Erythmelus (Erythmelus) picinus ( Girault, 1915 )

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., Berezovskiy, Vladimir V., Hoddle, Mark S. & Morse, Joseph G., 2007, A review of the Nearctic species of Erythmelus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), with a key and new additions to the New World fauna, Zootaxa 1641 (1), pp. 1-64 : 35-38

Erythmelus (Erythmelus) picinus ( Girault, 1915)

( Figs 47–51 )

Anagrus io Girault: Girault 1911c: 295–296 (in part, misidentification of the non-type specimen from Los Angeles Co., California, USA).

Anaphes picinus Girault 1915: 6–7 (2 syntype females [the most complete female specimen (with both forewings attached) is here designated as lectotype to avoid any possible confusion regarding the identity of this species; the second female, which has one pair of wings detached, is here designated as paralectotype] on slide, under the same coverslip with the holotype of Anaphes gracilipes Girault [USNM], labeled: 1. “No 5054 picinus Anaphes n. sp. [crossed out] picinus Gir. Koehler, N.M. gracilipes No. cages. 3.5B.H8 19187 F.H. Gates”; 2. [red] “ Anaphes picinus Gir. 2 females Anaphes gracilipes Gir. female Types Type No. 19187 19208 U.S. N.M.”, examined. The lectotype and paralectotype, mounted laterally and uncleared, are nevertheless in a relatively good condition. The coverslip of the original syntype slide is partially broken. Type locality: Koehler, Colfax Co., New Mexico, USA).

Erythmelus picinus (Girault) : Girault 1929: 8; Doutt 1949: 80; Peck 1963: 30 (catalog).

Erythmelus flandersi Doutt 1949: 77–79 (holotype female on slide [California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, Cal- ifornia, USA (on an indefinite loan from EMEC)], examined. The following paratypes (all on slides) of E. flandersi were also examined: 1 female [USNM], labeled: “ Paratype female No.59434 USNM [red] Cucamonga, Calif. May 1, 1946 from tanglefoot on orange tree R.C. Dickson”; 1 male [EMEC], labeled: “From tanglefoot on citrus Covina, Calif. April 26, 1946 R.C. Dickson–coll.”; 4 females and 1 male on a separate slide [EMEC], same data; 9 females on the same slide [EMEC], labeled: “From tanglefoot on citrus Covina, Calif. May 1, 1946 R.C. Dickson–coll.”; 1 male [EMEC], labeled: “From tanglefoot on citrus Covina, Calif. May 3 to 17, 1946 R.C. Dickson, Coll.”; 1 female [EMEC], labeled: “From tanglefoot on citrus E. Highland, Calif. May 1, 1946 R.C. Dickson, Coll.”, and 1 female [MLPA], labeled: “Peralta, Calif. May 3 to 17, 1946 sticky board in citrus R.C. Dickson”. Type locality: Covina, Los Angeles Co., California, USA); Peck 1963: 29 (catalog). Syn. n.

Erythmelus (Erythmelus) flandersi Doutt : Triapitsyn 2003: 15 (mentioned as member of the flavovarius species group).

