Cotesia trivaliae Zikic & Shaw, 2024
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.116378 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:79B242EF-19C1-4BDC-AA25-442DE3211987 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/734CD2C6-46EF-4443-8427-2E52A48B5D5D |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:734CD2C6-46EF-4443-8427-2E52A48B5D5D |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Cotesia trivaliae Zikic & Shaw |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Cotesia trivaliae Zikic & Shaw sp. nov.
Figs 5 View Figure 5 , 6 View Figure 6
Diagnosis.
The new species shares some morphological similarities with C. tibialis , including the shape of the first metasomal tergite (T1) laterally, with a medial keel near the proximal part, and the apical truncation of the hypopygium (features used by Nixon (1974) to characterise C. tibialis ). Additionally, the coloration of the legs, particularly the presence of a dark spot on the apical part of the otherwise reddish yellow hind femora, is similar to that described by Nixon (1974) for the early summer brood of his concept of C. tibialis , and there is a spine (albeit extremely weak) on the fifth segment of the fore tarsus. The ovipositor sheath is as short as in C. tibialis , and the aedeagus is similarly shaped in the two species. However, C. trivaliae sp. nov. can be clearly distinguished from C. tibialis based on the following characteristics: male antenna is completely brown in C. trivaliae sp. nov., while in C. tibialis 4-5 apical segments are yellowish. The length index of the 1st and the 2nd part of discoideus (1-CU1) / (2-CU1) of fore wings is about 0.7 in C. trivaliae sp. nov., relative to C. tibialis where this ratio is 0.8-0.9. Dorsally, (T1) length/width index ranges from 0.9 to 1.1 in C. trivaliae sp. nov., while it is 1.2-1.3 in C. tibialis . Communal cocoons in C. trivaliae sp. nov. are spun differently from those of C. tibialis , also C. ofella . In C. tibialis and C. ofella (Fig. 6D-F View Figure 6 ), they are fluffy to varying degrees, and individual cocoons are not visible because they are covered with very densely spun communal silk. Consequently, the structure appears as a ball mass 15-25 mm in length and about 10 mm in width. Cocoon masses of C. trivaliae sp. nov. are more oblong, usually 10-15 mm long and 5-6 mm wide, and much less fluffy, with at least some individual cocoons visible through sparsely spun silk. The average genetic distance revealed above between C. trivaliae sp. nov. and other morphologically similar taxa indicates that it is a different species. The only known host of C. trivaliae sp. nov. is Orthosia gracilis , substantially different from the known hosts of the close taxa, although it must have other as yet undiscovered hosts to enable it to complete its annual cycle.
Type material.
Holotype: Poland ♀; Kampinos National Park, Granica; 05.VI.2018; ex cocoon mass in grassland; V. Žikić leg.; dry mounted. Paratypes: Poland 41 ♀ 29 ♂; Kampinos National Park, Granica; 05.VI.2018; ex same brood (3 ♀ 3 ♂ dry mounted, 3 ♀ 3 ♂ microscopic slide mounted, 1 ♀ barcoded, the rest kept 34 ♀ 23 ♂ in 96% alcohol); Poland 40 ♂; Kampinos National Park, Granica, 05.VI.2018, (1 ♂ barcoded, 3 ♂ dry mounted, 1 ♂ microscopic slide mounted, 35 ♂ in 96% alcohol); "same data as for preceding" 15 ♀ 12 ♂ (1 ♀ barcoded, 3 ♀ 3 ♂ dry mounted, 3 ♀ 1 ♂ microscopic slide mounted, 8 ♀ 8 ♂ in 96% alcohol); "same data as for preceding" 54 ♀ 6 ♂ (1 ♀ barcoded, 3 ♀ 3 ♂ dry mounted, 3 ♀ 1 ♂ microscopic slide mounted, the rest kept in 96% alcohol); V. Žikić leg; Slovenia 1 ♀; Ljubljana; ex Orthosia sp.; 01.VI.2018; Š. Modic leg.; (1 ♀ barcoded, slide mounted); Great Britain 28 ♀ 16 ♂ Scotland, Berwickshire, Foulden ex Orthosia gracilis , collected 10.VI.2017, (17 ♀ 5 ♂ barcoded; 8 ♀ 11 ♂ barcoded; 3 ♀ from a further brood of low emergence; VII.2017; M. R. Shaw leg.; Great Britain 1 ♀ 1 ♂; Scotland, Fife, Fleecefauld, ex O. gracilis collected 14.VII.2012, emerged 04.VIII.2012 (1 ♀ 1 ♂ barcoded); M. R. Shaw leg.; Great Britain 3♀; England, Kent, Swanscombe, ex cocoon mass collected on Phragmites australis 10.IV.2017, emerged 02.V.2017 (3♀ barcoded) M. Jennings leg.
