Eulophinusia andreamezae Hansson, 2021

Hansson, Christer, Hallwachs, Winnie & Janzen, Daniel H., 2021, New distributional, biological and taxonomic information on the genus Eulophinusia Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Zootaxa 5047 (3), pp. 370-376 : 371-374

Eulophinusia andreamezae Hansson , sp. nov.

Figures 1–7 , 10

Diagnosis. Differs from E. cydippe (the type species of Eulophinusia ) in the setation and sculpture on midlobe of mesoscutum: with numerous scattered setae and with the socket of each seta surrounded by a large ring ( Fig. 6 ); E. cydippe has its setae in two rows and sockets lack rings ( Fig. 8 ).

Description (female holotype). Length of body 1.4 mm (paratypes 1.1–1.4 mm). Antenna ( Fig. 3 ) with scape white with a dark brown spot medially, pedicel and flagellum dark brown; flagellum stout with transverse flagellomeres, funicle 4-segmented and clava 2-segmented. Frons below frontal suture yellowish-white with two transverse dark brown bands, one level with antennal toruli and one just below frontal suture ( Fig. 5 ); with strong reticulation, smooth just below frontal suture. Vertex metallic bluish-green inside ocellar triangle, brown outside ocellar triangle, with strong reticulation. Occipital margin rounded.

Mesoscutum metallic bluish-green ( Fig. 2 ); with numerous scattered setae and with the socket of each seta surrounded by a raised ring ( Fig. 6 ); notauli indicated by a groove in anterior ⅓ ( Fig. 6 ); with strong reticulation. Mesoscutellum metallic bluish-green with lateral and posterior margins yellowish-white ( Fig. 2 ); flattened ( Figs 6, 7 ), 0.7× as long as wide, with sculpture similar to a jigsaw puzzle ( Fig. 7 ); without sublateral grooves or pit-rows; with two pairs of setae attached laterally. Axillae ( Fig. 2 ) metallic bluish-green with a yellowish-white band medially; strongly advanced forwards and with strong reticulation ( Fig. 6 ). Dorsellum ( Fig. 2 ) metallic bluish-green with posterior margin yellowish-white; triangular with weak reticulation and slightly convex, 1.0× as long as length of median propodeum. Propodeum ( Fig. 2 ) metallic bluish-green, with parts between spiracles with very weak reticulation and propodeal callus with strong reticulation ( Fig. 6 ), with a carina that follows posterior margin of dorsellum and with a complete median carina; propodeal callus with five setae. Legs ( Fig. 1 ) with coxae dark brown with metallic tinges; fore and mid femora white with ventral margin dark brown, hind femur dark brown with base white; fore and mid tibia white, hind tibia dark brown with apical ¼ white; tarsi white. Wings ( Fig. 1 ) hyaline, veins yellowish-brown and setae dark brown; fore wing with submarginal vein with seven setae on dorsal surface; speculum very small and closed posteriorly, separated from cubital line by several rows of setae; costal cell with a complete row of setae on ventral surface, and margin with eight setae in apical ⅓; basal cell bare; hind wing with apex rounded.

Petiole black and shiny, very short and transverse. Gaster ( Fig. 2 ) ovate, metallic purple, and smooth.

Ratios. Head: width/length (dorsal view) 2.33; width/length (frontal view) 1.35; shortest distance between posterior ocelli/ocelli and eyes 1.75; shortest distance between posterior ocelli /posterior ocellus width 2.33; head width/mesosoma width 0.97; mouth width/malar space 1.50; malar space/eye height 0.50; scape length/eye height 0.63; flagellum+pedicel length/mesosoma width 0.76; scape length/width 2.50; F1 length/width 0.90; F2 length/ width 0.58; F3 length/width 0.58; F4 length/width 0.58; clava length/width 1.33; clava width/F1 width 1.20; pedicel length/F1 length 0.78; F1 width/pedicel width 1.43. Mesosoma: length/width 1.36; midlobe of mesoscutum length/ mesoscutellum length 1.85; dorsellum length/propodeum length 1.0; mesoscutellum length/width 0.69; fore wing length/width 2.0; costal cell length/width 10.0; costal cell length/marginal vein length 1.20; marginal vein length/ stigmal vein length 3.33; postmarginal vein length/stigmal vein length 0.87. Metasoma: gaster length/width 1.57; gaster length/mesosoma length 1.12; Gt 7 length/width 0.40.

