Gonatocerus sp.

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 : 10-14

Gonatocerus sp. near tuberculifemur (Ogloblin) (“Clade 1”)

( Figs 10–17 )

Gonatocerus tuberculifemur (Ogloblin) : Virla et al. 2005: 68–71 (biology); Logarzo et al. 2006: 880–882 (distribution and host records); Hoddle & Irvin 2007: 89–92 (comparison with Gonatocerus ashmeadi Girault under quarantine laboratory conditions in California).

Gonatocerus tuberculifemur (Ogloblin) “Clade 1”: de León, Logarzo et al. 2006a: 40–42; de León, Logarzo et al. 2006b: 44–46; de León et al. 2007: 73–75; de León, Logarzo et al. 2008: 97-106.

Material examined. ARGENTINA. Buenos Aires: Hurlingham : progeny reared on eggs of T. rubromargin-

ata at USDA, ARS SABCL, emerged 24–25.iv.2006 [3 females, UCRC]; originally from: Mendoza, Tunuyán, xi.2005, G. Logarzo, E. Virla, F. Palottini (ex. sentinel eggs of Hortensia similis (Walker) on corn). F1 progeny reared on eggs of T. rubromarginata at USDA, ARS SABCL, emerged 17.iv.2006 [3 males, UCRC]; originally from: Mendoza, Tunuyán, 7.xi.2005, G. Logarzo, E. Virla, E. Frias (ex. field-collected eggs of T. rubromarginata on Johnson grass, Sorghum halepense ). Contaminant of the laboratory colony at USDA, ARS SABCL, xi.2006, G. Logarzo (ex. eggs of T. rubromarginata ) [4 females, 1 male, UCRC]. José C. Paz: 15.x.1938, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 2.x.1942, A.A. Ogloblin [5 males, MLPA, misidentified by A.A. Ogloblin as G. brachyurus (Ogloblin) ]. Luján, Universidad Nacional de Luján, 34°35'07"S 59°04'45"W, 32 m, 31.iii.2006, 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 male, UCRC]. Tigre, 5.xi.1938, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]. Córdoba: Las Tapias, 31°57’45.6’’S 65°05’25.9’’W, 650 m, 16.i.2003, M. Virla (ex. eggs of T. rubromarginata on grape leaf) [1 female, UCRC]. Los Túneles, 18.xi.2000, C. Porter, P. Fidalgo [17 females, 4 males, IMLA]. San Esteban, 17.xi.2000, C. Porter, P. Fidalgo [12 females, 2 males, IMLA]. Near Tanti, 31°20’47.1’’S 64°32’03.4’’W, 727 m, 17xii.2007- 10.i.2008, G.A. Logarzo [11 females, UCRC]. Villa de Soto, 30°50’53’’S 65°00’18’’W, 540 m, 24.i.2003 (ex. sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus left 17.i.2003 by G. Logarzo, L. Varone, E. & M. Virla, W. Jones, and S. Triapitsyn, emerged 7.ii. 2003 in UCR quarantine, Riverside, California, USA) [1 female, 1 male, UCRC]. Formosa, S of Formosa, 26.27°S 58.27°W, 60 m, 26.iii.2003, J. Munro [1 female, UCRC]. Jujuy, Puente Río Yala (near Yala), 30.xi.1999, L. Williams, III, G.A. Logarzo [1 female, CNCI]. La Rioja: Alpasinche, 12.ii.2002, P. Fidalgo, C. Porter [3 males, IMLA]. Anillaco: 1–28.ii.2001, P. Fidalgo, J. Torréns, G. Fidalgo [2 females, IMLA, UCRC]; 1–31.iii.2001, P. Fidalgo, J. Torréns, G. Fidalgo [1 female, UCRC]; 1–30.iv.2001, P. Fidalgo, G. Fidago [1 female, IMLA]. Castro Barros, La Calera: 8.i.2001, P. Fidalgo [20 females, IMLA]; 10.ii.2002, P. Fidalgo [1 female, IMLA]. Chañarmuyo, 17.ii.2002, P. Fidalgo, C. Porter [3 females, IMLA]. Chuquis, 19.xii.2001, P. Fidalgo [2 females, IMLA, UCRC]. El Duraznillo (near El Cantadero and La Rioja): 26.xi.2001, P. Fidalgo [1 