Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar, 2021

Lobato-Vila, Irene & Pujade-Villar, Juli, 2021, The genus Synergus Hartig (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini) in the New World: a complete taxonomic revision with a key to species, Zootaxa 4906 (1), pp. 1-121 : 39-43

Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar , sp. nov.

( Figures 13–14 , 42 c–f)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B5FD9C99-71FB-4372-A372-35892F2C31D5

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♀ deposited in JP-V coll. ( UB) with the following labels: ‘ MEX: 049, Propiedad La Victoria, Barrio la Tlazintla ( Acaxochitlán , HGO), 20°09’15.31’’N, 98°11’29.58’’W’ (white label) / ‘Ex. Melikaiella bicolor, 2223m , Q. laurina , (03.vi.2010) vi.2010, JP-V, A. Equihua & E. Estrada leg.’ (white label) / ‘Holotype ♀ Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar , IL-V desig-2020’ (red label). PARATYPES (12♂ & 17♀) with the following labels: same as the holotype: 7♂ & 10♀ (2♂ & 2♀ deposited in USNM; the rest deposited in JP-V coll.); ‘ MEX: 044, Fray Francisco ( El Arenal , HGO), 98°44’23.8’’N, 20°10’17.45’’W’ (white label) / ‘Ex. Melikaiella bicolor, 2498m , Q. crassifolia , (10.vi.2010) 15.vi.2010, JP-V, A. Equihua & E. Estrada leg.’ (white label) / ‘ Paratype ♀ Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar , IL-V desig-2020’ (red label) (1♀; deposited in JP-V coll.); ‘ MEX: P024, Carretera libre a Oaxtepec (Cuautla, MOR)’ (white label) / ‘Ex. Sphaeroteras sp., 1380m, Q. obtusata , (29.v.2012) 19.ii.2012, E. Estrada & A. Equihua leg.’ (white label) / ‘ Paratype ♂ Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar , IL-V desig-2020’ (red label) (2♂; deposited in JP-V coll.); ‘ MEX: P026, Sant Felipe Neri (Tlalnepantla, MOR), 19°0’29.232’’N, 98°59’38.904’’W’ (white label) / ‘Ex. Melikaiella bicolor, 2099m , Q. crassipes , 29.v.2012 (09.vi.2012), E. Estrada & A. Equihua leg.’ (white label) / ‘ Paratype ♀ Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar , IL-V desig-2020’ (red label) (1♀; deposited in JP-V coll.); ‘ MEX: P071, Barrio La Tlalzintla (Acaxochitlán, HGO), 20°9’28.123’’N, 98°11’40.46’’W’ (white label) / ‘Ex. Melikaiella bicolor, 2510m , Q. laurina , (07–08.vi.2010) 21.viii.2010, E. Estrada & A. Equihua leg.’ (white label) / ‘ Paratype Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar , IL-V desig-2020’ (red label) (1♂ & 2♀; deposited in JP-V coll.); ‘ MEX: P184, Aconco (Tetela de Ocampo, PUE), 19°53’13.38’’N, 97°50’12.443’’W’ (white label) / ‘Ex. Undetermined gall, 1159m, Q. conspersa , (11.ix.2012) 20.ix.2012, E. Estrada & A. Equihua leg.’ (white label) / ‘ Paratype ♂ Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar , IL-V desig-2020’ (red label) (2♂; deposited in JP-V coll.); ‘ MEX: P386, Mazamitla (Mazamitla, JAL), 19°54’56.052’’N, 103°1’21.576’’W’ (white label) / ‘Ex. Neuroterus sp., 2236m, Q. peduncularis , (14.vi.2019) 01–15.vii.2019, JP-V leg.’ (white label) / ‘ Paratype ♀ Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar, IL-V desig-2020’ (red label) (2♀; deposited in JP-V coll.); ‘ MEX: P388, Mazamitla (Mazamitla, JAL), 19°54’56.052’’N, 103°1’21.576’’W’ (white label) / ‘Ex. Neuroterus sp., 2236m, Q. peduncularis , (14. vi.2019) 16–30.vii.2019, JP-V leg.’ (white label) / ‘ Paratype ♀ Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar , IL-V desig-2020’ (red label) (1♀; deposited in JP-V coll.).

Additional material. 1♂ and 4♀ with the same data as MEX: 049 and P071 dissected and gold coated .

Etymology. From the fusion of two Latin terms, ‘ diversus’ for diverse and ‘ color’ for color, the epithet diversicolor refers to the color variability of this species.

