Gonatocerus walkerjonesi S. Triapitsyn

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., 2006, A key to the Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) egg parasitoids of proconiine sharpshooters (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in the Nearctic region, with description of two new species of Gonatocerus, Zootaxa 1203, pp. 1-38 : 15-18

Gonatocerus walkerjonesi S. Triapitsyn , sp. n.

( Figs 10–14 )

Gonatocerus morrilli (Howard) : Phillips et al. 2001: 95 (misidentification of the specimens from Ventura Co., California, USA).

Gonatocerus sp. near morrilli (Howard) : de León 2004b: 318–320 (molecular distinction between geographic populations, as “California G. morrilli ”); de León 2004c: 322–324 (molecular distinction between geographic populations, as “California G. morrilli ”); de León et al. 2005: 302–305 (molecular distinction between cryptic species); Hoddle and Stouthamer 2005: 338–340 (molecular and morphological distinction between similar species).

Type material

Holotype female on slide [ UCRC]: USA. CALIFORNIA, Ventura Co., Fillmore, Young Rd. at Sycamore Canyon Rd., 11.vii.2001, P. Phillips et al. (“ex. eggs of glassywinged sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata (Say) eggs on laurel sumac leaves”). Paratypes: USA. CALIFORNIA: Riverside Co., Riverside, UCR Campus: 20.x.2003 [1 female on point]; 10.ii.2005, S.V. Triapitsyn (emerged 25.ii.2005 ex. H. coagulata eggs on red bud leaf) [1 female, 1 male on points, 1 female on slide, 2 females and 1 male in 75% ethanol stored in a freezer]. Ventura Co., Fillmore: 3.ix.1998, J. Dyckes (ex. H. coagulata eggs on macadamia leaves) [1 female on point as well as 1 female and 1 male on slides]; 2.vi.2000, R. Fenton (ex. H. coagulata eggs on avocado leaves) [2 females and 1 male on points]; 14.vi.2000, R. Fenton (ex. H. coagulata eggs on lemon leaves) [5 females on points]; 14.vi.2000, R. Fenton (ex. H. coagulata eggs on macadamia leaves) [2 females and 1 male on points]; 12.vii.2000, R. Fenton (ex. H. coagulata eggs on lemon leaves) [17 females and 5 males on points]; 26.vii.2000, R. Fenton (ex. H. coagulata eggs on Valencia orange leaves) [1 female and 1 male on points]; 9.viii.2000, R. Fenton (ex. H. coagulata eggs on lemon leaves) [1 male on slide]; 23.viii.2000, R. Fenton (ex. H. coagulata eggs on lemon leaves) [6 females and 2 males on points]; 23.viii.2000, R. Fenton (ex. H. coagulata eggs on Valencia orange leaves) [1 female and 1 male on points]; 4.x.2000, R. Fenton (ex. H. coagulata eggs on orange leaves) [1 female on slide]; 14.v.2001, R. Fenton (ex. H. coagulata eggs on lemon leaves) [1 female and 2 males on points] [all in UCRC]; 11.vii.2001, P. Phillips et al. (ex. H. coagulata eggs on laurel sumac leaves) [30 females and 2 males on points as well as 1 female and 2 males on slides (same data as the holotype), CNCI, CSAC, UCRC, USNM].

Additional material examined

NICARAGUA. MASAYA, Las Flores, 12°00.208’N, 86°01.190’W, 410’ el., 16.iii.2004, M.S. Hoddle (ex. egg mass of a proconiine sharpshooter on avocado leaf) [4 females, 2 males, UCRC]. USA. CALIFORNIA, Riverside Co., Riverside, UCR campus, 20.x.2003, J. Ng (on lemon) [1 female, originally in UCRC, then destroyed for molecular study).

Description

FEMALE (holotype and paratypes). Body length 1400–1850. Body and appendages mostly yellowish­orange­light brown except for the following: F5 and F6 white; pedicel, two spots on basal gastral tergum, several spots on distal gastral terga, and metatibia brown; trabeculae, ocellar triangle, F1–F4, F7, F8, clava, and a wide band on medial metasomal terga dark brown.