female, IMLA]; 1–15.i.2003, P. Fidalgo [1 female, IMLA]. Santa Vera Cruz, 28°40’42.7’’S 66°57’50.4’’W, 1660 m, 31.xii.2002, P. Fidalgo [2 females, IMLA, UCRC]. Mendoza: La Consulta, 3344’S 69°07’W, INTA - Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta, 22-26.i.2007, S. Lanati [5 females, UCRC]. Tunuyán, 8-9.ii.2006, G. Logarzo, E. Virla (ex. eggs of H. similis on corn) [2 females, UCRC]. Salta: Aguas Blancas, 22.72°S 64.40°W, 447 m, 23.iii.2003, J. Munro [1 female, 1 male, UCRC]. Campo Quijano (30 km E of Salta), 18- 28.ii.1992, S.A. Marshall [1 female, CNCI]. Canyada La Gotera, 19.ii.1992, S.A. Marshall [1 female, CNCI]. San Ramón de la Nueva Orán: 21.x.1935, A.A. Ogloblin [1 female, MLPA]; 23.13°S 63.48°W, 633 m, 22.iii.2003, J. Munro [1 female, UCRC]. Tucumán: Cochuna, 11.xii.2002, P. Fidalgo [4 females, 1 male, IMLA]. El Cadillal, 23.i.1995, E. Virla (ex. eggs of T. rubromarginata on corn) [1 female, 3 males, CNCI]. Horco Molle (near San Miguel de Tucumán), 26°46’54.1’’S 65°19’42.1’’W, 750 m, 20.i.2003, S. Triapitsyn [1 male, UCRC]. La Ramadita, 27°05’31.5’’S 65°39’34.0’’W, 720 m, 19.i.2003, S. Triapitsyn, G. Logarzo [1 female, UCRC]. Las Mesadas, 27°05’33.1’’S 65°37’43.3’’W, 600 m, 19.i.2003, S. Triapitsyn, G. Logarzo [2 males, UCRC]. San Miguel de Tucumán: laboratory reared (F2) on eggs of T. rubromarginata by E.G. Virla at CIRPON [2 females, 3 males, CNCI] (originally from Tapia, i–ii.1995, E.G. Virla); 15.i.1996, M.J. Sharkey [4 females, CNCI]; 26°48’35.6’’S 65°14’24.6’’W, 500 m, xi.2002, E.G. Virla (laboratory culture at PROIMI on T. rubromarginata eggs on citrus) [6 females, UCRC]. Tafí del Valle, 19.i.1996, M.J. Sharkey [1 female, CNCI]. Tafí Viejo: 15.i.2001, E. Virla (ex. eggs of T. rubromarginata ) [1 female, 1 male, UCRC]; 19.i.2001, E. Virla (ex. eggs of T. rubromarginata ) [4 females, 1 male, UCRC]; 18–20.ix.2002, G. Logarzo (ex. eggs of T. rubromarginata on Johnson grass) [9 females, 4 males, UCRC]. Tapia, 14.i.1995, E. Virla [1 male, CNCI]. Yerba Buena, 10.x.1935, A.A. Ogloblin [1 male, MLPA]. CHILE. Región I (Tarapacá), Jalsuri (near Colchane), 19°13’58”S 68°43’34”W, ca. 4000 m, i.2005, G. Logarzo, V. Varni, ex. eggs of Anacuerna centrolinea (Melichar) on Vicia faba [3 females, 2 males, UCRC]. USA. California, Riverside Co., Riverside, laboratory colony at UCR quarantine: ca. F30, emerged v.2005 from eggs of H. vitripennis on Euonymus japonica leaves, coll. V. Berezovskiy [4 females, 2 males, UCRC]; originally from: Argentina, Tucumán, Tafí Viejo, 18–20.ix.2002, G. Logarzo, L. Varone (ex. eggs of T. rubromarginata on Johnson grass). Texas, Hidalgo Co., Edinburg, USDA, APHIS Mission quarantine: laboratory colony MO3001 [1 female, 1 male, UCRC]; originally from: Argentina, Catamarca, Chumbicha, 30.xi.2002, G. Logarzo, S. Degese (ex. eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 27–30.xi.2002). F1 progeny of the single female emerged 30.i.2003 [16 males, UCRC]; originally from: Argentina, Córdoba, Las Tapias, 31°57’45.6’’S 65°05’29.9’’W, 24.i.2003 (ex. sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus left 16.i.2003 by G. Logarzo, L. Varone, E. & M. Virla, W. Jones and S. Triapitsyn).

