Erythmelus (Erythmelus) psallidis Gahan, 1937

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 : 32-35

Erythmelus (Erythmelus) psallidis Gahan, 1937

( Figs 42–46 )

Anaphes gracilis Howard : Girault 1911a: 133–134 (misidentification); Girault 1911c: 280 (in part, misidentification).

Erythmelus psallidis Gahan 1937: 268–269 (holotype female on slide [USNM], labeled: 1. “ Erythmelus psallidis Gahan female Holotype Ex Psalus [sic] seriatus eggs on croton Tallulah, La. Sept. 8–19, 1936. H.J. Crawford #37 Id. Lot # 36–30391”; 2. [red] “ Erythmelus psallidis Gahan female Holotype Type No. 52285 U.S. N.M.”, examined. The holotype female of E. psallidis , mounted dorsoventrally, is in a more or less fair condition but with the antennae shriveled; one hind wing is detached. Gahan (1937) did not provide a full count of the paratypes of his E. psallidis . Therefore, the first author also examined the entire paratype series of this species on slides in USNM (all poorly mounted, uncleared and shriveled), as follows. Allotype male, labeled: 1. “ Erythmelus n. sp. Poor male Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on Croton Tallulah, La., IX–6 to IX–19–1936 H.J. Crawford No.27 Lot No.36–30391”; 2. [red] “ Erythmelus psallidis Gahan male Allotype Type No. 52285 U.S. N.M.”. Other paratypes (all on individual slides) include 41 females and 41 males, as follows. ARIZONA, Pima Co., Tucson: 19.ix–13.x.1936, H.J. Crawford (“On Croton plant”) [7 females, 2 males]; 29.ix–13.x.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Cotton fleahopper eggs on croton”) [2 females, 2 males]. ARKANSAS, Columbia Co., Waldo, 12.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [1 female]. LOUISIANA, Madison Co., Tallulah, 6–19.xi.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [3 females, 3 males]. MISSISSIPPI, Oktibbeha Co., Starkville, 15.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [1 male]. SOUTH CAROLINA, Florence Co., Florence, 17–19.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [1 female, 5 males]. TEXAS: Aransas Co., Rockport, 2–11.x.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Cotton fleahopper eggs on croton”) [1 female]. Brazoria Co., 1.x.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Cotton fleahopper eggs on croton”) [1 male]. Brazos Co., Bryan, 21.vii–4.viii.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [2 females, 1 male]. Calhoun Co., Port Lavaca: 16.viii–10.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [3 females]; 25.viii–2.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford “On Chamaecrista robusta ” [2 males]; 31.viii.1936, H.J. Crawford “On ragweed plant” [1 female]; 11.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on ragweed”) [1 female, 3 males]. Goliad Co., Fannin, 7–10.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [1 female]. Grimes Co., 6–17.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [2 females, 3 males]. Lee Co., Lincoln, 10–12.x.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Cotton fleahopper eggs on croton”) [1 male]. Leon Co., Leona, 10–13.x.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Cotton fleahopper eggs on croton”) [1 male]. Matagorda Co., Bay City, 23.ix–10.x.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Cotton fleahopper eggs on croton”) [2 females, 3 males]. Montgomery Co., 5–12.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [2 females, 2 males]. Robertson Co., Hearne, 23.vii.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [1 female]. San Patricio Co., Ingleside, 27.ix–5.x.1936, H.J. Crawford (“On cotton fleahopper eggs on croton”) [1 male]. Smith Co., Tyler, 19.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [1 male]. Upshur Co., Gilmer, 22–25.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Cotton fleahopper eggs on croton”) [1 female, 2 males]. Walker Co., Huntsville, 10.x–13.x.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Cotton fleahopper eggs on croton”) [2 males]. Washington Co., 5–14.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [6 females, 5 males]. Wharton Co., Glen Flora, 29.vii–6.viii.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex. Psallus seriatus eggs on croton”) [4 females]. Also in the USNM there are several gelatin capsules on pins with numerous H.J. Crawford’s original specimens of E. (E.) psallidis , but these were not designated by him as paratypes. Type locality: Tallulah, Madison Co., Louisiana, USA); Doutt 1949: 80–81; Peck 1963: 30–31 (catalog).

