Synergus citriformis ( Ashmead, 1885 ), 1922

Lobato-Vila, Irene & Pujade-Villar, Juli, 2017, Microphysogobio zhangi Sun & Zhao 2022, n. sp., Zoological Studies (Zool. Stud.) 56 (36), pp. 1-28 : 6-9

Synergus citriformis ( Ashmead, 1885)

Ceroptres citriformis Ashmead, 1885 . Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 12: 300

Synergus citriformis (Ashmead) Weld, 1922 . Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 61 (18): 26

Synergus elegans Nieves-Aldrey and Medianero, 2011 . Zootaxa, 2774: 4 syn. nov.

Type material of Ceroptres citriformis Ashmead, 1885 (examined): Lectotypeñ deposited in the NMNH (Washington D.C., USA) with the following labels: ‘Jacksnville, Fla’ (white label) / ‘Type No 14538 U.S. N.M.’ (red label) / ‘Collection Ashmead’ (white label) / ‘ Synergus citriformis ñ Ashmead, Type’ (white label, handwritten) / ‘USNMENT 00779983’ (white label, QR code) / ‘ Lectotype ñ Ceroptres citriformis Ashmead, 1885 IL-V desig-2017 (red label) / ‘ Synergus citriformis (Ashmead) Weld, 1922 (= S. elegans ) IL-V det. 2017’ (white label). Paralecototypes (1ò and 3ñ) deposited in the NMNH (Washington D.C., USA) with the following labels: ‘Jacksnville, Fla’ (white label) / ‘ Paratype No 14538 U.S. N.M.’ (red label) / ‘Collection Ashmead’ (white label) / ‘ Paralectotype ñ Ceroptres citriformis Ashmead, 1885 IL-V desig-2017’ (red label) / ‘ Synergus citriformis (Ashmead) Weld, 1922 (= S. elegans ) IL-V det. 2017’ (white label) (2ñ); ‘Jacksnville, Fla’ (white label) / ‘Collection Ashmead’ (white label) / ‘ Synergus (Ceroptres) citriformis Ashm. ’ (white label, handwritten) / ‘ Paralectotype ñ Ceroptres citriformis Ashmead, 1885 IL-V desig-2017’ (red label) / ‘ Synergus citriformis (Ashmead) Weld, 1922 (= S. elegans ) IL-V det. 2017’ (white label) (1ñ); ‘Jacksnville, Fla’ (white label) / ‘Collection Ashmead’ (white label) / ‘ Paralectotype ò Ceroptres citriformis Ashmead, 1885 IL-V desig-2017’ (red label) / ‘ Synergus citriformis (Ashmead) Weld, 1922 (= S. elegans ) IL-V det. 2017’ (white label) (1ò).

Type material of Synergus elegans Nieves- Aldrey and Medianero, 2011 (examined): Paratypes (2ñ) deposited in the MNCNM (Madrid, Spain) with the following labels: ‘ PANAMÁ, Prov. Chiriquí Boquete, El Salto, 1431 m, 8°47'32.8"N, 82°27'37.9"W, Quercus salicifolia S-ex-A1, 7-V-2008, E. Medianero leg.’ (white label) / ‘ CYNIPIDAE Synergus elegans sp. nov., Nieves-Aldrey and Medianero det.’ (white label) / ‘Paratipo’ (red label) / ‘ MNCN Cat. Tipos N° 2095’ (red label) / ‘ MNCN _Ent N° Cat. 67238’ (white label) / ‘ Synergus citriformis (Ashmead) Weld, 1922 det. Lobato-Vila 2017’ (1ñ); ‘ PANAMÁ, Prov. Chiriquí Boquete, El Salto, 1431 m, 8°47'32.8"N, 82°27'37.9"W, Quercus salicifolia S-ex-A1, 7-V-2008, E. Medianero leg.’ (white label) / ‘ CYNIPIDAE Synergus elegans sp. nov., Nieves-Aldrey and Medianero det.’ (white label) / ‘Paratipo’ (red label) / ‘ MNCN Cat. Tipos N° 2095’ (red label) / ‘ MNCN _ Ent N° Cat. 67240’ (white label) / ‘ Synergus citriformis (Ashmead) Weld, 1922 det. Lobato-Vila 2017’ (1ñ).

