Petiolachertus pollux, Hansson, 2024

Hansson, Christer, 2024, Two new genera of Eulophinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), including four new species parasitoids on Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) leaf miners in Costa Rica, Zootaxa 5447 (4), pp. 562-572 : 566

Petiolachertus pollux sp. nov.

Figs 5–7 , 16–17

Diagnosis. Mesoscutellum with a row of large and strong reticulate meshes close to lateral margin and along posterior margin, median part with weaker reticulation with small meshes ( Fig. 6 ). Petiole without setae on lateral part ( Fig. 6 ).

Description (female holotype). Length 2.0 mm. Mesoscutellum with a row of large and strong reticulate meshes close to lateral margin and along posterior margin, median part with weak reticulation with small meshes. Propodeum smooth and shiny; propodeal callus with 8 setae. Fore wing with 7&8 setae on dorsal surface of submarginal vein. Petiole smooth on dorsal surface.

Colour. Head black; antenna with scape and pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellum dark brown. Mesosoma black with posterior one-half of pronotum and anterior one-half of axillae dark brown. Legs with fore and mid coxae pale brown, hind coxa dark brown to black; trochanters yellowish-white to white; fore femur pale brown, mid femur yellowish-brown, hind femur dark brown with basal one-third yellowish-brown; fore and mid tibiae yellowish-white, hind tibia yellowish-brown; fore and mid tarsi yellowish-white, hind tarsus yellowish-brown. Wings hyaline. Petiole black. Gaster dark brown.

Relative measurements: head length, dorsal view 22; head length, frontal view 32; head width 44.5; POL 7; OOL 4.5; mouth width 14; malar space 8.5; eye length 23; lateral ocellus diameter 5; scape length 15.5; scape width 4.5; pedicel length 7; pedicel width, dorsal view 4.5; flagellum length 42; F1 length 8.5; F1 width 4.5; F2 length 7; F2 width 5; F3 length 6.5; F3 width 6; F4 length 6.5; F4 width 6; clava length 12; clava width 6; pronotum length 20; pronotum width 30; mesosoma length 72; mesosoma width 40; midlobe of mesoscutum length 23; midlobe of mesoscutum width along posterior margin 10.5; sidelobes of mesoscutum width along posterior margin 14.5; mesoscutellum length 23; mesoscutellum width 18.5; propodeum length 21; hind tibia length 38; hind tibial spur1 length 12; hind tibial spur2 length 6; hind tarsus length 32; hind basitarsus length 11; fore wing length 122; fore wing width 52; costal cell length 39; costal cell width 3; marginal vein length 39; postmarginal vein length 18; stigmal vein length 15; petiole length 17; petiole width 5; gaster length 63; gaster width 40.

Variation in female paratypes. Length 1.6–2.3 mm. Mesosoma varying from black to dark brown; hind tibia yellowish-brown to dark brown with basal one-third yellowish-brown; fore and mid coxae yellowish-brown to dark brown; fore femur pale brown to dark brown; fore wing hyaline to hyaline with a weak infuscate area just below stigmal vein. Number of setae on dorsal surface of submarginal vein 7–8. Number of setae on propodeal callus 6–9. Colour and structure otherwise as in holotype.

Male. Length 1.2–2.0 mm. Similar to female in colour variation and structure.

Relative measurements: head length, dorsal view 20; head width 41; eye length 20; scape length 15; scape width 4; flagellum length 41; F1 length 7.5; F1 width 3.5; F2 length 7; F2 width 4; F3 length 6.5; F3 width 4.5; F4 length 6.5; F4 width 4.5; clava length 11.5; clava width 4.5; petiole length 20; petiole width 5.5; gaster length 61; gaster width 44.5.

Hosts. Reared from Lepidoptera leaf miners: unidentified Gracillariidae on an unidentified Passifloraceae , and from Phyllocnistis sp. ( Gracillariidae ) on Licaria triandra (Sw.) Kosterm. ( Lauraceae ) and Trichilia havanensis Jacq. ( Meliaceae ).

Distribution. Costa Rica.

Material. Holotype female: COSTA RICA, San José, San Pedro, UCR Campus , ii.1999, ex Gracillariidae leaf miner on Passifloraceae , K. Nishida ( MZLU). Paratypes (40♀ 38♂, MZLU, MZUCR, NHMUK): 2♀ 1♂ with same label data as holotype ; 2♀ from same locality as holotype but collected ii–iii.1999, from Phyllocnistis sp. on Trichilia havanensis ; 3♀ from same locality and host as previous but collected 20.xii.2002 ; 5♀ 2♂ from same locality as holotype but collected ix–xi.1999, from unidentified leaf mines on Trichilia sp. ; 5♀ 4♂ from same locality as holotype but collected 18.xi.2002, from Phyllocnistis sp. on Licaria triandra ; 3♀ 1♂ from same locality and host as previous but collected 28.xii.2002 ; 6♀ 21♂ from same locality and host as previous but collected 13.i.2003 ; 1♀ COSTA RICA, Guanacaste, P.N. Guanacaste , Estación San Ramón, 620m, 12–14.ii.1996, Quesada & Briceno ; 1♀ COSTA RICA, Limón, Reserva Biológica Hitoy-Cerere , 9°40’N, 83°02’W, 100m, 24–25.ii.2004, J.S. Noyes ; 1♂ from same locality as previous but collected 14–18.i.1991 ; 1♀ COSTA RICA, Puntarenas, San Vito, Las Cruces , 8º47’N, 82º58’W, 1150m, 18–22.iii.1990, J.S. Noyes ; following from same locality as previous but collected 7–19.ii.2007 (1♀ 2♂), 19–29.ii.2008 (2♂), 15–16.ii.2012 (1♀) ; 1♀ COSTA RICA, Puntarenas, Reserva Privada Karen Mogensen , 9º52′N, 85º03′W, 305m, 14–15.ii.2005, J.S. Noyes ; following from same locality as previous but collected 11–21.ii.2005 (1♂), 23–24.ii.2007 (3♀ 1♂) ; 1♀ COSTA RICA, Puntarenas, Golfito, Estación Agujas , LS 520100_275200, 640m, 15.iii–15.iv.2000, malaise trap, J. Azofeifa ; following from same locality as previous but collected 15.vi–15.vii.1999 (1♀), 23.iv.2002 (1♂) ; 2♀ COSTA RICA, Puntarenas, Golfito, P.N. Corcovado , Sct La Bonanza , LS 524800_275700, 500m, 20.iv.2002, J. Azofeifa ; 1♂ COSTA RICA, Puntarenas, Estación Altamira, Sendero a Casa Coca , 9º02’N, 83º00’W, 1450–1700m, 7.ii–5.iii.2002, C. Hansson & Parataxonomos.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Petiolachertus spp. nov., females; 1–4. P.castor; 1holotype,habitus in lateral view; 2paratype, head+mesosoma in dorsal view; 3 paratype, metasoma in dorsal view; 4 holotype, head in frontal view; 5–7. P. pollux; 5 holotype, habitus in lateral view; 6 paratype, habitus in dorsal view; 7 paratype, head in frontal view.

FIGURES 14–20. Petiolachertus & Macroplectron spp. nov., head and antennae in lateral view; 14–15. P. castor; 14 female holotype; 15 male paratype; 16–17. P. pollux; 16 female paratype; 17 male paratype; 18–19. M. nishidai; 18 female holotype; 19 male paratype; 20 M. safron, female holotype.