Diagnosis. Synergus diversicolor , sp. nov. belongs to a group of species characterized by having the mesopleuron entirely sculptured, including the speculum; hyaline wings and radial cell of fore wing 2.7–3.2 times as long as wide; gena slightly broadened behind eye; transfacial line as long as height of eye; POL longer than OOL; lateral frontal always entirely or distally branched; F1 at least 1.2 or 1.3 times as long as F2 and female antenna with 14 segments; notauli complete, reaching the posterior margin of pronotum; syntergum posteriorly with a conspicuous band of micropunctures extended laterally 1/4–1/3 of its length; and legs entirely yellow, including coxae. Synergus diversicolor , sp. nov. differs from the rest of species of this group ( S. weldi , sp. nov., S. medianeroi and S. pseudofilicornis , see below) by having OOL 1.8 times as long as diameter of lateral ocelli ( Fig. 14b ) (at most 1.4 in the rest of species); and in females, antenna subclavate ( Fig. 14c ), metasoma shorter than head plus mesosoma and about as long as high in lateral view (slightly longer if we include the hypopygium) and syntergum weakly dorsodistally incised ( Figs 13a, c ; 14l ) (antenna filiform, metasoma as long as head plus mesosoma or longer, longer than high in lateral view and syntergum moderately to strongly dorsodistally incised in females of the rest of species).

Description

FEMALE. Length. Body length 1.8–2.3 mm (n = 16).

Color. This species has two color morphotypes: i) mainly black with some yellowish orange areas ( Fig. 13a ), ii) mainly brownish orange with some dark areas ( Fig. 13c ). The darker morphotype has gena orange, lower face yellow (sometimes with a medial black stripe below toruli), and frons, vertex medially and occiput, black; the lighter morphotype has the head brownish orange except for a black spot in the ocellar area, gena somewhat darker and the surface immediately surrounding the occipital foramen, black. In the darker morphotype, antenna are testaceous, whereas yellowish orange in the lighter morphotype. In the darker morphotype, mesosoma is mainly black, with the lateral sides of pronotum and sometimes also the mesopleural triangle, orange, and the tegulae, yellow; in the lighter morphotype, mesosoma is mainly brownish orange, with the mesopleuron basally, the surface between coxae, anterodorsal pronotum, mesoscutum between notauli and propodeum, black, sometimes with a black spot on the mesoscutellum. In the darker morphotype, metasoma is dark chestnut to black, lighter posteriorly and ventrally, whereas dorsally and anterolaterally black and posterolaterally and basally brownish orange to chestnut in the lighter morphotype. In both morphotypes, legs are light yellow to yellow, and wings are hyaline with pale yellow veins.

Head. In frontal view ( Fig. 14a ) subquadrate to rounded, about 1.1 times as wide as high, gena slightly broadened behind eye. Face faintly pubescent, lower face with dense regular striae radiating from clypeus, reaching eyes and toruli; medial striae short to absent. Clypeus indistinct, ventral margin straight, not projected over mandibles. Malar space almost 0.5 times as long as height of eye. Anterior tentorial pits visible; pleurostomal and epistomal sulcus absent. Transfacial line about as long as height of eye. Toruli situated slightly under mid-height of eyes; distance between torulus and eye shorter than diameter of toruli; distance between toruli shorter than diameter of toruli. Frons finely coriaceous, with very few small piliferous punctures; frontal carinae narrow, branched in their whole length, almost reaching lateral ocelli. Head in dorsal view ( Fig. 14b ) is about 2.0 times as wide as long. Vertex finely coriaceous, with small piliferous punctures. POL: OOL: LOL = 6: 3.5: 3 and diameter of lateral ocelli, 2. Occiput finely coriaceous, with small piliferous punctures.

Antenna ( Fig. 14c ). 14-segmented (5: 3: 7: 6: 6: 6: 5.5: 5: 4.5: 4: 3.5: 3: 3: 5/6); almost filiform, slightly broadened apically; pubescence dense and short; placodeal sensilla visible on flagellar segments F3–F12. Pedicel about 1.3 times as long as wide; F1 1.2–1.3 times as long as F2, F2 as long as F3. Last flagellar segment about 2.5-3.0 times as long as wide and 1.7 times as long as F11.

Mesosoma. About 1.2 times as long as high in lateral view including nucha, with short and not dense pubescence ( Fig. 14h, i ). Ratio of length of pronotum medially/laterally: 0.3. Pronotal plate indistinct. Lateral pronotum finely coriaceous; lateral carina absent, pronotum rounded seen from above. Mesoscutum about 1.2 times as wide as long, coriaceous (darker morphotype) ( Fig. 14j ) to strongly coriaceous, with some small punctures and weak transversal elements not forming true carinae (lighter morphotype) ( Fig. 14k ); anterior parallel lines shallow but visible, extended somewhat more than 1/3 of the mesoscutal length; notauli complete, narrow and shallow (especially anteriorly), somewhat interrupted by the mesoscutal sculpture anteriorly; median mesoscutal line absent; parapsidal lines shallowly impressed, almost inconspicuous. Mesoscutellum rounded, about as long as wide, coriaceous (darker morphotype) ( Fig. 14j ) and sometimes with a few weak wrinkles to weakly carinated (lighter morphotype) ( Fig. 14k ); circumscutellar carina visible and well defined, but not projected; scutellar foveae subtriangular to ovate, small, narrow, smooth bottom, well defined and separated by a narrow carina. Mesopleuron ( Fig. 14h, i ) finely, regularly and densely striated, interspaces smooth, glabrous and shining; slightly pubescent basally. Metapleural sulcus reaches about 3/4 parts of mesopleural height. Propodeum ( Fig. 14e ) smooth and not densely pubescent; propodeal carinae narrow, straight, slightly convergent and sometimes somewhat branched posteriorly. Nucha weakly sulcate dorsally and laterally.

