Apleurotropis ficaria, Hansson, Christer, 2010

Hansson, Christer, 2010, Apleurotropis Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) new to tropical America, including six new species and biological records, Zootaxa 2563, pp. 35-52 : 47

Apleurotropis ficaria sp. nov.

( Figs 22–26 , 45, 46 )

Diagnosis. Costal cell with ventral surface with a complete row of setae (as in Fig. 35 ); frontal suture slightly V-shaped ( Fig. 22 ); female with fore and mid coxae pale brown with metallic tinges, hind coxa dark and metallic, male with fore and mid coxae dark brown and metallic, hind coxa dark and metallic; postmarginal vein 4.0X as long as stigmal vein; petiole 1.1X as long as wide in female and 1.3X as long as wide in male. Similar to A. strix but with smaller eyes.

Description. FEMALE. Length 2.0 mm.

Scape pale brown, remaining antenna dark brown. Frons below frontal suture golden-green, above suture metallic bluish-purple. Vertex golden-red. Mesoscutum, scutellum and propodeum metallic bluish-green. Fore and mid coxae pale brown with metallic tinges; femora dark brown; fore tibia with basal ½ dark brown and apical ½ white, mid and hind tibiae white; tarsi white. Forewing hyaline with an infuscate spot medially. Petiole completely dark. Gaster with tergites 1–3 metallic bluish-green, remaining tergites metallic dark purple.

Antenna as in Fig. 45 . Frons with raised and strong reticulation ( Fig. 22 ). Vertex predominantly smooth, inside ocellar triangle with engraved and very weak reticulation ( Fig. 24 ).

Mesoscutum with engraved and strong reticulation, posterior 1/3 with weak median groove ( Fig. 25 ); notaular depressions smooth and shiny. Scutellum with engraved reticulation, laterally and posteriorly smooth ( Fig. 25 ). Axillae with engraved and very weak reticulation ( Fig. 25 ). Dorsellum smooth with two large foveae anterolaterally (fig. 26). Propodeal callus with two setae ( Fig. 26 ). Forewing rounded, speculum closed below. Petiolar foramen rounded.

Petiole dorsally with strong longitudinal and irregular carinae, 1.1X as long as wide, mediolaterally without a spine ( Fig. 26 ). Gaster ovate with pointed apex.

MALE. Length 1.8 mm.

Scape dark and metallic. Entire frons metallic bluish-purple. Vertex golden-red inside ocellar triangle, metallic bluish-purple outside. Fore and mid coxae dark brown with metallic tinges, fore tibia entirely white. Colour otherwise as in female.

Antenna as in Fig. 46 . Head otherwise as in female.

Petiole dorsally smooth and shiny, 1.3X as long as wide, with a spine mediolaterally. Meso- and metasoma otherwise as in female.

Distribution. Costa Rica.

Biology. Reared from a leaf pustule gall on Ficus hartwegii (Moraceae) .

Material examined. Holotype female ( BMNH) labeled " Costa Rica: San José, Zurqui de Moravia, 1600 m, 10˚3'N 84˚0'W, xi.1997, from leaf pustule gall on Ficus hartwegii, P. Hanson " ( BMNH).

Paratype. 1ɗ on card with same label data as holotype ( BMNH).

Etymology. Named for its host-plant association (Latin ficaria = of figs).

Figures

FIGURES 22 – 26. Apleurotropis ficaria sp. nov. 22, head frontal, female. 23, head frontal, male. 24, vertex, female. 25, mesosoma dorsal, female. 26, propodeum, female.

FIGURES 36 – 46. Apleurotropis spp. nov., antenna lateral. 36, A. albicaulis, female. 37, A. albicaulis, male. 38, A. albiscapus, female. 39, A. albiscapus, male. 40, A. anemia, female. 41, A. anemia, male. 42, A. strix, female. 43, A. assis, female. 44, A. assis, male. 45, A. ficaria, female. 46, A. ficaria, male.

FIGURES 32 – 35. Apleurotropis spp. nov. 32, A. anemia, mesosoma and petiole, female. 33, A. albicaulis, mesosoma and petiole, female. 34, A. anemia, base of forewing, cs = costal cell. 35, A. assis, base of forewing, cs = costal cell.