Euplectrus philwardi 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 : 74-75

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus philwardi Hansson sp. n. Figures 519-525, 529-531, 779

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Alajuela, ACG, Sector San Cristobal, Puente Palma, 25.v.2006, E. Araya, ex Deinopa signiplena eating Swartzia costaricensis , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028876, 06-SRNP-4161" (BMNH). PARATYPE: 1♂ with same label data as holotype (BMNH).

Diagnosis.

Lower face with median part dark reddish-brown, pale area reaching to level of median toruli (Figs 520, 521); dorsellum without a groove or foveae along anterior margin (Fig. 779); fore and mid legs yellowish-white, hind leg yellowish-brown (Fig. 519); petiole 1.1 × as long as wide in female, 1,3 × in male; gaster dark brown with a ± T-shaped yellowish-white spot in anterior ½ (female, Fig. 522), or with anterior ½ white with dark brown lateral margins and posterior ½ dark brown (male, Fig. 523); male antenna with scape slightly expanded and widest in the middle, 2.9 × as long as wide (Fig. 518).

Description.

Female. Length of body 1.8 mm. Antenna with scape yellowish-brown with base yellowish-white, pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellomeres 1-2 pale brown, 3-6 dark brown (Fig. 524). Mandibles yellowish-brown, palpi yellowish-white. Head black and shiny, lower face with median part dark reddish-brown, pale area reaching to level of median toruli, with parts between pale area and eyes black (Fig. 520). Frons close to eyes with two rows of setae (Fig. 529). Vertex smooth (Fig. 530). Occipital margin rounded (Fig. 530).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 519). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with 12 setae. Scutellum 0.9 × as long as wide; with very weak engraved reticulation, posterior margin smooth (Fig. 531). Dorsellum without a groove or foveae along anterior margin (Fig. 779). Propodeum smooth (Fig. 779); anteromedially with a transverse semicircular cup; propodeal callus with six setae. Legs (Fig. 519): fore and mid legs yellowish-white, hind leg yellowish-brown. Fore wing: costal cell with two rows of setae on ventral surface, and margin with six setae close to marginal vein; with 16 admarginal setae, in one row.

Gaster dark brown with a ± T-shaped yellowish-white spot in anterior ½ (Fig. 522).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 2.6/1.0/1.3; POL/OOL/POO = 4.4/2.4/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.0; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.4/4.5/3.4; WH/WT = 1.1; PM/ST = 1.8; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 4.2/2.4/6.7/2.4/1.4/1.0/1.6; LP/WP = 1.1; MM/LG = 1.4.

Male. Length of body 1.6 mm. Scape slightly expanded and widest in the middle (Fig. 525), sensory pores confined to apicoventral ¾, sensory area pale as scape. Otherwise similar to female except petiole longer; gaster with anterior ½ white with dark brown lateral margins and posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 523).

Ratios. LC/WS = 2.9; LP/WP = 1.3.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on third instar larva of Deinopa signiplena ( Noctuidae ) feeding on Swartzia costaricensis ( Fabaceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Alajuela Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after Phil S. Ward, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.