Hydrophylita (Lutzimicron) neusae Querino and Pinto

Querino, Ranyse B. & Pinto, John D., 2007, A new Hydrophylita (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) from the Neotropics, with a key to species, Zootaxa 1437, pp. 47-54 : 48-52

Hydrophylita (Lutzimicron) neusae Querino and Pinto , new species

( Figures 1–2 , 5A )

Diagnosis. Antenna with two anelli, A1 cupuliform; first funicular segment longer than second; female with third club segment no more than c. 3x as long as wide. Maxillary palp two-segmented. Propodeum almost 1.5x longer than scutellum. Forewings c. 6x as long as wide, densely setose, setae not arranged in tracks, longest fringe setae elongate, at least 1.5x forewing width. Hind wing elongate and extremely narrow, with 3 complete setal tracks. Ovipositor length less than 2.5x HTL.

Description. Shape slender, elongate. Body length to apex of last tergum 0.5–0.6 mm in both sexes, 0.6– 0.7 mm to end of ovipositor in female. Color primarily dark brown with legs and venter of mesosoma lighter; eyes very dark, deep red. Head 1.1–1.2x as wide as long, c. 1.2x as wide as mesosoma; mesosoma and metasoma subequal in length. Female. Head. Antenna elongate ( Figs. 1 A–F), narrow, arising slightly above level of ventral margin of eyes, two anelli (A), funicle (F) two-segmented, club (C) three-segmented; scape slightly swollen ( Fig. 1 B); relative length of scape, pedicel, funicle and club 5:3:6:10; A1 cupuliform, A2 subquadrate ( Fig. 1 C); F1 1.2–1.4x length of F2 ( Fig. 1 D), F2 subequal in length to C1 ( Fig. 1 E); C1 shortest club segment, C3 the longest and 1.5–1.9x length of C1, C3 also considerably longer than either funicular segment; length/width of segments: scape 2.1–2.5, pedicel 1.5–2.0, F1 3.8–4.4, F2 2.5–3.1, C1 1.9–2.3, C2 2.1–2.6, C3 2.6–3.1. Antenna primarily with scattered setiform sensilla and narrowly fusiform BPS, distribution and types of sensilla by segment as follows: scape and pedicel with scattered, moderately long APB only; funicular segments each with elongate APB and APA, and a pair of BPS at apex; C1 as funicular segments but also with 1 FS and 1 elongate PLS, PLS spinelike, free, except at base; C2 as C1 except with only 1 BPS at apex, shorter APA, and with 2 PLS, one spinelike and entirely free of antennal surface except at base ( Fig. 1 F), the other appressed to antennal surface from base to apical fifth of segment, its apical half free and spinelike; C3 with numerous (7–8) relatively short APA, 2 APB at base and 1 near apex, 1 BPS at apex, and 4 PLS (2 spinelike and entirely free of surface, 1 appressed to segment entire length except at very apex which extends slightly beyond tip of segment, and 1 appressed to segment only at basal 0.6), also with two large subapical spatulate sensilla, 1 curved sensillum (RS) basal to spatulate sensilla which narrows abruptly and is setiform at its apical half, and a setiform UPP at very apex of segment. Maxillary palp with segment II c. half length of I, segment II with 2 unequal setae and a digitiform sensillum at apex, sensillum and the shorter seta slightly shorter than segment I, the longer seta at least 2x length of I.

Mesosoma. Midlobe of mesoscutum abruptly narrowing to base, width at base c. 0.5x that in apical half, surface finely reticulate, reticulae not imbricate, without obvious sculpturing within, midlobe with two pairs of elongate and subequal setae; scutellum similarly sculptured and also with two pairs of elongate setae, posterior pair subequal in length to those of midlobe and 1.3–1.5x length of anterior pair. Propodeum large, elongate, c. 1.4x and 5.4x scutellar and metanotal length, respectively. Forewing ( Figs. 1 G–H) relatively narrow, subspatulate, 5.8–6.3x as long as wide, narrowly rounded at apex, margin at retinaculum noticeably arcuate; membrane slightly fumose, densely setose, setae moderately elongate and not arranged in linear tracks except for a short basal track of 2–5 setae; fringe setae elongate on all margins, those on antero- and posteroapical margins subequal, the longest 1.5–1.9x FWW; venation extending 0.5x FWL, PM and MV confluent, MV and SV subequal in length (transition from MV to SV difficult to discern), PM with 2 campaniform sensilla at apex and 2 setae, sensilla relatively large and distinctly separated, SV slightly and gradually widening to apex, without a distinct stigma, MV with 3 elongate setae on anterodorsal margin. Hind wing elongate, narrow, c. 20x as long as wide, with 3 complete setal tracks, posterior fringe setae considerably longer than those on anterior margin, c. 5x wing width. Hind tibia c. 1.3x hind tarsal length, 3.4–3.9x length of first tarsomere; middle tibia longer and its tarsi shorter (c. 1.8x tarsal length); tarsomeres of each leg subequal in length.

