Aximopsis hespenheidei Gates

Gates, M. W., Metz, M. A. & Schauff, M. E., 2006, The circumscription of the generic concept of Aximopsis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eurytomidae) with the description of seven new species, Zootaxa 1273, pp. 9-54 : 41-42

Aximopsis hespenheidei Gates , n. sp.

( Figs. 5 , 55 , 65 )

Etymology

This epithet is a patronymic noun, genitive masculine singular, recognizing Dr. Henry A. Hespenheide for his contribution to the study of leaf­mining Buprestidae , which this group of wasps parasitizes.

Diagnosis and identification

Aximopsis hespenheidei is unique among the remaining species in having the median, excavated furrow of the propodeum composed of fine punctulae rather than large punctae and the anterior and posterior sections of furrow separated by one transverse carina ( Fig. 55 ).

Female. Length 1.9–3.3 mm. Prepectus with shallow finely alveolate concavities in middle and along ventral border. Metacoxa posterolateral carina irregular. Gaster with effaced reticulation occurring dorsally on some segments; Gt1 coarsely alveolate anteriorly in shape of an isosceles triangle. Antenna dark brown, scape and pedicel light brown. Legs brown, except extreme apices of femora, bases and apices of tibiae, and tarsomeres pale yellow, pretarsus brown.

Head. 1.3X wider than high; subequal in width to pronotum; HTE:msp 2.32. POL 2.25X longer than OOL. Width of oral fossa 0.36X width of head. Scape 5X longer than broad. Antennal segment ratios 18:5:1:9:7:7:8:8:16. Clava 3X longer than broad.

Mesosoma. Dorsal pronotum 3X wider than long, with paired pronotal processes. Mesoscutum 2X broader than long. Scutellum 1.1X longer than wide at its widest; broadly convex dorsally. Dorsellum disc composed of a central ovoid structure with lateral arms broadening laterally into paddle­shapes. Propodeum alveolate only in central depression. Postmarginal vein subequal in length to stigma, ratio of mv:pmv 0.87 ( Fig. 5 ).

Metasoma. Petiole length and width subequal; dorsal lateral carinae higher and thickened in mediolateral plane in middle ( Fig. 65 ); ventral surface with weak medial and lateral carinae.

Male. Length 3.2 mm. Similar to female in coloration and structure except as follows: scape 4.0X longer than broad; petiole 5.0–5.4X longer than broad, reticulate­rugose, broadest and highest in anterior half, thinning apically, with anterodorsal carinae fading by midlength, mpp reticulate with ventrolateral carinae diverging from mpp, extending length of petiole.

Va r i a t i o n

One female (USNM ENT 00480021) is approximately 2/3 the size of the holotype. This specimen has more brown undertones and the legs are more of a concolorous brown. The femora and tibiae, for example, in the remaining material tend toward a much darker brown to black medially. The sculpture on this specimen is slightly reduced, a presumed scaling effect due to reduced size.

Type material (10Ψ, 2ɗ). Holotype Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00480033) ( USNM), Mexico, Tabasco, 83km E Palo Mulato, 1982, G.B. Vogt, Vogt coll. #82­61, reared from Pachyschelus ( Coleoptera : Buprestidae ) ex. Psidium (guava). Paratypes 2Ψ ( USNM ENTO 0 0 480038, 00480457) ( USNM), 1ɗ ( USNM ENTO 00480025) ( USNM) same data as holotype; 1Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00480010) ( USNM), Colombia, Valle de Cauca, San Jose de Anchicaya, vii.21 ­27.1970, G.B. Vogt, Vogt coll. #70­96; 1Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00480012) ( USNM) same data, vii.21­viii.27­1970, Vogt coll. #70­97; 1Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00481004) Panama, Canal Zone, Pipeline Road, 13km NW Gamboa, 9°12’N 79°47’W, Coll.: 16.vii.1978, Emer.: 1.viii.1978, H.A. Hespenheide, reared from Pachyschelus ( Coleoptera : Buprestidae ), VS HAH 78:81, ( Urticaceae ); 1ɗ ( USNM ENTO 00481000) ( USNM) same data, VS HAH 78:82; 1Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00481002) ( USNM) same locality, Coll.: 31.viii.1977, Emer.: 2.ix.1977, T.W. Sherry, reared from Pachyschelus ( Coleoptera : Buprestidae ), V.S. 77:1325, IN LEGUME; 1Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00481001) ( USNM) Panama, Canal Zone, 7km W Margarita, 9°20’N 79°58’W, Coll.: 23.vii.1978, Emer.: 13.viii.1978, H.A. Hespenheide, reared from Pachyschelus ( Coleoptera : Buprestidae ), VS HAH 78:207, (Leguminosae); 1Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00481003) ( USNM) Costa Rica, Puntarenas Prov., Parque Nacional Corcovado, Estacion Sirena, 8°28­31’N 83°36’W, Coll.: 20.iii.1981, Emer.: 5.iv.1981, H.A. Hespenheide, reared from Pachyschelus ( Coleoptera : Buprestidae ), VS # 81­09, ( Urticaceae ); 1Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00480021) ( USNM) no data, Vogt coll. #60­750.

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 9. 2. Axima zabriskiei, female gaster, lateral. 3. Aximopsis lanceolepis, female gaster, lateral. 4. Ax. zabriskiei female, forewing. 5. Aximopsis female, forewing. 6. Aplatoides diabolus, female head, lateral. 7 – 8. Ax. zabriskiei, female: 7. ventrolateral prepectus, 8. prepectus, lateral. 9. A. vogti, female, ventrolateral prepectus.

FIGURES 52 – 59. 52. A. vogti, female, mesosoma, dorsal. 53. A. vogti, male, antennae. 54. A. vogti, male, metasoma, lateral. 55. A. hespenheidei, female, propodeum, dorsal. 56. A. hippolytis, female, pronotum, anterior. 56. A. vogti, female, metasoma, lateral. 57. A. lanceolepis, female, head, anterior. 58. A. pythmenis, female, head, dorsolateral. 59. A. anubis, prepectus, lateral.

FIGURES 60 – 67. 60. A. anubis, female, metacoxa, lateral. 61. A. anubis, female, petiole + anterior gaster, lateral. 62. A. anubis, female, propodeum, dorsal. 63. A. arietinis, female, propodeum, dorsal. 64. A. arietinis, male, antenna. 65. A. hespenheidei, female, petiole, dorsal. 66. A. hippolytis, female, vertex, anterolateral. 67. A. hippolytis, female, dorsellum, dorsal.