Cremnops shenefelti Marsh

Tucker, Erika M., Chapman, Eric G. & Sharkey, Michael J., 2015, A revision of the New World species of Cremnops Förster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae), Zootaxa 3916 (1), pp. 1-83 : 67-68

Cremnops shenefelti Marsh

[ Plate 23 , Figs A–I]

Cremnops shenefelti Marsh, 1961 . Male.

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished by a broad femur, many hind tibial spines (8–15), mandible with a long apical tooth, and weak scutal flange.

Description. Holotype: male. Body length 7 mm (6–8 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Thirty-six (35–39) flagellomeres. Lateral carina of frons strong, ending immediately anteriad lateral ocellus. Interocellar space not elevated, level with lateral ocelli. Malar space 1.0x (0.7–1.1x) eye height. Mandible with a slight basal projection, but without a distinct basal lobe.

Mesosoma (Figs D, E & H). Subpronopes adjacent, separated by a partition wider than the longitudinal length of the dorsomedial portion of pronotum. Median mesonotal lobe not depressed medially. Notaulus smooth. Scutellar sulcus with 3 (1–3) longitudinal carinae. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange not prominent; rather: 90° to obtuse (to lobed). Mesoscutellar trough with longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough without extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 3 (2–4) pits (often weak and merging into one or two elongate grooves); about 1/ 2x (1/3–1/ 2x) length of mesopleuron. Discrimen foveolate (to smooth). Medial propodeal areola with 3 (3–4) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral 1/3.

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 2.5x width. Trochantellar carina absent. Distal tibia with 13 (8–15) spines. Inner tooth of inner and outer claws asymmetrical, broad, angled quadrangular-shaped.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Hyaline with melanic tint; veins melanic; stigma melanic. 2nd submarginal cell about as high as wide. Hyaline spot in anterior part of 1st submarginal cell and basal part of 2nd discal cell.

Metasoma (Figs A & B). 1st median tergite length about 1.5x apical width, apical width about 2x basal width.

Body Color Orange, except black as follows: head, pronotum, propleuron, ventral 2/3 of mesopleuron, fore and mid leg, hind trochanter, trochantellus, tibia, and tarsus.

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Adults Collected —March, June & July.

Geographic Range —CA, NV, and one specimen from TX. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. This species resembles C. haematodes and C. californicus , but can be differentiated by the upcurved sternaulus (as opposed to straight), mandible with only a slight basal lobe (instead of distinct), and broad hind femur (1.5–2.0x instead of 3.0–4.0x width).

Etymology. Named for Roy D. Shenefelt, Professor of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin ( Marsh 1961).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: Cremnops shenefelti , male, Kyle Cn, Charleston Mts. Nevada, vi-4 –194, Type No. 6901, ( CAS) (H8921). Paratype, male, Kyle Cn, Charleston Mts. Nevada, vi-3 –194, ( CNC). Non-Types: 2 ( ESSIG), 2 ( FSCA), 1 ( UCDC), 1 ( UAIC). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 23. Cremnops shenefelti. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face with mandible insert; G. wings; H. propodeum; I. hind leg.