Protomicroplitis

Fernandez-Triana, J. L., 2015, A revision of the genus Protomicroplitis Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae), with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 4039 (4), pp. 529-542 : 534-535

GENUS Protomicroplitis

Protomicroplitis Ashmead, 1898: 167 . Original description. No species included, no type species designation.

Protomicroplitis germani Ashmead 1900b: 132 . Nomen nudum. Invalid designation of type species. Incorrect original spelling of species name.

Protomicroplitis mediatus (Cresson, 1865) . Ashmead, 1900a: 292. Species included, no designation of type species.

Protomicroplitis mediatus (Cresson, 1865) . Viereck 1914: 124. Designation of type species (by monotypy).

Microgaster Latreille, 1804 . Muesebeck 1922: 20. Status revised (synonymized under Microgaster ).

Protomicroplitis Ashmead, 1898 . Nixon, 1965: 234. Status revised (genus resurrected).

Protomicroplitis Ashmead, 1898 . Mason, 1981: 124. Status revised (generic limits revised).

Description. Head relatively transverse (maximum width of head 1.35–1.45 × its height) ( Figs 8 , 12 , 20 , 25 ); antenna with placodes comparatively short (0.2–0.4 × as long as a flagellomere) and scattered irregularly along the length of the flagellomere (so that the appearance of a middle constriction in the flagellomere, typical in most Microgastrinae , is missing); apical flagellomeres relatively elongated, length of flagellomere 2 at most 1.9 × length of flagellomere 14; anteromesoscutum smooth to finely punctate (punctures shallow and sparse), with little or no trace of notauli ( Figs 4 , 15 , 23 , 29 ); apical polished rim of scutellar disc interrupted medially by sculpture ( Figs 9 , 15 ); propodeum strongly rugose and with median carina ( Figs 9 , 16 , 24 , 29 ); fore wing with triangular areolet ( Figs 6 , 13 , 19 , 28 ); hind wing with vannal lobe strongly convex, margin with very short setae; T1 rather strongly constrained medially (width at half length of tergite 0.4–0.6 × its width at anterior and/or posterior margins of tergite) ( Figs 7 , 17 , 22 ); T1 length around 4.0 × its width at apex, and at least 6.0 × its width at half length of tergite; hypopygium short and not pleated medially ( Figs 10 , 14 ); ovipositor short, decurved and abruptly tapered near the middle ( Fig. 10 ); relatively large body length (4.4–5.5 mm, usually over 4.8 mm), and fore wing length (4.1–5.2 mm, usually over 4.4 mm); body length usually (but not always) 0.1–0.2 mm larger than fore wing length.

The relatively large but thin mediotergite 1, which is distinctively narrower medially, is a diagnostic feature of Protomicroplitis . Only the genus Wilkinsonellus and a few species of Diolcogaster (mostly D. lelaps and morphologically related species, all forming what has been called the lelaps species-group –e.g., Nixon 1965) have similar mediotergite 1. Wilkinsonellus has no areolet in the fore wing, and a very distinctive and unique venation pattern. The Diolcogaster lelaps species-group has a quadrangular areolet which is relatively larger than that of Protomicroplitis species (which have a relatively small and triangular areolet). Additionally, the antenna in Protomicroplitis has short and irregular placodes whereas both Wilkinsonellus and the D. lelaps species-group have placodes arranged in two ranks, with the median constriction characteristic of most Microgastrinae .

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 10. Protomicroplitis calliptera. 3 — habitus, lateral view; 4 — head and mesosoma (partially), dorsal view; 5 — detail of the head, dorsal view; 6 — fore wing; 7 — metasoma, dorsal view; 8 — head, frontal view; 9 — scutellar disc and propodeum, dorsal view; 10 — metasoma, lateral view.

FIGURES 11 – 17. Protomicroplitis centroamericanus. 11 — habitus, lateral view; 12 — head, frontal view; 13 — fore wing; 14 — metasoma (partially), lateral view; 15 — head and mesosoma (partially), dorsal view; 16 — propodeum, dorsal view; 17 — metasoma, dorsal view.

FIGURES 18 – 24. Protomicroplitis mediata, female specimen. 18 — habitus, lateral view; 19 — fore wing; 20 — head, frontal view; 21 — detail of the head, dorsal view; 22 — metasoma, dorsal view; 23 — head and mesosoma (partially), dorsal view; 24 — scutellar disc and propodeum, dorsal view.

FIGURES 25 – 29. Protomicroplitis mediata, male specimen. 25 — head, frontal view; 26 — habitus, lateral view; 27 — metasoma and hind legs, lateral view; 28 — fore wing; 29 — habitus, dorsal view.