A d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l: Non-type material of Synergus elegans (1ñ) deposited in the MNCNM (Madrid, Spain) with the following labels (examined): ‘ PANAMÁ, Prov. Chiriquí Renacimiento, 1270 m, 8 ° 49 ' 58.7 " N, 82°44'44.5"W, Quercus lancifolia S-ex-A55, 22-I-2009, E. Medianero leg.’ (white label) / ‘ CYNIPIDAE S y n e r g u s e l e g a n s sp. nov., Nieves-Aldrey and Medianero det.’ (white label) / ‘ MNCN _Ent N° Cat. 67515’ (white label) / ‘ Synergus citriformis (Ashmead) Weld, 1922 det. Lobato-Vila 2017’. New material from Mexico (147ò and 236ñ) obtained from the following localities: AGUASCALIENTES: MEX: P155, A. N. Protegida Los Alamitos (San José de Gracia, AGS), 22°10'26.4"N, 102°35'11.9"W, 2598 m, Ex. Amphibolips hidalgoensis , Q. microphylla , (01. iii.2012) 20.iii.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 1ñ. FEDERAL DISTRICT: MEX: P228, Santa Fe (D.F.), 19°21'14"N, 99°16'24.22"W, 2569, Ex. Andricus protuberans , Q. laeta , (21.vi.2013) ix.2013, JP-V leg.: 4ò and 3ñ; MEX: P224, Santa Fe (D.F.), 19°21'14"N, 99°16'24.22"W, 2569, Ex. Amphibolips sp. , Q. crassipes , (21.vi.2013) 1-10. xii.2013, JP-V leg.: 1ò and 7ñ. GUANAJUATO: MEX: P012, Sierra de Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa de Lima, GTO), 21°07'44.1"N, 101°13'02.0"W, 2559 m, Ex. Disholcaspis sp. , Q. castanea , (31. v.2012) 12.vii.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 2ò. HIDALGO: MEX: 296, Barrio Tlacpac (Acaxochitlán, HGO), 20°09'16.4"N, 98°12'25.5"W, 2321 m, Ex. Amphibolips hidalgoensis , Q. rugosa , (08.vi.2010) 13.vii.2010, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 7ò and 4ñ; MEX: 290, El Arenal (Acaxochitlán, HGO), 20°13'29.9"N, 98°54'25.0"W, 2210 m, Ex. A m p h i b o l i p s h i d a l g o e n s i s, Q. rugosa , (10.vi.2010) 23.vi.2010, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 3ò; MEX: 293, Huasca ( HGO), 20°12'05.3"N, 98°35'16.6"W, 2181 m, Ex. Amphibolips hidalgoensis , Q. candicans , (08. vi.2010) 15-30.vi.2010, JP-V leg.: 2ò; MEX: 283, Los Romeros (Santiago de Tulantepec de Lugo Guerrero, HGO), 20°01'45.9"N, 98°24'50.1"W, 2411 m, Ex. A m p h i b o l i p s h i d a l g o e n s i s, Q. mexicana , (03.vi.2010) 17.vii.2010, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 4ò and 16ñ; MEX: P050, Santiago de Tulantepec de Lugo Guerrero ( HGO), 20°05'07.8"N, 98°17'50.0"W, 2510 m, Ex. Andricus nr protuberans , Q. greggii , (03.vi.2010) 23.vi.2010, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 3ò and 11ñ; MEX: 2784 (UACh Col.), Acaxochitlán ( HGO), 20°10'17.59"N, 98°10'58.59"W, 2154 m, Ex. Amphibolips damphi , Q. affinis , (19.iii.2014) v.2014, D. Cibrián leg.: 1ò and 6ñ. MICHOACÁN: MEX: P203, Near Amealco ( MICH), 20°10'30"N, 100°13'52"W, 2620m, Ex. Undetermined gall, Q. mexicana , (14.ii.2013) 05.iii-01.iv.2013, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 3ò and 7ñ; MEX: P205, Los Desmontes (Parástaco, MICH), 19°26'44"N, 102°22'40"W, 1.416 m, Ex. Disholcaspis sp. , Quercus sp. , (23.ii.2013) 03.iv-01.v.2013, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 1ò and 1ñ. MORELOS: MEX: 278, Felipe Neri (Tlalnepantla, MOR), 19°02'11.2"N, 98°56'38.8"W, 2512 m, Ex. Amphibolips sp. , Q. rugosa , (29.v.2012) viii.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 13ñ; MEX: P008, Tepoztlán (Tepoztlán, MOR), 18°59'04.2"N, 99°05'35.8"W, 2099 m, Ex. Disholcaspis sp. , Q. rugosa , (29.v.2012) 12.vi.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 1ò and 2ñ; MEX: P019, Tepoztlán (Tepoztlán, MOR), 18°59'04.2"N, 99°05'35.8"W, 2099 m, Ex. Disholcaspis nr taumalipensis, Q. mexicana , (20.iv.2012) 12.vi.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 3ò and 2ñ. PUEBLA: MEX: 165, Ometépetl (Tetela de Ocampo, PUE), 19°50'16.2"N, 97°43'22.9"W, 1687 m, Ex. Amphibolips nr nevadensis, Quercus sp. , (29. iv.2013) v.2013 (Alondra leg.): 1ò and 3ñ. STATE OF MEXICO: MEX: P120, Ixtapaluca ( EDO. MÉX), 19°19'07"N, 98°52'56"W, Ex. Amphibolips sp. , Quercus sp. , (30.v.2012) vi.