Barucynips Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey

Medianero, Enrique & Nieves-Aldrey, Jose Luis, 2013, Barucynips panamensis, a new genus and species of oak gallwasps (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini) from Panama, and description of one new species of Coffeikokkos, ZooKeys 277, pp. 25-46 : 26-31

Barucynips Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey gen. n. Figs 1235

Type species.

Barucynips panamensis Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey, sp. n., by present designation and monotype.

Etymology.

From Barú (the name of the volcano in Panama where the new genus was collected) and Cynips, referring to Cynips-groups, inside the tribe Cynipini .

Gender.

Masculine

Diagnosis and identification.

By the 16 segmented antennae, head and mesosoma shape and sculpture, forewing venation and the association with Quercus bumelioides , a tree common in the mountains of Central America, the new genus resembles the recently described genus Coffeikokkos Pujade-Villar & Melika, from Costa Rica. Barucynips differs, however, from that genus in some important characteristics which clearly separate the two genera. The main diagnostic characteristic that clearly allows the separation of Barucynips and Coffeikokkos is the shape of the hypopygial spine. The shape and setosity of the ventral spine of hypopygium of Barucynips is completely distinctive among all the exhibited by the described cynipids (Fig. 3). The projecting part of the hypopygial spine is lanceolate, pointed apically, and at least 4.0 times as long as broad, with a basal group of long setae, which reach the apex of the spine, forming a tuft, while Coffeikokkos present a projecting part of the hypopygial spine only 2.5 times as long as wide, uniformly broad, with parallel sides, rounded distally, with tuft of long supapical setae, reaching far beyond apex of spine. The new genus also differs from Coffeikokkos in the propodeal sculpture. The lateral carinae of the propodeum are subparallel in the anterior half and strongly divergent posteriorly in Coffeikokkos , without a median longitudinal carina, while the lateral propodeal carinae are much less strongly divergent posteriorly and a median longitudinal carina is present in Barucynips . Furthermore, the metatarsal claws of Coffeikokkos present a strong basal obtuse lobe, while the claws of Barucynips are toothed, with a small acute basal tooth. Other discriminant characteristics are as follows: the ventral margin of clypeus is strongly projected on mandibles (only slightly so in Coffeikokkos ); the malar area has a strong alutaceous sculpture (Fig. 1B) and lacks irradiating striae from the clypeus (a few but clearly impressed striae are present in Coffeikokkos ). The new genus is also taxonomically closeto the genera of the Cynips group, Cynips Linnaeus (= Antron Kinsey, Besbicus Kinsey), Atrusca Kinsey, Philonix Fitch, Acraspis Mayr and Biorhiza Westwood (= Sphaeroteras Ashmead) but can easily be distinguished by the following character states: antenna with 16antennomeres (Fig. 1E); projecting part of the ventral spine of the hypopygium is long, lanceolate, and at least 4.0 times as long as broad; from the point where the spine narrows, a dense group of long setae arises, which reach the apex of the spine, forming a tuft, (Fig. 3 B–D); lateral propodeal carinae poorly defined, fragmented, widely divergent posteriorly, with a median propodeal area bare, and narrower anteriorly, and a fragmented median longitudinal carina present (Fig. 2E); lateral propodeal area densely pubescent and forewing hyaline.

Of the genera included into the Cynips group, the new genus resemble the genus Atrusca , primarily because of the long ventral spine of the hypopygium, but it differs in the position, direction and length of the setae on the spine, which are subapical, reaching beyond the apex of the spine. Additionally, the species of genus Atrusca possesses, on the forewing, dark spots or dark stripes along veins, the radial cell is 2.0 - 2.5 times as long as broad and the Rs is strongly angulate. More diagnostic characters are given in the generic key and the description below.

Description.

Description of this genus is based in the asexual generation of the only known species. The eventual discovery of a sexual generation would imply the revision of the generic limits.

Asexual female densely pubescent. Head (Figs 1 A–C), with genae slightly expanded behind eyes. Clypeus with ventral margin sinuate, moderately projecting over mandibles. Malar space without malar sulcus. Head, posterior view (Fig. 1C) without occipital carina. Gula short, distance between occipital and oral foramina ashigh as occipital foramen (Fig. 1C). Hypostomal sulci well separated at oral fossa.

Antenna (Fig. 1 E–G) with 16 antennomeres; flagellum not broadening towards apex.

Mesosoma. Pronotum short medially, densely pubescent, lateral surface of pronotum with longitudinal wrinkles; pronotal plate indistinct dorsally (Fig. 2A). Mesoscutum alutaceus, barely pubescent with scattered setae anteriorly and posteriorly. Notauli percurrent, smooth, well impressed along entire length, reaching pronotum, separated posteriorly, with an indistinct median mesoscutal impression. Scutellar foveae not well differentiated, shallow, confluent medially, with some longitudinal striae and indistinct margins posteriorly.

Lateral propodeal carinae moderately divergent ventrally, the median propodeal area narrow, bare, with a median longitudinal carina present (Fig. 2E). Metatarsal claws with an acute basal lobe. Forewing (Fig. 5B) hyaline, without fuscate spots or stripes, radial cell open along anterior margin; areolet triangular, closed and distinct. Apical margin of wing with short hair fringe. Metasoma with second metasomal tergite covering about two thirds of metasoma, with a patch of setae laterally in its anteromedial area. Projecting part of hypopygial spine long, lance shaped, at least 4.0 times as long as broad, with dense, long basal setae that reach the apex of the spine and form a dense tuft (Fig. 3 B–C).

Distribution.

Based on our data, the new genus is found only to 2515-3045 m a.s.l. at Volcán Barú, Chiriqui, Panama, around the upper limit of the growth of Quercus species in Panama.

Key for the identification of the genus Barucynips from related genera