Sycophila (Ficorytoma) persicae Lotfalizadeh, 2024

Lotfalizadeh, Hossein, Delvare, Gérard, Cruaud, Astrid & Rasplus, Jean-Yves, 2024, Morphological phylogeny and revision of Sycophila and Ficomila (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Eurytomidae) associated with Afrotropical fig trees (Moraceae, Ficus), Zootaxa 5401 (1), pp. 1-190 : 77-82

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5401.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:376CAB04-43BE-4C9A-950B-80DBD676CFB0

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FD6B5E-7279-617F-5486-B5FDFA2FF9CC

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Sycophila (Ficorytoma) persicae Lotfalizadeh
status

sp. n.

Sycophila (Ficorytoma) persicae Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

( Figs 50–52 View FIGURE 50 View FIGURE 51 View FIGURE 52 )

Type material examined. Holotype ♀: Guinea, Monts Nimba, Mifergui, ex syconia of Ficus artocarpoides , 6.v.1993, Rasplus , J.Y. leg. Deposited in CBGP. Paratypes: same data as holotype, 2♀ & 6♂. Cameroon, Ebogo, 10.i.1993, ex syconia of Ficus artocarpoides, Gibernau M. leg., 3♀. Gabon, Makokou, ex syconia of F.artocarpoides , 24.ix.1988, Maldes, J.M. leg., 3♀.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the ancient name of Iran, “Pers”, in reference to the financial support of Iranian Ministry of Agriculture, ARREO to HL’s research.

Diagnosis. Female of F. persicae smaller than F. delvarei ; yellowish colour with dorsal dark longitudinal band ( Fig. 50A View FIGURE 50 ). Gena distinctly laminated. Antennal scrobe long, reaching median ocellus ( Fig. 50C View FIGURE 50 ). Flagellum with fu1 at least 3× as long as pedicel ( Fig. 50B View FIGURE 50 ). Funiculars distinctly longer than wide. Clava relatively short, shorter than two last funiculars ( Fig. 50B View FIGURE 50 ). Mesoscutum with dense umbilicate punctures ( Fig. 51A View FIGURE 51 ). Petiole short, shorter than wide and not visible dorsally ( Fig. 51D View FIGURE 51 ). Propodeum smooth medially ( Fig. 51B View FIGURE 51 ). Gaster slightly compressed laterally ( Fig. 51D View FIGURE 51 ).

Male with dark and long petiole ( Fig. 52A View FIGURE 52 ). Antenna with 4 long funiculars ( Fig. 52B View FIGURE 52 ).

Description of holotype ♀ ( Figs 50–51 View FIGURE 50 View FIGURE 51 ). Length 4.30mm. Body yellowish ( Fig. 50A View FIGURE 50 ), except antennal flagellum dark brown, head dorsally, mesosoma dorsomedially, propodeum medially, petiole, gaster dorsally and dorsal part of tergites black; pronotum yellowish and black dorsomedially; fore wing with a dark brown spot below mv, reaching base of mv; lower margin of mv not obscured by dark brown spot ( Fig. 51E View FIGURE 51 ); gaster bicoloured; body setation whitish ( Fig. 51C View FIGURE 51 ), setation of fore wing entirely dark.

Head 1.3× as broad as high [HW 158 & HH 122] ( Fig. 50C View FIGURE 50 ); in dorsal view transverse, 2.09× as broad as long [HW 158 & HL 76] ( Fig. 50D View FIGURE 50 ); face coriaceous with sparse punctures, vertex densely punctulate; antennal scrobe short, not reaching median ocellus; malar space 0.43× length of eye [ms 40 & EH 92]; malar sulcus distinct, sinuous ( Fig. 50E View FIGURE 50 ); genal margin sinuous in its lower margin, distinctly carinate; antennal toruli narrowly separated; interantennal space not raised, not carinate laterally; scrobal depression smooth, not reach the median ocellus, not carinate on margin; POL 1.92× as long as OOL, [POL 48 & OOL 25] ( Fig. 50D View FIGURE 50 ); temple margined, 0.25× the eye length (in dorsal view), [TL 25 & EL 100]; setation oriented downwards on face, outwards on the punctuate frons.

Antenna. Scape reaching lower margin of median ocellus, 2.32× as long as broad [SL 58 & SW 25]; fu1 2.04× as long as broad [fu1L 57 & fu1W 28]; distinctly longer than pedicel, not bulging dorsally; funiculars (fu2–fu4) with several rows of mps and several whorls of adpressed short setae; fu2–fu4 distinctly longer than broad, fu5 slightly longer than broad ( Fig. 50A View FIGURE 50 ).