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

Material examined. CANADA. ALBERTA, Edmonton , 10.ix.1986, A. Finnamore, Jorgensen [9 females, 2 males, CNCI] . BRITISH COLUMBIA, Okanagan Falls , 10.iii.1999, T . Lowery, K. Todd (on apple) [1 female, UCRC] . NEW BRUNSWICK, Kouchibouguac National Park , 3.viii.1977, I. Smith [1 female, CNCI] . ONTARIO: near Ancaster , 43°15’N 80°00’W, 2.vi–1.vii.1995, B. DeJonge [1 female, CNCI]. Hamilton, 14 –

15.vii.1981, M. Sanborne [1 female, CNCI]. St. Lawrence Islands National Park, Grenadier Island Centre, 11.vi.1975, E. Sigler [1 female, CNCI]. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: Harrington, 19.viii.1993, M.E.M. Smith [1 female, CNCI]. North Tryon, 7.viii.1991, M.E.M. Smith [1 female, CNCI]. MEXICO. NUEVO LEÓN, Municipio El Carmen, El Carmen, 10.vii.1983, G. Gordh [1 female, UCRC]. VERACRUZ, 85 km S of Veracruz, 20 m, 31.vii.1984, G. Gordh [1 female, UCRC]. USA. ARIZONA: Cochise Co., 20 mi. N of Portal, 16.viii.1990, J.D. Pinto [1 female, CNCI]. Santa Cruz Co., Patagonia: 1–5.vi.1994, B. Brown, E. Wilk [2 females, CNCI]. 10–15.vi.1994, B. Brown, E. Wilk [1 female, CNCI]. CALIFORNIA: Fresno Co.: Mendota Wildlife Refuge, 26.ix–1.x.1974 (on Atriplex polycarpa ) [2 females, EMEC]. 4 mi. NE of Piedra, 3.ii.1988, R.E. Rice (ex. Neurocolpus longirostris Knight eggs on California buckeye) [1 female, USNM]. Watts Valley, 3i. ii.1988, R.E. Rice (ex. Neurocolpus longirostris Knight eggs on California buckeye) [1 male, USNM]. Imperial Co., near Calexico, 3–26.iii.1956, F.E. Skinner [1 female, EMEC]. Riverside Co.: Cathedral City, 5.iii.1978, G. Gordh (on Atriplex sp. ) [7 females, 10 males, EMEC]. Riverside, Arlington, 24.ix.1933, S.E. Flanders (on ragweed) [1 female, 3 males, EMEC]. San Jacinto Mountains, James Reserve, 1700 m, 15.x– 5.xi.1983, D. Yu [1 female, CNCI]. Santa Barbara Co., Coal Oil Point Reserve, 22–29.vi.1982, Cheesman [2 females, CNCI]. Ventura Co., Camarillo, 26.viii.1953, C.E. Kennett [numerous females and males, EMEC]. FLORIDA: Collier Co., Copland, Fakahatchee State Preserve, 9.iii.1988, V. Gupta, Berke [1 female, CNCI]. Manatee Co., Bradenton, 18.v.1990 [1 female, UCRC]. ILLINOIS: Cook Co., Chicago, Clayton Smith Forest Preserve, 31.vii.1989, J.D. Pinto [2 females, CNCI]. Marion Co.: Centralia, Karlhill Park, 7.ix.1993, J.D. Pinto [1 female, UCRC]. 8 mi. E of Centralia, 7.ix.1993, J.D. Pinto [1 female, UCRC]. MARYLAND, Baltimore City Co., Calvert, 24.ix–14.xi.1987 [1 female, CNCI]. NEW MEXICO: Dona Ana Co., Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Plant Science Farm, 25.vii.1992, K. Abdullah (ex. eggs of Lygus sp. on alfalfa) [1 female, CNCI; 2 females, UCRC]. Valencia Co., 7 mi. E of Grants, 18.viii.1983, J.D. Pinto [1 female, CNCI]. NORTH DAKOTA, Cass Co., 4 mi. N and 4 mi. W of Casselton, L.D. Charlet, A. Gross [1 female, CNCI]. TEXAS: Brazos Co., College Station, 25.i.1972, P. Lewis (“Eggs Psallus seriatus ”) [4 females, USNM]. Calhoun Co., Port Lavaca, 15.vii.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex Eggs of Psallus seriatus Reut. on Croton”) [numerous females and males, USNM]. Jeff Davis Co., Davis Mountains State Park Campground, 6.vii.1983, A.J. Mayor [2 females, CNCI]. Waller Co., 5–7.ix.1936, H.J. Crawford (“Ex Psallus seriatus eggs on Croton”) [1 female, 2 males, USNM].

Redescription. FEMALE (holotype). Body mostly dark brown except base of gaster yellow to light brown; midlobe of mesoscutum with a lighter (light brown) transverse submedian stripe; borders of axilla light brown. Appendages light brown to brown.