Antenna ( Fig. 10 ) with radicle about 2.5 x as long as wide, scape 3.1–3.2 x as long as wide, lightly longitudinally striate; pedicel as long as F1; F2 as long as F3, both the longest funicle segments; F8 shortest funicle segment; F1 without sensilla, F2–F8 each with 2 longitudinal sensilla; all funicle segments densely setose; clava with 8 longitudinal sensilla, about 3.7 x as long as wide, about as long as combined length of F1–F3, its ventral surface covered with numerous minute, short setae and placoid sensilla, its dorsal surface densely covered with longer setae.

Mesosoma. Pronotum, mesoscutum, scutellum, and axillae lightly punctate; dorsellum smooth. Each lobe of pronotum with 2 strong dorsal and 3 weak lateral setae. Mesoscutum wider than long, a little shorter than scutellum; midlobe of mesoscutum with a pair of strong setae. Dorsellum rhomboidal. Propodeum ( Fig. 11 ) with well­developed lateral carinae and subparallel (slightly curved medially) submedial carinae, notably wrinkled (less so between submedial carinae). Foretibia with 3 or 4 conical sensilla. Forewing ( Fig. 12 ) 3.5–3.7 x as long as wide; marginal cilia short, longest marginal cilia about 1/5 maximum wing width. Forewing blade slightly infumated beyond venation, with conspicuous dark spot just beyond tip of venation (not reaching anterior margin); bare behind venation except for several scattered microtrichia behind stigmal and apex of marginal veins, remainder of blade densely setose. Submarginal vein with 1 macrochaeta and 2 microchaetae; marginal vein usually with 6, sometimes with 5, strong setae between proximal and distal macrochaetae; hypochaeta closer to distal macrochaeta than to proximal macrochaeta. Hind wing 18–22 x as long as wide; blade bare except for complete rows of microtrichia along margins and an incomplete row of discal setae starting just beyond tip of venation.

Metasoma. Petiole relatively short, usually about as long as wide but sometimes either slightly wider than long or longer than wide, trapezoidal. Ovipositor about 3/4 length of gaster, not or barely exserted beyond its apex. Ovipositor: mesotibia ratio about 1.0:1. Outer plates of ovipositor each with 1 distal seta.

Measurements of the holotype. Body: total body length: 1688; head 200; mesosoma 769; petiole 92; gaster 830; ovipositor 627. Antenna: radicle 115; scape 261; pedicel 90; F1 90; F2 144; F3 144; F4 127; F5 112; F6 100; F7 106; F8 82; clava 388. Forewing 1974:547; longest marginal cilia 115. Hind wing: 1446:79; longest marginal cilia 140.

MALE (paratypes). Body length 1450–1720. Body mostly light brown to dark brown (more so dorsally), with yellowish spots; antenna brown to dark brown, legs light brown to brown. Antenna ( Fig. 13 ) with scape about 2 x as long as wide; pedicel very short, F1 a little shorter and wider than following flagellar segments which are more or less subequal in length; all flagellomeres with numerous longitudinal sensilla. Forewing 3.3–3.6 x as long as wide. Genitalia ( Fig. 14 ) typical of the morrilli subgroup.

Etymology

This species is named in honor of Dr. Walker A. Jones ( United States Department of Agriculture — Agricultural Research Service).

Diagnosis

This new species is very similar to G. morrilli . It differs by the propodeum with the submedial carinae curved and more apart from each other ( Fig. 11 ). Male genitalia of these two species are also different: in G. walkerjonesi , the apodeme of the genital sternite is notably longer than the aedeagal apodemes ( Fig. 14 ). Gonatocerus walkerjonesi is even more similar morphologically (especially the carinae on the propodeum) and apparently more closely related genetically to G. annulicornis (Ogloblin) from Argentina ( Hoddle and Stouthamer 2005), which lacks the dark cloud on the forewing in both sexes and whose males have relatively shorter antennae and are generally lighter colored (particularly the mesosomal dorsum) than those of G. walkerjonesi .

Hosts

Homalodisca coagulata (Say) and H. liturata Ball.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Genitalia of Gonatocerus walkerjonesi (male).

FIGURES 9 – 13. Gonatocerus spp. 9. Genitalia of G. morrilli (male). 10 – 13. G. walkerjonesi. 10. Antenna (female). 11. Propodeum (female). 12. Forewing (female). 13. Antenna (male).