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 4ñ; MEX: 274, P. N. Zoquiapan y Anexas (Ixtapaluca, EDO. MÉX), 19°20'06.8"N, 98°41'30.6"W, 3046 m, Ex. A m p h i b o l i p s hidalgoensis , Q. crassipes , (30.v.2012) viii.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 41ò and 39ñ; MEX: 275, P. N. Zoquiapan y Anexas (Ixtapaluca, EDO. MÉX), 19°20'06.8"N, 98°41'30.6"W, 3046 m, Ex. Amphibolips hidalgoensis , Q. crassipes , (30. v.2012) viii.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 3ò and 5ñ; MEX: 276, P. N. Zoquiapan y Anexas (Ixtapaluca, EDO. MÉX), 19°20'06.8"N, 98°41'30.6"W, 3046 m, Ex. A m p h i b o l i p s hidalgoensis , Q. crassipes , (30.v.2012) viii.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 1ò; MEX: 280, P. N. Zoquiapan y Anexas (Ixtapaluca, EDO. MÉX), 19°20'06.8"N, 98°41'30.6"W, 3046 m, Ex. Amphibolips hidalgoensis , Q. crassipes , (30. v.2012) viii.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 47ò and 64ñ; MEX: 281, P. N. Zoquiapan y Anexas (Ixtapaluca, EDO. MÉX), 19°20'06.8"N, 98°41'30.6"W, 3046 m, Ex. A m p h i b o l i p s hidalgoensis , Q. crassipes , (30.v.2012) viii.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 5ò and 12ñ; MEX: 196, Plateros-Arenales (San Felipe del Progreso, EDO. MÉX), 19°42'46.8"N, 99°57'05.6"W, 2576 m, Ex. Andricus group tectucnarum , Q. candicans , (05.ii.2014) 16.ii.2014, Delia leg.: 2ñ; MEX: 235, Plateros-Arenales (San Felipe del Progreso, EDO. MÉX), 19°42'46.8"N, 99°57'05.6"W, 2576 m, Ex. Dros nr picatum, Q. laeta , (18.i.2014) 05.ii.2014, Delia leg.: 1ñ; MEX: 255, San Juan Coajomulco ( EDO. MÉX), 19°45'17.9"N, 99°58'10.2", 2655 m, W, Ex. Andricus group georgei, Q. obtusata , (18. i.2014) 16.ii-2.iv.2014, Delia leg.: 1ò and 7ñ. TLAXCALA: MEX: 291, San Marcos (Papalotla de Xicohténcatl, TLAX), 19°19'55.4"N, 98°18'13.4"W, 2342 m, Ex. A m p h i b o l i p s h i d a l g o e n s i s, Q. crassipes , (03.vi.2010) 04.vii.2010, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 3ò and 7ñ; MEX: P079, San Marcos (Papalotla de Xicohténcatl, TLAX), 19°19'55.4"N, 98°18'13.4"W, 2342 m, Ex. Amphibolips sp. , Q. crassipes , (03.vi.2010) 05.ix.2010, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 6ñ; MEX: P083, San Marcos (Papalotla de Xicohténcatl, TLAX), 19°19'55.4"N, 98°18'13.4"W, 2342 m, Ex. Amphibolips sp. , Q. crassipes , (03. vi.2010) 12.vii.2010, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 2ò and 5ñ; MEX: P091, San Marcos (Papalotla de Xicohtncatl, TLAX), 19°19'55.4"N, 98°18'13.4"W, 2342 m, Ex. Amphibolips sp. , Q. crassipes , (03.vi.2010) 12.vii.2010, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 1ñ; MEX: P167, Calpulalpan- Tlaxcala Federal Highway (Calpulalpan, TLAX), 19°35'24.6"N, 98°33'24.1"W, 2572 m, Ex. Andricus group georgei, Q. microphylla , (31.viii.2012) 10.ix.2012, A. Equihua and E. Estrada: 1ñ; MEX: P077, San Diego Recoba (Hueyotlipan, TLAX), 19°29'05.1"N, 98°22'24.7"W, 2632 m, Ex. Undetermined gall, Q. crassipes , (03.vi.2010) 15.vi.2010, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 1ò. VERACRUZ: MEX: P180, Perote-Puebla Federal Highway (VER), 19°32'30"N, 97°16'23"W, 2410 m, Ex. Antron sp. , Quercus sp. (31.viii.2012) 10.ix.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 1ñ. ZACATECAS: MEX: 285, Las Guacamayas (Monte Escobedo, ZAC), 21°42'21"N 103°02'39"W, 1631 m, Ex. Amphibolips zacatequensis , Q. eduardii , (25.v.2012) Before x.2012, JP-V leg.: 1ò; MEX: 277, Monte Escobedo ( ZAC), 22°25'06.32"N, 103°28'38.82"W, 2031 m, Ex. Amphibolips zacatequensis , Q. eduardii , (31.v.2012) vi.2012, C. Carrillo leg.: 2ñ; MEX: P065, Monte Escobedo ( ZAC), 22°25'06.32"N, 103°28'38.82"W, 2031 m, Ex. Amphibolips sp. , Q. eduardii , (31.v.2010) vi.2010, C. Carrillo leg.: 1ñ; MEX: 020, Sierra de Nochistlán (Jérez, ZAC), 21°20'19.3"N, 102°58'50.2"W, Ex. Undetermined gall, Q. eduardii , (10.ii.2011) 16.ii.2011, A. Equihua and E. Estrada leg.: 2ñ; MEX: P123, La Cuchilla (Concepción del Oro, ZAC), 24°37'00.3"N, 101°24'48.8"W, 2048 m, Ex. Amphibolips sp. , Q. conzattii , (25.05.2012) 13.vii.2012, E. Estrada and A. Equihua leg.: 1ò.

