Andesipolis Whitfield & Choi, New

Whitfield, James B., Choi, Won-Young & Suh, Kyong-In, 2004, Andesipolis, a puzzling new genus of cyclostome Braconidae (Hymenoptera) from the Chilean Andes, with descriptions of three new species, Zootaxa 438, pp. 1-15 : 3-5

Andesipolis Whitfield & Choi, New Genus

Type species: Andesipolis masoni Choi & Suh , n. sp. (described below).

Etymology: The generic name comes from the superficial resemblance to Rhysipolis , and from the Andean distribution of the genus.

Diagnosis: Antennae 27–34 segmented, slightly longer than fore wing ( Fig. 26). Malar suture present ( Fig.18 , 23 ). Ocelli in equilateral triangle, occipital carina complete, remaining separate from hypostomal carina to mandibular base ( Fig. 12 , 23 ). Maxillary palps 6 (sometimes appearing7)­segmented; labial palps 3­segmented. Pronope absent. Notauli short, covering only anterior part of mesonotum ( Fig 6 , 13 , 14 ), shallow and narrowly elliptical midpit present ( Fig 6 , 13 , 14 ). Epicnemial carina present ( Fig. 5 , 16 , 20 ). Sternaulus present as a short groove on the posterior portion of mesopleuron ( Fig. 5 , 16 , 20 . Fore wing 2a vein present ( Fig. 1­ 3 ). Hind tibia without a fringe (comb) of spines on inner side of apex, or with a very poorly developed group of spines. Propodeum with ( Figs. 7 , 13 , 21 ) or without ( Fig. 15 ) well­defined areola, but when well­defined, usually elongate with a transverse carina dividing it into anterior and posterior portions. First tergite with distinct dorsope; dorsal carinae converging posteriorly ( Fig. 7 , 11 , 15 , 21 ). Ovipositor sheaths long and setose ( Fig. 9 , 17 , 22 ).

Distribution: Chile (Neotropical).

Biology: Unknown.

Comments: The new genus superficially resembles some species of Rhysipolis Förster in habitus (hence the name we have given it), and in addition in many details of the mesopleuron, wing venation and metasomal tergites. Unlike Rhysipolis , the forewing ( Figs. 1­3 ) has a distinctly visible vein 2a (not common within Braconidae yet found more basally within Hymenoptera ). In addition the mesonotum has a longitudinal posterior groove as in many Hormiini and Rhyssalini (perhaps represented in an often less welldemarcated form in Pseudorhysipolis Scatilini, Penteado­Dias and Achterberg ), while the propodeum has a “double areola” pattern of carinae resembling especially Rhyssalini (figs. 7, 13, 21). The latter character has been proposed as likely to be plesiomorphic within Braconidae ( Whitfield, 1988) ; some Rhysipolini also have a double areola, but of a different form ( Spencer & Whitfield, 1999). Unlike typical Hormiini and Rhyssalini vein m­cu meets RS + M before RS splits from M (in this respect resembling Rhysipolis, Exothecini and Rogadinae ). Thus, the new genus Andesipolis has a unique combination of features that make it difficult to place to tribe or subfamily. This difficulty is largely due to the tribes and subfamilies not being very well defined in the first place. Its biology is unknown, but the typically long ovipositor ( Figs. 9 , 17 , 22 ) resembles that of groups that attack hosts within shelters of leaf ( Rhysipolis Shaw, 1983 ; Whitfield, 1992; Spencer & Whitfield, 1999) or stem tissue (Doryctine­ Marsh, 1997, or plant galls (Hydrangeocolini Oda et al., 2001; Belshaw et al., 2003).

Andesipolis masoni Choi & Suh , n. sp. ( Fig. 1 , 4–9 )

Female. Body length 2.6–2.9 mm; forewing length 3.5 mm.

Head 1.1–1.2X wider than mesoscutum. Face 1.6X as broad at midheight as long medially, smooth and polished with scattered setae. Clypeus 2.6X as broad as its height. Malar space 0.4X eye height in frontal view. Eyes 1.2–1.3X higher than width; eyes 1.6– 1.8X longer than temple in lateral view. Vertex smooth and polished, with scattered setae. Occipital and hypostomal carinae remaining separate to mandibular base. Antennae slightly longer than forewing; 27–29 segmented. Maxillary and labial palps 6 and 3­segmented respectively.

Mesosoma 1.8 1.9X longer than high; 2.2–2.3X longer than width between tegulae. Pronotum rugose dorsally; mostly polished laterally. Mesonotum weakly punctate with scattered setae; Notauli short, presenting only anterior one­third of mesonotum; midpit shallow and long, 0.4 0.6X as long as mesonotum. Scutellum 1.2X as long as width, smooth to weakly punctate and polished; scutellar sulcus 0.3X as long as width. Propodeum with roughly pentagonal shape areola and distinct areolar cross­bridge with irregular ridges arising inside of areola; median carina present; with irregular ridges around median carina and transverse carinae; polished anterior­laterally. Hind coxa 2.0X as long as width, slightly shorter than first abdominal tergum, smooth and polished; hind tibial spur short, 0.24X as long as basitarsus; hind tarsal claw simple.

