Eupelmus (Episolindelia) varicauda, Gibson, 2011

Gibson, Gary A. P., 2011, 2951, Zootaxa 2951, pp. 1-97 : 17

5. Eupelmus (Episolindelia) varicauda n. sp.

Fig. 4; Map 3

Type material. HOLOTYPE (♀, TAMU): TEXAS, Travis Co., vic. Long Hollow Ck., 30º27'43"[N], 97º52'19"[W], March 26, 1993 (1) / Alexander, Quinn, Riley, Wharten et al., on Juniperus ashei, Ja 6-LBI / CNC Photo 2010-7 / Holotype Eupelmus (Episolindelia) varicauda Gibson. [Condition: point-mounted.]

PARATYPES (59♀). USA. ARIZONA: Cochise Co., Chiricahua Mountains, T.D. Miller — Camp Rucker, 5600', 4-8.IX.88 (1♀ WFBM) ; Steward Campground , 5000', 7.IX.88 (1♀ WFBM) . Sierra Vista, 12 km S., Ramsey Canyon , 1700m, 1.V.86 (1♀ AEIC) , 25.IV-7.V.87 (1♀), B.V. Brown. TEXAS: Burnet Co., Inks Lake State Park , 2.V.87, G. Zolnerowich (1♀) . Travis Co. — 40♀ ( TAMU) same data as holotype except with different Ja- numbers, collected: 13.III.93 (4♀) , 26.III.93 (7♀), 10.IV.93 (5♀), 23.IV.93 (8♀), 23.VI.93 (2♀), 26.II.94 (5♀), 12.III.94 (1♀), 17.III.94 (2♀), 26.III.94 (2♀), 9.IV.94 (3♀), 23.IV.94 (1♀), these also with different Ja- numbers and numbers in parentheses after date of collection; vic. Cypress Creek , 30º25'58", 97º52'01", M. Quinn, E. Riley, R. Wharten, on Juniperus ashei , with various Ja- numbers collected 26-27.II.94 (4♀ TAMU) , 17.III.94 (5♀ TAMU) , 26-27.III.94 (1♀ TAMU) , 9-10.IV.94 (3♀ TAMU) , 23-24.IV.94 (1♀ TAMU) and with numbers in parenthesis after date of collection.

Etymology. A noun in apposition; combination of the Latin words varius (different) and cauda (tail) in reference to the highly variable length of the ovipositor sheaths.

Description. FEMALE (Fig. 4). Length about 1.1−1.8 mm. Head capsule metallic green or greenish-blue with frontovertex often more distinctly blue to purple; maxillary and labial palpi yellow. Antenna brown except about basal two-thirds scape, fl1, and pedicel completely or at least apically yellow. Mesosoma with pronotum yellow except for dark incised spiracular margin; mesoscutum mostly greenish-blue to bluish-purple except lateral, vertical surface of lateral lobe yellow and dorsal surface variably extensively brownish to yellow posteriorly; scutellaraxillar complex similar in color to mesoscutum, but axilla with at least lateral surface and sometimes dorsolaterally yellow; mesopectus yellow except brown ventrally between longitudinal transepisternal sulci; metathorax yellow except metanotum often brownish lateral to dorsellum; propodeum yellow at least lateral to spiracle, but often brownish and sometimes with slight metallic luster between spiracles. Legs, including coxae, yellow except for darker pulvilli and claws. Gaster yellow; ovipositor sheaths bicolored with about basal one-third to one-half brown and often only extreme apical margin dark, the apex sometimes more extensively light to dark brown but always obviously shorter than yellowish region.

Head minutely punctate-reticulate; IOD about 0.5 width of head; OOL: POL: LOL: MPOD = 1.8–2.0: 3.4–3.6: 1.8–2.0: 1.0. Antenna with flagellum short-clavate, combined length of pedicel + flagellum about 1.0–1.2× width of head, fl1 ringlike, fl2 and fl8 slightly transverse to quadrate, and other funicular articles slightly transverse to up to about 1.4× as long as wide, but increasing in width to broad clava such that pedicel almost as long as fl1−fl4 and clava about one-half to almost two-thirds length of funicle and about 2.3–2.8× as long as wide (when not collapsed and unnaturally compressed). Mesonotum punctate-reticulate except mesoscutal lateral lobe more finely sculptured posteriorly. Acropleuron finely meshlike reticulate, the sculpture minute mesally compared to much larger isodiametric cells posteriorly and anteriorly. Forewing setose except for short linea calva; mv about 1.4−1.6× length of pmv and 2.4−2.8× length of stv; pmv about 1.7−1.75× length of stv. Mesotibia apparently without apical pegs; mesotarsus ventrally with yellowish or apically slightly reddish pegs, the pegs in uneven double row on basitarsus but in single row on second tarsomere and with only single apical peg on either side of third tarsomere. Propodeum with plical region U-like linear behind dorsellum. Ovipositor sheaths about one-quarter as long to as long as gaster and about 0.6−2.4× as long as mv.

MALE. Unknown.

Distribution. Currently known only from Arizona and Texas (Map 3).

Biology. Host unknown, but associated with Juniperus (Cupressaceae) .

Remarks. Females of E. varicauda are most similar to E. rubicola in structure, but differ conspicuously in sculpture and color pattern.