Cremnops melanopterus Ashmead

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 : 60-61

Cremnops melanopterus Ashmead

[ Plate 18 , Figs A–I]

Cremnops melanoptera Ashmead, 1894 . Male. Neotype.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished by the mandible appearing as one long tooth, smooth notauli, two hind tibial spines, and western North America distribution.

Description. Holotype: male. Body length 6.5 mm (6–8 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Antennae broken on type specimen, 35–40 flagellomeres. Lateral carina of frons weak, ending immediately anteriad lateral ocellus. Interocellar space not elevated, level with lateral ocelli. Malar space 1.0x (0.8–1.0x) eye height. Apical tooth of mandible extending well past margin of basal lobe, often appearing as one long tooth.

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, well defined (to almost absent). Scutellar sulcus with 1 longitudinal carina. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange not prominent; rather: 90° to obtuse (to lobed or reduced and blunt). Mesoscutellar trough with (to without) longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough without extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 1 (to 3) pit(s); about 1/ 4x (or less) length of mesopleuron. Medial propodeal areola with 2 (2–5) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral 1/3 (to 1/2).

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 3x width. Trochantellar carina absent. Distal tibia with 3 (2–3) spines.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Melanic, or 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: patches on mesoscutum and propodeum (to black patches on head, pronotum, mesopleuron, propodeum, and legs).

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Adults Collected —April to September.

Geographic Range —Primarily the Rocky Mountains westward, British Columbia south to Mexico. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. Cremnops melanoptera is similar to C. meabilis . When the mandible is visible, the long single tooth-like appearance (instead of with a distinct basal lobe) easily distinguishes C. melanoptera . When the mandible is not visible it is somewhat difficult to tell them apart: C. melanoptera has a broader face with the lower margin of the face about 1/2 the interocular distance, while the lower face margin of C. meabilis is about 1/3 the interocular distance. Cremnops melanopterus also has a more western North American distribution, relatively weak sternaulus (compared to 3–5 pits), and smooth sometimes very deep notaulus (compared to a variable notaulus).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: Cremnops melanoptera , neotype, male, Los Angeles California, ( USNM); Cremnops melanoptera , neotype, female?, Los Angeles California, ( USNM) (H8917). Non-Types: 25 ( MCZ), 14 ( CAS), 11 ( ESSIG), 3 ( FSCA), 4 ( CNC), 1 ( INHS), 6 ( UCDC), 2 ( HIC), 1 ( CSCA). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 18. Cremnops melanopterus. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face; G. wings; H. propodeum; I. hind leg.