Mesosoma weakly arched dorsally, 1.7× as long as wide (170:100), with deep sculpture ( Fig. 51A View FIGURE 51 ); pronotum with coarse umbilicate punctures; mesepisternum with a raised process on epicnemium, being closer to anteroventral margin of mesepisternum than to mesocoxa; mesoscutum 0.65× as long as wide (65:100), 0.75× longer than length of pronotal collar (65:85), densely umbilicate punctures; notauli impressed; prepectus bare, slightly sculptured; mesoscutellum and axillae with dense umbilicate punctures sculpture; mesepimeron transversally strigose; metepimeron subtriangular and areolate with long white hairs; propodeum ( Fig. 51B View FIGURE 51 ) with deep median depression, without smooth median band, and a distinct median carina, lateral rows of areolae short (extending at most to half-length of propodeum); inverted V-shaped basal carina, truncate mesally, lateral branches relatively straight, width of basal carinae about 0.5× width of nucha.

Fore wing with short marginal fringe, apically subtruncate (pointed anteriorly); dark brown spot below mv; basal cell more setose; mv distinctly enlarged, rounded, lower margin convex, not longer than pmv; stv not curved; pmv distinct, longer than stv; ventral side of costal cell densely setose, dorsally with a row of setae; speculum present; parastigmal bristles absent ( Figs 51E, F View FIGURE 51 ).

Legs. Fore coxa without depression on frontal surface, hind coxa bare basodorsally; fore (30:10) and hind femora (30:12); hind tibia dorsally with more 10 setae, setae shorter than tibia width basally.

Metasoma. Petiole longer than broad dorsally, ventral transverse carina between petiole and St1 absent. Metasoma 1.55× as long as wide (155:100) ( Fig. 51C View FIGURE 51 ), shorter than mesosoma, compressed laterally ( Fig. 51D View FIGURE 51 ); ventral transverse carina between petiole and St1 absent; petiole in dorsal view longer than wide, as long as or longer than half length of hind coxa; tergites smooth; Gt4 (in lateral view) slightly as long as Gt3, not sinuous posteriorly; Gt5 mostly covering Gt6, sinuous posteriorly; Gt2–Gt5 with few setae dorsally, Gt6 setose in ventral half; ovipositor oriented dorsad but not distinctly upturned ( Fig. 51C View FIGURE 51 ).

Male ( Fig. 52 View FIGURE 52 ). Length 2.06–2.38 mm. Similar to female with dark and longer petiole ( Fig. 52A View FIGURE 52 ); antennal formula 11143, with much longer segments ( Fig. 51B View FIGURE 51 ); each funicular with several rows of mps and several whorls of erected setae; gaster mostly dark brown dorsally.

Variation (female). Length 2.20–3.65mm. In some specimens, dark band of posterior margin of tergites wider than in holotype

Host plant. Ficus artocarpoides .

Geographical distribution. Cameroon, Gabon and Guinea.

Subgenus Sycophila Walker, 1871

Diagnosis. Female. Length 1.76-6.35mm. Body colouration varies from yellowish to brown or dark brown; fore wing with a dark brown spot below mv, lower margin of mv obscured by dark brown spot or not.

Head in frontal and dorsal views mostly coriaceous, and sparsely punctulate; in frontal view broad than high; in dorsal view broad than long; malar space less than length of eye; genal margin regularly curved, edged but not carinate; antennal toruli narrowly or widely separated; POL distinctly longer than OOL; temple rounded, less than half the eye length (in dorsal view); scape reaching lower margin of median ocellus or not, much longer than broad; fu1 longer than broad, longer than pedicel, not bulging dorsally; fu2–fu5 as long as to distinctly longer than broad.

Mesosoma dorsally coriaceous and/or with umbilicate punctures from superficial to deep and coarse; mesodiscrimen raised medially, raised piliferous sculpture closer to the anterior end of the discrimen; prepectus smooth to slightly sculptured, bare; mesoscutellum coriaceous with sparse dense umbilicate punctures; propodeum with deep median depression, smooth or sculptured medially or with a median carina or two short submedian carinae; basal carina forming and inverted V or wedge-like or and truncate mesally.

Fore wing with short or long marginal fringe; dark brown spot small or expanded below whole length of mv; basal cell bare or nearly so or hairy; mv distinctly enlarged, with convex posterior margin; pmv distinct, longer than stv or not; costal cell dorsally and ventrally bare or setose; speculum present.

Metasoma longer than mesosoma (except in Sycophila bidentata sp. n.), strongly compressed laterally and dorsally angulate; ventral transverse carina between petiole and St1 present; petiole in dorsal view longer than wide or not; tergites smooth or slightly reticulate; in some species Gt 4 in lateral view much as long as Gt3 (at least 1.5× longer); ovipositor variably upturned.

Male. Males of Sycophila represent a strongly sexual dimorphism with longer petiole; antennal formula 11143, mostly much longer funiculars, with whorls of long hairs; fore wing more setose than in female; propodeum with raised areolate sculpture.