Additional material examined (all in alcohol, USDA, ARS SABCL). ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires, Junín, 34º36’52.2’’S 60º58’29.3’’W, 83 m, emerged 25–27.x.2004 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus [3 females, 4 males]. Catamarca: Chumbicha, 28°50’58.6’’S 66°13’42.4’’W, 429 m, emerged 14–26.xii.2001 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 30.xi–4.xii.2001, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [13 females, 1 male]. Colpes , 28°03’37.3’’S 66°12’10.1’’W, 889 m, emerged 11–13.xii.2002 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 26–30.xi.2002, G. Logarzo, S. Degese [6 females, 1 male]. San Isidro , 28°09’44.6’’S 65°29’16.3’’W, 525 m, emerged 12–17.xii.2001 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 29.xi–4.xii.2001, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [6 females, 2 males]. Córdoba: Laboulaye , 34°08’04.6’’S 63°23’06.6’’W, 176 m, emerged 15.xii.2003 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata exposed 26.xi–4.xii.2003, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [3 females, 1 male]. Santa Catalina , 33°12’04.3’’S 64°25’52.4’’W, 437 m, emerged 6–9.xii.2003 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata exposed 25.xi–1.xii.2003, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [10 females, 4 males]. Villa Maria , 32º25’53.9’’S 63º12’27’’W, 199 m, G. Logarzo, L. Varone (emerged 21-28.x.2004 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus) [2 females]. Jujuy, Purmamarca , 23°44’54.6’’S 65°29’44.1’’W, 2330 m, emerged 12.xii.2001 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 25–28.xi.2001, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [1 female, 2 males]. La Rioja: Anillaco , 28°48’40.5’’S 66°56’33.6’’W, 1400 m, emerged 12.xii.2002 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 27–30.xi.2002, G. Logarzo, S. Degese [7 females, 8 males]. Patquia , 30°02’40.3’’S 66°53’00.2’’W, 430 m, emerged 11–13.xii.2001 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 30.xi–3.xii.2001, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [4 females, 1 male]. Mendoza: La Consulta , INTA – Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta , 33º42’31.3’’S 69º04’22.4’’W, 940 m, G. Logarzo, E. Virla, V. Varni (from sentinel eggs of eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus) [1 male]. Luján de Cuyo , 33°02’01.3’’S 68°51’59.5’’W, 936 m, emerged 17–26.xii.2001 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 1–3.xii.2001, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [24 females, 5 males]. San Carlos, 33°37’31.6’’S 69°01’14.5’’W, 897 m, emerged 2.ii.2004 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 10–19.i.2004, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [1 female]. Tunuyán, 33°37’31.3’’S 69°01’14.9’’W, 885 m, emerged 10–11.xii.2001 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 1–3.xii.2001, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [2 females, 2 males]. Río Negro , Río Colorado : 38°59’47’’S 64°06’24’’W, 90 m, emerged 7–9.iii.2007 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 21.ii–2.iii.2007, G. Logarzo, E. Virla [4 females, 3 males]; 39°00’21.1’’S 64°05’54.7’’W, 66 m, emerged 23–25.xii.2004 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 6–15.xii.2004, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [14 females, 3 males]. San Juan: Caucete, 31°39’10.2’’S 68°17’19.1’’W, 581 m, 12.xii.2001, ex. sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 1–3.xii.2001, G. Logarzo [1 male]. Villa Media Agua, 31°57’47.6’’S 68°26’56.7’’W, 565 m, emerged 12–13.xii.2001 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata on citrus exposed 1–3.xii.2001, G. Logarzo [14 females, 3 male]. San Luis, Villa Mercedes, 33°08’04.6’’S 63°23’06.6’’W, 176 m, emerged 9–10.xii.2003 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata exposed 16.xi–2.xii.2003, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [8 females, 2 males]. Santiago del Estero: Añatuya, 28°27’21.2’’S 62°50’34.8’’W, 112 m, emerged 1–3.xii.2003 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata exposed 15–20.xi.2003, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [6 females, 2 males]. El Zanjón, 27°52’22.7’’S 64°14’31.1’’W, 181 m, emerged 14.x.2003 from sentinel eggs of T. rubromarginata exposed 1–8.x.2003, G. Logarzo, L. Varone [7 females, 5 males] .

