Meteorus luteus Jones

Jones, Guinevere Z. & Shaw, Scott R., 2012, Ten new species of Meteorus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Ecuador reared at the Yanayacu Biological Center for Creative Studies, Zootaxa 3547, pp. 1-23 : 11-12

Meteorus luteus Jones , new species

( Figs 23–27 )

Holotype Female. Body length 5.0 mm; fore wing length 4.5 mm.

Body color: Head orange with dark yellow face; body yellow, becoming darker yellow dorsally; mandibles yellow with dark orange teeth; light yellow palpi; fore coxae cream; light yellow fore tibia; wings transparent light brown with brown venation; tergum one dark yellow; tergite two yellow; ovipositor yellow with brown sheath.

Head: Antenna with 29 flagellomeres; flagellar length/width ratios as follows: F1 = 2.3, F2 = 3.5, F3 = 3.3, F27 = 1.6, F28 = 1.1, F29 = 3.0; ocelli small, OCOD 1.5 X OCD; eyes nearly parallel and large, head height to eye height ratio 1.4, face maximum width to minimum width ratio 1.1; minimum face width to clypeus width ratio 1.2; malar space 3.7 X mandible width; mandibles strongly twisted; clypeus and face finely rugose; frons smooth; occipital carina complete.

Mesosoma: Lightly defined mesonotal lobes, notauli rugose; longitudinally rugose pronotum; mesopleuron smooth with foveolate sternaulus; metapleuron smooth; propodeum areolate-rugose ( Fig. 26 ).

Legs: Hind coxae rugose; tarsal claws simple.

Wings: Veins r and 3 RSa equal in length; r vein 3.3 X longer than (RS + M)b at 2RS insertion ( Fig. 27 ).

Metasoma: Ovipositor long, 2 times longer than first tergite; first tergite longitudinally costate.

Variation of paratype females. Body length 5.0–6.0 mm; 29 flagellomeres on unbroken antennae.

Variation of paratype males. Body length 4.8–5.0 mm; antennae with 29 flagellomeres.

Cocoon. Light brown; ovoid; moderately baled with silk; corpus 4.5 mm in length; cap 2.0 mm long, nipple paler than corpus and cap; suspension thread attached to posterior end of corpus.

Material examined.

Holotype female: Ecuador: Napo Province, reared at Yanayacu Biological Station with database number YY #20652, S 00°35.9’ W 77°53.4’, 2163 m, collected 12 February 2007, Isla de las Palmas, parasitoid pupated 10 March 2007, adult wasp emerged 28 March 2007, host caterpillar Nymphalidae : Acraeinae: Actinote species, associated plant is an unknown species of Tessaria (Asteraceae) . Deposited in UWIM.

Paratypes: Ecuador: Napo Province, reared at Yanayacu Biological Station, S 00°35.9’ W 77°53.4’, 2163 m, collected Isla de las Palmas. One female, YY #20563 collected 12 February 2007, parasitoid pupated 23 February 2007, adult wasp emerged 16 March 2007. One female, YY #20568 collected 12 February 2007, parasitoid pupated 10 March 2007, adult wasp emerged 28 March 2007. One female, YY #20569 collected 12 February 2007, parasitoid pupated 10 March 2007, adult wasp emerged 28 March 2007. One female, YY #20657 collected 12 February 2007, parasitoid pupated 20 March 2007, adult wasp emerged 10 April 2007. One female, YY #20659 collected 12 February 2007, parasitoid pupated 20 March 2007, adult wasp emerged 5 April 2007. One male, YY #19748 collected 14 December 2006, parasitoid pupated 16 January 2007, adult wasp emerged 7 February 2007. One male, YY #20570 collected 12 February 2007, parasitoid pupated 10 March 2007, adult wasp emerged 28 March 2007. One male, YY #20600 collected 12 February 2007, parasitoid pupated 23 February 2007, adult wasp emerged 10 March 2007. One male, YY #20603 collected 12 February 2007, parasitoid pupated 20 March 2007, adult wasp emerged 5 April 2007. One male, YY #20651 collected 12 February 2007, parasitoid pupated 10 March 2007, adult wasp emerged 28 March 2007. One male, YY #20658 collected 12 February 2007, parasitoid pupated 20 March 2007, adult wasp emerged 12 April 2007. Host caterpillar Nymphalidae : Acraeinae: Actinote species, associated plant is an unknown species of Tessaria (Asteraceae) . Deposited in UWIM.

Distribution. Known only from the type localities in Napo Province, Ecuador.

Biology. Meteorus luteus is a solitary species reared from larvae of Nymphalidae : Acraeinae: Actinote species (species undetermined). Known familiarly as “olivio”, these host caterpillars were found feeding on Tessaria (Asteraceae) .

Etymology. From Latin for “yellow”, named for their mostly yellow coloration.

Comments. Meteorus luteus shares the following characteristics: long ovipositor, large eyes, small ocelli, vein (RS + M)b present with M. oreo , but M. luteus is easily distinguished by its yellow coloration and finely rugose face ( M. oreo face is black and white).

Figures

FIGURES 23 – 25. 23. — Lateral habitus of Meteorus luteus, new species: holotype female; 24. — Face of Meteorus luteus, new species: holotype female; 25. — Cocoon of Meteorus luteus, new species.

FIGURES 26, 27. 26. — Scanning electron micrograph of Meteorus luteus, new species: lateral view of propodeum and metasoma (100 x); 27. — Scanning electron micrograph of Meteorus luteus, new species: showing presence of vein (RS + M) b at vein 2 RS insertion point.