Euplectrus alexsmithi 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 : 21-22

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus alexsmithi Hansson sp. n. Figures 43-46, 50-52, 734

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, ACG, Sector Pitilla, Pasmompa, 12.i.2006, P. Rios, ex Eustrotia Poole14 eating Brachiaria arrecta , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028872, 06-SRNP-30437" (BMNH). PARATYPES: 8♀ with same label data as holotype (BMNH, CNC, INBio, MZLU, USNM).

Diagnosis.

Antenna long and slender (Fig. 46), e.g. flagellum 3.0 × as long as height of an eye; lower face black with median part dark reddish-brown, pale area reaching to outer lateral margin of toruli (Fig. 44); legs yellowish-brown with fore and mid coxae yellowish-white (Fig. 43); petiole 1.0 × as long as wide; gaster yellowish-brown with dark brown lateral margins and apex, and with a dark brown spot medially on tergite 4 (Fig. 45).

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.6 mm. Antenna long and slender, with scape yellowish-white in basal ⅔, yellowish-brown in apical ⅓, pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellomeres 1-3 yellowish-brown ventrally and dark brown dorsally, 4-6 dark brown (Fig. 46). Mandibles and palpi yellowish-white. Head black and shiny, lower face medially dark reddish-brown, pale area reaching to outer lateral margin of toruli (Fig. 44). Frons close to eyes with one row of setae with upper part of row removed away from eye (Fig. 50). Vertex smooth (Fig. 51). Occipital margin with a carina behind ocellar triangle (Fig. 51).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 43). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with 11 setae. Scutellum 0.9 × as long as wide; with very weak engraved reticulation (Fig. 52). Dorsellum along anterior margin with a groove that is divided by longitudinal carinae (Fig. 734), groove medially 0.3 × as long as length of dorsellum. Propodeum with very weak reticulation (Fig. 734); anteromedially with a short and wide triangular cup; propodeal callus with 10 setae. Legs yellowish-brown with fore and mid coxae yellowish-white (Fig. 43). Fore wing: costal cell with two rows of setae on ventral surface, and margin with six setae close to marginal vein; with ten admarginal setae in one row.

Gaster yellowish-brown with sides and apex dark brown, and with a dark brown spot medially on tergite 4 (Fig. 45).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 1.8/1.0/1.2; POL/OOL/POO = 4.7/2.8/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.5; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.7/4.7/3.5; WH/WT = 1.0; PM/ST = 1.5; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 4.2/2.6/7.4/2.5/1.5/1.0/2.3; LP/WP = 1.0; MM/LG = 1.0.

Male. Unknown.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on last instar larva of Eustrotia Poole14 ( Noctuidae ) feeding on Brachiaria arrecta ( Poaceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after M. Alex Smith, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.