Gonatocerus (Gonatocerus) antillensis Dozier, 1937

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., Huber, John T., Logarzo, Guillermo A., Berezovskiy, Vladimir V. & Aquino, Daniel A., 2010, Review of Gonatocerus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in the Neotropical region, with description of eleven new species, Zootaxa 2456, pp. 1-243 : 16-17

Gonatocerus (Gonatocerus) antillensis Dozier, 1937

( Figs 8–11 )

Gonatocerus antillensis Dozier 1937: 132 –133. Type locality: near Mayagüez (at 1000 ft.), Puerto Rico ( USA). Gonatocerus (Gonatocerus) antillensis Dozier : De Santis 1979: 365 (catalog, record from Cuba). Gonatocerus antillensis Dozier : Yoshimoto 1990: 39 (list).

Type material examined. Holotype female [USNM] on slide labeled: 1. “ Gonatocerus ♀ antillensis Dozier Sweeping roadside vegetation at 1000 ft. Mayaguez, P. R. Oct. 14–1935 H. L. Dozier”; 2. [red] “ Gonatocerus antillensis Dozier Type ♀ Type No. 51679 U.S.N.M.”. The holotype is in fair condition, complete, mounted dorsoventrally. Paratypes [all USNM]: 1 ♀ on slide labeled: 1. “ Gonatocerus ♀ antillensis Dozier Sweeping roadside steep slopes of fern, shrubs, etc. Miradero, P. R. Sept. 13–1935 H. L. Dozier”, 2. [red] “ Gonatocerus antillensis Dozier Paratype ♀ Type No. U.S.N.M.”; 3 ♀ on individual slides labeled: 1. “ Gonatocerus ♀ antillensis Dozier Sweeping “cohitre” [“grass” on one of the labels], Commelina longicaulis , etc. in mts. at 650 ft. Las Vegas, P. R. Dec. 26–1935 H. L. Dozier”, 2. [red] “ Gonatocerus antillensis Dozier Paratype ♀ Type No. [“51679” on one of the labels] U.S.N.M.”.

Material examined. CUBA. CAMAGÜEY, Vertientes , 29.viii.1957, J. Acuña (rice survey) [2 ♀, USNM].

Redescription. FEMALE (holotype and paratypes). Body length 923–996 µm. Body ( Fig. 9 ) dark brown except base of gaster light brown; radicle light brown, remainder of scape and pedicel brown to dark brown; flagellum dark brown; legs brown to dark brown.

Antenna ( Fig. 8 ) with radicle about 3.3x as long as wide, rest of scape 2.9–3.1x as long as wide; pedicel longer than F1; F1 slightly wider than F2; F1–F4 and F6 subequal in length, each shorter than F5, F7, or F8 and without mps; F5 about as long as F7 or F8, usually with 1 mps (apparently with 2 mps on one antenna of one paratype); F7 and F8 each with 2 mps; clava with at least 7 mps, 3.4–3.7x as long as wide, longer than combined length of F6–F8.

Dorsellum and propodeum ( Fig. 10 ) typical for the subgenus. Forewing ( Fig. 11 ) 4.1–4.4x as long as wide; longest marginal seta a little less than 0.5x (0.44–0.47x) maximum wing width. Forewing disc slightly infumate, with an apical brown spot, bare behind submarginal vein, setose behind marginal and stigmal veins and elsewhere. Hind wing ( Fig. 11 ) about 27x as long as wide; disc slightly infumate, bare except for rows of setae along margins; longest marginal seta about 3.6x maximum wing width.

Metasoma. Ovipositor exserted beyond gastral apex by 0.14–0.17x own length; ovipositor length: mesotibia length ratio 1.8–1.9:1.

Measurements (µm) of the holotype. Body: total body length: 960; mesosoma 320; gaster 504; ovipositor 470. Antenna: radicle 61; rest of scape 103; pedicel 55; F1 36; F2 40; F3 41; F4 37; F5 44; F6 36; F7 46; F8 45; clava 161. Forewing 886:203; longest marginal seta 94. Hind wing 732:27; longest marginal seta 97.

MALE. Unknown.

Variation. In the two female specimens from Cuba, a mps on F5 is present apparently on just one antenna.

Diagnosis. Gonatocerus (Gonatocerus) antillensis is very similar to G. (Gonatocerus) rivalis Girault , from which it differs mainly by the forewing characters indicated in the key. However, the forewing length:width ratios occasionally may almost overlap in some specimens of these two species, although G. antillensis seems to have relatively longer marginal setae on the forewing and the apical brown spot is more confined and circular in shape ( Fig. 11 ). Also, the ovipositor seems to be a little shorter in G. antillensis (ovipositor 1.8–1.9x length of mesotibia, exserted beyond the gastral apex by 0.14–0.17x own length, Fig. 9 ) than in G. rivalis (ovipositor 1.9–2.1x length of mesotibia, exserted beyond the gastral apex by about 0.2x own length, Fig. 52 ). We are reluctant to synonymize the former under the latter until fresh specimens of G. antillensis are collected and intraspecific variation is assessed within both taxa. Distribution. NEOTROPICAL: Cuba, and Puerto Rico ( USA). Hosts. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 11. Gonatocerus (Gonatocerus) antillensis ♀ (holotype): 8, antenna; 9, body; 10, dorsellum and propodeum; 11, wings.

FIGURES 51 – 53. Gonatocerus (Gonatocerus) rivalis ♀ (Fortín de las Flores, Veracruz, Mexico): 51, antenna; 52, mesosoma and metasoma; 53, forewing.