Euplectrus semimarginatus Girault

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 : 113-114

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus semimarginatus Girault Figures 477-478

Euplectrus semimarginatus Girault, 1917b: 1. Lectotype female in USNM, designated here, examined.

Material.

Type material: ♀ lectotype of Euplectrus semimarginatus (USNM).

Diagnosis.

See remarks below.

Description.

Female. Head missing in lectotype specimen. Length of body 1.9 mm (excluding head).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 477). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with nine setae. Scutellum convex; 1.0 × as long as wide; with very weak reticulation, hence shiny. Dorsellum hidden behind glue. Propodeum with very weak reticulation and shiny; anteromedian part hidden behind glue; propodeal callus with 15 setae. Legs yellowish-brown (Fig. 477). Wings transparent, veins and setae yellowish-white; setae on submarginal vein all broken off; admarginal setae and setae in costal cell not visible, hidden in glue.

Gaster yellowish-brown with anterolateral margins dark brown (Fig. 478).

Ratios. PM/ST = 1.2; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 4.0/2.6/7.0/2.8/1.4/1.0/1.6; LP/WP = 0.5; MM/LG = 1.3.

Male. Unknown.

Hosts and biology.

Aphis rumicis ( Hemiptera : Aphididae ) ( Girault 1917b). In view of other host records for species of Euplectrus this host record is very dubious and needs verification.

Distribution.

USA (Texas) ( Girault 1917b).

Remarks.

The lectotype female lacks the head and is therefore not possible to include in the identification key. However, the gaster is with a very distinct pattern: yellowish-brown with dark brown margins in anterior ⅓ (Fig. 478), much like in Euplectrus bobwhartoni and Euplectrus charlesporteri . Euplectrus semimarginatus also has very weak reticulation on the scutellum, which thus is shiny, as in Euplectrus bobwhartoni (Fig. 69) but unlike Euplectrus charlesporteri which has stronger reticulation on the scutellum (Fig. 86). Euplectrus semimarginatus differs from Euplectrus bobwhartoni in having hindleg with tarsomere 1 1.7 × as long as tarsomere 4, in Euplectrus bobwhartoni tarsomere 1 and 4 are equally long. Also similar to Euplectrus floryae and Euplectrus jesusugaldei but both these species have the dark margins on female gaster extending along more or less the entire gaster.

In the original description there is no mention on what material the description is based. Therefore a female that agrees with the original description, in USNM, and labeled: "College Stn Sept Banks", “Texas”, "Type 21431", "Euplectrus semimarginatus Girault female type" is designated as lectotype here.