Euplectrus gerarddelvarei Hansson

Hansson, Christer, Smith, M. Alex, Janzen, Daniel H. & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2015, Integrative taxonomy of New World Euplectrus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), with focus on 55 new species from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica, ZooKeys 485, pp. 1-236 : 47

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus gerarddelvarei Hansson sp. n. Figures 196-199, 203-205, 756

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, ACG, Sector Pitilla, Quebradona, 11.i.2011, D. Martinez, ex Erinnyis alope eating Carica papaya , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0042126, 11-SRNP-70078" (BMNH).

Diagnosis.

Lower face pale, medially yellowish-brown and laterally yellowish-white, with a narrow black stripe along eye margin (Fig. 197); fore and mid legs yellowish-white, hind leg yellowish-brown (Fig. 196); petiole 0.7 × as long as wide; gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-brown with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 198).

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.5 mm. Antenna with scape white, pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellomeres 1-3 dark brown with ventral part yellowish-brown, 4-6 dark brown (Fig. 199). Mandibles and palpi yellowish-white. Head black and shiny, lower face pale, medially yellowish-brown and laterally yellowish-white, with a narrow black stripe along eye margin (Fig. 197). Frons close to eyes with two rows of setae (Fig. 203). Vertex smooth (Fig. 204). Occipital margin rounded (Fig. 204).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 196). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with 18 setae. Scutellum 0.9 × as long as wide; with very weak reticulation (Fig. 205). Dorsellum along anterior margin with a narrow groove that is divided by longitudinal carinae (Fig. 756), groove medially 0.2 × as long as length of dorsellum. Propodeum smooth (Fig. 756); anteromedially with a semicircular cup; propodeal callus with ten setae. Fore and mid legs yellowish-white, hind leg yellowish-brown (Fig. 196). Fore wing: submarginal vein with six setae; costal cell with two rows of setae on ventral surface, and margin with three setae close to marginal vein; with 27 admarginal setae, in two irregular rows.

Gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-brown with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 198).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 2.0/1.0/1.2; POL/OOL/POO = 9.8/5.8/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.3; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.4/4.5/3.3; WH/WT = 1.1; PM/ST = 1.9; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = nm; LP/WP = 0.7; MM/LG = 1.0.

Male. Unknown.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on intermediate instar larva of Erinnyis alope ( Sphingidae ) feeding on Carica papaya ( Caricaceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to cuticle of host larva.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after Gerard Delvare, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.