Metasoma. Ovipositor long ( Figs. 1 I–J), extending entire length of metasoma but only slightly beyond its apex, extending anterior to gonangulae; OL/HTL (2.0–2.3), gonoplac c. 0.3x OL.

Male. Differs from female as follows: antenna ( Fig. 2 A) with funicle usually much longer, 1.2–1.3x club length (see Variation), C1 slightly longer than C2 and C3, respectively, both funicular segments considerably longer than any of the club segments (e.g. F1 1.5–2.0x length of C3); length/width of segments: scape 2.2–2.4, pedicel 1.6–2.0, F1 4.7–5.0, F2 4.9–5.0, C1 2.8–3.2, C2 2.0–2.1, C3 2.6–3.1. Antennal sensilla: APA and APB absent from funicle and club; funicular segments and C1 each with 9–12 elongate FS, longest FS 3.0– 3.4x C2 width; C2 with 6–7 FS and 1 PLS, basal half of PLS appressed to segment, its apical half free, spinelike; C3 with 4 FS and 2 PLS, FS narrowing abruptly to a setiform apex, PLS with basal half appressed to surface, apical half free, spinelike. Genitalia elongate; genital capsule (GC) relatively narrow ( Fig. 2 E), widest at basal half; aedeagus elongate, much longer than GC (1.5–1.8x GL) and subequal to HTL; apodemes comprising 0.4–0.5 AL; GC with VS extending c. half length of PAR; PAR each with an apical and subapical seta; VS with distinct digital spines.

Va r ia ti o n. The funicle of males is typically longer than the club (1.2–1.3x as long). In a single male from Rodeo, Costa Rica, the funicle is only slightly longer (1.04x as long). Several other males collected at the same time from this location are typical.

Types. Holotype female. BRASIL. Amazonas: Manaus; Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve; Igarapé Barro Branco; 23-iv-2003; ex. unidentified Odonata (Zygoptera) eggs on Thurnia sphaerocephala Hook. (Thurniaceae) ; Neusa Hamada & Ranyse B. Querino collrs.; deposited in INPA, AM. Eight female paratypes, same data as holotype, deposited as follows: INPA (4); UCRC (1); BMNH (1); NMNH (1); MLPA (1). All except three paratypes are mounted on slides. The general habitat at the type locality is typical terra firme forest.

Etymology. Named after Dra. Neusa Hamada in recognition of her contributions to the study of aquatic insects in the Brasilian Amazon.

Material examined. Representatives of all series listed are on deposit at UCRC; those also occurring in other collections are indicated below.

