Trissolcus brochymenae (Ashmead)

Talamas, Elijah J., Johnson, Norman F. & Buffington, Matthew, 2015, Key to Nearctic species of Trissolcus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), natural enemies of native and invasive stink bugs (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 43, pp. 45-110 : 61-63

Trissolcus brochymenae (Ashmead)

Figures 38-41 , 44-45

Telenomus Crochymenae Ashmead, 1881: 181 (original description, spelling error).

Telenomus brochymenae Ashmead: Ashmead 1887: 118 (emendation).

Trissolcus brochymenae (Ashmead): Ashmead 1893: 162, 164 (generic transfer, description, keyed); Brues 1916: 549, 550 (description, keyed); Kieffer 1926: 127, 129 (description, keyed); Masner 1964: 146 (variation); Masner and Muesebeck 1968: 72 (lectotype designation); Johnson 1984: 799 (description, synonymy, keyed); Johnson 1987: 289, 298 (diagnosis, variation, synonymy, keyed).

Trissolcus murgantiae Ashmead, 1893: 162, 163 (original description, keyed, synonymized by Johnson (1984)); Brues 1916: 549, 550 (description, keyed); Kieffer 1926: 127, 128 (description, keyed); Masner and Muesebeck 1968: 73 (lectotype designation); Johnson 1984: 799 (junior synonym of Trissolcus brochymenae (Ashmead)).

Trissolcus rufiscapus Ashmead, 1893: 162, 163 (original description, keyed, synonymized by Johnson (1984)); Kieffer 1926: 127, 129 (description, keyed); Masner and Muesebeck 1968: 73 (type information); Johnson 1984: 799 (junior synonym of Trissolcus brochymenae (Ashmead)).

Trissolcus laticeps Ashmead, 1894: 212 (original description, synonymized by Johnson (1987)); Ashmead 1900: 326 (distribution); Kieffer 1926: 127, 130 (description, keyed); Masner 1965: 126 (type information); Johnson 1983: 448 (lectotype designation); Johnson 1987: 298 (junior synonym of Trissolcus brochymenae (Ashmead)).

Neotype designation.

The last known examination of the lectotype of T. brochymenae was by Johnson (1984) in his revision of the Trissolcus flavipes species group. The specimen was returned to USNM intact but presently consists of a pin, labels, and an empty point. Trissolcus brochymenae is the type species of Trissolcus and we consider the designation of a neotype to be important for the stability of both the genus and species names. Additionally, T. brochymenae is a morphologically variable species with a geographic distribution that spans the United States. A case study of cryptic species within Trissolcus was recently presented by Matsuo et al. (2014) and a similar phenomenon may exist in other species, including T. brochymenae . Trissolcus brochymenae is morphologically very close to T. euschisti , separable by only a few characters, and in our opinion this increases the need for an objective neotype. The specimen selected for this purpose was originally a syntype, reared from the same egg mass as the lectotype and is consistent with Ashmead’s original description and the most thorough treatment of the species ( Johnson 1984). In accordance with article 75 of The Code we hereby designate specimen USNMENT00965611 (Figs 38-41 ) as the neotype of Trissolcus brochymenae , deposited in the insect collection of the National Musuem of Natural History (USNM).

Diagnosis.

Trissolcus brochymenae is most similar to T. euschisti and may be distinguished from it by the strongly rugulose ventral portion of the mesepisternum anterior to the mesopleural carina (Figs 44-45 ). This species is also similar to T. euschisti in that it shows a great deal of variability, presumably in association with its wide geographic distribution and host range.

Link to distribution map.

[http://hol.osu.edu/map-large.html?id=3195]

Associations.

