Apsilocera acuticristata Mitroiu

Mitroiu, Mircea-Dan & Achterberg, Cornelis Van, 2013, Revision of the Oriental species of Apsilocera Bouček (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae), with description of twelve new species, Zootaxa 3717 (4), pp. 448-468 : 451-455

Apsilocera acuticristata Mitroiu & van Achterberg, sp. n.

( Figs 1 , 19 )

Type material. Holotype, ♀ (RMNH), “ MALAYSIA: SW Sabah, nr Long Pa Sia, Payakalaba, 25.xi–1.xii. 1987, c. 1010 m, Mal. trap 16, C. v. Achterberg, RMNH’87”. Paratype (1 ♀, RMNH): “N. VIETNAM: Ninh Binh, Cuc Phuong N.P., nr entrance, c 225 m, 15.iv–1.v.2000, Mal. tr. II, Mai Phu Quy, RMNH’00”.

Diagnosis. Head almost as high as wide in anterior view, with one crest composed of small sharp teeth running between posterior ocelli and anterior ocellus, from one eye to the other; clypeal margin slightly emarginate and narrow ( Fig. 1 ); each funicular segment with one row of sensilla; clava brown ( Fig. 19 ); distal tooth of mandible rounded ( Fig. 19 ). Mesosoma dorsally arched; fore coxa mainly dark, mid and hind coxae pale yellow, the latter with a large dark spot basally; fore wing hyaline. Metasoma dorsally brown except small pale basal depression ( Fig. 1 ).

Description. Holotype, ♀, body length: 2 mm. Colour ( Fig. 1 ): head black, with slight blue green metallic reflections; eyes reddish, ocelli whitish; scape reddish-yellow in distal half, lighter proximally; pedicel reddishyellow; flagellum uniformly light brown; mandible reddish-yellow, teeth reddish-brown. Mesosoma black, with slight olive green reflections; propodeum slightly bluish; wings hyaline; tegula reddish-brown, venation light brown; fore coxa mainly dark, mid and hind coxae pale yellow, the latter with a large dark spot basally; trochanters, proximal third of femora (less than one third on fore femur), and tibiae pale yellow (fore tibia slightly darker); most of femora and tarsi reddish brown, tips of tarsi darker. Metasoma dorsally and laterally brown; first tergite with a small yellowish depression at base; ventral side of metasoma yellowish at base; ovipositor sheaths brown.

Head ( Figs 1 , 19 ) almost as high as wide in anterior view, with one crest composed of small sharp teeth running between posterior ocelli and anterior one, from one eye to the other; clypeal margin slightly emarginate and narrow; gena moderately receding towards mouth, not hollowed at mouth corner ( Fig. 19 ); temple very short; occiput slightly emarginate; each funicular segment with one row of dense sensilla ( Fig. 1 ); distal tooth of mandible rounded ( Fig. 19 ). Relative measurements—length: 23; width: 52; height: 49; POL: 13; OOL: 12; eye height: 24; eye length: 17; malar space: 12.5; mouth width: 23; distance between clypeal margin and toruli: 33; scape length: 25; pedicel length: 5; pedicel width: 3.5; pedicel plus flagellum: 57; F1 length: 7; F1 width: 5; F6 length: 7; F6 width: 5; clava length: 15; clava width: 5.

Mesosoma dorsally arched ( Fig. 1 ); propodeum almost smooth; fore wing with basal cell bare, open below; basal vein pilose; ventral side of costal cell with one row of hairs, and a few additional hairs in distal part; speculum barely reaching proximal end of M; stigma elongated ( Fig. 1 ). Relative measurements—length: 48; width: 42; height: 35; mesoscutum length: 17; scutellum length: 19; scutellum width: 20; propodeum length: 8; fore wing length: 115; fore wing width: 52; M: 26; S: 14; P: 30.

Metasoma short ovate ( Fig. 1 ); basal tergite with small depression at base; ovipositor sheaths not visible in dorsal view. Relative measurements—length: 55; width: 43; length of first tergite: 21; distance from base of metasoma to tip of hypopygium: 30.

Variability. Not conspicuous in the available material.

Distribution. Vietnam, Malaysia.

Hosts. Unknown.

Etymology. The name is derived from the Latin words “ acutus ” (sharp, pointed) and “ cristatus ” (crested) and refers to the shape of the head crest, which is formed by small sharp teeth.

Comments. Apsilocera acuticristata belongs to a group of species having conspicuous crests on vertex, but it is very distinct because it has one continuous crest instead of two, composed of small sharp teeth ( Fig. 19 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Apsilocera spp., female, holotype, lateral view. 1 A. acuticristata; 2 A. bicristata; 3 A. cornuta; 4 A. dentata; 5 A. dupla; 6 A. elongata.

FIGURES 19 – 24. Apsilocera spp., female, holotype, head in anterior view. 19 A. acuticristata; 20 A. bicristata; 21 A. cornuta; 22 A. dentata; 23 A. dupla; 24 A. elongata.