Gonatocerus sp. 3

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., Logarzo, Guillermo A., De León, Jesse H. & Virla, Eduardo G., 2008, A new Gonatocerus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from Argentina, with taxonomic notes and molecular data on the G. tuberculifemur species complex, Zootaxa 1949 (1), pp. 1-29 : 15-18

Gonatocerus sp. 3 [= Gonatocerus sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade Z”]

( Figs 18–25 )

Gonatocerus sp. 3 : de León, Logarzo et al. 2006c: 48–50; de León et al. 2007: 73–75 (as “Clade Z”).

Material examined. ARGENTINA. Buenos Aires: Castelar, INTA, 34°36’20’’S 58°40’33’’W, 5.i–6.ii.2007, G. Logarzo [1 female, UCRC]. Hurlingham, USDA, ARS SABCL: 7-8.xii.1999, L. Williams, III (near water hyacinth) [5 females, CNCI]; 23.i.2003, C. Hernández, S. Triapitsyn [1 female, UCRC]. José C. Paz, 3.xii.1967, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]. Luján, Universidad Nacional de Luján, 34°35'07"S 59°04'45"W, 32 m, 17.iii.2005, C. Coviella [2 females, UCRC]. Moreno, 34°08’57’’S 58°46’57’’W: 21.i.2005, C. Coviella [1 female, UCRC]; 31.i.2005, C. Coviella [1 female, UCRC]; 9.iii.2005, C. Coviella [1 female, UCRC]; 30.v.2005, C. Coviella [2 females, UCRC]; 22.vii.2005, C. Coviella [1 female, UCRC]; 6.viii.2005, C. Coviella [1 male, UCRC]; 16.x.2005, C. Coviella [1 female, UCRC]. Otamendi, 34°13’17.7’’S 58°53’46.2’’W, 9 m, 23.i.2003, S. Triapitsyn, C. Hernández [1 female, UCRC]. Tigre, 34°23’50’’S 58°34’32’’W, 5 m: 9–16.xi.2005, G. Logarzo [5 females, UCRC]; 23–28.xi.2005, G. Logarzo [3 females, UCRC]; 27.xii.2005 – 3.i.2006, G. Logarzo [1 female, UCRC]; 3–10.i.2006, G. Logarzo [4 females, UCRC]; 10–17.i.2006, G. Logarzo [1 male, UCRC]; 2–11.ii.2006, G. Logarzo [3 females, UCRC]; 1–14.iv.2006, G. Logarzo [3 females, UCRC]. Chaco: Parque Nacional Chaco, 100 km NW of Resistencia, 12-17.xii.1990, S. & J. Peck [1 female, CNCI]. Puerto Tirol, xii.2003, G. Logarzo, L. Varone (ex. eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus) [1 female, UCRC]. Córdoba: Las Tapias, 31°57’46’’S 65°05’25’’W, 643 m, 16.i.2003, W. Jones, S. Triapitsyn [1 female, UCRC]. Villa de Soto, 30°50’53’’S 65°10’18’’W, 540 m, 17.i.2003, S. Triapitsyn [1 female, UCRC]. Corrientes: Santo Tomé, 23-25.x.2006, G. Logarzo, V. Varni (ex. sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus) [3 females, 1 male, UCRC]. Yapeyú, x.2006, G. Logarzo, V. Varni (ex. sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus) [2 females, 1 male, UCRC]. Formosa: S of Formosa, 26.27°S 58.27°W, 60 m, 26.iii.2003, J. Munro [1 male, UCRC]. Herradura, 16.x.2003, G. Logarzo, L. Varone, ex. sentinel eggs of Scoposcartula limitata (Signoret) [1 male, UCRC]. Jujuy, Caimancito, 23.67°S 64.57°W, 423 m, 22.iii.2003, J. Munro [1 male, UCRC]. La Rioja, Anillaco, 1–31.iii.2001, P. Fidalgo, J. Torréns, G. Fidalgo [1 female, UCRC]. Misiones: Loreto: 10.ii.1932, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 20.iv.1932, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 27.v.1932, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 2.vi.1932, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 5.vi.1932, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 21.vi.1932, A.A. Ogloblin [1 male, MLPA]; 2.vii.1932, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 27.vii.1932, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 2.viii.1932, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 15.iii.1933, A.A. Ogloblin [1 male, MLPA]; 19.iv.1933, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 1.vi.1933, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 15.x.1933, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 18.x.1933, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, 1 male, MLPA]; 5.i.1934, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 