Antenna ( Figs 42, 43 ) with short setae. Scape more than 5.4 x as long as wide; pedicel much longer than F1; funicle short (funicle length: clava length ratio 1.1:1); F1–F4 each at least a little longer than wide, F5 about as long as wide, F6 longer than wide; F1–F3 very short and subequal in length, each slightly shorter than F4 of the left antenna ( Fig. 43 ) and F5, and notably shorter than F4 of the right antenna ( Fig. 42 ) and F6, F6 the longest funicular segment; F1–F3 and F5 without longitudinal sensilla, F4 without (on the left antenna, Fig. 43 ) or with 1 longitudinal sensillum (on the right antenna, Fig. 42 , F 4 then notably wider than F3 or F5 and notably longer than F5 of the left antenna), and F6 with 2 longitudinal sensilla; clava 3.6 x as long as wide, with 5 longitudinal sensilla.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutum wider than long, its midlobe finely longitudinally striate, with 1 pair of strong setae. Scutellum about as long as mesoscutum, posterior scutellum finely longitudinally striate. Dorsellum narrowly angulate posteriorly.

Wings. Forewing ( Fig. 44 ) narrow, 4.5 x as long as wide; blade slightly infumate behind venation but otherwise hyaline, more or less densely setose in distal half or so; longest marginal cilia 1.3 x greatest width of wing. Hind wing about 16 x as long as wide, almost as long as forewing; blade hyaline; longest marginal cilia 3.9 x greatest wing width.

Metasoma. Petiole much wider than long. Gaster as long as mesosoma; ovipositor about 7/10 length of gaster, barely exserted beyond apical gastral tergum and not exserted beyond apex of hypopygium, 1.2 x length of metatibia.

Measurements of holotype (in µm). Body 670; mesosoma 273; gaster 273; ovipositor 203. Antenna: scape (including radicle) 112; pedicel 40; F1 15; F2 15; F3 16; F4 20 (24); F5 19; F6 39; clava 114. Forewing 436:97; longest marginal cilia 130. Hind wing 424:27; longest marginal cilia 106.

VARIATION (female, based on the paratypes). Body length 500–670 µm. F4 of the female antenna usually lacks a longitudinal sensillum (then F4 often about as long as wide and a little wider than F3 or F5). Forewing 4.3–4.5 x as long as wide. Ovipositor 1.2–1.3 x length of metatibia (but up to 1.7 x length of metatibia in some non–type specimens that apparently also belong to E. (E.) psallidis ).

MALE (allotype and other paratypes). Body length 540–600 µm. Similar to female except for the normal sexually dimorphic features such as antenna, genitalia ( Fig. 46 ), and the following. Flagellum 11–segmented, all flagellomeres about as long as scape. Forewing ( Fig. 45 ) 4.2–4.4 x as long as wide; longest marginal cilia 1.3–1.4 x greatest forewing width. Gaster shorter than mesosoma.

Diagnosis. Member of the flavovarius species group. Erythmelus (E.) psallidis has a rather narrow female forewing (4.3–4.5 x as long as wide) and is somewhat similar to E. (E.) brachialis , whose forewing is rela- tively wider (3.8–3.9 x as long as wide) and F4 of the female antenna is subequal in length to F6 and bears 2 longitudinal sensilla (F4 much shorter than F6 and at most with 1 longitudinal sensillum in E. (E.) psallidis ). Erythmelus (E.) gracilis (Howard) has a relatively wider female forewing (about 4.0 x as long as wide) and lacks longitudinal sensilla on F4, and also all the funicular segments of the female antenna are longer than wide ( Fig. 81 ).

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

Hosts. Miridae : Lygus sp. and Neurocolpus longirostris Knight (new records), Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter) [as Psallus seriatus (Reuter) ] ( Gahan 1937), as well as Keltonia sulphurea (Reuter) [as Reuteroscopus sulphureus (Reuter) ] and? Macrolophus separatus (Uhler) ( Ewing & Crawford 1939; Doutt 1949; Peck 1963). The lepidopteran host of E. psallidis , given by Girault (1911a) for this species (misidentified by him as Anaphes gracilis Howard ), is without any doubt erroneous.

Figures

FIGURES 42–44. Erythmelus (E.) psallidis (female, holotype). 42. Right antenna. 43. Left antenna. 44. Forewing. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 45, 46. Erythmelus (E.) psallidis (male, paratypes). 45. Forewing (Bay City, Texas, USA). 46. Genitalia (Florence, South Carolina, USA). Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 4, 5. Erythmelus (E.) agilis (female, Mamontovka, Moscow Region, Russia). 4. Antenna. 5. Forewing. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 81–83. Erythmelus (E.) gracilis. 81. Antenna (female, holotype). 82. Forewing (female, holotype). 83. Forewing (male, Elizabethtown, Illinois, USA). Scale bars = 0.1 mm.