BELIZE. Stann Creek: Cockscombe Wildlife Refuge; xi-25-2001; YPT in creek; 1Ψ; L. Masner. Toledo: Maya Mts. (Bladen Branch Forest Res., 150m); PT/MT; 1989; 2Ψ; M. Williamson. BOLIVIA. La Paz: Cuimbre Alto Beni (1600m); 15.28°S, 65.25°W; iv.14 –21.2004; MT, forest edge; 1Ψ; B. Brown/E. Zumbado. BRASIL. Amazonas: Manaus, Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve (Barro Branco Igarapé); iv-23-2003; see Types. Goiás: Campinaçu; 13°52.0’S, 48°23.2’W; ii.21 –22.1996; YPT by creek; 4Ψ; Serra da Mesa Survey ( OSU). COSTA RICA. Guanacaste: Guanacaste Conservation Area (Rio Murcielago, 100m); iii.10 –14.1996; YPT; 5Ψ, 5ɗ; L. Masner ( CNC). Heredia: La Selva (Sura Creek); Berlese, leaf drift; iv-25-1996; 1Ψ; Perkins. Limón: 16 km W Guapiles (400m); i/ iii-1990, i/ iv-1991; 3Ψ; P. Hanson. R.B. Hitoy Cerere (100m); i.13 – 24.1991; 1Ψ; J. Noyes. Puntarenas: Monte Verde (1400m); xii-5-1998; 1Ψ; V. Grebennikov. RF Golfo Dulce, 24 km W Piedras Blancas (200m); vi–viii.2001; 1Ψ; P. Hanson. San Jose: Rodeo (nr. Ciudad Colon) (900m); viii-23-1998; YPT in creek bed; 10Ψ, 13ɗ; L. Masner ( CNC). DOMINICA. St. Paul Parish: Springfield Estate (505m); x.20 –27.1994; YPT; 2Ψ; L. Masner ( CNC). ECUADOR. Napo: El Chaco (2000m); ii- 1983; 1Ψ; L. Masner/M. Sharkey. Sucumbios River (Sacha Lodge); 0°30’S, 76°30’W; vi.18 –23.1994; MT; 1Ψ; P. Hibbs. PANAMA. Veraguas: 1.3 km S Santa Fe (300m); 8°30’00”N, 81°04’21”W; xii-31-2000 / i-3- 2001; YPT in creek bed; 1Ψ, 1ɗ; L. Masner.

Host. Unidentified Odonata (Zygoptera) . Host eggs were observed on submerged leaves of Thurnia sphaerocephala at the type locality. These eggs were maintained in plastic cages and in a few days larvae of Zygoptera and specimens of H. neusae were observed walking on the submerged leaves. Hydrophylita neusae was also seen on the walls of the cages and swimming among the leaves using its legs and wings. The H. neusae emerge underwater and then swim up to the surface.

The other three species of Hydrophylita also are known from Zygoptera eggs. Hydrophylita aquivolans was taken from eggs of Ischnura sp. ( Matheson & Crosby 1912); H. bachmanni is known from eggs of an unidentified Zygoptera on leaves of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. (Amaranthaceae) ( De Santis 1964); and H. lestesi was reported from eggs of Lestes sp. on leaves of Hedychium coronarium König (Zingiberarceae) ( Lima 1960) .

Comments. The only other described species likely to be confused with H. neusae is H. lestesi . An examination of the type material of H. lestesi as well as its original description verify that they are distinct. The two are separated in the key to species below. Hydrophylita lestesi is known from type material only [(4 female syntypes examined: 1 female (slide 131), antenna and wings (slide 133), 3 females (slide 134)]. An undescribed species from Bolivia (near Chulumani; Dept: La Paz), also separated from H. neusae in the key (as Hydrophylita sp. A) ( Fig. 5 B), is perhaps more closely related. It currently is known only from a few specimens.

We note that males of H. neusae are not uncommon in collections from Central America (see above). However, they have not been collected from the type locality in Brasil where almost 800 specimens, all females, have been collected. Several illustrations of H. neusae , a then unnamed species, were used in Pinto (2006; Figs. 15, 114b, 170, 203 and 204) to characterize the genus and subgenus Lutzimicron .

The types of H. bachmanni (Museo de La Plata) and H. lestesi (Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro “Escola Nacional de Agronomia”) were examined and are illustrated ( Figs. 3 and 4 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Hydrophylita neusae female: A. antenna. B. scape. C. pedicel and anelli (a 1 cupuliform, a 2 subquadrate). D. detail of first funicular segment (arrow indicates fusiform BPS). E. detail of second funicular (arrow) and first club segments. F. second and third club segments (arrow indicates spinelike PLS on C 2). G. wings. H. detail of forewing base with 3 elongate setae on anterodorsal margin of marginal vein. I. habitus. J. metasoma, detail of ovipositor.

FIGURE 2. Hydrophylita neusae, male: A. antenna. B. fore wing. C. hindwing. D. habitus. E. male genitalia.

FIGURE 3. Hydrophylita bachmanni: A. antenna of female. B. scape, pedicel and anelli (arrows at a 1, a 2). C. detail of club (arrow to PLS on C 1). D. Wings. E. antenna of male. F. detail of male genitalia.

FIGURE 4. Hydrophylita lestesi: A. habitus. B. forewing. C. antenna of female. D. detail of first and second funicular segment.

FIGURE 5. A. habitus of Hydrophylita neusae (female), arrow at ovipositor. B. habitus of Hydrophylita sp. A (female), arrow at ovipositor.