Ittys californica, George, 2007

George, Jeremiah N., 2007, Review of the species of Ittys (Chalcidoidea: Trichogrammatidae) occuring in the United States, with the description of four new species, Zootaxa 1581 (1), pp. 53-68 : 65-66

Ittys californica New Species

( Figs. 9 , 14 , 20–21)

Diagnosis. TSS widest at anterolateral margin, narrowing posteriorly, terminal seta submedial, posterior end attaining end of volsella ( Fig. 10 ).

Description. Length: Male 0.91–1.19 mm. Female body length 1.05–1.16 mm (without ovipositor 0.91– 0.97 mm).

Color: Both sexes light brown with variation as follows: Head with vertex and clypeus dark tan, parascrobal area brown; gena brown with dark brown postorbital carina; distinct dark brown malar sulcus. Dorsolateral margin of pronotum with dark band; mesosoma with mesoscutum dark orange to tan darkening towards lateral margin; scutellum dark orange to tan. Metasoma brown to dark orange.

Male: Head 0.84 as long/wide, interocular distance 0.65 head width. Antennae with scape widest in basal half; A2 relatively large and appressed to C1; length /width of segments as follows: S- 3.7, P- 3.0, F1- 2.7, F2- 1.5, C2- 1.3, C3- 2.2; C1, C2, and C3 0.35, 0.35, 0.40 total club length, respectively;F1-0 BPS; F2- 1-2 BPS; C1, C2 and C3 each with 1 ventral BPS; C1- 1 PS extending from C1 to C2, C2- 1 PS extending length of segment, C3- 2 PS extending length of segment with slight apical extension; C2 with ca. 4 CHS, maximum length of CHS ca. 0.047mm.

Mesosoma: Mesoscutum ca. 0.89 wide /long. Scutellum ca. 1.43 wide/long. Forewing 0.39 as wide /long; venation attaining ca. 0.6 length of wing; RS2 distinct; r-m crossvein distinct; median vein track absent; Cu1 present not distinct; Cu2 distinct; anal vein track present; RS1 distinct with ca. 6 setae; fringe setae short, 0.29 maximum width of wing; relative length of submarginal, premarginal, marginal and stigmal veins, 1.4, 0.84, 1.5, 0.51 respectively; postmarginal extension minimal; submarginal narrow widest at basal end; apical corner of costal cell with ca. 2 setae; forewing infuscate from stigma to posterior margin with slight substigmal wrinkling, radial process obsolescent; disk with slight rugosity extending apically to beginning of second branch of cubital vein track. Legs with relative length of coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and (tarsomeres) as follows: fore leg- 3.9: 1.9: 5.9: 5.0: (2.5: 2.5: 2.9); middle leg- 2.6: 2.2: 5.0: 7.7: (3.1: 2.9: 2.8); hind leg- 4.6: 2.4: 4.2: 7.6: (2.9: 2.9: 2.8).

Metasoma: TSS kidney shaped, with terminal spine placed submedially, reaching level of volsellae ( Fig.9 ). Genitalia with volsellae distinct, relatively large; length of genitalia to HTL 0.84–0.97; length of apodemes to aedeagus 0.32–0.38; length to width of dorsal aperture 0.70–0.97; AD to length of genitalia 0.20– 0.26.

Female: Similar to male except as follows: F1- 3 BPS; F2- 4 BPS; C1- 2 BPS; C2- 1 BPS; C3- 1 BPS; C1- 1 PS extending from C1 to C2, C2- 3 PS extending length of C2, C3- 5 PS extending length of segment; C2 with ca. 6 CHS, maximum length ca. 0.047mm. Pedicel swollen apically and F1 slightly shorter on average than in males (but within the sample range).

Distribution. Ittys californica is known from a number of localities in cismontane California.

Biology. I. californica has been reared from Neurocolpus longirostris ( Hemiptera : Miridae ) on Aesculus californica (Sapindaceae) .

Etymology. Named for the state of California.

FIGURES 16–23. Male forewings; 16–17 I. infuscata , 18–19 I. macfarlandi , 20–21 I. californica , 22–23 I. inermis .

Types. Holotype 1♂ s, allotype 1♀ s. UNITED STATES. California: (Fresno Co.) - Watss Valley ; iii-21- 1998; ex. Neurocolpus longirostris eggs in Aesculus californica ; R. E. Rice ( USNM).

Material examined. UNITED STATES. California: (Fresno Co.)- WaTSS Valley ; 1♂ s, 1♀ s; iii-21-1998; Ex. Neurocolpus longirostris eggs in Aesculus californica ; R . E. Rice. Academy , 5 mi NE; 1♀ s; v-27-1988; R . E. Rice. Squaw Valley; 1♂ s, 1♀ s; v-27-1988. (Riverside Co.)- Santa Rosa Plateau Ecol. Res. ; 1♂ s, 1♀ s; v- 30/ vi-20-2002; 590 m; 33°32' 52'' N, 117°14' 64'' W; MT #2 ; JDP . Menifee Valley , (hills on W. end); 33°39' N, 117°13'W; 1800’ el; 1♂ s; vi-7/13-1995; MT ; J.D.P.

Comments. Ittys californica can be confused with I. ceresarum and I. macfarlandi . It is readily differentiated from I. ceresarum by the relatively longer genitalia, a longer F1 and the absence of a pronounced digital spine ( Fig. 6 –7,10). In I. macfarlandi the TSS is always widest medially whereas in I. californica the TSS is always widest at the posterior margin ( Figs. 9–10 ).

Figures

FIGURES 8–11. Male genitalia; 8 I. infuscata, 9 I. californica bar illustrates the AD distance discussed in text, 10 I. macfarlandi, I. inermus.

FIGURES 12–15. Male antennae; 12 I. infuscata, 13 I. macfarlandi, 14 I. californica, 15 I. inermis.

FIGURES 2–7. I. ceresarum male. 2–3 forewing, 4 lateral view of genitalia with TS and TSS indicated, 6–7 male genitalia.