Cosmocomopsis Huber

Huber, John T., 2015, World reclassification of the Gonatocerus group of genera (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), Zootaxa 3967 (1), pp. 1-184 : 22-24

Cosmocomopsis Huber , gen. n.

( Figs 61–82 )

Type species. Cosmocomopsis sevae (Risbec) , by present designation.

Diagnosis. Within Gonatocerini, specimens of Cosmocomopsis are distinguished by the following combination of features: face with subantennal sulci ( Figs 67 , 75 ); vertex with 2 setae between ocelli ( Figs 75, 76 ); clava with at least 15 mps in 3 whorls ( Fig. 68 ); fl8 with 4 mps; pronotum longitudinally divided, the lobes almost abutting medially, only slightly separated by a longitudinal carina ( Figs 71 , 79 ); metanotum with dorsellum thin, almost parallel-sided but with slight bulge medially ( Figs 65 , 71 , 79 ); fore wing without microtrichia behind and just beyond venation ( Figs 61, 63 , 70 ); propodeum with submedian lines almost abutting, appearing almost as a single median carina ( Figs 65 , 71 , 79 ); petiole as long as metacoxa ( Figs 61 , 71 ); gt1 with posterior margin strongly sinuate ( Fig. 80 ).

Description. FEMALE. Large specimens, 2125–2380 Μm in length. Colour. Body generally yellow except trabeculae brown and funicle dark brown with 2–4 segments white ( Figs 61, 62 , 68 ). Fore wing with faint brown tinge and a more or less distinct brown area beyond venation ( Figs 61, 63 ). Head. Head ( Figs 75–77 ) 1.93–2.04× as wide as long and 1.77–1.78× as wide as high; in lateral view anterior surface below torulus curving smoothly to mouth margin. Face about 0.93–0.96× as wide as high; subantennal sulci present, moderately converging ventrally, the distance between them at mouth margin less than their distance from preorbital sulci ( Figs 67 , 75 ); preorbital sulcus almost straight, appressed against eye at level of torulus, then separated from eye and curving gently to mouth margin, and meeting malar sulcus just lateral to lateral-most angle of mouth ( Figs 64 , 77 ). Toruli separated from transverse trabecula by about half to all its length ( Figs 64 , 67 , 75 ). Eye in lateral view as long as or slightly longer than high, dorsally not extending to back of head ( Fig. 77 ). Malar space about 0.5× eye height; malar sulcus present, straight and extending from just posterior to ventral angle of eye to mouth ( Fig. 77 ). Gena in lateral view narrow dorsally, wide ventrally and merging smoothly into occiput ( Fig. 77 ). Vertex in lateral view horizontal, forming an almost right angle with face (separated by transverse trabecula) ( Fig. 77 ), posteriorly separated from occiput by transverse sulcus behind and between ocelli. Ocelli with LOL about 0.45 – 0.50× POL and OOL about 0.82–0.90× POL. Occiput entire, with short transverse median carina above foramen. Labrum with 4 setae. Mandible with 3 teeth but the upper tooth distinctly notched apically, giving the appearance of 4 teeth. Antenna. Scape about 8.8× as long as wide, with radicle distinct, narrow, about 0.30× scape length; pedicel about 0.16× scape length, slightly longer than fl1; funicle 8-segmented, all the segments longer than wide; fl3–fl7 with at least 4 mps (more on apical segments); clava about 0.36× funicle length, with about 15 mps in 3 slightly overlapping whorls. Mesosoma. About 1.8× as long as wide, 1.9–2.2× as long as high, and 1.0–1.2× wide as high. Pronotum in dorsal view about half length of mesoscutum, divided into two closely abutting lobes separated by a narrow carinate median sclerite ( Figs 71 , 79 ); in lateral view with lateral surface merging smoothly into anterior surface with a fine line separating the two surfaces, and with dorsal (median) surface almost horizontal ( Fig. 78 ). Pronotal spiracle about same size as propodeal spiracle ( Fig. 78 ). Propleura normal. Prosternum triangular, divided posteriorly by longitudinal median sulcus extending less than half its length. Mesoscutum in dorsal view with fine, slightly curved and diverging notauli, barely visible in micrographs ( Fig. 79 ). Transscutal articulation almost straight. Scutellum slightly wider than long. Axilla normal. Prepectus wide and triangular. Mesopleuron spindle shaped and truncate at both ends, with very shallow femoral depression and fine line separating very narrow mesepimeron from wide mesepisternum ( Fig. 78 ). Metanotum with dorsellum almost strap-like but with its anterior and posterior margins slightly convex so median length at most about twice lateral length ( Figs 65 , 71 , 79 ). Metapleuron separated from propodeum by wide, strongly curved sulcus. Propodeum in lateral view sloping slightly, in same plane as dorsellum ( Fig. 78 ); in dorsal view with usually complete median carina sometimes flaring slightly and appearing double at apices, and a short sublateral carina above metacoxa ( Figs 71 , 79 ). Propodeal spiracle small, similar to pronotal spiracle and separated by less than its diameter from metanotum. Wings. Fore wing ( Figs 63 [not fully formed], 70) about 3.8× as long as wide, and without microtrichia behind and just beyond apex of stigmal vein. Venation almost 4.0× wing length. Submarginal vein with the usual basal setae (1 macrochaeta and 1 hypochaeta) and a hypochaeta apically, next to proximal macrochaeta of parastigma. Remaining venation (parastigma + stigmal vein) almost equal to length of submarginal vein, with 1 hypochaeta about midway between proximal and distal macrochaeta, and 1 long setae between hypochaeta and distal macrochaetae. Stigmal vein with apex slightly oblique. Hind wing normal. Venation about 0.5× wing length. Metasoma. Petiole much longer than wide ( Figs 61 , 65 , 71 , 81 ). Gaster about 1.6–2.2× as long as high. Terga with white membrane not or narrowly visible between them. Ovipositor sheaths lightly longer than gaster length, slightly shorter than metatibia length, at most very slightly exserted ( Figs 61 , 66 , 73 ), and with 1 subapical seta.