Depositories.
The holotype ♀ of C. trivaliae sp. nov., and paratypes have been deposited in the collection of the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, the University of Niš, Serbia. A single female from Slovenia has been deposited in the collection of the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, the University of Niš, Serbia. Additionally, 3 ♀ 3 ♂ from Poland, as well as all specimens from Great Britain have been deposited at the Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums of Scotland.
Etymology.
The new species is named in honour of the gothic rock band Trivalia .
Distribution.
The currently known distribution of the new species is Poland, Slovenia and the UK (England and Scotland).
Description.
Female: (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ). Body length 2.6 mm (range 2.5-2.7 mm) (Fig. 5A View Figure 5 ).
Head: In frontal view (Fig. 5B View Figure 5 ), about 1.6 times as wide as long (from widest eye to eye), temple about 0.9 times as long as eye at first narrowing behind roundly, ocelli in moderately low triangle (Fig. 5D View Figure 5 ), diameter between anterior/posterior ocelli and between posterior ocelli 0.5. Index of intertentorial distance/tentori-ocular distance = 2.7. Face above clypeus smooth, while below antennal sockets sculptured. Stemmaticum and vertex smooth. Antennae (Fig. 5N View Figure 5 ) as long as body, 1st flagellar segment as long as 2nd, penultimate segment 2.2 times shorter than 1st, length/width of penultimate segment = 1.1, last segment 1.4 times longer than penultimate, pointed at apex.
Mesosoma: Mesoscutum in dorsal view (Fig. 5G View Figure 5 ) punctate, middle part slightly rugose, prescutellar sulcus deep, with 9 foveae. Scutellum smooth and shiny, with about thirty punctures. Propodeum (Fig. 5K View Figure 5 ) strongly rugose, median keel completely developed. Mesopleuron (Fig. 5C View Figure 5 ) in larger part shiny, marginally sculptured bearing dense setae, mid-mesoscutal line large with 24-25 deep punctures. Metapleuron rugose, small lower area smooth and shiny.
Legs: Fore leg spine on 5th tarsomere present, extremely weak; hard to see (Fig. 5L View Figure 5 ). Hind leg (Fig. 5M View Figure 5 ) with femur 3.9 times as long as wide, tibial spurs subequal, inner spur not reaching middle of hind basitarsus.
Wings: Fore wing length 2.5 mm (range 2.4-2.5 mm), and 2.5 times as long as wide at maximal distances (Fig. 5E View Figure 5 ), pterostigma 2.2 times longer than wide, metacarp (1-R1) about as long as pterostigma, 1st part of discoideus (1-CU1) about 0.7 times as long as 2nd (2-CU1), vein (cu-a) 0.4 times as short as (CU1), with posterior third bent forward. Hind wing 4.3 times as long as wide at maximal distances, vannal lobe straight without setae in mid part (Fig. 5F View Figure 5 ).
Metasoma: In dorsal aspect T1 heavily rugose all over, widened behind (Fig. 5J View Figure 5 ), almost as long as wide, in profile T1 bearing conspicuous short medial keel (Fig. 5C View Figure 5 ). Second tergite (T2) rectangular, 0.4-0.5 times as long as wide, sculptured, posterior margin crenulate (Fig. 5J View Figure 5 ). Third tergite (T3) almost equal to second, smooth, shiny, slightly sculptured at mid base, bearing sparsely distributed hairs practically in a single row (Fig. 5J View Figure 5 ). Hypopygium in lateral view short, truncate at apex (Fig. 5I View Figure 5 ). Last tergite in line with apex of hypopygium (Fig. 5I View Figure 5 ). Ovipositor sheath short (Fig. 5H View Figure 5 ).
Colour: Head, mesosoma including tegula, all coxae and metasoma black. Trochanter brownish, rest of leg parts yellowish; hind femora apically with small dark spot. Antennae brown. Palpi yellow. Wing venation distinctly yellowish to brown, metacarp, pterostigma and radialis brown.
Male: (Fig. 6 A-C View Figure 6 ). Morphology and colouration (Fig. 6A View Figure 6 ) similar to female except for sexual characters. All antennal segments (Fig. 6B View Figure 6 ) brown, antenna about 1.2 times as long as body. Aedeagus (Fig. 6C View Figure 6 ) with two-toothed digiti at apex, teeth well developed, relatively large and sharp, digitus length/width ratio = 2.1, digitus 2.8 times as short as volsella, cuspis inconspicuous.
Cocoon mass: (Fig. 6D View Figure 6 ). Relatively small, usually elongated, 10-15 mm long, and about 5-6 mm wide, weakly fluffy, communal silk sparsely spun over individual cocoons leaving them partly visible, light-yellow coloured.
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