Relationships. This subgenus shares a few characters with Ficorytoma gen. n. including bulging mv, pmv distinctly longer than stv; fu1 long (at least 2× as long as pedicel) and arched, dorsally bulging (shared also with Ficomila ).

Key to Afrotropical species of Sycophila (Sycophila) associated with Ficus View in CoL

1 Antenna with 5 funiculars, funiculars with short and appressed hairs ( Figs 56F View FIGURE 56 , 58B View FIGURE 58 , 61B View FIGURE 61 ); metasoma longer than mesosoma, with petiole relatively short, at most as long as hind coxa ( Figs 56A View FIGURE 56 , 61A View FIGURE 61 )........................... go to female key

- Antenna with 4 funiculars, funiculars with relatively long and erect hairs ( Figs 60C View FIGURE 60 , 63B View FIGURE 63 ); metasoma shorter than mesosoma, petiole longer than hind coxa ( Figs 60A View FIGURE 60 , 63A View FIGURE 63 )................................................... go to male key

Female

1 Funiculars (fu2–fu5) short, at most as long as wide ( Figs 69B View FIGURE 69 , 77B View FIGURE 77 , 80B View FIGURE 80 )......................................... 2

- Funiculars (fu2–fu5) long, distinctly longer than wide ( Figs 64B View FIGURE 64 , 71B View FIGURE 71 )........................................... 5

2(1) Flagellum with fu5 transverse, wider than long ( Fig. 86B View FIGURE 86 ).................. S. (S.) suricola Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Flagellum with fu5 quadrate, as long as wide ( Fig. 80B View FIGURE 80 )...................................................... 3

3(2) Petiole longer than broad dorsally ( Figs 70C, D View FIGURE 70 ).......................... S. (S.) lasallei Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Petiole at most as long as broad dorsally................................................................... 4

4(3) Costal cell densely setose ventrally, with a row of setae dorsally ( Fig. 91E View FIGURE 91 )...... S. (S.) zebra Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Costal cell sparsely setose ventrally, dorsally bare ( Fig. 81E View FIGURE 81 ).................. S. (S.) nigra Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

5(1) Petiole longer than broad dorsally, ventral transverse carina between petiole and St1 absent ( Figs 57C View FIGURE 57 , 59C, D View FIGURE 59 ); funiculars relatively short (at most 1.5× as long as wide) ( Figs 56F View FIGURE 56 , 58B View FIGURE 58 , 77B View FIGURE 77 ); propodeum with a median carina ( Figs 57B View FIGURE 57 , 59B View FIGURE 59 , 78B View FIGURE 78 ); Gt4 as long as Gt3 ( Figs 57C View FIGURE 57 , 59C View FIGURE 59 , 78C View FIGURE 78 )................................................................... 6

- Petiole at most as long as broad dorsally ( Figs 65D View FIGURE 65 , 67D View FIGURE 67 , 72D View FIGURE 72 ), ventral transverse carina between petiole and St1 present ( Figs 65C View FIGURE 65 , 67C View FIGURE 67 ); funiculars long, at least 2× as long as wide ( Figs 64B View FIGURE 64 , 66B View FIGURE 66 , 71B View FIGURE 71 ); propodeum with or without median carina... 8

6(5) Pronotal carina present anteriorly and laterally ( Fig. 57A View FIGURE 57 ), anterodorsally with two short teeth formed by the raised pronotal carina ( Fig. 56G View FIGURE 56 )................................................. S. (S.) bidentata Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Pronotal collar not carinate anteriorly and laterally, without any teeth............................................ 7

7(6) Body dorsally with a dark brown band ( Fig. 58A View FIGURE 58 ); Gt4 longer than Gt5 dorsally ( Fig. 59D View FIGURE 59 )......................................................................................... S. (S.) chirindensis Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Body without a distinct dark band dorsally, sometimes with a slight dark brown mark dorsally ( Fig. 77A View FIGURE 77 ); Gt5 as long as Gt4 dorsally ( Fig. 78D View FIGURE 78 )............................................. S. (S.) meridionalis Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

8(5) Smooth median band of propodeum almost reaching nucha ( Figs 54B View FIGURE 54 , 62B View FIGURE 62 , 75B View FIGURE 75 , 84B View FIGURE 84 ), sometimes with a row of areolae on each side; metanotum reticulate or smooth................................................................. 9

- Smooth median band of propodeum interrupted and not reaching to nucha ( Figs 65B View FIGURE 65 , 75B View FIGURE 75 ), lateral rows of areolae not complete; metanotum smooth................................................................................... 10

9(8) Row of areolae on propodeum short, reaching at most half-length of propodeum ( Figs 75B View FIGURE 75 , 84B View FIGURE 84 )..................... 12