Male. Length of body 1.1 mm. Similar to female except a shorter gaster (length gaster/mesosoma = 1.1), and with a large white spot in anterior ½.

Ratios. Head: width/length (dorsal view) 2.41; width/length (frontal view) 1.26; shortest distance between posterior ocelli/ocelli and eyes 3.50; head width/mesosoma width 1.02; mouth width/malar space 2.10; malar space/eye height 0.38; scape length/eye height 0.73; flagellum+pedicel length/mesosoma width 0.96; scape length/width 2.71; F1 length/width 1.0; F2 length/width 0.88; F3 length/width 0.88; F4 length/width 0.78; clava length/width 1.67; clava width/F1 width 1.29. Mesosoma: length/width 1.35. Metasoma: gaster length/width 1.65; gaster length/mesosoma length 1.09.

Variation. Apart from some variation in size there is little variation in the material.

Hosts and biology. Hyperparasitoid on gregarious Hypomicrogaster largus Valerio ( Braconidae : Microgastrinae ) parasitizing caterpillar of Anadasmus Janzen 11 ( Lepidoptera : Depressariidae ) feeding on Ocotea insularis (Lauraceae) . The eulophid parasitoids emerged from the microgastrine cocoons attached to the leaf close to the lepidopteran host ( Fig. 10 ). Twenty-three females and two males of E. andreamezae emerged from one reared wildcaught caterpillar from ACG (Área de Conservación Guanacaste) rain forest.

Distribution. Canada, Costa Rica (Alajuela, Heredia & Puntarenas Provinces), Dominican Republic. DNA barcoding may possibly reveal a complex of sibling species, as being found to be the case with many other ACG parasitic small wasps (e.g. Smith et al. 2008).

Etymology. Named in honor of Ministra Andrea Meza Murillo of the Ministerio de Recursos Naturales y Energía de Costa Rica in recognition of her taking on this difficult ministerial task mid-government, and for being sympathetic to the peculiar needs of Área de Conservación Guanacaste for its survival.

Material. Holotype female labelled “ COSTA RICA, Alajuela, ACG, Sector San Cristobal, Puente Palma, 460m, 32°19’05’’N 38°55’10’’E, 21.iv.2009, G. Sihezar ”, “Ex Anadasmus sp. on Ocotea insularis ”, “Voucher: D.H. Janzen & W. Hallwachs, DB: http://janzen,sas,upenn.edu, Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, COSTA RICA, 09- SRNP-1545, DHJPAR0035556” in MZLU . Paratypes (27♀ 2♂): 22♀ 2♂ with same label data as holotype ( CNC, MZLU, MIUCR, NHMUK) ; 1♀ “ONT, Almonte , I.1968, MT, Denis Dumouchel” [= CANADA, Ontario] ( ANIC) ; 1♀ “ COSTA RICA, Heredia, Estación Biológica La Selva , 100-200m, LN264463/532850, 30-31.iii.2002, swept, J. Azofeifa” ( NHMUK) ; 1♀ “ COSTA RICA, Puntarenas, Estación Altamira, Sendero Los Gigantes , 1450m, 9º02’N 83º00’W, 7.ii-5.iii.2002, swept, C. Hansson & Parataxonomos” ( MZLU) ; 1♀ “ COSTA RICA, Puntarenas, Parque Nacional Corcovado, Estación Los Patos , 08°33’N 83°30’W, 200m, ii.2000, J.S. Noyes ” ( NHMUK) ; 1♀ “DO- MINICAN REPUBLIC, Barahona, Sierra de Bahoruca, Alcoa Road Km 25, 18.i.1989, L. Masner ” ( ANIC) .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Cocoons of Hypomicrogaster largus Valerio with exit holes from Eulophinusia andreamezae Hansson sp.nov. The unique code for this image is 09-SRNP-1545-DHJ474859.jpg.

FIGURES 1–5. Eulophinusia andreamezae Hansson sp. nov., paratypes; 1 body in lateral view, female; 2, body in dorsal view, female; 3, head+antennae in lateral view, female; 4, head+antennae in lateral view, male; 5, head in frontal view, female.

FIGURES 6–9. Eulophinusia spp., females; 6–7, E. andreamezae Hansson sp. nov., holotype (DHJPAR0035556); 6, thoracic dorsum; 7, meso-scutellum in dorsal view; 8–9, E. cydippe Girault, non-type; 8, thoracic dorsum; 9, mesoscutellum in dorsal view.