Glyptapanteles marjorietownesae Arias-Penna, sp. nov.

Arias-Penna, Diana Carolina, Whitfield, James B., Janzen, Daniel H., Winifred Hallwachs,, Dyer, Lee A., Smith, M. Alex, Hebert, Paul D. N. & Fernandez-Triana, Jose L., 2019, A species-level taxonomic review and host associations of Glyptapanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) with an emphasis on 136 new reared species from Costa Rica and Ecuador, ZooKeys 890, pp. 1-685 : 1

Glyptapanteles marjorietownesae Arias-Penna, sp. nov. Figs 152 , 153

Female.

Body length 2.02 mm, antenna length 2.22 mm, fore wing length 2.17 mm.

Type material.

Holotype: COSTA RICA • 1♀; 05-SRNP-59772, DHJPAR0004223; Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Guanacaste, Sector Mundo Nuevo, Sendero Mora ; dry-rain intergrade forest; 480 m; 10.76828, -85.42567; 04.ix.2005; José Alberto Sánchez leg.; caterpillar collected in fifth instar; cordwood cocoons on each side of larval cadaver and adhered to the leaf substrate, cocoons formed on 05.ix.2005; adult parasitoid emerged on 12.ix.2005; ( CNC) . Paratypes. • 60 (4♀, 4♂) (46♀, 6♂); 05-SRNP-59772, DHJPAR0004223; same data as for holotype; ( CNC) .

Other material.

Reared material. COSTA RICA: Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Guanacaste, Sector Mundo Nuevo; Sendero Mora : • 65 (0 ♀, 3♂) (0 ♀, 62♂); 05-SRNP-65601, DHJPAR0004780; dry-rain intergrade forest; 480 m; 10.76828, -85.42567; 11.xi.2005; Mariano Pereira leg. ; caterpillar collected in fifth instar and already with cocoons; two rows of cordwood cocoons stacked on each side of the cadaver, cocoons adhered to the leaf substrate; adult parasitoid emerged on 18.xi.2005.

Diagnosis.

Vertex in lateral view pointed or nearly so ( Fig. 153A ), anterior furrow of metanotum with a small lobe, without setae, and not as well delineated as posterior furrow of metanotum ( Figs 152C , 153C ), mesoscutum proximally distinctly punctate, distally with a polished area ( Figs 152B , 153B ), fore wing with vein 2-1A absent, outer side of junction of r and 2RS veins not forming a stub ( Figs 152I , 153I ), median area between lateral ocelli without depression ( Fig. 152E ), distal antennal flagellomere longer than penultimate, petiole on T1 parallel-sided in proximal half, then narrowing, completely smooth and polished, with faint, satin-like sheen ( Figs 152D, G , 153D, G ), inner margin of eyes diverging slightly at antennal sockets, propodeum without median longitudinal carina ( Figs 152C , 153C ), and lateral grooves delimiting the median area on T2 clearly defined and reaching the distal edge of T2 ( Figs 152D, G , 153D, G ).

Coloration

( Fig. 152A ). General body coloration brown-black except scape, pedicel, labrum, mandibles, glossa, and tegulae dark yellow; first three-four proximal antennal flagellomeres dorsally lighter (yellow-brown) than ventrally (brown), remaining flagellomeres brown on both sides; maxillary and labial palps light yellow. Eyes and ocelli silver. Fore and middle legs yellow except light brown coxae and brown claws; hind legs yellow except coxae completely light brown, distal 3/4 of femora from yellow-brown to brown (intensity of coloration increasing from proximal to distal), distal 1/3 of tibia brown, and tarsomeres brown although proximal half of three most proximal tarsomeres yellow. Petiole on T1 with coloration intensifying from proximal to distal, thus, proximal 1/3 yellow, middle third reddish/yellow-brown and distal 1/3 brown, contours darkened, and sublateral areas yellow-brown; T2 with median area brown and lateral ends yellow-brown/light brown; T3 mostly dark brown and lateral ends yellow-brown; T4 and beyond completely brown; distally each tergum with a narrow yellowish transparent band. In lateral view, T1-3 completely yellow; T4 yellow, but dorsally brown; T5 and beyond brown. S1-3 yellow; S4 proximal half yellow, distal half brown; penultimate sternum and hypopygium brown.

Description.