Comments: According to Ashmead (1885: 300), this species was described based on numerous specimens. We studied 4 females and 1 male deposited in the NMNH from Ashmead’s collection, of which 1ò and 1ñ have identical labels to Lectotype’s but the ‘type’ label is missing. So, we assume these two specimens also belong to the typical series. Based on the original description, there are probably more paralectotypes in Ashmead’s collection without a ‘type’ label.

Synergus citriformis and S. elegans have the head finely reticulated, without frontal carinae and 2.0 wider than long from the dorsal view; antennae 14-segmented and F1 1.3 times longer than F2; mesoscutum and scutellum finely coriaceous to imbricated, notauli inconspicuous in the anterior 1/3, mesopleurae partially smooth (the horizontal sculpture not extended into the speculum), scutellum laterally and postero-dorsally margined (circumscutellar carina clearly visible) and scutellar foveae inconspicuous or absent; metasoma not incised dorso-distally and no micropunctured (or at least with some scarce and inconspicuous posterodorsal micropunctures in some specimens). Since the rest of morphological traits are coincident and that S. citriformis was described from numerous specimens bred from a gall related to Amphibolips sp. ( Ashmead 1885) like most of S. elegans , we conclude these are the same species. So, we propose S. elegans as syn. nov. of S. citriformis .

The type material of S. citriformis from the USA and some specimens from Mexico show a lighter body tonality than thus of S. elegans . Moreover, some of the Mexican specimens show morphological variations related to the ratio of F1/ F2 (F1 usually 1.3 times longer than F 2 in this species; ratio longer in some specimens) and the length of POL and OOL ( POL usually 1.5 times longer than OOL in this species; POL 1.1 times longer in some specimens). However, since these subtle variations are already contemplated in the original description of S. elegans ( Nieves-Aldrey and Medianero 2011) , we don’t doubt they are the same species.

According to Nieves-Aldrey and Medianero (2011), S. citriformis (= S. elegans ) and S. laticephalus form a distinctive group mainly characterized by having partially smooth mesopleurae (with striae not extended into the speculum), absence of frontal carinae, scutellum laterally and postero-dorsally margined, mesoscutum finely coriaceous to alutaceous or finely imbricate, and metasoma not dorso-distally incised and not micropunctured. All Mexican species described here which are related to these species have a posterodorsal patch of micropunctures in the metasomal syntergite (see also the diagnosis of the new Mexican species).

Distribution: This is the first record of this species in Mexico. This species was previously only known from Panama ( Nieves-Aldrey and Medianero 2011) and Florida, USA ( Ashmead 1885; Pénzes et al. 2012). The new material presented here was collected from different states of Mexico (Aguascalientes, Federal District, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Morelos, Puebla, State of Mexico, Tlaxcala, Veracruz and Zacatecas).

Biology: The original material described by Ashmead (1885) was bred from a gall related to Amphibolips citriformis Ashmead. The Panamanian specimens studied by Nieves-Aldrey and Medianero (2011) were obtained from a wide variety of cynipid galls from different genera, being very common in galls of the Panamanian species of Amphibolips and frequent in galls of species of Disholcaspis , Cynips and other cynipid genera on different species of Quercus both from Quercus and Lobatae sections ( Nieves-Aldrey and Medianero 2011). The studied material from Mexico presented here was also obtained from a wide variety of cynipid galls, including Amphibolips , Disholcaspis , Andricus , Dros and Antron ’s galls. These galls were also collected from different species of Quercus belonging to both Quercus and Lobatae sections.