23.i.1934, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 27.i.1934, A.A. Ogloblin [1 male, MLPA]; 8.ii.1934, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 24.ii.1934, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 10.iii.1934, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 28.v.1934, A.A. Ogloblin [1 male, MLPA]; 7.vi.1934, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 10.vi.1934, A.A. Ogloblin [1 male, MLPA]; 27.vi.1934, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 1937, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 20.ii.1949, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 16.xi.1949, A.A. Ogloblin [1 male, MLPA]; Jesuit ruins, 21–26.viii.2000, P. Fidalgo [4 females, 2 males, UCRC]; 15.ii.2001, P. Fidalgo [1 female, UCRC]; 9.ix–5.x.2001, S.O. Martínez, P. Fidalgo [1 female, UCRC]; 15.x.2006, G. Logarzo (ex. sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus) [1 female, UCRC]. 15 km SE of Puerto Iguazú, 27.xii.1990 - 6.i.1991, S. & J. Peck [1 female, CNCI]. Reserva de Vida Silvestre Urugua-í, 25°58.471’S 54°06.986’W, 400 m, 10–12.xii.2003, B. Brown, G. Kung [2 females, UCRC]. Santa Ana, 27.34°S 55.53°W, 77 m, 27.iii.2003, J. Munro [3 females, 1 male, UCRC]. S of Santa Ana, near Loreto, 27.42°S 55.53°W, 175 m, 28.iii.2003, J. Munro [3 females, UCRC]. Salta: Aguas Blancas, 22.72°S 64.40°W, 447 m, 23.iii.2003, J. Munro [2 females, UCRC]. Ampascachi, 25°20’S 65°32’W, 11- 12.xii.2001, G. Logarzo (ex. T. rubromarginata eggs) [3 females, 2 males, UCRC]. La Cadera, 1500 m, 27.ii.1992, S.A. Marshall [1 male, CNCI]. Metán, 20.xi.1952, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]. San Ramón de la Nueva Orán: 21.x.1935, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 17.v.1955, A.A. Ogloblin [4 females, MLPA]; 23.11°S 64.52°W, 535 m, 23.iii.2003, J. Munro [1 female, UCRC]. Río Piedras, 22.vi.1940, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]. Rosario de la Frontera, 25.83°S 64.88°W, 745 m, 20.iii.2003, J. Munro [1 female, UCRC]. Tucumán: El Cadillal, 27.i.1993, E. Virla (ex. eggs of Plesiommata mollicella (Fowler) on maize) [1 female, CNCI]. Las Mesadas, 27°05’33.1’’S 65°37’43.3’’W, 600 m, 19.i.2003, S. Triapitsyn, G. Logarzo [15 females, 2 males, UCRC]. San Miguel de Tucumán: 15.i.1996, M.J. Sharkey [1 female, CNCI]; xii.2002, laboratory reared (F6–F7) on eggs of T. rubromarginata by E. Virla at PROIMI (originally from: soccer field near CIRPON and PROIMI, 26°48’35.6’’S 65°14’24.6’’W, 500 m, viii.2002, E. Virla, ex. T. rubromarginata eggs on Johnson grass) [44 females, 30 males, UCRC]; exposed 9–12.i.2003 by E. Virla, G. Logarzo, L. Varone, laboratory reared on eggs of T. rubromarginata by E. Virla at PROIMI (originally from: soccer field near CIRPON and PROIMI, 26°48’35.6’’S 65°14’24.6’’W, 500 m, viii.2002, E. Virla, ex. T. rubromarginata eggs on Johnson grass), emerged in UCR quaratine (Riverside, California, USA) 3.ii.2003, coll. V. Berezovskiy (UCR quarantine S& R # 03–02–04) [1 male, UCRC]. Tafí Viejo: 21.xi.2000, E. Virla [1 female, UCRC]; 18–21.xii.2000, E. Virla [6 females, UCRC]; 11.i.2001, E. Virla (ex. sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata ) [1 male, UCRC]; i.2001, E. Virla (ex. eggs of T. rubromarginata in citrus orchard) [1 female, UCRC]. BOLIVIA. La Paz, Chulumani, Apa Apa Reserve, 16°37’S 67°51’W, 2000 m, 1–3.iv.2001, B. Brown [1 female, UCRC]. BRAZIL. Goiás: Campinaçu, 13°52.0’S 48°23.3’W, 21–22.ii.1996, Serra da Mesa Survey [1 female, UCRC]. Uruaçu, 14°17’S 48°55’W, 26.v.1996, Serra da Mesa Survey [1 female, UCRC]. Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais campus, 19°52’S 43°58’W, 800 m, xi.1996, D. Yanega [1 female, UCRC]. Rio de Janeiro, near Desengano State Park, 21.87°S 41.80°W, 200 m, 9.v.1999, B. Brown [1 female, UCRC]. Santa Catarina, Nova Teutonia, 27°11’S 52°23’W, 14.x.1944, F. Plaumann [1 female, BMNH].