Material examined. CANADA. ALBERTA, Edmonton, 24.ix.1986, Jorgensen, Andrews [2 females, CNCI]. BRITISH COLUMBIA: Cassiar Hwy, Boyar Lake, 6.viii.1988, S. & J. Peck [6 females, CNCI]. Chilliwack, 29.vii.1980, G. Gibson [1 female, CNCI]. Shuswap Lake, Blind Bay, 15–31.viii.1986, C.A. Elsey [1 female, CNCI]. NOVA SCOTIA, Aldershot, 25.viii.1950, A. McPhee [1 female, CNCI]. ONTARIO: Alfred Bog, 31.viii.1984, M. Sanborne [2 females, CNCI]. Dundas Valley near Ancaster, 26.vii.1993, B. DeJonge [1 female, CNCI]. Hamilton: 13.vii.1980, M. Sanborne [1 female, CNCI]; 14–21.vi.1981, M. Sanborne [1 female, CNCI]; 20–27.viii.1981, M. Sanborne [1 female, CNCI]. Stittsville, 1–5.ix.1978 [1 female, CNCI]. MEXICO. QUERÉTARO, near El Madroño, 21°16’58’’N 99°09’05’’W, 1660 m, 13.iv.2002, D. Yanega (on Senecio sp. ) [1 female, UCRC]. USA. ALASKA: Dillingham Co., Dillingham, 59°00’N 158°30’W, 100 m, 7.v.1995, D. Collet (“reared from Salix barclayi ”) [4 females, 2 males, UCRC]. Kenai Peninsula Borough, Summit Lake, Summit Creek Trail, 60°45’N 149°30’W, 300 m, 12.vi.1993, D. Collet [1 female, 1 male, CNCI; 1 female, UCRC]. Southeast Fairbanks Co., Tok, 21.vi–15.viii.1984, S. & J. Peck [1 female, CNCI]. ARIZONA, Graham Co., Snow Flat, 32°39’15’’N 109°51’49’’W, 2690 m, 19–24.viii.2001, J.B. Woolley [1 female, UCRC]. CALIFORNIA: Alameda Co., Berkeley, University of California Botanic Gardens, 18– 22.vi.1966, R.L. Doutt [1 female, EMEC]. Calaveras Co., Arnold, 1.viii.1986, J.D. Pinto [3 females, CNCI]. Fresno Co.: Dunlap, 21.iii.1988, R.E. Rice (ex. Neurocolpus longirostris Knight eggs on California buckeye) [6 females, 2 males, USNM]. Kings River, 11.xi.1973, D. Burdick [1 female, EMEC]. Squaw Valley, 27.v.1988, R.E. Rice (ex. Neurocolpus longirostris Knight eggs on California buckeye) [3 females, USNM]. Tollhouse, 27.v.1988, R.E. Rice (ex. Neurocolpus longirostris Knight eggs on California buckeye) [5 females, 6 males, USNM]. Imperial Co., Brawley, 25.vii.1960, R.C. Dickson [3 females, EMEC]. Los Angeles Co.: Monrovia, 28.xi–7.xii.2004, B. Brown [1 female, UCRC]. Placerita Canyon State Park, 34°38’N 118°44’W, 24.v.1999, B. Brown, I. Swift [1 female, 1 male, UCRC]. West Arcadia, 22.xi–5.xii.1947, R.C. Dickson [1 female, USNM]. Mono Co., 1 km E of Walker, 38°30’N 119°27’W, 1700 m, 15.v.2004, S.L. Heydon (on willow) [2 females, UCDC]. Marin Co., Marinwood, Miller Creek, 38°22’N 122°35’W, 31.vii.2006, J. Schweikert [1 female, UCRC]. Napa Co., Quail Ridge Reserve, 7 km NE of Moscowite Corners, 39°29’N 122°09’W, 200 m, 10.vi.1997, L.S. Kimsey [1 female, UCDC]. Riverside Co.: Menifee Valley, 33°39'N 117°13'W, 1800', 1–29.ii.1996, J.D. Pinto [1 female, UCRC]. San Jacinto Mountains, James Reserve, 1700 m, 15.x–5.xi.1983, D. Yu [1 female, CNCI]. San Bernardino Co.: Angeles Oaks, Forsee Creek, 6200’, 10.vii.2003, E.F. Drake [1 female, UCRC]. Granite Mountains, University of California Granite Mountains Reserve, Granite Gap: 14.v.1994, S. V. Triapitsyn [1 female, UCRC]; 20–30.iv.1997, M. Gates [1 female, UCRC]. Oak Glen, 15.ix.1972, H. Gulmahamad [1 female, UCRC]. Rancho Cucamonga, 7.v.1948, M. Johnson [1 female, EMEC]. San Bernardino Mountains, Barton Flats, 13.viii.200, J.–W. Ki, [1 female, USNM]. San Bernardino National Forest, Fish Creek Meadow, 2484 m, 30.vii.1981, J.B. Woolley [1 female, CNCI]. 26.5 mi. E of Twentynine Palms, 14.x.1983, J.D. Pinto [1 female, CNCI]. COLORADO, Teller Co., 7 mi. N of Woodland Park, South Meadows Camp, 8000’, 21–28.vii.1977, S. Peck [2 females, CNCI]. LOUISIANA, Tensas Parish, Buckhorn, 29.vii.1937, H.L. Dozier [1 female, USNM]. MARYLAND: Prince Georges Co., Laurel, Patuxent Wildlife Research Station, 6–20.x.1980 [2 females, USNM]. NEW MEXICO, Valencia Co., 7 mi. E of Grants, 18.viii.1983, J.D. Pinto [3 females, CNCI]. SOUTH CAROLINA: Anderson Co., Pendleton, Tanglewood Spring, 34°38’07’’N 82°47’01’’W, 225 m, 1–9.ix.1987, J. Morse [1 female, CNCI]. TEXAS, Starr Co., bank of Rio Grande below Falcon Dam, 20.iv.1985, J.B. Woolley [1 female, CNCI]. UTAH: Carbon Co., 9 mi. SE of East Carbon, 28.vi.1993, J.D. Pinto [2 females, CNCI]. Wayne Co., 2.7 mi. SE of Hanksville, 38°20.26’N 110°41.26’W, 4570’, 10.ix.2000, J.D. Pinto [1 female, UCRC]. WASHINGTON: Pierce Co., Mt. Rainier National Park, W of Ashford, 1–14.viii.1985, L. Masner [1 female, CNCI]. Thurston Co., Olympia, Evergreen State College Organic Farm: 25–27.ix.1996, J. Longino [1 female, UCRC]; 6–13.vi.1997, J. Longino [1 female, UCRC]. Yakima Co., Yakima, 20.vii.1988, R.K. Velten [1 female, CNCI].