Descriptive notes. FEMALE. Body length 0.8–1.6 mm. Head and mesosoma ( Fig. 13 ) dark brown, gaster brown to dark brown (basal terga a little lighter than apical ones); appendages light brown to brown.

Antenna ( Fig. 11 ) with radicle 2.0–2.5 x as long as wide, rest of scape 3.1–3.7 x as long as wide, with strong setae; pedicel longer than F1; all funicular segments longer than wide and densely setose (setae short); F2 longer than F1 and shorter than F3, F4 and F5 subequal in length, F6 as long as F7 and each a little shorter than F5; F8 shorter than F7; F1 and F2 without longitudinal sensilla, longitudinal sensilla on F3 (1), F4 (usually 2, sometimes 1), F5 (2), F6 (2), F7 (2), and F8 (2); clava with 8 longitudinal sensilla, 3.1–3.8 x as long as wide, its ventral surface covered with numerous minute, short setae and placoid sensilla, its dorsal surface densely covered with longer setae.

Pronotum divided medially, each lobe with 2 strong dorsal and 2 weak lateral setae. Mesoscutum much wider than long, shorter than scutellum; midlobe of mesoscutum with a pair of strong setae. Dorsellum of metanotum with posterior margin broadly rounded or widely angulate medially. Propodeum ( Fig. 12 ) with lateral carinae and slightly curved submedian carinae (not meeting near anterior and meeting at posterior margins of propodeum, almost extending to its anterior margin); the propodeum smooth between submedian carinae but elsewhere with a faint cellulate sculpture ( Fig. 10 ). Protibia without conical sensilla.

Forewing ( Fig. 14 ) 3.1–3.7 x as long as wide; marginal setae short, the longest marginal seta about 1/5 greatest wing width. Forewing disc usually slightly infuscate throughout, with a distinct darker spot behind stigmal vein, bare behind submarginal and marginal veins except for a few setae at apex of marginal vein, remainder of the disc densely setose. Submarginal vein with 1 macrochaeta and 2 smaller setae, marginal vein with 4 or 5 setae between proximal and distal macrochaetae. Hind wing 17–20 x as long as wide, the disc slightly infumate and mostly bare except for the usual two complete rows of setae along margins and several scattered setae at apex and behind apex of venation.

Gaster almost as long as mesosoma. Petiole about 1.5 x as wide as long, subtrapezoidal. Ovipositor 3/4–4/ 5 length of gaster, not at all or barely exserted beyond its apex. Ovipositor length: mesotibia length ratio 0.9–1.0. Outer plates of ovipositor each with 1 distal seta.

MALE. Body length 0.8–1.5 mm. Similar to female in coloration. Antenna ( Fig. 15 ) with scape and radicle fused, scape (excluding radicle) about 3.3 x as long as wide; pedicel very small, all flagellomeres much longer than wide and with numerous longitudinal sensilla. Propodeum ( Fig. 10 ) with submedian carinae extending almost to its anterior margin. Forewing ( Fig. 17 ) 3.3–3.6 x as long as wide. Apex of apodeme of genital sternite blunt ( Fig. 16 ).

Diagnosis. Member of the ater species group, where it clusters with the morrilli subgroup species based on both COI and ITS2 sequence data ( de León, Logarzo et al. 2006d, 2008; de León et al. 2007). Morphologically, that placement is less evident (and rather falls in the ater subgroup) unless sculpture on the propodeum is observed under a scanning electron microscope ( Fig. 10 ) or a compound light microscope ( Fig. 12 ); in the latter case a good quality microscopic slide of a well-cleared, dorsoventrally mounted specimen is needed. Gonatocerus sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1” is most similar to G. tuberculifemur (“Clade X”) from Pucará, from which it practically cannot be distinguished morphologically. It is also almost indistinguishable from G. deleoni sp. n., as discussed above in its diagnosis, and also from G. sp. 3 from Argentina (also a primary egg parasitoid of T. rubromarginata ). Gonatocerus sp. 3 has a more or less distinct brown, round spot in the widest part of the forewing disc (the widest part of the forewing disc is usually uniformly infumate in G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1”, G. tuberculifemur (“Clade X”), and G. deleoni sp. n., or sometimes almost hyaline in G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1”).

