Euplectrus jimwhitfieldi 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 : 54-56

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus jimwhitfieldi Hansson sp. n. Figures 342-348, 353-355, 763

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, ACG, Sector Cacao, Sendero a Maritza, 19.viii.2010, M. Pereira, ex Ctenoplusia oxygramma eating Baccharis trinervis , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0042135, 10-SRNP-35841" (BMNH). PARATYPES: 7♀ 5♂: 6♀ 5♂ with same label data as holotype (BMNH, CNC, INBio, MZLU, USNM); 1♀ from Guanacaste, Estación Cacao, LN 323100/375800, 1000-1400 m, 1-9.ii.1996, malaise trap, A. Masis (INBio).

Diagnosis.

Lower face medially yellowish-white with median part yellowish-brown, pale area reaching half-way between level of lateral margin of toruli and eyes (Figs 343, 344); scutellum with very weak engraved reticulation and with distinctly elongate meshes (Fig. 355); dorsellum along anterior margin with a very wide groove reaching ½ the length of dorsellum, groove is divided by longitudinal carinae, and with posterior margin of groove strongly protruding upwards (Fig. 763); legs yellowish-brown (Fig. 342); petiole 1.0 × as long as wide; female gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-white with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ yellowish-brown with dark brown lateral margins, and with a dark brown median spot or band (Fig. 345), male gaster with anterior ½ white with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 346); male antenna with scape slightly expanded and widest above the middle, 3.5 × as long as wide (Fig. 348).

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.3 mm. Antenna with scape and pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellomeres 1-2 yellowish-brown ventrally and dark brown dorsally, 3-6 dark brown (Fig. 347). Mandibles and palpi yellowish-white. Head black and shiny, lower face medially yellowish-white with median part yellowish-brown, pale area reaching half-way between level of lateral margin of toruli and eyes, part between pale area and eyes black (Fig. 343). Frons close to eyes with one row of setae, upper part of row moved away from eye margin (Fig. 353). Vertex smooth (Fig. 354). Occipital margin rounded (Fig. 354).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 342). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with 10 setae. Scutellum 0.9 × as long as wide; with very weak engraved reticulation and with distinctly elongate meshes (Fig. 355). Dorsellum along anterior margin with a very wide groove that is divided by longitudinal carinae, groove medially 0.5 × as long as length of dorsellum, and with posterior margin of groove strongly protruding upwards (Fig. 763). Propodeum with very weak reticulation and partly smooth (Fig. 763); anteromedially with a transverse circular cup; propodeal callus with 12 setae. Legs yellowish-brown (Fig. 342). Fore wing: costal cell with one row of setae on ventral surface, and margin with four setae close to marginal vein; with 12 admarginal setae, in one row.

Gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-white with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ yellowish-brown with dark brown lateral margins, and with a dark brown median spot or band (Fig. 345).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 1.6/1.1/1.0; POL/OOL/POO = 5.0/3.3/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.5; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.5/4.5/3.3; WH/WT = 1.1; PM/ST = 1.6; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 3.7/2.5/6.7/2.7/1.4/1.0/1.5; LP/WP = 1.0; MM/LG = 1.1.

Male. Length of body 2.0 mm. Scape slightly expanded and widest above the middle (Fig. 348), sensory pores confined to apicoventral ½, sensory area pale as scape. Otherwise similar to female except gaster shorter and anterior ½ white with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 346).

Ratios. LC/WS = 3.5; MM/LG = 1.3.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on penultimate instar larva of Ctenoplusia oxygramma ( Noctuidae ) feeding on Baccharis trinervis ( Asteraceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after Jim B. Whitfield, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.