Synergus chiricanus Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero

Nieves-Aldrey, Jose Luis & Medianero, Enrique, 2011, Taxonomy of inquilines of oak gall wasps of Panama, with description of eight new species of Synergus Hartig (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Synergini), Zootaxa 2774, pp. 1-47 : 13-14

Synergus chiricanus Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 B, 4C, 5I, 6D, 7D, 9D, 11B, 12A, 14B, 17H, 20C)

Type material. Holotype ̩ ( Fig. 20 C) (in Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain ( MNCN), cardmounted. Cat. nº 2100). PANAMA, Chiriquí, Boquete, Bajo Mono 8º 49' 44 06” N, 82º 28' 37 01” W, 1,547 m; ex gall Andricus sp. on buds of Quercus insignis (Fagaceae) , gall collected 26.i.2009, E. Medianero leg. Paratypes: 13, 2̩, same data as holotype. Two paratypes in the MNCN, one paratype in Maestría en Entomología, Universidad de Panamá ( MEUP).

1̩ paratype of the type series was dissected for SEM observations (in the MNCN).

Etymology. Named after the region of the collecting site.

Diagnosis and comments. This species is morphologically similar to the closely related species S. gabrieli , S. baruensis and S. luteus . It differs from these species, in addition to its smaller size, with respect to the mesoscutal sculpture, which is strong, with the interrupted transverse rugae widely spaced; F1 of female antenna 1.9 as long as pedicel; 1.1 as long as F2, septum separating the scutellar foveae being broad and the lateral propodeal carinae strongly convergent. The radial cell is less than three times as long as wide.

Description. Body length 1.86 mm (range 1.82–1.90; N = 2) for females; 1.98 (N = 1) for males. Female. Head yellow red, excepting the frons and the occiput medially black. Antenae dirty yellow, brownish apically. Mesosoma black, excepting dorsolateral margin of pronotum reddish and tegulae yellow. Metasoma black dorsally to brownish red posteriorly. Legs yellow. Forewing hyaline, veins pale yellow. Male similar coloration of female but lateral surface of pronotum yellow, dorsal areas of mesopleuron reddish, distal areas of metasoma yellow reddish.

Female. ( Fig. 20 C). Head in dorsal view ( Fig. 4 C) about 2 times as wide as long. Genae slightly expanded behind compound eye. POL 1.4 times OOL, posterior ocellus separated from inner orbit of eye by 1.2 times its diameter. Head in anterior view ( Fig. 2 B) rounded, 1.2 times wider than high, genae slightly expanded behind eyes. Sculpture on face similar to S. gabrieli . Malar space 0.5 as long as height of compound eye. Toruli size and relative separation as in the precedent species. Sculpture on frons and vertex similar as S. gabrieli . ( Figs. 2 B,4C). Female antenna with 14 segments ( Fig. 5 I); flagellum slightly broadened towards apex; pedicel 1.2 as long as wide; F1 1.2 as long as F2. Male antenna with 15 segments; distal half widened. F1 excaved medially and slightly expanded apically ( Fig. 6 D).

Mesosoma. Pronotum without lateral pronotal carina ( Fig. 7 D). Lateral surface of pronotum with coriariousstriated sculpture. Mesoscutum ( Fig. 9 D) with, strong, interrupted transverse carinae, the interspaces with coriarious sculpture. Notauli percurrent, narrow and moderately converging posteriorly, width of a notaulus posteriorly as wide as transscutal fissure. Median mesoscutal impression not visible. Scutellar foveae ellipsoidal, smooth, widely separated anteriorly by a septum; anterior margins diverging from the fissure transscutal, posterior margins visible. Scutellum not margined, with moderate rugose carinate sculpture, ( Fig. 9 D). Mesopleuron ( Fig. 11 B) with wide, blunt, close spaced horizontal striae, extended on the speculum, the interspaces without visible coriarious sculpture.

Lateral propodeal carinae distinct, broad, strongly convergent posteriorly ( Fig. 12 A). Median propodeal area smooth and pubescenct. Nucha sulcate.

Legs. Tarsal claw with secondary acute tooth large, measuring about 1/2 of length of apical tooth.

