Gallastichus mutuus Rasplus & La Salle
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.277771 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6189168 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EC87F5-FF8C-FFD0-FF5A-FEA7FAD7F8E1 |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Gallastichus mutuus Rasplus & La Salle |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Gallastichus mutuus Rasplus & La Salle sp. nov.
( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 A–E, 2A–D, 4A)
Diagnosis. Lower face and frons with piliferous punctures. Submedian lines of scutellum present, complete or nearly so. Propodeum with two submedian carinae. Outer rim of spiracle visible, not covered by a flap of the callus. Fore wing long and densely pilose. Submarginal vein bearing 1 dorsal thin hair.
Description. Female. Body length 2.3–2.7 mm. Head dark brown, with lighter brown markings at mouth margin. Antennal scape yellow-orange, dark brown on dorsal margin, pedicel ventrally yellow-orange, flagellum dark brown. Colour of mesosoma and gaster variable; mesoscutum at least with a dark brown patch anteromedially, remainder varying from yellow-orange to almost entirely dark brown; scutellum mainly yellow-orange, although submedian lines indicated by dark brown posteriorly; remainder of mesosomal structures generally a combination of orange-yellow to dark brown. All legs and coxae yellow-orange. Gaster varying from mainly dark brown to having extensive yellow-orange markings.
Face and frons with scattered, small, setigerous punctures ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 A). Scape longer than eye, with flattened ventral expansion and extending dorsally above level of vertex ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 B). All funicular segments longer than wide ( Fig. 1 View FIGURE 1 D). First funicular segment almost 6 × as long as wide, second and third funicular segments about 3.5 × as long as wide. Clava three segmented, about 5 × as long as wide. Mesoscutum largely smooth anteriorly, weakly posteriorly ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 A), without a median line or groove, but with deep notauli, and with 1 or -2 adnotaular setae ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C). Scutellum with submedian grooves weakened to absent ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C). Dorsellum with large median plate ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C). Propodeum with paired carinae medially, which diverge posteriorly, area between carinae sunken anteriorly ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C). Fore wing with a single seta on the dorsal surface of the submarginal vein
Male. Body length 1.5–1.7 mm. Head, body and gaster predominantly dark brown, with relatively few lighter markings. Fore coxa yellow-orange, middle and hind coxa dark brown. Legs yellow-orange. Base of each funicular segment swollen, tapering apically. First three funicular segments 3.4–3.6 × longer than widest part, fourth funicular segment about 3.0 × longer than widest part. Clava three segmented, 3.5 × longer than widest part.
Etymology. The species name is indicative of the mutualistic relationship seen in this gall community.
Material examined. Holotype ♀: CAMEROON, 1 km W of the village N'kolo-Bondé, c. 200 m from the Béla - Bipindi road, (03°13'N, 10°15'E, 90 m asl), ex galls on Bikinia letestui (Pellegr.) Wieringa subsp. letestui ( Fabaceae : Caesalpinioideae ) ( CBGP). 50♀, 20♂ paratypes: same collection date as holotype (1♀, SAMC; 4♀, 3♂ ANIC; 2♀, MNHN; 2♀, PPRI and 41♀, 17♂, CBGP).
Discussion. Gallastichus mutuus is unusual in that it induces galls in extrafloral nectaries on new leaves. Chalcidoid gall-inducers are known to induce galls in a variety of plant tissues and organs, such as leaves, stems, ovaries, seeds ( La Salle 2005), and in one case even the elaiosomes associated with seeds ( Hardwick et al. 2005). However, this is the first recorded instance of a chalcidoid gall being induced in extrafloral nectaries.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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