Description and biology of two new egg parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) reared from eggs of Heliconiini butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae) in Panama Author Woelke, Jozef B. Author Fursov, Viktor N. Author Gumovsky, Alex V. Author Rijk, Marjolein de Author Estrada, Catalina Author Verbaarschot, Patrick Author Huigens, Martinus E. Author Fatouros, Nina E. text Journal of Natural History 2019 2019-05-08 53 11 639 657 journal article 10.1080/00222933.2019.1606360 5f59c6eb-bc48-43e2-a98c-c5a62f2dbf10 1464-5262 3675477 941854EE-4A47-4A98-B88E-1EC19D83D074 Trichogramma chagres Fursov and Woelke , sp. nov . ( Figures 2 and 3 ) Diagnosis Trichogramma chagres sp. nov. is characterized by a wide GC (about 2.21–2.30 times as long as wide, Figure 2 (b,c)), very wide DLA ( Figure 2 (c)), very long, narrow and apically sharp IVP ( Figure 2 (b)), long and sharp setae of antennae (about 1.92–2.11 times as long as width of clava, Figure 2 (c)). The new species is morphologically close to T. benetti Nagaraja and Nagarkatti , T. drepanoforum Pinto and Oatman and T. atopovirilia Oatman and Platner , but it is distinguishable from them all in the possession of the distinctly long and narrow IVP (about 1.21–1.57 times as long as wide, Figure 2 (c)), which is much shorter and wider in the other species ( Nagaraja and Nagarkatti 1973 ; Oatman and Platner 1983 ; Querino and Zucchi 2005 ). Apart from the shape of IVP, T. chagres sp. nov. differs from T. bennetti in having a very narrow base of GC ( Figure 2 (b,c)) (it is widened basally in T. bennetti ). The new species is distinguishable from both T. drepanoforum and T. bennetti in having the wide DLA shaped like a spade with a subtriangular tip ( Figure 2 (c)) (the tip of DLA is evenly acute in both T. drepanoforum and T. bennetti ). Also, the tip of DLA is extended beyond the tips of vorsellar digiti in T. chagres sp. nov. ( Figure 2 (b,c)), unlike in T. bennetti . Trichogramma chagres sp. nov. ( Figure 2 (b,c)) is also distinguishable from T. atopovirilia in having a short vorsellar digiti, whereas they are sharp and much longer in the latter species. IVP of T. atopovirilia is very short, broadly triangular, with 3 tiny ribs on its tip, whereas IVP is long, narrow and with sharp arrow-like tip in T. chagres sp. nov. GC is suboval and much broader, with ratio GL/GW about 1.70 in T. atopovirilia , whereas it is more slender and narrow, with GL/GW = 2.21–2.30 (avg. 2.24) in T. chagres sp. nov. Description Based on holotype and 3 paratype male specimens. Colour of head and antennae yellow; meso- and metasoma dark brown, except bright yellow axillae, propodeum and base of gaster. All legs yellow, except hind femora and tibiae which are dirty yellow-brown. Antenna ( Figure 2 (d)) with flagellum 5.26–6.51 (avg. 5.67) times as long as maximum width, 1.92–2.11 (avg. 1.95) times as long as length of scape; SL/FW = 2.85–3.43 (avg. 3.10). Number of flagellar setae 35–38 ( Figure 2 (d)). GL ( Figure 2 (b,c)) 112.25–137.18 μm (avg. 122.73), GW 50.87–62.11 (avg. 55.50), DA-L 82.15–105.89 (avg. 90.03). DLA-L 23.62–38.29 (avg. 30.85), DLA-W 29.39–33.14 (avg. 31.66); IVP-L 6.97–13.22 (avg. 8.76), IVP-W 4.62–9.90 (avg. 6.18); AD 25.51–38.86 (avg. 31.83); PL 25.81–38.29 (avg. 30.80); AL-B 42.13–44.94 (avg. 44.69); AL 85.63–116.85 (avg. 97.39). GC wide, with wide DLA, GL/GW = 2.21–2.30 (avg. 2.24), but very narrow at the base ( Figure 