Entedonomphale quasimodo, S. Triapitsyn, 2005

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., 2005, Revision of Ceranisus and the related thrips-attacking entedonine genera (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) of the world, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 261-315 : 271-272

Entedonomphale quasimodo sp. n.

Figs 7–9

Etymology: The specific name refers to a rather ugly, very unusual habitus of this species (but it is not hunchback at all).

Diagnosis: This distinctive species is so unusual in habitus, that one could assume that it would not fit in any of the described entedonine genera. However, a thorough examination of the slide-mounted holotype specimen proved that this species has all the important morphological features characteristic of Entedonomphale . It stands alone among the known species of this genus in having a flattened head and mesosoma, a short clava of the female antenna, very short marginal setae on the wings, and very short legs with notably swollen femora, especially the profemur. These apparently are adaptations related to its peculiar biology as a parasitoid of the gall-inhabiting thrips host.

Description: Female (holotype and paratype). Body ( Fig. 7 ) dark brown, almost black, appendages light brown to dark brown.

Head long, compressed dorso-ventrally; vertexal suture distinct and strongly angulate (V-shaped). Antenna ( Fig. 8 ) with scape relatively short, a little expanded in basal 2/3, about 3.0 x as long as wide; pedicel about as long as funicle segments but a little narrower; F1 and F2 subequal, slightly longer than wide (almost as wide as clava), with several sensilla each; clava shorter than funicle, relatively narrow (about 2.5 x as long as wide), with numerous sensilla.

Mesosoma flattened dorso-ventrally, about as long as metasoma, lightly, but notably sculptured. Pronotum large, undivided; no trace of notauli present, midlobe of mesoscutum with 2 pairs of setae; anterior margin of scutellum slightly angulate. Forewing ( Fig. 9 ) about 2.6 x as long as wide; fringe very short for genus (longest marginal setae about 0.17 x maximal forewing width); disc hyaline, more or less evenly setose in apical half of forewing (setae very short and inconspicuous, similar to those in E. margiscutum ). Hind wing about 6 x as long as wide; disc hyaline, with numerous setae similar to those on forewing; fringe very short (longest marginal setae about 1/2 hind wing width). Legs very short, with femora (particularly profemur) and foretibia swollen, powerful; coxae and femora lightly sculptured.

Petiole conspicuous, trapezoidal, about as long as wide. Ovipositor short, occupying about 2/5 length of gaster, barely exserted; ovipositor length/metatibia length ratio about 1.1:1.

Measurements (n=1, holotype). Body: 1371. Antenna: scape: 121; pedicel: 55; F1: 57; F2: 56; clava: 96. Forewing: 738/285; longest marginal seta: 49. Hind wing: 646/111; longest marginal seta: 61. Ovipositor: 227.

Male. Unknown.

Holotype: Female on slide, labelled: 1. “ AUSTRALIA: WA, ca. 180 km S Port Hedland, 22 04.493 S 118 48.198 E ”; 2. “ 19.x.2000, D. Morris, DM530”; 3.”within galls of Kladothrips xiphius on Acacia xilophylla ”; 4. “Mounted at UCR/ERM by V.V. Berezovskiy 2004 in Canada balsam.ANIC”; 5. (red) “ Entedonomphale quasimodo S. Triapitsyn HOLOTYPE ^” [ ANIC].

Paratype: AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: same data as the holotype, 1^ on card [ ANIC] .

Hosts: Found within the galls of Kladothrips xiphius Mound & Crespi (according to the label).

Figures

Figs 7–9.Entedonomphale quasimodo sp. n., female (holotype): (7) body (habitus), (8) antenna, (9) forewing, Scale lines = 0.1 mm.