Synergus baruensis Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero

Nieves-Aldrey, Jose Luis & Medianero, Enrique, 2011, Taxonomy of inquilines of oak gall wasps of Panama, with description of eight new species of Synergus Hartig (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Synergini), Zootaxa 2774, pp. 1-47 : 14-15

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.276876
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6189372
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A487F3-FFFF-C605-FF2A-6523FE6BE923
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Synergus baruensis Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Synergus baruensis Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 C, 4F, 5F, 6J, 9C, 11F, 14C, 17J, 20D–E)

Type material. Holotype ̩ (in Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain ( MNCN), card-mounted. (Cat. nº 2101). PANAMA, Chiriquí, Boquete, Alto Chiquero 8º 50' 49 01” N, 82º 29' 18 04” W, 1869 m; ex gall of an undescribed Callirhytis ? species on Quercus salicifolia (Fagaceae) , gall collected 10.v.2008, Medianero & Nieves leg. Paratypes: 63, 6̩, same data as holotype; 13, road to Volcancito, 1,400 m, 25.i.2009, E. Medianero leg. Eight paratypes in the MNCN, four paratypes in Maestría en Entomología, Universidad de Panamá ( MEUP). 1̩ paratype of the type series was dissected for SEM observations (in the MNCN).

Etymology. Named after the Volcan Barú, the best collecting site for cynipids in Panama.

Diagnosis and comments. This new species resembles S. luteus , S. gabrieli and S. colombianus in its general aspect and in most morphological characters. The distinguishing characters for these species are mentioned in the identification key. The diagnostic characters of S. baruensis can be summarized as follows: coloration predominantly yellowish in the two sexes; frontal carinae strong, high, not branched, reaching close to the lateral ocelli; F1 of female antenna 2.8 as long as pedicel; 1.2 as long as F2; sculpture of mesoscutum weakly coriarious with some weak transverse rugae; lateral propodeal carinae moderately convergent; radial cell three times as long as wide, venation well pigmented, in males the distal end of the radial cell is extended by a pigmented small triangle; extension of micropunctures on the posterior metasomal 2+3 terguites forming a narrow band, punctures quite weak

Description. Body length 2.4 mm (range 2.14–2.77; N = 6) for females; 2.4 (range 1.82–2.85; N = 7) for males.

Female ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 D). Head yellow red, the frons (inside frontal carinae), ocelar triangle and occiput, around the occipital foramen, black. Antennae brown dorsally and yellowish ventrally. Mesosoma black, but sides of pronotum and scutellum, lateral margins of mesoscutum and speculum are yellow red; tegulae yellow. Metasoma black dorsally and anterolaterally, the half ventral and the posterolateral areas yellow. Legs yellow, excepting all tarsi slightly darkened. Forewing hyaline, veins dirty yellow. Male ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 E) similar to female but yellow coloration much more extended, only small areas black in pronotum medially, sides of ocelli, posterior half of mesoscutum (among notauli), propodeum and metasoma dorsally. Coxae of legs more pale yellow.

Female. ( Fig. 20 View FIGURE 20 D). Head in dorsal view ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 F) 2 times as wide as long. Genae not expanded behind compound eye. POL 1.8 times OOL, posterior ocellus separated from inner orbit of eye by about its diameter. Head in anterior view ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 C) more or less trapezoid, 1.2 times as wide as high, genae slightly expanded behind eyes. Facial carinae strong, regular, reaching toruli and internal margin of eyes, not branched near compound eyes. Malar space 0.5 as long as height of compound eye. Toruli size and relative separation as in their closely allied species. Frontal carinae strong, high, not branched, close arriving lateral ocelli. Frons coriarious, with some punctures and very weak rugae; vertex and dorsal area of occiput coriarious punctuate; some rugae close to internal margins of eyes ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 C, 4F).

Female antenna with 14 segments ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 F); flagellum filiform not broadened towards apex; relative lengths of antennal segments: 18:9.5:28:23:21:21:18.5:16:13:12:11:10:10:18.5; pedicel 1.3 as long as wide; F1 1.2 as long as F2. Male antenna with 15 segments; distal half slighty broadened; F1 excaved medially and slightly expanded apically ( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 J).

Mesosoma. Pronotum without lateral pronotal carina. Mesoscutum moderately pubescent ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 C); with weak, coriarious striate sculpture. Notauli percurrent, narrow and moderately converging posteriorly; notauli not broadened posteriorly, as wide as transscutal fissure. Median mesoscutal impression virtually invisible. Scutellar foveae ellipsoidal, shallow, smooth, narrowly separated anteriorly by a septum. Scutellum not margined, with rugose sculpture. Mesopleuron ( Fig. 11 View FIGURE 11 F) with close spaced horizontal striae, extended on the speculum, the interspaces without visible coriarious sculpture.

Lateral propodeal carinae distinct, broad, moderately convergent posteriorly ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12 A). Median propodeal area smooth and pubescenct. Nucha sulcate.

Legs. Tarsal claw with secondary acute tooth large, measuring about 1/2 of length of apical tooth.

Forewing ( Fig. 17 View FIGURE 17 J). Radial cell 2.9 times as long as wide. R1 slightly narrower along margin of radial cell, but radial cell closed; areolet indistinct; vein Rs+M incomplete. Basal cell with few sparse setae. Apical margin of wing with a long fringe of setae.

Metasoma ( Fig. 14 View FIGURE 14 C). First metasomal tergum longitudinally sulcate dorsally. Metasomal tergum T2+3 fused, covering 4/5 parts of metasoma, smooth and shining, weak micropunctures visible forming a narrow band on posterodorsal area of terguite. Anterolateral pubescence forming a patch of about 14 setae. Projection of the hypopygial spine short; apical setae not projected beyond apex spine.

Distribution. Chiriqui region, Panama.

Biology. Synergus baruensis is an inquiline inhabiting galls of an undescribed cynipid species that are provisionally attributed here to the genus Callirhytis . The galls are grown on the leaves and buds of Quercus salicifolia , being integral and plurilocular ( Fig. 21 View FIGURE 21 G). Both the host galls and the inquiline cynipid seem to be common in the Chiriquí region of Panama.