Wing Forewing: Stigma about 4.3X longer than broad; vein r arising from middle of stigma; Vein r 0.5X as long as vein 3RSa. Vein 2RS 0.8X as long as vein 3RSa. Vein 3RSa 0.5X as long as vein 3RSb. Vein r­m spectral, 0.6X as long as vein 3RSa. Vein 1CUb 1.9X as long as vein 1CUa. Vein (RS+M)b present, short and spectral. Vein 1­1AC 0.4X as long as vein 2­1A. Hindwing: Vein M+CU 1.9X as long as vein 1M. Vein cu­a 0.5X as long as vein 1M, slightly curved. Vein r­m 0.6X as long as vein 1M.

Metasoma Length of tergite I 0.8X its apical width, distinctly sclerotized, reticulaterugose except granulate posterior­dorsolateral portion; dorsal carinae converging but not jointed; dorsope rather large and deep. Tergite II and III smooth to granulate and polished, tergite II 1.9X as long as tergite III. Hypopigium small. Ovipositor 0.8–0.9X shorter than hind tibia, straight; ovipositor sheath 0.6X shorter than ovipositor.

Color Body generally orange­brown or brown; maxillary and labial palps pale yellow; antenna brown; mesosoma yellowish brown except brown scutellar sulcus; propodeum brown; legs orange­brown to brown.

Male Unknown.

Biology Unknown.

Diagnosis This species can be distinguished from other Andesipolis species by the relatively short and straight ovipositor (the ovipositor is always shorter than the hind tibia). Material examined. Holotype. Female: Chile: Carelmapu, Llonquihue, 21–28.ii.1957, L. E. Pena (CNC) Paratypes: 1 female, Chile: Pucotrihue, Valdivia, 11–13.iii.1955, L. E. Pena (CNC); 1 female, Chepu, I. De Chiloé, 3.ii.1952, Peña (CNC).

Etymology. This species is named for the late W.R. M. Mason, who contributed a great deal to this work, as detailed above.

Figures

FIGURES 14 – 19. A. whartoni, n. sp. 14: mesoscutum through metanotum, dorsal view, with mesonotal midpit and sutoscutellar scrobe indicated by arrows. 15: propodeum and anterior metasomal tergites, dorsal view, with obsolescent anterior portions of propodeal areola and dorsal carina of first metasomal tergite indicated by arrows. 16: mesosoma, lateral view, with epicnemial carina indicated by arrow. 17: metasoma and ovipositor mechanism, lateral view, with upturned ovipositor highlighted by arrow. 18: head, anterior view, with strong malar suture indicated by arrow. 19: hind tarsal claw, with prominent basal lobe indicated by arrow.

FIGURES 20 – 25. A. framea, n. sp. 20: mesosoma, lateral view, with epicnemial carina indicated by arrow. 21: propodeum and anterior metasomal tergites, nearly dorsal view, with areolar “ crossbridge ” indicated by arrow. 22: metasoma and ovipositor mechanism, lateral view, with straight ovipositor highlighted by arrow. 23: Head, posterolateral view, showing occipital carina meeting mandibular socket without meeting any obvious hypostomal carina. 24: close­up of ovipositor tip. 25: even closer­up of ovipositor tip.

FIGURES 10 – 13. A. sp., male. 10: genitalia capsule, ventral view. 11: metasoma, dorsal view, with distinct dorsope and dorsal carinae indicated by arrow. 12: head, posterior view, complete occipital carinae indicated by arrow. 13: mesosoma through propodeum, dorsal view, with mesonotal midpit, sutoscutellar scrobe and pentagonal propodeal areola indicated by arrows.

FIGURES 4 – 9. A. masoni, n. sp. 4: third antennal segment, dorsal view. 5: mesosoma, lateral view, with epicnemial carina indicated by arrow. 6: mesoscutum through metanotum, dorsal view, with mesonotal midpit and sutoscutellar scrobe indicated by arrows. 7: propodeum and anterior metasomal tergites, dorsal view, with obsolescent anterior portions of propodeal areola indicated by arrows. 8: hind tarsal claw, simple type indicated by arrow. 9: metasoma and ovipositor mechanism, lateral view, with straight ovipositor highlighted by arrow.

FIGURES 1 – 3. 1: Andesipolis masoni Whitfield and Choi, n. sp., fore wing. 2: A. whartoni Whitfield and Choi, n. sp., fore and hind wing. 3: A. framea Whitfield and Choi, n. sp., fore wing. Unusual anal vein indicated by arrow.