Aphidius stigmaticus Rakhshani and Tomanović, 2011

Rakhshani, Ehsan, Tomanović, Željko, Starý, Petr, Kavallieratos, Nickolas G., Ilić, Marijana, Stanković, Saša S. & Rajabi-Mazhar, Noorali, 2011, Aphidiinae parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Macrosiphoniella aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the western Palaearctic region, Journal of Natural History 45 (41 - 42), pp. 2559-2575 : 2566-2568

Aphidius stigmaticus Rakhshani and Tomanović sp. nov.

( Figure 6 )

Diagnosis

On the basis of the host range, morphological characters and colour pattern, A. stigmaticus sp. nov. is closely related to A. absinthii Marshall , from which it differs in having a wider triangular stigma ( A. stigmaticus sp. nov. has a stigma length / width ratio of 2.62–2.70 vs 3.00– 3.50 in A. absinthii ) and longer F1 ( A. stigmaticus sp. nov. has an F1 length / width ratio of 4.06–4.33 vs 3.50–3.90 in A. absinthii ). A. stigmaticus sp. nov. has the M&m-cu vein sharply curved toward the lower margin of the wing, while the M&m-cu vein is gradually curved down in A. absinthii . Generally, A. stigmaticus sp. nov. differs from all other congeneric species in having a very widely triangular stigma ( Figure 6E ). All other species of the genus Aphidius have a more elongate and slender stigma ( A. stigmaticus sp. nov. has a stigma length / width ratio of 2.62–2.70 vs 2.80–5.50 in all other Aphidius species (Starý 1973; Tomanović et al. 2003c; Rakhshani et al. 2008).

Etymology

The name of the new species is derived from the widely triangular fore wing stigma.

Description

Female. Head. Eyes oval, sparsely setose ( Figure 6A ). Malar space equal to 0.28– 0.31 times the longitudinal eye diameter. Clypeus oval, with 10–(11) long setae ( Figure 6A ). Tentorial index (tentoriocular line / intertentorial line) 0.46–0.50. Antenna (16)–17-segmented, filiform, moderately thickened at apex with semi-erect setae which are shorter than the diameter of the segments ( Figure 6B ). First flagellomere (F1) ( Figure 6C ) 4.06–4.33 times as long as median width, without longitudinal placodes. Second flagellomere (F2) ( Figure 6C ) is 3.43–3.87 times as long as median width, with 0–1 longitudinal placode. F1 equally long as F2 ( Figure 6C ). Maxillary palpus with four palpomeres (if one palpus has three palpomeres, another one bearing the trace of fourth palpomere), labial palps with two palpomeres. Mandibles bidentate, bearing sparse long setae at outer margin ( Figure 6A ).

Mesosoma . Mesonotum with notaulices distinct in the fore part, slightly crenulated, with two or three rows of setae. Notaulices effaced on the mesoscutum ( Figure 6D ).

Propodeum ( Figure 6F ) areolated with narrow central pentagonal areola. Upper lateral area with 3–4 setae and lower lateral area each with 4–5 setae.

Fore wing. Stigma triangular, 2.62–2.70 times as long as wide and 1.30–1.50 times as long as R1 vein ( Figure 6E ); R1 vein is 1.60–1.70 times longer than stigma width. r vein 1.40–1.45 times as long as RS and 0.75–0.80 times as long as R1 vein. Lowest margin with long setae, reducing in size at left side of it.

Metasoma. Petiole short, 2.50–2.92 times as long as wide at spiracles ( Figure 6G ), with moderately prominent mediodorsal carina, with 8–10 costulae on its anterolateral area ( Figure 6H ). Ovipositor sheath long, concave in its dorsal margin ( Figure 6I ). Length of ovipositor sheath 1.90–2.10 times as long as its maximum width at base and 3.10–3.20 times as long as its minimum width at tip.

Colour. Body generally orange. Mouthparts yellow except black tip of mandible. Eyes and ocelli black. Remaining parts of head yellow. Scape with yellow dorsal part and brown ventral part. Pedicel light brown. F1 with narrow yellow ring at the base, remaining part of antenna dark brown. Legs yellow with dark apices. Fourth metasomal segment dark brown, the remaining segments yellow. Ovipositor sheath dark brown. Mummified aphids ( Figure 7 ) whitish.

Body length. 2.0– 2.3 mm.

Male. Antenna 18–19-segmented. First flagellomere with 4–6 longitudinal placodes. Petiole about 2.5 times as long as wide at spiracles level. Body generally darker than female, with brown legs and mouthparts.

Material

Holotype female. Iran, Hamadan, Gallebar, 34 ◦ 45 ′ N; 48 ◦ 10 ′ E, 2300 m a.s.l., 8 June 2006, reared from Macrosiphoniella tanacetaria Kaltenbach on Tanacetum polycephalum ( Figure 7 ), coll. N. Rajabi. Holotype slide mounted and deposited in the collection of the Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade.

Paratypes. The same collection data as holotype. Two male paratypes slide-mounted and four male paratypes dry-mounted were deposited in the collection of the Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. Two females and two males are slide-mounted and deposited in the collection of E. Rakhshani ( Department of Plant Protection , College of Agriculture , University of Zabol ) .

Figures

Figure 6. Aphidius stigmaticus Rakhshani and Tomanović sp. nov. (female). (A) Frontal aspect of head and mouthparts; (B) antenna; (C) first, second, pre-apical and apical flagellomeres; (D) dorsal aspect of mesoscutum; (E) fore wing; (F) dorsal aspect of propodeum; (G) dorsal aspect of petiole; (H) lateral aspect of petiole; (I) lateral aspect of genitalia.

Figure 7. Macrosiphoniella tanacetaria Kaltenbach mummies, by Aphidius stigmaticus Rakhshani and Tomanović sp. nov., on Tanacetum polycephalum.