emerged from Acrosternum hilare (Say): [ Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomoidea : Pentatomidae ]; emerged from egg of Acrosternum impicticorne ( Stål): [ Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomoidea : Pentatomidae ]; emerged from egg of Brochymena arborea (Say): [ Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomoidea : Pentatomidae ]; collected on Hydrangea L.: [ Rosales : Hydrangeaceae ]; emerged from Murgantia histrionica (Hahn): [ Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomoidea : Pentatomidae ]; emerged from egg of Murgantia histrionica (Hahn): [ Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomoidea : Pentatomidae ]; emerged from egg of Piezodorus guildini (Westwood): [ Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomoidea : Pentatomidae ]; emerged from egg of Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood): [ Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomoidea : Pentatomidae ]; emerged from sentinel egg mass of Podisus maculiventris (Say): [ Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomoidea : Pentatomidae ]; emerged from egg of Podisus nigrolimbatus (Spinola): [ Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomoidea : Pentatomidae ]; collected on Prosopis L.: [ Fabales : Fabaceae ]; collected on cotton: [ Malvales : Malvaceae ]; collected on rose: [ Rosales : Rosaceae ]; collected on soybean: [ Fabales : Fabaceae ]; living in soybean: [ Fabales : Fabaceae ]; emerged from egg of stink bug: [ Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Pentatomoidea : Pentatomidae ]; collected on turnip greens: [ Capparales : Brassicaceae ]; collected on wax myrtle: [ Myricales : Myricaceae ]

Material examined.

Neotype, female, T. brochymenae : UNITED STATES: FL, Duval Co., Jacksonville, no date, reared from egg, W. H. Ashmead, USNMENT00965611 (deposited in USNM). Lectotype, female, T. laticeps : SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES: Saint Vincent Island, no date, H. H. Smith, USNM Type No. 2526 (deposited in USNM). Lectotype, female, T. murgantiae : UNITED STATES: LA, East Baton Rouge Parish, Baton Rouge, no date, reared from egg, H. A. Morgan, USNMENT00989032 (deposited in USNM). Holotype, female, T. rufiscapus : UNITED STATES: Washington, 12.IV.1885, USNMENT00989047 (deposited in USNM). Paralectotype: UNITED STATES: 1 female, USNM Type No. 2231 PLT (USNM). Other material: (71 females, 2 males, 236 sex unrecorded) BRAZIL: 159 sex unrecorded, OSUC 398724-398725 (CNCI); OSUC 373344-373345, 495206-495305, 75445-75499 (OSUC). COLOMBIA: 1 sex unrecorded, OSUC 398719 (CNCI). COSTA RICA: 7 sex unrecorded, OSUC 398702-398703, 398714 (CNCI); OSUC 142482-142485 (OSUC). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 4 sex unrecorded, OSUC 398710-398712, 398716 (CNCI). GUATEMALA: 1 sex unrecorded, OSUC 398718 (CNCI). HONDURAS: 1 sex unrecorded, OSUC 398717 (CNCI). JAMAICA: 3 sex unrecorded, OSUC 398708-398709, 398713 (CNCI). TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: 2 sex unrecorded, OSUC 398706-398707 (CNCI). UNITED STATES: 71 females, 2 males, 45 sex unrecorded, OSUC 17821 (BMNH); OSUC 398679-398688 (CNCI); OSUC 436701 (LACM); OSUC 145555, 157494-157503, 266797, 413700-413703, 413709-413713, 523852-523855, 523857-523861, 523864-523865, 523904-523923, 523931, 523933, 523935-523937, 523940, 523942, 523944, 542440, 542442, 542445, 542450, 542453-542454, 62796, 70464-70465, 75434-75444, 76425-76426 (OSUC); BMSB 1216-1217, OSUC 145648, USNMENT00872091, USNMENT00872092-USNMENT00872095, USNMENT00989146-USNMENT00989149, USNMENT00989160-USNMENT00989170, USNMENT00989173 (USNM). VENEZUELA: 5 sex unrecorded, OSUC 398704, 398720-398723 (CNCI). VIRGIN ISLANDS: 2 sex unrecorded, OSUC 398705, 398715 (CNCI).

Figures

Figures 38 - 41. 30 Trissolcus brochymenae, female neotype (USNMENT 00954611) 38 lateral habitus 39 dorsal habitus 40 head, anterior view 41 head and mesosoma, anterolateral view. Scale bars in millimeters.

Figures 42 - 45. 31 42 T. euschisti female (OSUC 523902), mesosoma, ventrolateral view 43 T. euschisti female (OSUC 404912), mesosoma, ventrolateral view 44 T. brochymenae (BMSB 1216), mesosoma, anterolateral view 45 T. brochymenae (USNMENT 00896401), mesosoma, ventrolateral view. Scale bars in millimeters.