Legs. Tarsal claws with a small basal lobe ( Fig. 14f ).

Wings. Fore wing pubescent with short marginal setae, longer than body length ( Fig. 13a, c ). Radial cell closed, about 3.0 times as long as wide; areolet visible, but only the posterior vein is well pigmented ( Fig. 14g ). Rs+M inconspicuous, not reaching the basal vein. Basal cell with sparsely spaced setae.

Metasoma. Slightly shorter than head plus mesosoma, about as high as long in lateral view (slightly longer if we include the hypopygium) ( Figs 13a, c ; 14l ). First metasomal segment sulcate dorsally and laterally. Syntergum smooth, with an anterolateral pubescence composed of a few setae and posteriorly with an almost complete band of micropunctures extended laterally somewhat more than 1/4 of its length (less widespread dorsally and ventrally) ( Fig. 14l , dot line; 14m); slightly dorsodistally incised, following segments not visible; not pointed ( Fig. 14l, m ). Hypopygial spine about as long as wide and with a few lateral setae; without apical setae ( Fig. 14l ).

MALE. Similar to female, except for the following: body length 1.2–1.8 mm (n = 12). Antenna 15-segmented (4.5: 3: 8.5: 6: 6: 5.5: 5: 4.5: 4: 3.5: 3.5: 3: 3: 3: 5.5); F1 1.4 times as long as F2; F1 weakly incised medially, not broadened apically nor basally ( Fig. 14d ). Metasoma shorter than head plus mesosoma and slightly longer than high; syntergum posterior punctuation reaching 1/3 of its length. Some specimens are almost completely black ( Fig. 13b ), whereas others are lighter ( Fig. 13d ). Occiput black only around occipital foramen or completely yellow. The dark spot on the vertex is usually less widespread in lighter specimens.

Distribution. Mexico: Hidalgo, Jalisco, Morelos, and Puebla.

Biology. Reared from galls of Melikaiella bicolor Pujade-Villar, 2014 ( Fig. 42c ) on Q. laurina , Q. crassifolia , and Q. crassipes ; from galls of an undetermined species of Sphaeroteras ( Fig. 42d ) on leaves of Q. obtusata ; from an undetermined species of Neuroterus ( Fig. 42f ) on leaves of Q. peduncularis ; and from undetermined small round galls on twigs ( Fig. 42e ) on Q. acutifolia .

Figures

FIGURE 13. Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar, sp. nov. Dark morphotype: a) female lateral habitus; b) male lateral habitus. Light morphotype: c) female lateral habitus; d) male lateral habitus.

FIGURE 14. Synergus diversicolor Lobato-Vila & Pujade-Villar, sp. nov. Female: a) head in frontal view; b) head in dorsal view; c) antenna; e) propodeum; f) tarsal claw; g) radial cell of the fore wing; h) mesosoma in lateral view (dark morphotype); i) mesosoma in lateral view (light morphotype); j) mesosoma in dorsal view (dark morphotype); k) mesosoma in dorsal view (light morphotype); l) metasoma in lateral view; m) detail of the syntergum punctuation. Male: d) detail of the first antennal segments.

FIGURE 42. a) Andricus sp. (Ref.: MEX: P141); b) Andricus sp. (Ref.: MEX: P230); c) Melikaiella bicolor (Ref.: MEX: 044, 049, P026, P071); d) Sphaeroteras sp. (Ref.: MEX: P024); e) Undetermined genus (Ref.: MEX: P184); f) Neuroterus sp. (Ref.: MEX: P386, P388); g) Disholcaspis sp. (Ref: MEX: P398); h) Femuros nr repandae (Ref.: P187, P227, 2797); i) Femuros repandae (Ref.: MEX: P313, 255, 256); j) Andricus sp. (Ref.: MEX: P314); k) Disholcaspis sp. (Ref.: MEX: P140); l) Undetermined genus (Ref.: MEX: P259); m) Neuroterus sp. (Ref.: MEX: P381); n) Loxaulus hyalinus (Ref.: MEX: 333); o) Undetermined genus (Ref.: Clark-49); p) Atrusca sp. (Ref.: P317, P318); q) Atrusca sp. (Ref.: MEX: P183); r) Andricus sp. (Ref.: MEX: P394); s) Andricus sp. (Ref.: MEX: P038).