Plumarius politus Diez & Roig-Alsina

Diez, Patricia A. & Roig-Alsina, Arturo, 2016, Revision of Plumarius Philippi 1873 (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea, Plumariidae) from Argentina north of Patagonia, with description of eighteen new species, Zootaxa 4098 (3), pp. 442-470 : 445-446

Plumarius politus Diez & Roig-Alsina , sp. nov.

( Figs 2 A–D)

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the lack of the striae on the face present in most species of Plumarius . The malar area, the clypeus and the supraclypeal area are smooth, without radiating striae, and a single furrow runs from near the anterior mandibular articulation to the torulus. The aedeagus lacks preapical spines, a character shared with P. spiniferus Roig-Alsina , P. truncatus sp. nov. and P. ocellulatus sp. nov.

Description. Holotype, ♂. Body length 8.2 mm (paratypes 5.6–6.5 mm). Color. Brown, with head darker.

Head. 1.3 × wider than high in frontal view; wider in dorsal view than width of scutum between tegulae (4.0:3.5). OOD 1.0 × diameter of lateral ocellus; POD 2.1 × OOD. Antennocular distance 1 × diameter of torulus; interantennal distance 2.4 × antennocular distance. Vertex finely reticulated, without striae and moderately punctate between lateral ocelli (punctures separated by 1.5 × puncture diameter). Torulus closer to lateral ocellus than to clypeus (1.3:2.6). Lateral ocelli in frontal view below upper margin of head. Median ocellus crossed by supratorular line ( Fig. 2 A). Genal carina present, weak. Length of area between preoccipital carina and suboral swelling longer than length of suboral swelling (0.9:0.4); this area without a median longitudinal carina; lower area of genal bridge close to mandible articulation without carinae or punctures ( Fig. 2 B). Malar area subequal to apical width of F1 (0.7:0.8), striate anteriorly. Supraclypeal area without lateral striae; convex in lateral view ( Fig. 2 C). Epistomal suture evident. Clypeus 1.8 × wider than high, without lateral striae; rounded in lateral view; apex not truncate. Proportion of lengths of segments of maxillary palp, from base to apex: 18:15:23:25:18:17. Scape with basal swelling. F1 4.2 × as long as its apical width, shorter than scape and pedicel combined (3.4:3.8).

Mesosoma . Area anterior to pronotal lobe smooth; pronotal lateral carina distinct, not forming a lower pocket. Notaulus weakly marked, as long as admedian line. Anterior surface of scutum densely punctate. Propleuron scarcely punctate; mesopleuron densely punctate. Metapostnotum without longitudinal striae. Propodeum transverse, swollen behind spiracle; without carina anterior to spiracle. Fore wing: marginal cell with anterior margin 2.2 × as long as posterior margin; vein Rs3 shorter than length of Rs4 (3.0:4.5); vein M separated from vein cu-a by 0.3 × length of cu-a; discal cell rectangular. Hind wing: veins M and cu-a interstitial. Protarsomere 1 with nine outer lateral spines. Length of mesotarsomere 1 shorter than metatarsomere 1 (3.8:5.3); inner metatibial spur 1.4 × as long as outer spur.

Metasoma. T7 apically rounded. Genitalia as in Fig. 2 D, aedeagus without lateral spines.

Examined material. Holotype, ♂: ARGENTINA, La Rioja: Santa Teresita, 12.II.2005, col Fidalgo P., Fidalgo G., Torréns ( MACN). Paratypes: 4 ♂, same data of holotype ( MACN); 1 ♂, Santa Teresita, 12.IV.2005, col Fidalgo P., Fidalgo G., Torréns (IADIZA); 1 ♂, Ruta 40, Km 593 ca Chilecito, col Fidalgo P., Fidalgo G., Torréns ( MACN). Catamarca: 1 ♂, Quirós, 7.XII.1940, col Nacbet ( MLP). Mendoza: 3 ♂, Lavalle, San Francisco, 21.IX.1981; col Carpintero ( MACN).

Distribution. Argentina (Catamarca, La Rioja, Mendoza).

Variation. The specimen from Chilecito (La Rioja), has fewer lateral striae on the supraclypeal area and clypeus. The specimen from Catamarca is lighter in coloration.

Etymology. The specific epithet, politus , is a Latin adjective referring to the absence of radiating striae on the malar area, the clypeus and the supraclypeal area.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Plumarius politus sp. nov., ♂. A, Head, frontral view; B, Head, ventral view; C, Head, lateral view; D, Genital capsule, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.