Amphibolips oaxacae Nieves-Aldrey & Pascual, 2012

Pascual, E., Maldonado-Lopez, Y., Medianero, E. & Oyama, K., 2012, Revision of the Amphibolips species of Mexico excluding the “ niger complex ” Kinsey (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), with description of seven new species, Zootaxa 3545, pp. 1-40 : 14-16

Amphibolips oaxacae Nieves-Aldrey & Pascual sp. nov.

Figs 4A–F, 11F, 17D, 18F

Type material. Holotype female ( Fig. 17D). In the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid , Spain ( MNCN), mounted on a card. Cat. nº 2249. MEXICO, Oaxaca, S. Pedro Tapanatepec, 16º 22' 34.40” N, 94º 04' 43 11” W, 1300 m; ex gall Quercus sp. , gall collected 29/03/2006, insect emerged 03/2006, E. Pascual leg.

Etymology. Named after the Mexican state Oaxaca, where the material was collected.

Diagnosis and comments. The forewing colour pattern distinguishes this new species well from other Mexican or Neotropical Amphibolips species. The infuscation along the veins is much less heavy than in other Mexican species of Amphibolips , with the veins being discernible ( Fig. 11F). A slightly darker, more infuscate area extending along the dorsal margin of the wing across the radial cell and reaching the posterior margin of the wing. The infuscate area extends across the costal cell, first cubital cell and basal cell and to the anterior area below the M+Cu1 vein ( Fig. 11F). In this forewing colour pattern, the new species resembles A. nassa Kinsey , but its coloration, the posterior emargination of the mesoscutellum and the gall are different in these two species. In exhibiting a reddish body and mesoscutellum deeply emarginated and in the shape and size of its gall, this new species also resembles A. dampfi and A. palmeri . However, the pattern of forewing infuscation distinguishes these species well from A. oaxacae ; A. dampfi exhibits a clear cross-band near the tip of the wing, while A. oaxacae does not present this cross-band. The gall is similar in size to that of A. palmeri , also described from Mexico and measuring 35–70 mm in diameter. However, the surface of the gall of A. palmeri was described and illustrated as uneven, or somewhat wrinkly, sometimes with a few, scattered very short projections, while the surface of the gall of A. oaxacae is uniformly smooth.

Description. Female. Body length 6.5 mm (N = 1). Head, and mesosoma black; clypeus, mandibles and areas of mesosoma around tegulae reddish brown. Antennae light brown more light distally and ventrally. Legs and metasoma reddish brown, darker in posterior half; hypopigium red brown. Forewing lightly but entirely infuscate, the veins being clearly visible. A slightly darker band extended dorsally along the costal and basal cells, first cubital cell, and radial cell to postero dorsal area of forewing. The area below basal cell is also more darkened as the anterior band.

Female. Head, in dorsal view strongly reticulate rugose, about 2 times as wide as long. POL as long as OOL, posterior ocellus separated from inner orbit of eye by 1.5 times its longest diameter. Head in anterior view ( Fig. 4A) about 1.3 as wide as high, gena broadened behind eye. Vertex, frons, lower face, gena, and occiput with strong irregular reticulate-rugose sculpture, without irradiating carinae from clypeus. Head moderately pubescent. Clypeus trapezoidal, ventral margin strongly projecting over mandibles and slightly sinuate. Anterior tentorial pits conspicuous; epistomal sulcus and clypeo-pleurostomal lines discernible. Malar space 0.5 times height of compound eye. Toruli situated mid-height of compound eye; distance between antennal rim and compound eye as wide as antennal socket including rim. Ocellar plate slightly raised.

Mouthparts: mandibles strong, exposed; with dense setae in base, right mandible with three teeth; left with two teeth.

Antenna ( Fig. 4B), of moderate length, 0.6 as long as body; with 13 antennomeres; flagellum not broadening towards apex; with relatively long, erect setae, and elongate placodeal sensilla in flagellomeres F3–F11 ( Fig. 4B). Relative lengths of antennal segments: 25:10:42:32:30:25:20:18:16:15:12:11:20. Pedicel ( Fig. 2C), short, globose, 0.5 as long as scape; F1 1.3 times as long as F2. F6–F10 longer than wide, F11 2 times as long as F10 ( Fig. 4B). Placodeal sensillae on F3–F11, disposed in rows of 6–8 sensillae, only in half dorsal area of each flagellomere.

Mesosoma. Short, in lateral view slightly higher than long. Pronotum, moderately pubescent; lateral surface of pronotum with strong irregular reticulate rugose sculpture ( Fig. 4D). Pronotum medially short; ratio of length of pronotum medially/laterally = 0.20. Pronotal plate indistinct dorsally ( Fig.4C).

Mesonotum. Mesoscutum ( Fig. 4C) barely pubescent and with strong rugose-reticulate sculpture. Notauli distinct in posterior 2/3 of mesoscutum, crossed by transversal rugae. longitudinal median impression indistinct. Anteroadmedian signa well visible, extended back to near one half of mesoscutum; parascutal carinae distinct. Transscutal fissure narrow. Mesoscutellum subquadrate, about 0.6 as long as mesoscutum. Scutellar foveae rounded, deep, with distinct margins; with some transversal rugae, the intervals smooth and shining; about 0.5 as long as mesoscutellum. Mesoscutellum strongly reticulate-rugose, deeply and widely emarginated at posterior margin, the incision reaching close posterior margins of scutellar foveae ( Fig. 4C). Mesopleuron coarsely reticulate rugose, the rugae not as strong as mesoscutum ( Fig. 4D).

Metanotum. Metapectal-propodeal complex. Metapleural sulcus reaching posterior margin of mesopectus at about mid-height of metapectal-propodeal complex. Metascutellum weakly rugose; metanotal trough smooth and pubescent. Median propodeal area shining reticulate-rugose and densely pubescent; lateral propodeal carinae indistinct. Nucha smooth medially.

Legs. Densely pubescent; femora and tibiae robust. Metatarsal claws with strong triangular basal lobe or teeth ( Fig. 4F).

Forewing ( Fig. 11F): As long as body, radial cell 3.6 times longer than wide; open widely along dorsal margin; areolet small. R1 straight, not reaching wing margin; Rs+M reaching basalis at its mid-height. First abscissa of radius (2r) angulated and radius curved. Apical margin with short hair fringe.

Metasoma ( Fig. 4F), slightly shorter as head and mesosoma combined, in lateral view about as long as high. Second metasomal tergite covering about two third of metasoma, with a band of micropuntures clearly visible in posterior one fourth; punctures visible on subsequent tergites; dorsally the surface of the second metasomal terguite before the band of micropunctures is smooth ( Fig. 4F); latero ventral area of second metasomal tergite moderately pubescent. Projecting part of hypopygial spine quite long, in lateral view about 6 times as long as wide; laterally with long setae which not form an apical patch.

Male. Unknown.

Gall ( Fig. 18F). A regularly spherical, large oak apple gall measuring approximately 40 mm in diameter. Pale green with darker green spots when fresh. The gall is monothalamic; the outer shell is thin but firm; with a spongy consistency internally, filling the entire gall. The larval cell is rounded and is embedded in the soft internal substance. Forming on twigs of Quercus sp. aff sapotifolia. The gall closely resembles that of Amphibolips palmeri Basset 1890 , also described from Mexico, but for which the host is unknown.

Distribution. A. oaxacae was found at 1180 m a.s.l. in Oaxaca State, Mexico.

Biology. Only females of the presumably sexual generation are known. The galls were collected in March, and the insects emerged in the same month.