Sycophila binotata (Fonscolombe 1832)

Gómez, J. F., Nieves-Aldrey, J. L. & Stone, G. N., 2013, On the morphology of the terminal-instar larvae of some European species of Sycophila (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) parasitoids of gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), Journal of Natural History 47 (47 - 48), pp. 2937-2960 : 2952

Sycophila binotata (Fonscolombe 1832)

( Figures 3C , 4B , 5B , 6B , 7B and 8B )

Description

Body length 1.87 mm (n = 1); body width 0.93 mm ( Figures 4B and 5B ); body barrel-shaped slightly tapering anteriorly and posteriorly, with the lateral margins of abdominal segments 1–6 almost straight; ratio L/W = 1.72; ventral margin of body segments 4–8 in lateral view straight or slightly convex; anterodorsal protuberances (lateral view) absent, the intersegmental membranes not protruding.

Dorsal margin of the vertex straight or slightly concave; ratio SA/DAV = 1.46; anteromedial setae of vertex situated midway between anterior margin of vertex and the antennae; ventral margin of clypeus indistinct ( Figure 6B ); labrum with deep divisions almost reaching the level of labral setae, giving the appearance of seven subequal and clearly differentiated lobes; maxillae well-differentiated from labium ( Figure 7B ).

Mandibles bidentate with the first tooth long and slender ( Figure 8B ); ratio L/W 1T = 2.9; apex of the second tooth slightly blunt; inner margin of mandible from the base of second tooth straight with margin not interrupted.

Remarks

Similar in body shape to S. biguttata but differ in having convex margins of body segments and a second mandibular tooth with a blunt tip.

Biology

Adults of this species ( Figure 9D ) are oligophagous endoparasitoids associated specifically with Plagiotrochus (Cynipidae) on evergreen species of Quercus (Fagaceae) of the sections Cerris and Ilex . The specimen for this study was reared from an asexual generation gall of Plagiotrochus gallaeramulorum (Boyer de Fonscolombe 1832) (= kiefferianus Tav.) on Quercus coccifera L. ( Fagaceae ) ( Figure 9E ).

Material examined

ex Plagiotrochus gallaeramulorum (asex.): Spain, Madrid: Arganda , March 2006, J.L. Nieves leg, (n = 1) .

Figures

Figure 3. Illustrations of the terminology used for general descriptions in different views. (A) Anterior view of head of Sycophila mayri (Erdos), letters refer as follows to the described structures: ams, anteromedial setae of antennal region; an, antenna; anr, antennal area; cl, clypeus; cs, clypeal setae; fr, frons; gns, genal setae; gr, genal region; hr, hypostomal region; hs, hypostomal setae; lb, labrum; lbi, labium; md, mandible; mx, maxillae; vams, anteromedial setae of vertex; vr, vertex region. (B) Anterior view of mouthparts of Sycophila biguttata (Swederus), showing the clypeus (cl); clypeal setae (cs); labrum (lb); labral setae (lbs); lateral lobes of labrum (lfp): medial piece of labrum (lmp) and the lower-lip complex: labium (lbi); mandible (md); maxillae (mx). (C) Anterior view of the right mandible of Sycophila binotata (Fonscolombe), showing the first and second tooth and the base (mbs).

Figure 4. Ventral views of terminal-instar larvae. (A) Sycophila biguttata; (B) Sycophila binotata; (C) Sycophila flavicollis; (D) Sycophila mayri; (E) Sycophila submutica ex Isocolus scabiosae form rogenhoferi; (F) Sycophila submutica ex Isocolus lichtensteini.

Figure 5. Lateral views of terminal-instar larvae. (A) Sycophila biguttata; (B) Sycophila binotata; (C) Sycophila flavicollis; (D) Sycophila mayri; (E) Sycophila submutica ex Isocolus scabiosae form rogenhoferi

Figure 6. Anterior view of the head of terminal-instar larvae. (A) Sycophila biguttata; (B) Sycophila binotata; (C) Sycophila flavicollis; (D) Sycophila mayri; (E) Sycophila submutica ex Isocolus. scabiosae form rogenhoferi; (F). Sycophila submutica ex Isocolus lichtensteini.

Figure 7. Anterior view of mouthparts of terminal-instar larvae. (A) Sycophila biguttata; (B) Sycophila binotata; (C) Sycophila flavicollis; (D) Sycophila mayri; (E) Sycophila submutica ex Isocolus scabiosae form rogenhoferi.; (F) Sycophila submutica ex Isocolus lichtensteini.

Figure 8. Anterior view of the right mandible of terminal-instar larvae. (A) Sycophila biguttata; (B) Sycophila binotata; (C). Sycophila flavicollis; (D) Sycophila mayri; (E) Sycophila submutica ex Isocolus scabiosae (k) form rogenhoferi (k).

Figure 9. (A) Cross-section of gall of Andricus grossulariae showing chamber with fully-grown larvae of Sycophila biguttata; (B) habitus of Sycophila biguttata, adult female; (C) fresh galls of asexual generation of Andricus quercustozae on Quercus faginea.; (D) habitus of Sycophila binotata, adult female; (E) galls of asexual generation of Plagiotrochus gallaeramulorum on Quercus coccifera.; (F) cross-section of sexual gall of Andricus quercuradicis on Quercus faginea; (G) habitus of Sycophila mayri, adult female; (H) cross-section of Phanacis centaureae galls on stems of Centaurea spp.; (I) head and mandibles view of fully grown larva of Sycophila submutica ex gall of Isocolus lichtensteini; (J) habitus of Sycophila submutica, adult female; (K) larval cell of Isocolus lichtensteini with terminal-instar larvae of S. submutica; (L) fresh gall of Isocolus lichtensteini on Centaurea aspera.