Euplectrus robbinthorpi 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 : 75-76

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus robbinthorpi Hansson sp. n. Figures 532-538, 546-548, 780

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Alajuela, ACG, Sector Brasilia, Piedrona, 6.xii.2007, L. Rios, ex Olethreutes Brown20 eating Inga oerstediana , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0023276, 07-SRNP-66139" (BMNH). PARATYPES: 3♀ 2♂ with same label data as holotype (BMNH, INBio).

Diagnosis.

Lower face with median part reddish-brown (female, Fig. 533) or yellowish-brown (male, Fig. 534), pale area reaching to level of middle of toruli; legs yellowish-brown with fore coxa yellowish-white (Fig. 532); petiole 0.9 × as long as wide; gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-white (female, Fig. 535) or white (male, Fig. 536) with wide dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown; male antenna with scape slightly expanded and widest in the middle, 2.9 × as long as wide (Fig. 538).

Description.

Female. Length of body 1.9 mm. Antenna with scape and pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellum dark brown (Fig. 537). Mandibles and palpi yellowish-white. Head black and shiny, lower face with median part reddish-brown, pale area reaching to level of middle of toruli, with parts between pale area and eyes black (Fig. 533). Frons close to eyes with one row of setae (Fig. 546). Vertex smooth (Fig. 547). Occipital margin rounded (Fig. 547).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 532). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with nine setae. Scutellum 0.9 × as long as wide; with weak engraved reticulation, posterior margin smooth (Fig. 548). Dorsellum anteriorly with a narrow groove that is divided by longitudinal carinae (Fig. 780), groove medially 0.2 × as long as length of dorsellum. Propodeum with very weak reticulation (Fig. 780); anteromedially with a transverse semicircular cup; propodeal callus with ten setae. Legs yellowish-brown with fore coxa yellowish-white (Fig. 532). Fore wing: costal cell with one row of setae on ventral surface, and margin with three setae close to marginal vein; with 13 admarginal setae, in one row.

Gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-white with wide dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 535).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 2.2/1.0/1.2; POL/OOL/POO = 8.8/5.8/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.2; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.4/4.4/3.5; WH/WT = 1.1; PM/ST = 1.3; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 3.6/2.4/5.6/1.6/1.4/1.0/1.6; LP/WP = 0.9; MM/LG = 1.4.

Male. Length of body 1.5 mm. Scape slightly expanded and widest in the middle (Fig. 538), sensory pores confined to apicoventral ¾, sensory area pale as scape. Otherwise similar to female except median part of lower face yellowish-brown (Fig. 534), gaster shorter and with pale part white (Fig. 536).

Ratios. LC/WS = 2.9; MM/LG = 1.6.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on last instar larva of Olethreutes Brown20 ( Tortricidae ) feeding on Inga oerstediana ( Fabaceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate. There remains some doubt as to whether this caterpillar was correctly identified, and only further host records will determine that.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Alajuela Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after Robbin W. Thorp, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.