2 (b,c)), widest medially or subapically (at distance of 0.53 of GL), then sharply narrowed to the top, with elongated dorsal aperture. DA-L/GL = 0.70–0.78 (avg. 0.74). DLA very wide, spade-shaped, without basal lobes, but with small sharp lateral-apical notches, with nearly parallel lateral sides and with rounded and slightly sharpened apical part ( Figure 2 (c)), extended over apical parts of parameres ( Figure 2 (b,c)). DLA-L/DLA-W = 0.81–1.18 (avg. 0.98). GW/DLA-W = 1.60–1.92 (avg. 1.77). DLA-L/GL = 0.47–0.50 (avg. 0.49). Apex of DLA not extending beyond apical part of parameres, but extending beyond apices of vorsellar digiti ( Figure 2 (b)). IVP sclerotized, large, with wide base and with sharp teeth-like apex ( Figure 2 (b)). IVP-L/IVP-W = 1.21–1.57 (avg. 1.42). AD/IVP-L = 2.58–5.19 (avg. 3.76). AD/GL = 0.23–0.31 (avg. 0.27). Apical part of GC narrowed gradually, without curvature. Parameres extending to the apex of vorsellar digiti at a distance 1.56–2.75 (avg. 2.07) as long as IVP ( Figure 2 (b)). PL/ DLA-L = 0.77–1.28 (avg. 1.04). DA-L/GL = 0.71–0.78 (avg. 0.75). AL/GL = 0.47–0.50 (avg. 0.49). AL-B/AL = 0.73–0.86 (avg. 0.82). Wings. Fore and hind wings transparent. MV with three large and four small setae ( Figure 2 (e)). Hind wing with 1–2 setae in anterior, 16–21 setae in middle and 5–8 setae in posterior setal track; fringe with 17–20 short anterior and 24–25 long posterior setae; FL/HWW = 1.52–1.68. Material examined Holotype male . (SIZK), PANAMA , Pipeline Road , 9°08 ʹ 31.8 ʺ N , 79°43 ʹ 30.6 ʺ W , collected 11 March 2008 from egg of Heliconiini butterfly ( Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae : Heliconiinae ) found on Passiflora foetida var. isthmia ( Malpighiales : Passifloraceae ) (coll. J.B. Woelke and M. de Rijk ), specimen on glass slide under 2 small cover slips (genitalia under right side cover slip), circled with black ink, on slide no. 2019 (strain L21) (in Canada balsam). Paratypes . same data (all from strain L21), 1 female on slide no. 2019 (SIZK); 1 male and 1 female on slide no. 2020 (SIZK); 1 male and 1 female on slide no. 2021 (RMNH); 1 male and 1 female on slide no. 2022 (NHMUK) (all in Canada balsam). Additional material. (SIZK) same label (strain L23, this parasitized Heliconiini egg was collected on the same plant, date and location as strain L21), 5 males and 4 females on slide no. 1875; 3 males and 3 females on slide no. 1876; 3 males and 3 females on slide no. 1877; 3 males and 3 females on slide no. 1878 (all in Canada balsam). PANAMA , Gamboa, 9°07 ʹ 05.8 ʺ N , 79°41 ʹ 41.1 ʺ W , collected 3 April 2008 from egg of Heliconiini butterfly ( Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae : Heliconiinae ) found on P. vitifolia ( Malpighiales : Passifloraceae ) (coll. J.B. Woelke and M. de Rijk), strain L31 (SIZK), 3 males and 2 females on slide no. 1871; 3 males and 3 females on slide no. 1872; 3 males and 3 females on slide no. 1873; 5 males and 4 females on slide no. 1874 (all in Canada balsam). Field records. Panama , Pipeline Road, 9°08 ʹ 31.8 ʺ N , 79°43 ʹ 30.6 ʺ W , #112, 7 females and 2 males collected 26 February 2008 from egg of Agraulis vanillae vanillae ( Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae : Heliconiinae ) found on Passiflora foetida var. isthmia ( Malpighiales : Passifloraceae ) (coll. J.B. Woelke and M. de Rijk). Panama , Pipeline Road, 9°08 ʹ 31.8 ʺ N , 79°43 ʹ 30.6 ʺ W , #295 (origin of strain