Euplectrus markshawi Hansson

Hansson, Christer, Smith, M. Alex, Janzen, Daniel H. & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2015, Integrative taxonomy of New World Euplectrus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), with focus on 55 new species from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica, ZooKeys 485, pp. 1-236 : 63-64

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus markshawi Hansson sp. n. Figures 264-267, 271-273, 770

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, ACG, Sector Santa Rosa, Quebrada Costa Rica, 12.vi.2006, D. Rivera, ex Cargida pyrrha eating Colubrina elliptica , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028896, 06-SRNP-16286" (BMNH). PARATYPES: 2♀ with same label data as holotype (BMNH, INBio).

Diagnosis.

Lower face with median part yellowish-brown, slightly darker medially, pale area reaching outside of outer lateral margins of toruli, with a black area the width of width of scape between pale area and eye margin (Fig. 265); scutellum with a small hump posteromedially and reticulate with elongate meshes, scutellum hence appearing striate (Fig. 273); dorsellum anteriorly with a wide groove, 0.5 × as long as length of dorsellum (Fig. 770); legs yellowish-brown with hind coxa pale brown (Fig. 257); petiole 0.6 × as long as wide; gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-brown with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ difficult to see on specimens because apical segments are retracted (Fig. 266). Very similar to Euplectrus ivonae , differs in having first tarsomere longer (LT/LT1 = 2.5; = 3.0 in Euplectrus ivonae ), petiole shorter (LP/WP = 0.6; = 0.8 in Euplectrus ivonae ), and with hind coxae darker.

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.1 mm. Antenna with scape yellowish-white in basal ½, yellowish-brown in apical ½, pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellomeres 1-3 dark brown dorsally and yellowish-brown ventrally, 4-6 dark brown (Fig. 267). Mandibles and palpi yellowish-white. Head black and shiny, lower face with median part yellowish-brown, slightly darker medially, pale area reaching outside of outer lateral margins of toruli, with a black area the width of width of scape between pale area and eye margin (Fig. 265). Frons close to eyes with two rows of setae (Fig. 271). Vertex with very weak reticulation inside ocellar triangle, outside triangle smooth (Fig. 272). Occipital margin with a weak carina behind ocellar triangle (Fig. 272).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 264). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with 14 setae. Scutellum 1.0 × as long as wide; with rather strong engraved reticulation, meshes elongate and scutellum appearing striate, in posteromedian ½ with a small hump (Fig. 273). Dorsellum anteriorly with a wide groove that is divided by longitudinal carinae (Fig. 770), groove medially 0.5 × as long as length of dorsellum. Propodeum smooth (Fig. 770); anteromedially with a transverse semicircular cup; propodeal callus with seven setae. Legs yellowish-brown with hind coxa pale brown (Fig. 264). Fore wing: costal cell with one row of setae on ventral surface, and margin with two setae close to marginal vein; with 16 admarginal setae, in one row.

Gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-brown with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ difficult to see on specimens (Fig. 266).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 1.8/1.0/1.1; POL/OOL/POO = 4.8/2.8/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.7; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.5/4.3/3.5; WH/WT = 1.1; PM/ST = 1.4; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 4.6/2.6/7.4/3.0/1.5/1.0/1.6; LP/WP = 0.6; MM/LG = not measurable, gaster with retracted apical segments.

Male. Unknown.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on last instar larva of Cargida pyrrha ( Notodontidae ) feeding on Colubrina elliptica ( Rhamnaceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after Mark R. Shaw, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.