Euplectrus chrisgrinteri 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 : 34-35

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus chrisgrinteri Hansson sp. n. Figures 94-97, 101-103, 746

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, ACG, Sector Santa Rosa, 7.v.1995, gusaneros, ex Eulepidotis caeruleilinea eating Hymenaea courbaril , no barcode, 95-SRNP-3415" (BMNH).

Diagnosis.

Lower face medially yellowish-white with median ⅓ pale yellowish-brown, pale area reaching outside level of outer lateral margin of toruli, leaving a wide black stripe between pale area and eye (Fig. 95); fore and mid legs yellowish-white, hind leg yellowish-brown (Fig. 94); petiole 0.9 × as long as wide; gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-brown with dark brown anterolateral margins and with posterior part of margins yellowish-brown, posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 96). Euplectrus chrisgrinteri is very similar to Euplectrus ronniei , the only differences are the longer petiole in Euplectrus chrisgrinteri and different host preferences.

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.1 mm. Antenna with scape yellowish-white, pedicel and flagellomeres yellowish-brown (Fig. 97). Mandibles and palpi white. Head black and shiny, lower face medially yellowish-white with median ⅓ pale yellowish-brown, pale area reaching outside of level of outer lateral margins of toruli, leaving a wide black stripe between pale area and eyes (Fig. 95). Frons close to eyes with one row of setae (Fig. 101). Vertex smooth (Fig. 102). Occipital margin with a carina (Fig. 102).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 94). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with 10 setae. Scutellum 1.0 × as long as wide; with weak engraved reticulation (Fig. 103). Dorsellum anteriorly with a narrow groove that is divided by longitudinal carinae (Fig. 746), groove medially 0.3 × as long as length of dorsellum. Propodeum with weak reticulation (Fig. 746); anteromedially with a semicircular cup; propodeal callus with eight setae. Fore and mid legs yellowish-white, hind leg yellowish-brown (Fig. 94). Fore wing: costal cell on ventral surface with one row of setae, partly with two rows close to base, and margin with three setae close to marginal vein; with 14 admarginal setae, in one row.

Gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-brown with dark brown anterolateral margins and with posterior part of margins yellowish-brown, posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 96).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = nm; POL/OOL/POO = 5.0/2.2/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.2; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.8/4.9/3.9; WH/WT = 1.0; PM/ST = 1.2; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 4.2/2.4/7.6/2.4/1.4/1.0/2.0; LP/WP = 0.9; MM/LG = 1.0.

Male. Unknown.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on last instar larva of Eulepidotis caeruleilinea ( Erebidae ) feeding on Hymenaea courbaril ( Fabaceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after Chris C. Grinter, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.