costa Rica (new record),

HOSTS. Reared from Lepidosaphes Shimer on citrus, Aspidiella sacchari (Cockerell) , Aulacaspis takari Takagi. Aulacaspis tegalensis (Zehntner) , Duplachionaspis divergens (Green) , Duplachionaspis graminella (Borchsenius) and Gannaspis glomerata (Green) ( Hemiptera : Diaspidiae) (see Noyes, 2019). Recorded below from Odonaspis ruthae Kotinsky (new record) ( Hemiptera : Diaspididae ) on Rhynchelytrum roseum (Nees) Stapf & C.E. Hubb ( Poales : Poaceae ). Records from mealybugs are probably erroneous.

BIOCONTROL. Adelencyrtus chionaspidis has been introduced unsuccessfully into Barbados ( Cock, 1985), Uganda ( CIBC, 1971) and India ( CIBC, 1973, 1974) for the control of diaspidid scales pests. In all cases the parasitoid failed to establish, or no further reports have been forthcoming.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.

Type material. Lectotype E of moderatus , GRENADA, Balthazar (windward side), H.S. Smith, ( BM) (18)99-331, “ Encyrtus moderatus How Typ (e)” ( NHMUK). Paratypes of miyarai JAPAN, 2E, Okinawa, Miyako Is., ex Aulacaspis takarai Takagi , 65, 5.i.1962 (T. Miyara).