MALE. Body length 1562 Μm (n=1). Colour. Body dark yellow with extensive brown on scape, dorsally on vertex, mesosoma except pronotum (but midline dark brown), and gaster (especially dorsoapically); flagellum light brown. The only known males have an H-shaped yellow mark along notauli and laterally along scutellum, frenum and dorsellum. Antenna. Scape 1.17× as long as wide, with radicle about 0.22× scape length and not very clearly separated; pedicel about 0.38× scape length and 0.32× as long as fl1; flagellomeres increasing in length apically, 2.6–4.8× as long as wide, each with about 10–15 mps in two widely overlapping whorls. Metasoma. Genitalia with aedeagal apodemes fused at junction with aedeagus, not extending anteriorly as far as apex of apodeme of genital sternum ( Fig. 74 ).

Discussion. Cosmocompsis specimens resemble those of Ooctonus or some Cosmocomoidea because of their long, slender petiole, which is probably why Risbec originally described the type species in Ooctonus . They also resemble some Cosmocomoidea by having one or more funicle segments white, contrasting strongly with the remaining, dark funicle segments. Cosmocomopsis species are most similar structurally to some species of Lymaenon from Madagascar. These Lymaenon also have only 2 setae between the ocelli, a long gastral petiole, and clava and apical funicle segments with more numerous mps than usual, but the fore wing microtrichia extend to the base of the parastigma, the pronotal lobes are well separated from each other, and the dorsellum is more distinctly strap-like.

Etymology. From Cosmocoma , and “- opsis ”, Greek for resembling or like. The name is chosen for its similarity to the name Cosmocomoidea because the types species of both genera are strikingly, though superficially, similar (compare Figs 3 and 61 ). The gender is feminine.

Distribution. Cosmocomopsis species occur only in Madagascar.

Hosts and habitat. The type species was reared from eggs of an unidentified species of Orthoptera laid on Seva ( Risbec 1955). Seva is a local name for a naturalized plant of South American origin, Solanum mauritanum Scopoli (Solanaceae) . The remaining species were collected in or near forests. Their hosts are unknown. Included species:

Cosmocomopsis flopsis Huber ; holotype ♀ in CAS. TL: Madagascar, Antsiranana, Ampasindava Forêt d’Ambilanivy.

Cosmocomopsis mopsis Huber ; holotype ♀ in USNM. TL: Madagascar, Antsiranana R.N. 1 de Marojejy, 14°26.2'S 49°44.5'E.

Cosmocomopsis sevae (Risbec) , comb. n. from Gonatocerus (Lymaenon) . Ooctonus sevae Risbec, 1955: 311 ; lectotype ♀ in MNHN (examined). TL: Madagascar, Antsiranana, Ambilobé.

Figures

FIGURE 61 – 63. Cosmocomopsis spp.: 61, C. mopsis holotype, habitus; Madagascar, Antsiranana R. N. 1 de Marojejy, 25. x – 3. xi. 1996, E. L. Quinter. Ooctonus sevae, lectotype. 62, antenna; 63, wings (fore wing not fully expanded). Scale bars: 61 = 1000 Μm, 62 and 63 = 200 Μm.

FIGURES 64 – 66. Ooctonus sevae, lectotype: 64, head, anterior; 65, mesosoma, dorsal; 66, gaster, dorsal. Scale bars = 100 Μm.

FIGURES 67 – 70. Cosmocomopsis flopsis, holotype: 67, head, anterior; 68, antenna; 69, holotype slide, 70, wings. Scale bars: 67 = 200 Μm, 68 and 70 = 500 Μm.

FIGURES 71 – 74. Cosmocomopsis flopsis, holotype (except as noted): 71, mesosoma – base of gt 1, dorsal; 72, gaster, dorsal; 73, genitalia; 74, C. sevae, male genitalia, dorsal. Scale bars: 71 and 72 = 200 Μm, 73 and 74 = 100 Μm.

FIGURES 75 – 82. Cosmocomopsis sevae: 75, head, anterior; 76, head, dorsal; 77, head + prothorax, lateral; 78, mesosoma, lateral; 79, mesosoma, dorsal; 80, gaster, dorsal; 81, apex of propodeum + petiole; 82, metasoma, lateral. Scale bars = 200 Μm.

FIGURES 1 – 3. 1, spot plates with clove oil containing wings (left) and 10 % KOH for remaining body parts (right); 2, five slides with cardboard spacers stacked in Petri dish for drying in oven; 3, Cosmocomoidea morrilli, habitus; USA, Florida, Alachua Co., Gainesville, American Entomological Institute, vi – vii. 1987, CNC Hymenoptera Team. Scale bar = 1000 Μm.