Peristenus pseudopallipes (Loan)

Goulet, Henri & Mason, Peter G., 2006, Review of the Nearctic species of Leiophron and Peristenus (Hymenoptera Braconidae: Euphorinae) parasitizing Lygus (Hemiptera: Miridae: Mirini:), Zootaxa 1323 (1), pp. 1-118 : 53-55

Peristenus pseudopallipes (Loan)

(Table 14)

Leiophron pseudopallipes Loan. Type locality: Canada, Ontario, Fuller , 44º24'N 77º25'W. Holotype, female (CNCI), labelled: [White] “ Fuller, Ont VIII 11.63 C. C. Loan ”; [White] “ Swept ex Solidago canadensis ; [White] “ Host: Liocoris lineolaris ”; [Red] “ HOLOTYPE Leiophron pseudopallipes Loan CNC No. 11587 ”. Condition of holotype: Left antenna above scape, right and left mid legs above trochanter, and right hind leg above trochanter missing. Allotype male from same locality, but reared on July 29, 1965.

Comments: The Holotype in CNCI is not labelled as the one Loan (1970) studied. The present holotype specimen matches very well his description and I consider it the official holotype specimen as no specimen with the published label information has been found in the collection. However, the allotype specimen was found and received an allotype label.

Diagnosis. Clypeus pale, in female flagellum with two to five subquadrate preapical flagellomeres, surface below median ocellus usually coarsely punctuate, and from temperate regions of eastern North America in July or later.

Description. FEMALE. Colour. Head and mesosoma black; metasoma usually brown rarely black or reddish brown. Legs generally straw coloured, metacoxa occasionally light reddish brown or exceptionally reddish brown on dorsal surface. Base of metatibia usually straw coloured, or light reddish brown. Apex of metatibia and metatarsomere 1 clearly darker than basal half of metatibia. Metatarsomeres 2–5 paler dark than metatarsomere 1. Palpi, tegula and mandible (except apex) straw coloured. Scape to flagellomere 2 straw coloured, then gradually darkening to reddish brown in middle to brown or dark brown in apical third. Stigma dark brown but straw coloured in basal third.

Structure. Flagellum with 17–21 flagellomeres (respectively 3%, 20%, 59%, 17% and 1% of 100 specimens) and flagellomeres enlarged in apical 0.5. Many of the preapical flagellomeres quadrate or subquadrate (none 0%, one 8%, two 15%, four 25%, five 26%, six 8% and more 3%). Length of gena behind eye 0.80–1.09 times as long as length of eye. Height of eye 1.34–1.46 times as long as minimum distance between inner eye margins (as in Fig. 18 ). Maximum width of head behind eyes subequal (0.92–0.97) to maximum head width at eye level. Occipital carina developed in dorsal third. Metasomal tergum 1 with lateral edges clearly convergent (posterior margin 2.1–2.4 times as wide as narrowest width near base) and elongate (medial length of tergum 1.38–1.67 times maximum width at posterior end). Radial cell length 0.83–1.07 as long as stigma width (as in Figs. 58–63 ). Forewing vein r usually developed and short (as in Figs. 60, 61 ) and basal cell (except extreme base) pubescent (as in Fig. 54 ).

Sculpture. Punctures on vertex 5–10 µm in diameter, and on frons and mesoscutum about 10–15 µm in diameter (a little larger than diameter of ommatidia). Punctures 20–25 µm apart on vertex, 5–15 µm apart on frons to 5–10 µm apart near antennal socket, and 20–25 µm apart on mesoscutum. Punctures in front of median ocellus in most specimens coarse (few or none 8%, many small 19% and coarse 73% based on 100 specimens). Punctures on mesopleuron generally dense, occasionally scattered. Clypeus generally punctate over surface, rarely almost glabrous. Metasomal tergum 1 with about 10–12 longitudinal ridges, these often anastomosing on disc and forming a puncture­like sculpture.

MALE. Colour. As in female.

Structure. Flagellum with 20–24 flagellomeres (respectively 7%, 34%, 41%, 17% and 1% of 110 specimens) and flagellomeres narrow in apical 0.5. Height of eye 1.00–1.14 times as long as minimum distance between inner eye margins. Otherwise structure and sculpture as in female.

Taxonomic notes. The specific status of P. pseudopallipes was clearly demonstrated by Loan (1970). This fine study is the clue to unravel the species complex within P. mellipes (Loan’s P. pallipes ). Reared series allow one to see through the wide variation seen in field collected specimens and resolve cryptic species. Loan (1970) recognized P. pseudopallipes from P. mellipes based on its biology.