L21) 10 females and 2 males collected 11 March 2008 from egg of Heliconiini butterfly ( Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae : Heliconiinae ) found on Passiflora foetida var. isthmia ( Malpighiales : Passifloraceae ) (coll. J.B. Woelke and M. de Rijk). Panama , Pipeline Road, 9°08 ʹ 31.8 ʺ N , 79°43 ʹ 30.6 ʺ W , #300, 6 females and 1 male collected 11 March 2008 from egg of Heliconiini butterfly ( Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae : Heliconiinae ) found on Passiflora foetida var. isthmia ( Malpighiales : Passifloraceae ) (coll. J. B. Woelke and M. de Rijk). Panama , Pipeline Road, 9°08 ʹ 31.8 ʺ N , 79°43 ʹ 30.6 ʺ W , #301 (origin of strain L23) 10 females and 2 males collected 11 March 2008 from egg of Heliconiini butterfly ( Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae : Heliconiinae ) found on Passiflora foetida var. isthmia ( Malpighiales : Passifloraceae ) (coll. J.B. Woelke and M. de Rijk). Panama , Gamboa, 9°07 ʹ 05.8 ʺ N , 79°41 ʹ 41.1 ʺ W , #1039 (origin of strain L31), unknown number of wasps collected 3 April 2008 from egg of Heliconiini butterfly ( Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae : Heliconiinae ) found on P. vitifolia ( Malpighiales : Passifloraceae ) (coll. J.B. Woelke and M. de Rijk). Host Wasps were reared from eggs of Agraulis vanillae vanillae ( Figure 1 (g,h)) and Heliconiini spp. found on Passiflora foetida L. var. isthmia Killip ( Figure 1 (d)) and P. vitifolia Kunth ( Figure 1 (e)). Biology Idiobiont endoparasitoid. All specimens of this species were reared from collected eggs of Heliconiini butterflies, which were deposited on Passiflora plants. The collected wasps had an average of 8.25 ± 2.06 SD females and 1.75 ± 0.50 SD males per egg, and a sex-ratio of 21.21%. More specific information about strain L21 ( Figure 3 ), L23 and L31 ( Figure S1 ). Females actively oviposit into fresh and relatively mature host eggs (with red bands) ( Figure 3 (a–c), S1a,b). The freshly laid parasitoid egg is 0.08–0.09 mm long ( Figure 3 (d), S1c), developing embryo within the egg (24 h after oviposition) is about 0.15 mm long and 0.05 mm wide (in its widest part) ( Figure S1d,e ). The newly hatched larva is about 0.1 mm long, with distinct head capsule bearing mandibles and three thoracic segments separated by deep constrictions, unsegmented abdomen and a caudal formation behind ( Figure 3 (e)). The mature fully fed larva is about 0.7 mm long, 0.4 mm wide, with pulsing mid gut full of consumed host yolk, with remnants of caudal bladder (membranes) behind ( Figure 3 (f–h), S 1g ,h). No moults were traced during the larval development, and the mandibles of hatching and mature larvae are of the same size, about 0.01 mm long ( Figure S1f ). Distribution Panama , tropical lowland rainforest of the Soberania National Park (Parque Nacional Soberanía) ( Figure 1 (c)), and in the town of Gamboa and surroundings. Etymology The Chagres (in Spanish: Rio Chagres ) is the largest river ( 193 km ) in the Panama Canal watershed. The river that surrounds our research areas, making a sharp bend around the town of Gamboa. Sequence analysis MegaBLAST analysis revealed that our Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS-2) sequences of T. chagres sp. nov. matched with 40% query cover and 89% identity to T. chilotraeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti in GenBank. Sequence ID T. chagres sp. nov. : MK159692 .