Encarsia pilosa Schmidt and Polaszek

Schmidt, Stefan & Polaszek, Andrew, 2007, The Australian species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae), parasitoids of whiteflies (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aleyrodidae) and armoured scale insects (Hemiptera, Coccoidea: Diaspididae), Journal of Natural History 41 (33 - 36), pp. 2099-2265 : 2220-2221

72. Encarsia pilosa Schmidt and Polaszek

( Figures 227–231 ) Encarsia pilosa Schmidt and Polaszek 2007, p 90 –91. Holotype ♀, Cunningham’s Gap via

Aratula, 18 June 1998 (C. J. Burwell), ex Aleurodicus destructor on Lomandra sp. (ANIC,

examined).

Diagnosis

Female. Colour: head brown. Mesosoma brown except mesoscutal midlobe posteriorly and laterally lighter, and mesoscutal side lobes posteriorly, scutellum, and metanotum yellow. Metasoma brown, apical tergite occasionally yellow. Antenna yellow, radicle brown. Fore wing hyaline, venation brown, occasionally with dark infuscation behind proximal half of marginal vein. Legs yellow except mid and hind coxae and hind femur brown.

Morphology: stemmaticum with rugosely strigose surface sculpture. Antennal formula 1,1,4,2. Pedicel half as long as F1. F1 2.22–2.46 times as long as broad, subequal in length to F2 and F3. Flagellomeres each with 8–10 longitudinal sensilla. F1–F5 cylindrical and similar in shape and size, F6 conical and slightly shorter than preapical segment. F1–F5 apically with papillar sensilla. Mid lobe of mesoscutum with about 60– 70 setae, evenly reticulate, side lobes with three setae each. Posterior pair and lateral setae of mesoscutal midlobe larger than remaining setae. Scutellar sensilla separated by approximately three to four times the width of a sensillum. Distance between anterior pair of scutellar setae smaller than distance between posterior pair, anterior pair located at least slightly anterior to scutellar sensilla. Fore wing 2.1 times as long as width of disc, densely setose, setation of disc slightly more dense than area behind marginal vein. Basal cell with 14–16 setae. Longest setae of marginal fringe about one-tenth the width of disc. Submarginal vein with three to five setae, marginal vein anteriorly with 10–12 setae. Apical spur of midtibia longer than half the length of the corresponding basitarsus (0.77– 0.89). Mid tarsus 0.6 times as long as mid tibia. Basitarsus of mid leg ventrally with stout setae with distinct bases, almost as long as combined length of three following tarsal segments. Tergites on each side with the following numbers of setae: T1: 2–4, T2: 4–6, T3: 5–7, T4: 7–8, T5: 12–16, T6: 3–4, T7 with four to six setae. Ovipositor slightly longer than midtibia (1.06–1.09). Third valvula 0.34–0.35 times as long as second valvifer.

Male. Colour and structural details similar to female, but brown colour more extensive.

Species group placement. Not established.

Distribution. Queensland.

Host. Aleyrodidae : Aleurodicus destructor Mackie.

Additional material examined

Queensland: 6♀, 2 „, same data as holotype ( BMNH, ZSMG) and 1♀, 1 „, Maryborough, 11 May 1971 (P. J. Young), ex Aleurodicus destructor , C.I.E.A 5170/12550 ( QDPI) .

Comments

Encarsia pilosa is unusual for an Encarsia species because of the large number of setae on the mesoscutal midlobe, shape of the scutellum, lack of a medial furrow on the scutellum, large number of setae on the submarginal vein, and numerous sensilla on all flagellar segments.

Figures

Figures 227–231. Encarsia pilosa Schmidt and Polaszek, female. (227) Mesosoma and gaster. (228) Antenna. (229) Head. (230) Stigmal vein. (231) Fore wing.