Adults of P. pseudopallipes differ from those of P. mellipes in life cycle, in the frequency distribution of flagellomeres, and in type of puncture development in front of the median ocellus. A summary of measurement differences between P. pseudopallipes and P. mellipes is given in Table 14.

Though the flight periods overlap widely between P. otaniae and P. pseudopallipes , adults of the two species differ in life cycle, geographic range (allopatric), life zone occupied, in proportion of subquadrate preapical flagellomeres in females, and in type of puncture development in front of the median ocellus. A summary of measurement differences between P. pseudopallipes and P. otaniae is given in Table 14.

Adults of P. pseudopallipes differ from those of P. carcamoi in life cycle, in range (allopatric), in frequency distribution of flagellomere number, in proportion of subquadrate preapical flagellomeres in females, and in type of puncture development in front of the median ocellus. A summary of measurement differences between P. carcamoi and P. pseudopallipes is given in Table 14.

Host and biological notes. Adults of P. pseudopallipes have been reared from Lygus lineolaris and L. vanduzeei Knight ( Loan 1980) . Adults occur from mid July to mid September in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec with peak abundance between late July and early August. This is a univoltine species. Females of this species parasitize nymphs of only the second Lygus generation. Loan (1970) discovered the unusual biology of this species. Lim et al. (1976) confirmed Loan’s data.

Material examined and range. 534 (300♂, 234♀) adults were studied. Of these, 106 were reared from Miridae and 427 were field collected. The species is known from temperate regions of eastern North America from southernmost Quebec and Ontario in the North to Georgia in the South .

CANADA. NB: Kouchibouguac Nat. Park (3♂, 5♀) . QC: Cascapedia (1♀) ; Dunham (3♂, 5♀) ; 3 km N Frelighsburg 45º05'N 72º50'W (10♂, 6♀) ; Gatineau Park , 1 km S Ramsey Lake (2♀) ; vic. Hemmingford 45º00'56''N 73º32'11''W (4♂, 2♀) ; 4.5 km N Hemmingford 45º09'41''N 73º34'54''W (3♂, 4♀) ; Iberville (1♂, 1♀) ; Lac Brulé (1♀) ; Ladysmith (1♀) ; Mt. St. Hilaire (2♂, 1♀) ; 7 km NW Old Chelsea (1♂, 1♀) ; vic. Ste. Cyrile­de­Wendover , 45º57.258'N 72º27.846'W (1♀) ; vic. Ste. Clotilde 45º09'05''N 73º40'53''W (191♂, 115♀) . ON: Ancaster (1♀) ; Brighton (1♂, 1♀) ; Finland (1♂) ; 3 km E Fitzroy Harbour 45º28'N 76º11'W (1♂, 1♀) ; Fuller 44º24'N 77º25'W (28♂, 17♀) ; 10 km E Griffith (1♀) ; Guelph (18♂, 22♀) ; 6 km E Kinburn 45º23'N 76º08'W (1♀) ; London 43º01.77'N 81º12.33'W (1♂, 2♀) ; vic. London 43º02.76'N 81º05.58'W (2♀) ; Marmora (1♀) ; Middlesex Co., 43º02'7''N 81º05'58''W (2♂, 1♀) ; vic. Mountain 45º02'02''N 75º27'10''W (1♂, 1♀) ; Ottawa , Central Experimental Farm (5♂, 3♀) ; Shorthills Prov. Park 43º05.08'N 79º17.40'W (9♂, 12♀) ; Strathroy (1♀) ; vic. Talbotville 42º49.93'N 81º16.92'W (1♂, 1♀) . USA. CT: E. Hartford (1♀) . DE: Newark (10 ♂ / ♀: USDA). GA: Hiawasee (1♀) . NC: Macon Co., Wayah Bald (1♂) ; Whiteface Cove near Highland (1♀) . NJ: Blairstown (10♂ / ♀: USDA); Warren Co., Hilltop Berry (1♀) ; Woodstown (2♂ / ♀: USDA). NY: Ithaca (1♀) ; Lake Placid (2♀) ; Slaterville (1♀) ; Whiteface Mountain (1♀) ; Lake Placid (1♂) . OH: Steubenville (1♂) .

Figures

FIGURES 13–24. 13–22. Frontal view of head. Code: “a” ventral edge of clypeus. 23–24. Dorsal view of head.

FIGURES 50–58. 50–52. Forewing. 53–54. Basal and subbasal cells of forewing. 55–58. Radial cell and stigma of forewing.

FIGURES 59–66. 59–63. Radial cell and stigma of forewing. 64. Hind wing. 65–66. Basal and subbasal cells of hind wing.