Head ( Fig. 152A, B, E ). Head rounded with pubescence long and dense. Proximal three antennal flagellomeres longer than wide (0.18:0.05, 0.17:0.05, 0.17:0.05), distal antennal flagellomere longer than penultimate (0.11:0.05, 0.08:0.05), antenna longer than body (2.22, 2.02); antennal scrobes-frons shallow. Face with depression only laterally with dense fine punctations, interspaces with microsculpture and longitudinal median carina present. Frons smooth. Temple wide, punctate and interspaces wavy. Inner margin of eyes diverging slightly at antennal sockets; in lateral view, eye anteriorly convex and posteriorly straight. POL shorter than OOL (0.06, 0.11). Malar suture absent or difficult to see. Median area between lateral ocelli without depression. Vertex laterally pointed or nearly so and dorsally wide.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 152A, C–E ). Mesosoma dorsoventrally convex. Mesoscutum proximally convex and distally flat, punctation distinct proximally with polished area distally, interspaces with microsculpture. Scutellum triangular, apex sloped and fused with BS, scutellar punctation distinct peripherally, but absent centrally, in profile scutellum flat and on same plane as mesoscutum, phragma of the scutellum partially exposed; BS only very partially overlapping the MPM; ATS demilune with short stubs delineating the area; dorsal ATS groove with semicircular/parallel carinae. Transscutal articulation with small and heterogeneous foveae, area just behind transscutal articulation smooth, shiny and nearly at the same level as mesoscutum (flat). Metanotum with BM wider than PFM (clearly differentiated); MPM semicircular without median longitudinal carina; AFM with a small lobe and not as well delineated as PFM; PFM thick, smooth and with a distal flat flange; ATM proximally with a well-defined row of foveae and distally smooth. Propodeum relatively polished without median longitudinal carina, proximal half curved; distal edge of propodeum with a flange at each side and without stubs; propodeal spiracle without distal carina; nucha surrounded by very short radiating carinae. Pronotum with a distinct dorsal furrow, dorsally with a well-defined smooth band; central area of pronotum smooth, but both dorsal and ventral furrows with short parallel carinae. Propleuron with a mix of rugae and fine punctation, dorsally with a carina. Metasternum flat or nearly so. Contour of mesopleuron straight/angulate or nearly so; precoxal groove deep with faintly transverse lineate sculpture; epicnemial ridge convex, teardrop-shaped.

Legs. Ventral margin of fore telotarsus slightly excavated and with a tiny curved seta, fore telotarsus almost same width throughout and longer than fourth tarsomere (0.11, 0.06). Hind coxa with punctation only on ventral surface and dorsal outer depression present. Inner spur of hind tibia longer than outer spur (0.17, 0.15), entire surface of hind tibia with dense strong spines clearly differentiated by color and length. Hind telotarsus as equal in length as fourth tarsomere (0.10, 0.10).

Wings ( Fig. 152I, J ). Fore wing with r vein slightly curved; 2RS vein straight; r and 2RS veins forming a weak, even curve at their junction and outer side of junction not forming a stub; 2M vein slightly curved/swollen; distally fore wing [where spectral veins are] with microtrichiae more densely concentrated than the rest of the wing; anal cell 1/3 proximally lacking microtrichiae; subbasal cell with a small smooth area; vein 2CUa absent and vein 2CUb spectral; vein 2 cu-a absent; vein 2-1A absent; tubular vein 1 cu-a straight, incomplete/broken and not reaching the edge of 1-1A vein. Hind wing with vannal lobe narrow, subdistally and subproximally straightened, and setae present proximally, but absent distally.

Metasoma ( Fig. 152A, D, F–H ). Metasoma laterally compressed. Petiole on T1 completely smooth and polished, with faint, satin-like sheen, parallel-sided in proximal half and then narrowing (length 0.26, maximum width 0.14, minimum width 0.07), and with scattered pubescence concentrated in the first distal third. Lateral grooves delimiting the median area on T2 clearly defined and reaching the distal edge of T2 (length median area 0.14, length T2 0.14), edges of median area polished and lateral grooves deep, median area broader than long (length 0.14, maximum width 0.18, minimum width 0.05); T2 with scattered pubescence only distally. T3 longer than T2 (0.19, 0.14) and with scattered pubescence throughout. Pubescence on hypopygium dense.

Cocoons. Brown oval cocoons with evenly smooth silk fibers. Cocoons forming two rows of cordwood stacked on each side of the cadaver caterpillar and adhered to the leaf substrate.

Comments.

Both sexes with slim body.

Male

( Fig. 153 A–J ). In some specimens S1-4 yellow, but medial with brown tint. In some specimens, the body coloration (e.g., 05-SRNP-65601) is darker than females.

Etymology.

Marjorie Chapman Townes (228 March 1909 - 8 October 2006) together with her husband, Henry Townes, established the American Entomological Institute ( AEI), Gainsville, FL, USA, as a not-for-profit organization to manage the huge, world-class Hymenoptera collection and library. The Townes were appreciated internationally as a team who contributed significantly to our understanding of the taxonomy of Hymenoptera , especially of the family Ichneumonidae .

Distribution.

The parasitized caterpillars were collected in Costa Rica, ACG, Sector Mundo Nuevo (Sendero Mora), during September and November 2005 at 480 m in dry-rain intergrade forest.

Biology.

The lifestyle of this parasitoid species is gregarious.

Host.

Azeta ceramina Hübner ( Noctuidae : Catocalinae) feeding on Acosmium panamense ( Fabaceae ) and undetermined species of plant. Caterpillars were collected in fifth instar.

Figures

Figure 152. Glyptapanteles marjorietownesae sp. nov. female 05 - SRNP- 59772 DHJPAR 0004223 A Habitus B, E Head, mesosoma B Dorsal view E Lateral view C Scutellum, metanotum, propodeum, dorsal view D T 1 - 2, dorsal view F, G Metasoma F Lateral view G Dorsal view H Genitalia: hypopygium, ovipositor, ovipositor sheaths, lateral view I, J Wings I Fore J Hind.

Figure 153. Glyptapanteles marjorietownesae sp. nov. male 05 - SRNP- 59772 DHJPAR 0004223 A Habitus B, E Mesosoma B Dorsal view E Lateral view C Scutellum, metanotum, propodeum, dorsal view D T 1 - 2, dorsolateral view F, G Metasoma F Lateral view G Dorsolateral view H Genitalia: parameres, lateral view I, J Wings I Fore J Hind.