Aphelagathis verticalis (Cresson)

Sharkey, Michael J., Chapman, Eric G., Janzen, Daniel H., Hallwachs, Winnie & Smith, M. Alex, 2015, Revision of Aphelagathis (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Agathidinae, Agathidini), Zootaxa 4000 (1), pp. 73-89 : 85-86

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4000.1.3

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E91C9EBA-8176-4A5F-8185-4ECC6FE1BD02

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6100191

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/AE2C87CD-FFFD-FFD9-998B-FBBAFEE18A12

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Aphelagathis verticalis (Cresson)
status

 

Aphelagathis verticalis (Cresson)

( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 )

Microdus verticalis Cresson 1872

Diagnosis. Predominantly yellow with extensive propodeal sculpture. This is the only species with a predominantly pale head and thorax that occurs in the eastern USA.

Description. Body length 5.9. Fore wing length 5.0. Ovipositor length 3.3. Body color pale, yellowish orange, except black as follows: most of scape, ocellar triangle, antennal pits, occiput near foramen, parts of tarsus of mid leg, apex of hind femur, subbasal spot on hind tibia, apex of hind tibia, most of hind tarsus (specimens vary from slightly lighter to much more melanic ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 E, F); scape varies from almost completely yellow to completely melanic, melanic color on head may be restricted to small spots on antennal base or the dorsal half of the head may be melanic ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 F); prothorax black, mesopleuron black dorsally; propodeum and parts of metanotum and metapleuron black, posterolateral edges of mesoscutum black, subbasal spot on hind tibia variable, often absent). 45 flagellomeres. Fore wing moderately and evenly infuscate. Propodeum mostly smooth anteriorly and increasingly more rugose posteriorly, with a median cell defined by a pair of irregular longitudinal carinae that diverge posteriorly (almost completely sculptured in some paratypes, the holotype represents the lower limit of sculpture; medial cell may be weakly defined). Cub of hind wing moderately pigmented.

Host Data. A series of 8 specimens of A. verticalis from Louisiana was reared from Ancyloxypha numitor [ Hesperiidae ], the least skipper. Because this is an introduced hesperiine grass-eating hesperiid and because all Aphelagathis are restricted to the New World, there are almost certainly other hosts. The host is widespread over all of the eastern USA and south eastern Canada. Judging by the specimens of A. verticalis that we have examined, its range is confined to an area within that of the known host, A. numitor . The host favors damp grasses in wet habitats ( Cech and Tudor, 2005) and feeds on a variety of grasses such as marsh millet ( Zizaniopsis miliacea (Michx.)) , rice cutgrass ( Leersia oryzoides (L.)), and cultivated rice ( Oryza sativa L.).

Specimens examined. Neotype ♀, USA, Kentucky, Hopkins Co., Thomas Farm, Malaise trap, swamp, 37° 20.357N: 87° 41.281W, 13–29.ix.2010, H7739 (HIC). Other specimens examined. USA, Kentucky: 1♂, Jessamine Co., 1.viii.1894, [det. by Ashmead as Microdus verticalis Cr. ] (UKIC). 19♀, 19♂, 37°20’N, 87°41’W, 3.vi-29.ix.2010, H7253, H7255, H7289, H7290, H7293, H7298, H7305, H7325, H7352, H7353, H7364, H7365, H7403, H7406, H7409, H7418, H7431, H7434, H7437, H7446, H7463, H7496, H7534, H7537, H7538, H7542, H7568, H7572, H7573, H7578, H7584, H7586, H7587, H7593, H7706, H7742, H7744, H7748 (HIC). Illinois: 3♀, 7♂, 41°42’26.91”N, 81°11’12.79”W, 10.vii-2.ix.2010, H7684, H7686, H7687, H7688, H7692, H7693, H7696, H7697, H7698, H7699 (HIC). Tennessee: 7♂, 83°50’17”W, 35°35’31”N, 18.vi-2.vii.2001. Louisiana: 5♀, 3♂, Crowley [misspelt as ‘Crawley’ on labels], ex: Ancyloxypha numitor [ Hesperiidae ], 30°12’50”N, 93°22’28”W, 18.viii.1978 (USNM). Georgia: 1♀, 32°09’41”N, 81°54’14”W, 27.viii.1960 (USNM). Florida: 3♀, 1♂, 27°10’58”N, 81°21’07”W, 9–13.x.1964 (CAS). 5♀, 28°26’44”N, 81°32’21”W. 30.vii-5.xii.1996 (UCFC). 3♀, 28°23’06”N, 81°33’49”W, 21.viii-7.xi.1996 (UCFC). 2♀, 1♂, 28°36’08”N, 81°12’00”W, 30.ix.1977, 30.ix.1992 and 26.ix.1993 (UCFC). 2♀, 1♂, 28°36’43”N, 80°48’27”W, 14–28.ix.2000, 4–18.iv.2001, and 16–31.x.2000 (UCFC). 1♂, 30°39’22”N, 84°12’32”W, 29.iv.1970 (FSCA). 1♀, 29°38’05”N, 82°22’17”W, 27.ix.1973 (FSCA). 1♀, 29°44’48”N, 82°26’34”W, 16.v.1977 (UCDC).

Molecular data. H7463 ( KR 140158 View Materials ), H7697 (ATRMK434-11), H7739 (ATRMK458-11), H11323 ( KP943636 View Materials ).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Braconidae

Genus

Aphelagathis

GBIF Dataset (for parent article) Darwin Core Archive (for parent article) View in SIBiLS Plain XML RDF