Non type material. USA, 1E, Florida, Palm Beach Co., Cana Point, ex Aspidiotus sacchari on sugarcane, 26.v.1987 (F.D. Bennet); 1E, Florida, TREC Homestead, ex Odonaspis ruthae on Rhynchelytrum roseum , 87-81, 7.xi.1987 (F.D. Bennet, A. Rueda). JAMAICA, Pt. Maria, Bellfield siding, off Leucaena leucocephala , 28.vi.2988 (D. Hollis). ST VINCENT, 24E, various localities and dates, 4-13.vii.1976 (J.S. Noyes). TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, 7E, Trinidad, Orange Grove, ex Aspidiella sacchari on sugarcane, CIE A.6100, i.1973 (F.D. Bennett); 4G, Trinidad, Curepe, CIBC lab grounds, Moericke trap, 13-27.vi.1974 (M.N. Beg); 44E, Trinidad, various localities and dates, 23.vi-4.viii.1976 (J.S. Noyes); 6E, Trinidad, St George, St Augustine, various dates viii-ix.1976 (F.D. Bennett); 2E, Tobago, St Patrick, Mount Irvine Bay, coastal grassland, 19.viii.1976 (J.S. Noyes). 1E, Tobago, St John, Bloody Bay, 20.vii.1976 (J.S. Noyes). COSTA RICA, 11E, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP , various localities and dates 14.ix.1985 - 21.ii.1987 (D. Janzen, I.D. Gauld); 1E, Guanacaste, 9km S Santa Cecilia, Estac. Pitilla, vi.1989 (I.D. Gauld); 1E, Guanacaste, Guanacaste NP (error for Santa Rosa NP ), near HQ, 1-10.iii.1990 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Guanacaste, 9km S. Santa Cecilia, 700m, LN 329950 380450, vi.1994 (P. Rios); 1E, Guanacaste, Est. Pitilla , 650m, 11.ii.1995 (L. Masner); 2E, Guanacaste, Pitilla ( ACG), MT/YPT, 24.i-27.ii.1996 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Guanacaste, Maritza ( ACG), LN 326500 372600, 600m, 23.iv-11.v.1996 (D. Briceño); 2E, Guanacaste, Murcielago ( ACG) , 75m, MT, 24.i-4.ii.1996 (J. Ugalde); 1E, Guanacaste, 13km E. Filadelfia, Hda El Viejo, v-vi.1989 (M. Garcia ); 1E, Guanacaste, PN Palo Verde, Est. Palo Verde, LN 259050 388400, 10m, #60224, xi.2000 (I. Jiménez); 2E, Guanacaste, PN Palo Verde, Sector Palo Verde , 150m E Estacion, LN 260952 385020, 0-50m, 4-14. ix.1999 and 2-12.xii.1999 (I. Jiménez); 2E, Guanacaste, PN Palo Verde, Sect. Palo Verde, Estacion , LN 385020 260952, 0-50m, #57055, 10-18.vii.2000 (I. Jiménez); 1E, Guanacaste, PN Palo Verde, Sector Palo Verde, Estr E. Campo Aterr , LN 260952 385020, 10m, #53260, viii-ix.1999 (I. Jiménez); 1E, Alajuela, Reserva Rincon Forestal, East. Caribe, 10°53’N 85°18’W , 400m, 19-20.ii.2003 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Alajuela, PN Arenal, Sendero Pilón , 10°27’N 84°43’W , 600m, 26.ii.2003 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Alajuela, Peñas Blancas, 9.vi.1987 (E. Cruz); 1E, Heredia, La Selva BS , 50m, ii.1991 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Heredia, La Selva Biol. Sta, 3km S Pto Viejo, 10°26’N 84°01’W, on leaves of Alchornea costaricensis Pax & Hoffe , 21.vii.1992 (H.A. Hespenheide); 1E, Heredia, OTS La Selva, M. 01.399, 17.vii.1995 ( ALAS); 1E, Heredia, Est. Biol. La Selva , 10°26’N 84°01’W, x.1995 ( OET / INBio); 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); 1E, Heredia, Santo Domingo , INBio Parque, LN 217300 526200, 1100m, TM, #67118, 11.ii-18.iii.2002 (R. Zuñiga); 1E, Heredia, Santo Domingo, INBio Parque, LN 217300 526200, 1100m, iii.2002 (J.Azofeifa, J.S. Noyes); 1E, San José, San Pedro, Tigra Cacao, iii-iv.1990 (P. Hanson); 1E, San José, San Antonio de Escazu , 1300m, i.1999 (W. Eberhard, P. Hanson); 2E, San José, Ciudad Colón, xii.1989 - i.1990 (L. Fournier); 2E, Puntarenas, Res. Priv. Karen Mogensen , 9°52’N 85°03’W , 305m, 14-15.ii.2005 (J.S. Noyes); 5E, Puntarenas, Manuel Antonio, 23-26.viii.1986 (L. Masner); 3E, Puntarenas, Golfito, off bamboo with coccids ( JC 161 ), 21.ii.1984 (error for 1990) (J.S. Noyes); 2E, Puntarenas, Golfo Dulce , 24km W Piedras Blancas, 8°46’N 83°24’W , 200m, vi-vii.1989 and i-iii.1991 (P. Hanson, I.D. Gauld); 3E, Puntarenas, RF Golfo Dulce , 3km SW Rincon , 10m, x.1991 and i.1992 (P. Hanson); 1E, Puntarenas, Pen. Osa , 5km N Puerto Jimenez , 8°33’N 83°21’W , 10m, i-ii.1991 (P. Hanson, C. Godoy); 2E, Puntarenas, Pen. Osa . Puerto Jimenez , 10m, ii.1992 and ii-iii.1993 (P. Hanson); 2E, Puntarenas, PN Corcovado, Rio Rincon , 3km NE Los Patos, 18°33’N 83°30’W , 50m, 1-9.iii.2000 (J. Azofeifa); 4E, Puntarenas, Est. Agujas , El Tigre, LS 529600 277800 , 30-34m, 19.vii.2000 and 25.iv.2001 (J. Azofeifa); 1E, Limón, 16km W Guapiles, iii-iv.1990 (P. Hanson); 1E, Limón, RB Hitoy Cerere, Send. Bobócara , LN 184250 641800, 300m, #53498, 8.viii-10.x.1999 G. Carballo ). NIGERIA, 1E, Abia St. , ex scales on Zingiber officinale , sp. 5 IIE 22163, 1991 . MADAGASCAR, 5E, Tamatave, Perinet, 27.iv-3.v.1983 (J.S. Noyes. M.C. Day); 1E, Tulear, Fort Dauphin , 5.v.1983 (J.S. Noyes; M.C. Day); 3E, Tulear, Berenty, 12 km NW Amboasary, 5-15.v.1983 (J.S. Noyes, M.C. Day); 2E, Tulear, Bereboka, 60km NE Morondava, 18-23.v.1983 (J.S. Noyes, M.C. Day) . MAURITIUS, 2E, Reduit, Tamarin, ex Aulacaspis tegalensis , 28.v.1968 ( CIE A.2500) . INDIA, 19E, Maharashtra, Kolhapur, No 6 ex scale,1979-1980, CIE A.12003; 2E, 2G, Tamil Nadu, Madura, Sugars, Pandiarajapuram, ex Aspidiella sacchari on sugarcane, CIE A.17509, 28.x.1985 (R. Jayanthi). Material in MZUCR, CNC and NHMUK .

COMMENTS. The possible synonymy of Adelencyrtus moderatus (Howard) with Encyrtus chionaspidis Howard was suggested to me in litt. by Prof. M. Hayat (Aligarh Muslim University) in 2019. I have been able to confirm this synonymy recently by examination of a high-resolution image of a syntype housed in the USNM collections kindly provided by Dr M. Gates ( United States Department of Agriculture).