Euplectrus frontalis Howard

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 : 103-105

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus frontalis Howard Figures 716-719

Euplectrus frontalis Howard, 1885: 27. Holotype ♀ (USNM), examined.

Material.

Type material: ♀ holotype of Euplectrus frontalis (USNM). Additional material: 1♂ (USNM).

Diagnosis.

Lower face in male (female head missing) yellowish-brown with a narrow dark stripe between pale area and eye margin, dark stripe about as wide as ½ the diameter of one torulus, and with part between antennal scrobes reddish-brown (Fig. 717); gaster in female yellowish-brown with dark brown lateral margins and with a round dark brown spot posteromedially (Fig. 718), in male with anterior ½ white with dark brown lateral margins and posterior ½ dark brown; legs yellowish-white (Fig. 716); dorsellum with a narrow groove along anterior margin, medially reaching ⅓ of dorsellum length; petiole 0.5 × as long as wide.

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.5 mm (estimated as the female examined lacks head).

Head missing in holotype female.

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 716). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with 12 setae. Scutellum 1.0 × as long as wide; with engraved rather strong reticulation, meshes slightly elongate, posterior margin smooth. Dorsellum anteriorly with a narrow groove, medially 0.3 × as long as length of dorsellum, part behind groove with very weak reticulation. Propodeum with very weak reticulation; anteromedially with a very short and wide cup, 0.3 × as long as wide; propodeal callus with 14 setae. Legs yellowish-white (Fig. 716). Wings missing holotype female.

Gaster yellowish-brown with dark brown lateral margins and with a round dark brown spot posteromedially (Fig. 718).

Ratios. TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 2.7/1.5/5.7/1.3/1.2/1.0/1.7; LP/WP = 0.5; MM/LG = 1.3.

Male. Length of body 2.1 mm. Antenna with scape yellowish-white, expanded apically, sensory area with same colour as remaining scape; pedicel and basal three flagellomeres yellowish-brown, apical three flagellomeres missing in examined male (Fig. 719). Mandibles and palpi yellowish-white. Head dark reddish-brown, lower face yellowish-brown with a narrow dark stripe between pale area and eye margin, dark stripe about as wide as ½ the diameter of one torulus, and with part between antennal scrobes reddish-brown (Fig. 717). Frons close to eyes with two irregular rows of setae. Vertex with very weak reticulation inside ocellar triangle, outside ocellar triangle smooth. Occipital margin rounded.

Fore wing: costal cell with two irregular and sparse rows of setae on ventral surface, and margin with five setae close to marginal vein; with 17 admarginal setae, in one row.

Gaster with anterior ½ white with dark brown lateral margins and posterior ½ dark brown.

Otherwise similar to female.

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 2.9/1.0/1.8; POL/OOL/POO = 6.3/3.0/1.0; OOL/DO = 0.8; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.1/4.3/3.0; LC/WS = 3.6; WH/WT = 1.1; PM/ST = 1.4; MM/LG = 1.3.

Hosts and biology.

Noctuidae indet. on black walnut ( Juglans nigra ) ( Howard 1885).

Distribution.

USA (Virginia) ( Howard 1885).

Remarks.

The original description was based on a single female from an unknown noctuid larva collected on black walnut in September 13, 1882, Arlington Virginia. In the USNM there are two specimens, a female and a male, under this name. Both are labeled "No. 2841, Sept-13-82", "Type No. 2657, U.S.N.M.". Howard does not mention any male in his description, but as the male mentioned above has the same labels as the holotype female these two specimens are very likely from the same series and are conspecific. The female lacks the head and wings, the male lacks left flagellum and apical 3 flagellomeres on the right antenna, left fore leg with only coxa and left mid leg with coxa+femur remaining, left hind leg with apical 3 tarsomeres missing.

As the female lacks the head, features of the male head has been used to include the female in the key. Female and male heads are similar in some features, but the placement of the female in the key must be considered provisional until a female head is found.