Cremnops ferrugineus ( Cameron )

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 : 52-53

Cremnops ferrugineus ( Cameron)

[ Plate 12 , Figs A–I]

Agathis ferrugineus Cameron, 1887 . Female.

Agathis ferruginea Shenefelt, 1970 . Synonymized by Berta de Fernandez, 1998. Cremnops turrialbae Berta de Fernandez, 1998. NEW SYNONYMY.

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished by the carina on the hind trochantellus, wide subpronopes partition, short malar space, symmetrical hind claw inner teeth, and a couple, often weak, sternaulus pits.

Description. Holotype: female. Body length 7.5 mm (6–8 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Antennae broken on type specimen, 38–41 flagellomeres. Lateral carina of frons weak, ending immediately anteriad lateral ocellus. Interocellar space not elevated, level with lateral ocelli. Malar space 0.7x (0.7–1.0x) eye height. Apical tooth of mandible not extending past margin of 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 depressed medially (sometimes weakly). Notaulus foveolate (usually smooth). Scutellar sulcus with 1 longitudinal carina. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange not prominent; rather: 90° to obtuse (to lobed). Mesoscutellar trough without longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough without extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 1 (to 4 weak) pit (s); about 1/ 4x (to 1/ 2x) length of mesopleuron. Medial propodeal areola with (2–4) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral margin.

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 3x width. Trochantellar carina present. Distal tibia with 2 spines. Inner tooth of inner and outer claws symmetrical, broad, angled quadrangular-shaped, with 4 basal pectines.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Hyaline with melanic tint; veins melanic; stigma melanic. 2nd submarginal cell slightly higher than wide (to 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 2x apical width, apical width about 1.5x basal width.

Body Color Orange, except brown as follows: distal hind tibia, 1st & 2nd tarsus, most of metasoma (metasoma usually all orange).

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Associate Plants —There are two records of adult specimens collected from coffee leaves, one in Nicaragua, the other in Costa Rica (from label on C. turrialbae holotype).

Adults Collected —May to November.

Geographic Range — Mexico south to Panama. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. This species is closely related to C. virginiensis and is difficult to distinguish morphologically. The most reliable character to separate C. ferrugineus from C. virginiensis is the symmetry of the hind claw inner basal lobe. Cremnops ferrugineus has symmetrical basal teeth, while those of C. virginiensis are asymmetrical. Cremnops ferrugineus is also primarily found in the Neotropical region, whereas C. virginiensis is generally found in the Nearctic region. Cremnops ferrugineus is similar to C. willinki as well, however, C. willinki has a narrow (instead of wide) subpronopes partition.

Etymology. Presumably named for its orange-red coloration.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: C. ferrugineus , female, Presidio, Mexico, B.M. Type Hym 3:624, ( BMNH) (H8913); C. turrialbae , female, coffee, Turrialba, Costa Rica, ix-26–1952, Emilio Viale, 42–52–52–13510, ( USNM) (H8922). Non-Types: 34 ( HIC), 13 ( ESSIG), 16 ( MCZ), 8 ( CNC), 17 ( FSCA), 12 ( NMHM). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 12. Cremnops ferrugineus. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face; G. wings; H. propodeum; I. hind leg with distal tibial spines insert.