Euplectrus mikesharkeyi 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 : 67-68

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus mikesharkeyi Hansson sp. n. Figures 19, 467-469, 470-476, 773

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, ACG, Sector El Hacha, Estación Los Almendros, 11.ix.2008, R. Moraga, ex Perigea berindaDHJ02 eating Lepidaploa tortuosa , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0030516, 08-SRNP-23276" (BMNH). PARATYPES: 19♀ 4♂: COSTA RICA (ACG): Guanacaste: 2♀ 3♂ with same label data as holotype (BMNH, INBio); Sector Pitilla: Pasmompa, 28.i.2006, M. Rios, ex Perigea berindaDHJ02 eating Lepidaploa tortuosa , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028869, 06-SRNP-30731 (4♀, in CNC, USNM); Sector Cacao: Sendero a Maritza, D. Garcia, 1.ix.2010, ex Perigea micrippia eating Lepidaploa tortuosa , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0042134, 10-SRNP-36122 (10♀ 1♂, in BMNH, INBio, MZLU, USNM); Sendero a Maritza, 22.ix.2010, D. Garcia, ex Perigea micrippia eating Lepidaploa tortuosa , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0042131, 10-SRNP-36497 (3♀, in CNC, INBio).

Diagnosis.

Lower face medially yellowish-brown with median part pale brown (female, Fig. 471), or white with median part yellowish-brown (male, Fig. 472), pale area reaching slightly outside of level of lateral margins of toruli; scutellum reticulate with distinctly elongate meshes and medially with several short longitudinal carinae (Fig. 469); dorsellum anteriorly with two large foveae (alternately with a wide groove that is divided by a median carina) (Fig. 773); legs yellowish-brown with hind coxa and hind femur darker (Fig. 470), male with fore and mid coxae yellowish-white; petiole 0.8 × as long as wide; female gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-white with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown with apex reddish-brown (Fig. 473), male gaster with anterior ½ white and with posterior ½ completely dark brown (Fig. 474); male antenna with scape slightly expanded and widest slightly above the middle, 3.3 × as long as wide (Fig. 476), with sensory area brown.

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.4 mm. Antenna with scape yellowish-brown with base yellowish-white, pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellomeres 1-3 yellowish-brown ventrally and dark brown dorsally, 4-6 dark brown (Fig. 475). Mandibles and palpi yellowish-white. Head black and shiny, lower face medially yellowish-brown with median part pale brown, pale area reaching slightly outside of level of lateral margins of toruli, parts between pale area and eyes black (Fig. 471). Frons close to eyes with two rows of setae (Fig. 467). Vertex smooth (Fig. 468). Occipital margin rounded (Fig. 468).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 470). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with 11 setae. Scutellum 0.9 × as long as wide; with weak engraved reticulation with distinctly elongate meshes; medially with several short longitudinal carinae (Fig. 469). Dorsellum anteriorly with two large foveae (alternately with a wide groove that is divided by a median carina) (Fig. 773). Propodeum with very weak reticulation (Fig. 773); anteromedially with a semicircular cup; propodeal callus with 11 setae. Legs yellowish-brown with hind coxa and hind femur darker (Fig. 470). Fore wing: costal cell on ventral surface with one row of setae, and margin without setae; with 17 admarginal setae, in one row.

Gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-brown with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown with apex reddish-brown (Fig. 473).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 2.0/1.0/1.2; POL/OOL/POO = 5.1/2.5/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.3; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.6/4.7/3.6; WH/WT = 1.1; PM/ST = 1.4; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 4.2/2.7/7.1/2.6/1.5/1.0/1.9; LP/WP = 0.8; MM/LG = 1.1.

Male. Length of body 2.0 mm. Scape slightly expanded and widest slightly above the middle (Fig. 476), sensory pores confined to apicoventral ½ and this area is brown. Otherwise similar to female except lower face with pale parts paler (Fig. 472), fore and mid coxae yellowish-white; gaster shorter, with anterior ½ white and entire posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 474).

Ratios. LC/WS = 3.3; MM/LG = 1.3.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on penultimate instar larva of Perigea berindaDHJ02 and Perigea micrippia ( Noctuidae ), both feeding on Lepidaploa tortuosa ( Asteraceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after Mike J. Sharkey, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.