- Row of areolae or reticulation on propodeum approaching or reaching nucha ( Figs 54B View FIGURE 54 , 62B View FIGURE 62 )........................ 13

10(8) Marginal vein short, as long as pmv and stv ( Fig. 67F View FIGURE 67 )............................... S. (S.) kestraneura ( Masi, 1917) View in CoL

- Marginal vein long, longer than pmv and stv ( Figs 65F View FIGURE 65 , 72F View FIGURE 72 ).................................................. 11

11(10) Body mainly yellow, with a dorsal longitudinal dark band on tergites ( Fig. 71A View FIGURE 71 ); costal cell relatively bare ventrally ( Fig. 72E View FIGURE 72 ); propodeum with one posterior areola ( Fig. 72B View FIGURE 72 )..................... S. (S.) longiflagellata Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Body mainly brownish-yellow, with dark bands/spots on different parts ( Fig. 64A View FIGURE 64 ); costal cell distinctly setose ventrally ( Fig. 65E View FIGURE 65 ); propodeum with two posterior areolae ( Fig. 65B View FIGURE 65 )...................... S. (S.) fusca Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

12(9) Front part of mesoscutum transversally strigose ( Fig. 75A View FIGURE 75 ); pmv shorter than mv ( Fig. 75F View FIGURE 75 )..................................................................................... S. (S.) macrospermae Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Entire median lobe of mesoscutum punctate ( Fig. 84A View FIGURE 84 ); pmv longer than mv ( Fig. 84F View FIGURE 84 )............................................................................................ S. (S.) nigriterga Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

13(9) Gaster reticulate; basal cell setose, costal cell with several dorsal setae ( Fig. 62E View FIGURE 62 ); propodeum sculptured except for a smooth median band ( Fig. 62B View FIGURE 62 )............................................ S. (S.) ficophila Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Gaster smooth; basal cell bare, costal cell bare ( Fig. 54E View FIGURE 54 ); propodeum with a smooth mesal depression, at most slightly sculptured there ( Fig. 54B View FIGURE 54 )............................................ S. (S.) annae Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

Male

1 Flagellum with fu2–fu4 elongate, conspicuously longer than wide ( Figs 68B View FIGURE 68 , 79B View FIGURE 79 , 85B View FIGURE 85 )............................. 5

- Flagellum with fu2–fu4 2× as long as wide or shorter ( Figs 82B View FIGURE 82 , 88B View FIGURE 88 , 92B View FIGURE 92 )....................................... 2

2(1) Body dark or dark brown ( Fig. 82A View FIGURE 82 )..................................... S. (S.) nigra Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Body mainly yellowish, with brown dark parts.............................................................. 3

3(2) Flagellum with fu5 wider than long ( Fig. 92B View FIGURE 92 )............................. S. (S.) zebra Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Flagellum with fu5 at least as long as wide ( Figs 88B View FIGURE 88 )..................... S. (S.) suricola Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

5(1) Body mostly dark brown, with yellowish parts, femora robust ( Figs 68A View FIGURE 68 , 85A View FIGURE 85 )..................................................................... S. (S.) nigriterga Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n. (partly) & S. (S.) kestraneura (Masi)

- Body mostly yellowish, partly dark brown................................................................. 6

6(5) Fore wing partly setose, with distinct speculum ( Figs 79C View FIGURE 79 , 85D View FIGURE 85 )................................................ 7

- Fore wing entirely setose, without speculum or a relatively narrow one ( Figs 55D View FIGURE 55 , 60B View FIGURE 60 , 63D View FIGURE 63 )......................... 9

7(6) Propodeum entirely dark brown ( Fig. 85C View FIGURE 85 )............................ S. (S.) nigriterga Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Propodeum at least partly yellow ( Figs 76C View FIGURE 76 , 79D View FIGURE 79 )........................................................... 8

8(7) Propodeum medially dark and laterally yellow ( Fig. 79D View FIGURE 79 ).............. S. (S.) meridionalis Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Propodeum entirely yellow ( Fig. 76C View FIGURE 76 )............................ S. (S.) macrospermae Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

9(6) Clava longer than all funiculars taken together ( Fig. 60C View FIGURE 60 )............... S. (S.) chirindensis Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Clava shorter than all funiculars taken together............................................................. 10

10(9) Propodeum entirely dark brown ( Fig. 63C View FIGURE 63 ); scape mainly brown ( Fig. 63B View FIGURE 63 )....................................................................................................... S. (S.) ficophila Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

- Propodeum yellowish with a T-shaped dark brown spot basally ( Fig. 55C View FIGURE 55 ); scape yellowish in basal half ( Fig. 55B View FIGURE 55 )......................................................................... S. (S.) annae Lotfalizadeh & Rasplus sp. n.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Eurytomidae

Genus

Sycophila

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