Distribution. Argentina and Chile (Tarapacá). The following specimens may also belong to this form: PERU. Cuzco (Cusco), Picol, 13°29’S, 71°52, 3700 m: 6.vii.2003, W. Vargas [1 female, UCDC]; 27.xii.2004, W. Vargas [1 female, UCDC]. URUGUAY. Cerro Largo, 30 km SW of Melo, 32°32’S 54°14’W, 180 m, 9- 25.xii.2002, S. & J. Peck [1 female, CNCI]. Rocha, Parque Nacional Lacustre, Reserva Laguna Rocha, 34°40’S 54°17’W, 3 m, 6-23.xii.2002, S. & J. Peck [2 females, CNCI].

Natural hosts. Proconiini : Anacuerna centrolinea (Melichar) ( Logarzo et al. 2006) , Oncometopia tucumana Schröder ( Virla et al. 2008) , and Tapajosa rubromarginata (Signoret) .

Factitious hosts. Proconiini : Homalodisca liturata Ball , H. vitripennis (Germar) , and Oncometopia sp. ( Jones, Logarzo, Triapitsyn et al. 2005; Jones, Logarzo, Virla et al. 2005), as well as Dechacona missionum (Berg) , Molomea consolida Schröder , Pseudometopia amblardii (Signoret) , Tapajosa similis (Melichar) , and Tretogonia notatifrons Melichar ( Logarzo et al. 2008) . Some of the specimens in the colonies reared for many generations (more than 30) on H. vitripennis eggs in the quarantine facilities in California and Texas have fused or missing funicular (in females, particularly F4–F7) and flagellar (in males, particularly F3–F7) segments.

Biology. Biological traits of G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1” were reported by Virla et al. (2003), Jones, Logarzo, Triapitsyn et al. (2005), and Virla et al. (2005) (as G. tuberculifemur ). In particular, no-choice laboratory host specificity tests in Argentina and United States confirmed exclusiveness of proconiine sharpshooters as hosts for G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1” ( Jones, Logarzo, Triapitsyn et al. 2005; Jones, Logarzo, Virla et al. 2005; Logarzo et al. 2008), whereas field host range studies in Mendoza and Tucumán Provinces of Argentina revealed just strong preference of the members of Proconiini as its hosts ( Logarzo et al. 2008). There, a few G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1”–like parasitoids were reared from sentinel eggs of the leafhoppers Ciminius platensis (Berg) , Hortensia similis (Walker) , Plesiommata mollicella (Fowler) , Scopogonalia subolivacea (Stål) , and Syncharina punctatissima (Signoret) (Cicadellini) . However, we are not 100% sure about the correctness of their identifications as G. sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1” as they may belong to another (cryptic) species ( de León, Logarzo et al. 2008; Logarzo et al. 2008) or perhaps even might be specimens of G. sp. 3 that lack a round brown spot in the middle of the forewing disc. The specimens reared from eggs of H. similis in Tucumán Province were indeed found to belong to a separate molecular clade “Y”, based on both COI and ITS2 sequence analyses ( de León et al. 2007).

Figures

FIGURES 9, 10. Gonatocerus spp. (male propodeum, scanning electron micrographs). 9. Gonatocerus deleoni. 10. Gonatocerus sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1”.

FIGURES 11–14. Gonatocerus sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1” (female from culture at USDA, ARS SABCL, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, originally from Tunuyán, Mendoza, Argentina). 11. Antenna. 12. Propodeum. 13. Mesosoma and metasoma. 14. Forewing.

FIGURES 15–17. Gonatocerus sp. near tuberculifemur “Clade 1” (male from culture at USDA, ARS SABCL, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, originally from Tunuyán, Mendoza, Argentina). 15. Antenna. 16. Genitalia. 17. Forewing.