Forewing ( Fig. 17 H). Radial cell 3 times as long as wide. R1 depigmented along margin of radial cell, radial cell ambiguously closed; areolet indistinct; vein Rs+M invisible. Basal cell with widely spaced sparse setae. Apical margin of wing with a long fringe of setae.

Metasoma ( Fig. 14 B). First metasomal tergum longitudinally sulcate dorsally. Metasomal tergum T2+3 fused, covering 4/5 parts of metasoma, smooth and shining, micropunctures absent. Anterolateral pubescence composed of a group of 4–5 setae. Hypopygial spine as in S. gabrieli .

Distribution. Chiriqui region, Panama.

Biology. Reared only from small galls within buds of Quercus insignis . The cynipid host is an unidentified Andricus species that is likely undescribed.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Head anterior view of Synergus species: (A) Synergus gabrieli. (B) Synergus chiricanus. (C) Synergus baruensis. (D) Synergus rufinotaulis. (E) Synergus nicaraguensis. (F) Synergus luteus.

FIGURE 4. Head dorsal view of Synergus species: (A) Synergus ibericus. (B) Synergus nicaraguensis. (C) Synergus chiricanus. (D) Synergus gabrieli. (E) Synergus luteus. (F) Synergus baruensis. (G) Synergus rufinotaulis, male. (H) Synergus rufinotaulis, female.

FIGURE 5. Female antennae of inquilines of oak gall wasps: (A) Agastoroxenia panamensis. (B) Synergus laticephalus. (C) Synergus ramoni. (D) Synergus colombianus. (E) Synergus nicaraguensis. (F) Synergus baruensis. (G) Synergus luteus. (H) Synergus mesoamericanus. (I) Synergus chiricanus (J) Synergus elegans. (K) Synergus rufinotaulis. (L) Synergus gabrieli.

FIGURE 6. Male antennae of inquilines of oak gall wasps: (A) Agastoroxenia panamensis. (B) Synergus elegans. (C) Synergus nicaraguensis. (D) Synergus chiricanus. (E) Synergus luteus. (F) Synergus gabrieli. (G) Synergus ramoni. (H) Synergus mesoamericanus. (I) Synergus colombianus. (J) Synergus baruensis. (K) Synergus rufinotaulis.

FIGURE 7. Pronotum anterior view of inquilines of oak gall wasps: (A) Synergus ibericus. (B) Synergus ramoni. (C) Agastoroxenia panamensis. (D) Synergus chiricanus. (E) Synergus laticephalus. (F) Synergus gabrieli.

FIGURE 9. Mesosoma dorsal view of Synergus species: (A) Synergus gabrieli. (B) Synergus luteus. (C) Synergus baruensis. (D) Synergus chiricanus.

FIGURE 11. Mesosoma lateral view of inquilines of oak gall wasps: (A) Synergus nicaraguensis. (B) Synergus chiricanus. (C) Synergus gabrieli. (D) Synergus rufinotaulis. (E) Synergus luteus. (F) Synergus baruensis.

FIGURE 12. Propodeum posterior view of Synergus species: (A) Synergus chiricanus. (B) Synergus gabrieli. (C) Synergus nicaraguensis. (D) Synergus ramoni.

FIGURE 14. Metasoma lateral view of Synergus species: (A) Synergus gabrieli. (B) Synergus chiricanus. (C) Synergus baruensis. (D) Synergus luteus.

FIGURE 17. Forewing of Synergus species: (A) Synergus laticephalus. (B) Synergus elegans. (C) Synergus ramoni (D) Synergus mesoamericanus. (E) Synergus nicaraguensis. (F) Synergus rufinotaulis. (G) Synergus gabrieli. (H) Synergus chiricanus. (I) Synergus luteus. (J) Synergus baruensis.

FIGURE 20. Habitus of Synergus species: (A) Synergus gabrieli, female. (B) Synergus gabrieli, male. (C) Synergus chiricanus, female. (D) Synergus baruensis, female. (E) Synergus baruensis, male. (F) Synergus luteus, female. (G) Synergus luteus, male.