Descriptive notes. FEMALE. Similar to female of G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1”, particularly the antenna ( Fig. 18 ), propodeum ( Fig. 19 ), and mesosoma and metasoma ( Fig. 20 ). Forewing ( Figs 21 , 25 ) with a more ( Fig. 25 ) or less ( Fig. 21 ) distinct brown, round spot in the middle of the disc.

MALE. Similar to male of G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1”, particularly the antenna ( Fig. 22 ). Forewing ( Fig. 23 ) occasionally more or less uniformly infumate, without a distinct brown, round spot in the middle of the disc. Apex of apodeme of genital sternite more or less blunt ( Fig. 24 ).

Diagnosis. Virtually identical to G. tuberculifemur from Pucará (“Clade X”) and G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1” except for the usually distinct brown, round spot in the middle of the forewing disc ( Figs 21 , 25 ), although such a spot is occasionally indistinct in some males. The intensity of this brown spot on the forewing disc varies, and that puts the taxonomic value of this character in some doubt. In Mymaridae , maculations of the forewing disc mostly occur in the species from the generally warmer (usually subtropical and tropical) areas whereas the species from the generally colder (usually higher latitude or higher altitude areas with a temperate climate) tend to have the forewing disc hyaline or only slightly pigmented. That potentially may be true also for the individuals of the same species occurring in the different climatic zones. Therefore it is quite possible that at least some individuals identified as Gonatocerus sp. 3 (which occurs in the warmer parts of Argentina) based on the presence of a more or less distinct brown spot on the forewing disc, could rather belong to G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1”. Thus, Gonatocerus sp. 3 itself may be a complex of several cryptic species or otherwise perhaps of different populations of the same species that can be recognized only using sensitive molecular methods such as ISSR-PCR fingerprinting ( de León, Logarzo et al. 2006c).

Distribution. Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil.

Natural hosts. Tapajosa rubromarginata (Signoret) (Proconiini) as well as Plesiommata mollicella (Fowler) and Scoposcartula limitata (Signoret) (Cicadellini) .

Biology. Apparently similar to that of G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1”; the biology of the latter was reported by Virla et al. (2005).

Figures

FIGURES 18–21. Gonatocerus sp. 3 [= Gonatocerus sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade Z”] (females from Argentina: Figs 18–20 from Tafí Viejo, Tucumán; Fig. 21 from Loreto, Misiones). 18. Antenna. 19. Propodeum. 20. Mesosoma and metasoma. 21. Forewing.

FIGURES 22–24. Gonatocerus sp. 3 [= Gonatocerus sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade Z”] (male from San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina). 22. Antenna. 23. Forewing. 24. Genitalia.

FIGURES 25, 26. Gonatocerus spp. 25. G.sp. 3 [= Gonatocerus sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade Z”] (Loreto, Misiones,