Redescription. FEMALE (lectotype and paralectotype). Body length 700–744 µm. Body mostly brown to dark brown except base of gaster yellow to light brown; midlobe of mesoscutum with a lighter (light brown) transverse submedian stripe. Appendages light brown to brown.

Antenna ( Fig. 47 ) with short setae. Scape 5.4–6.0 x as long as wide; pedicel much longer than F1; all funicular segments longer than wide; F1–F3 and F5 each subequal in length (F1 the shortest, F5 slightly longer and wider) and shorter than F4, F4 slightly shorter or about as long as F6; F1–F3 and F5 without longitudinal sensilla, F4 and F6 each with 2 longitudinal sensilla; clava about 3.6 x as long as wide, with 5 longitudinal sensilla.

Mesosoma shorter than gaster. Midlobe of mesoscutum with 1 pair of strong setae.

Wings. Forewing ( Fig. 48 ) about 5.3 x as long as wide; blade notably infumate behind venation and also slightly infumate in the middle, setose in distal 2/5; longest marginal cilia about 1.4 x greatest width of wing. Hind wing 15–16 x as long as wide; blade infumate; longest marginal cilia 4.2–4.4 x greatest wing width.

Metasoma. Ovipositor 4/5 to 9/10 length of gaster, exserted beyond apical gastral tergum by about 1/9 of ovipositor length and not exserted beyond apex of hypopygium, about 1.6 x length of metatibia.

Measurements of lectotype (in µm). Body 744; mesosoma 279; gaster 394; ovipositor 321. Antenna: scape (including radicle) 130; pedicel 60; F1 24; F2 30; F3 30; F4 40; F5 36; F6 45; clava 142. The wings are mounted at an angle so that it is impossible to measure them correctly.

VARIATION (female, based on the type and non-type specimens). Body length 700–1600 µm. F 1 in very large specimens (probably from eggs of large hosts) often as long as F2 and about 1/2 length of pedicel (sometimes almost up to 3/4 length of pedicel); F4 of female antenna usually with 2 longitudinal sensilla but rarely with only 1 longitudinal sensillum (and occasionally possibly without such sensilla). Forewing 4.2–5.3 x as long as wide; longest marginal cilia 1.1–1.5 x greatest width of wing. Ovipositor exserted beyond apex of distal gastral tergum by about 1/5–1/12 of its own length and rarely a little exserted beyond apex of hypopygium, 1.2–2.3 x length of metatibia.

MALE (based on non-type specimens). Body length 1100–1200 µm. Similar to female except for the normal sexually dimorphic features such as antenna ( Fig. 49 ), genitalia ( Fig. 51 ), and the following. Flagellum 11–segmented, all flagellomeres longer than scape. Forewing ( Fig. 50 ) 3.6–4.7 x as long as wide; longest marginal cilia 1.0–1.6 x greatest forewing width. Gaster shorter than mesosoma.

Diagnosis. Member of the flavovarius species group. Among the species with longitudinal sensilla on F4 and a relatively long funicle of the female antenna, E. (E.) picinus is characterized by having the apical 2/5 of forewing blade with numerous setae and a slight, but usually distinct infumation in the middle of the forewing blade. Body size and ovipositor length vary. Proportions of the funicular segments of the female antenna, particularly the length of F1 relative to the pedicel, appear to vary with body size.

Distribution. Canada (new record), Mexico (new record), and USA (including Alaska).

Host. Neurocolpus longirostris Knight (Miridae) (new record).

Comments. The specimens described by Doutt (1949) as E. flandersi without any doubt are just large specimens of E. (E.) picinus that sometimes have a relatively longer F1 of the female antenna and a slightly shorter F4 apparently bearing just 1 longitudinal sensillum (and occasionally possibly lacking longitudinal sensilla), hence the synonymy. The type series specimens of E. flandersi were slide-mounted without proper clearing and that made it difficult to see the longitudinal sensilla on F4 of the female antenna.

Figures

FIGURES 47, 48. Erythmelus (E.) picinus (female). 47. Antenna (7 mi. E of Grants, New Mexico, USA). 48. Forewing (Monrovia, California, USA). Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 49–51. Erythmelus (E.) picinus (male, California, USA). 49. Antenna. 50. Forewing. Scale bars = 0.1 mm. 51. Genitalia.