Amphibolips nigrialatus Nieves-Aldrey & Castillejos-Lemus, 2020

Castillejos-Lemus, Dohuglas Eliseo, Oyama, Ken & Nieves-Aldrey, Jose Luis, 2020, Description of three new species of oak gallwasps of the genus Amphibolips Reinhard from Mexico (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae), ZooKeys 987, pp. 81-114 : 81

Amphibolips nigrialatus Nieves-Aldrey & Castillejos-Lemus sp. nov. Figs 10 , 11 , 12 , 13

Type material.

Holotype: 1♀ in the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN), Madrid, Spain, mounted (glued) on a card. Mexico, Veracruz, Xico, in the Texolo waterfall, 19°24.11'N, 96°59.69'W, ca. 1170 m alt., ex gall Quercus sapotifolia Liebm. Collected 27/04/2008; emerged 04/2008. Nieves-Aldrey & Pascual leg.

Etymology.

Named after the smoky black forewing.

Diagnosis and comments.

Amphibolips nigrialatus is closely allied to A. dampfi Kinsey, 1937 and the new species Amphibolips kinseyi . Despite being based on a single female holotype, we found distinctive diagnostic characters that let us describe the specimen as belonging to a new species. The strongly-emarginate mesoscutellum relates the new species to A. kinseyi and A. dampfi , but in A. nigrialatus , the postero-lateral projections of the scutellum are pointed apically and curved upwards. Moreover, the scutellar foveae are very large in the new species, extending approximately one half of the length of the mesoscutellum, medially confluent and not separated by a carina or groove, while they are well separated by the mesoscutellar impression in the other two species. The forewing colour of A. nigrialatus is the darkest we have seen in females of Amphibolips species from Mexico and the black smoky colouration even extends to the costal and basal cells and below the cubital vein. In this last character, it resembles A. castroviejoi from Panama, but in this late species, the forewing area anterior to the transversal band is even darker (Fig. 15F ), besides other distinguishing characters given in the identification key (transversal clear band larger, smooth scutellar foveae and visible notauli). The clear transversal band in the discoidal cell of forewing is very short and narrow in A. nigrialatus , measuring not more than one-fifth of the length of the radial cell (Fig. 13A ), while in A. kinseyi , it is wider, measuring at least one-half the length of the radial cell (Fig. 8C ). Additionally, the green spherical gall of the new species ( A. nigrialatus ) on Quercus sapotifolia is distinguishable from the galls of A. dampfi and A. kinseyi on Q. ocoteifolia Liebm. and Q. zempoaltepecana Trel., respectively.

Description.

Body length: 6.6 mm (n = 1) for the female.

Female. (Fig. 13B ). Body almost completely black with the exception of the mandibles, the antennae apically, the metasoma ventrally, especially the hypopygium and parts of the legs, including the tarsi, which are reddish. Forewing predominantly black infuscate, except a large basal area delimited by the medial and cubital veins and another smaller area above the medial vein. A small clear transversal band, that starts below the radial cell and extends towards the medial vein, but does not reach the cubital vein, is present (Fig. 13A ).

Head, in dorsal view (Fig. 10A ) 2.2 × as wide as long; narrower than mesosoma. OOL 1.4 × POL 0.7 × DOL; posterior ocelli separated from internal orbit of an eye by 2.2 × its diameter. Head in anterior view (Fig. 11A ) 1.3 × as broad as high; gena slightly broadened behind eyes. Vertex, frons, lower face and gena, with coarse reticulate-rugose sculpture. Face with two longitudinal carinae, extending from ventral margin of toruli to converge towards the anterior tentorial pits; irradiating carinae from clypeus indistinct or absent; head moderately pubescent, except in vertex and frons. Clypeus more or less hexagonal, ventral margin strongly projecting over mandibles and moderately incised or sinuate on anterior margin. Anterior tentorial pits well visible; epistomal sulcus and clypeo-pleurostomal lines also distinct. Malar space 0.8 × height of a compound eye. Toruli situated about mid-height of compound eye; transfacial line 1.7 × height of an eye; distance between antennal rim and compound eye almost equal to the width of antennal socket including rim. Ocellar plate slightly raised.

Mouthparts (Fig. 11A ), mandibles strong, exposed, with dense setae in base, right mandible with three teeth, left with two teeth.

Antenna (Fig. 10B ), 0.6 × as long as body length; with 13 antennomeres; 12 and 13 incompletely separated (Fig. 10C ). Flagellum not broadening towards apex; with relatively long, erect setae. Antennal formula: 0.4(0.22):0.16(0.18):0.58(0.18):0.36(0.18):0.32(0.18):0.28(0.18):0.26(0.18):0.24(0.18): 0.23(0.18):0.2(0.18):0.2(0.18):0.18(0.18):0.34(0.16). Pedicel, short, 0.4 × as long as scape and slightly broader than long. F1 1.6 × as long as F2; F8-F10 as long as wide, F11 2.1 × times as long as wide, 1.9 × as long as F10. Placodeal sensilla present on flagellomeres F3-F11, disposed in dense rows of 8-10 sensilla, only in half dorsal area of each flagellomere.

Mesosoma in lateral view 1.1 × as long as high. Pronotum, moderately pubescent; lateral surface of pronotum with strong irregular reticulate rugose sculpture (Fig. 11B ). Pronotum medially short; ratio of length of pronotum medially/laterally = 0.23. Pronotal plate indistinct.

Mesonotum. Mesoscutum (Fig. 10A ) barely pubescent and with strong coarse reticulate sculpture, the interspaces smooth and shining. Notauli indistinct, obscured by the coarse sculpture; more so in anterior one third of mesoscutum; longitudinal median impression indistinct. Anteroadmedian signa and parapsidal signa distinct. Transscutal fissure very narrow, sinuate. Mesoscutellum as long as wide; about 0.5 × as long as mesoscutum. Scutellar foveae rounded transverse, about 0.5 × as long as mesoscutellum, the scutellar foveae are confluent and not separated medially by a carina or groove; some transverse strong rugae visible with smooth and shining intervals. Mesoscutellum strongly coarsely rugose, with a deep and broad median longitudinal impression which makes the mesoscutellum strongly emarginate posteriorly (Fig. 10A ); the emargination not reaching anteriorly the scutellar foveae. Postero-lateral projections of scutellum pointed apically and curved upwards (Fig. 11C, D ). Mesopleuron coarsely reticulate rugose, the rugae not as strong as in mesoscutum (Fig. 11B ). Mesoscutellum in lateral view with the posterodorsal extension of body of subaxillular strip short, not reaching one half of mesoscutellar upper margin.

Metanotum. Metapectal-propodeal complex. Metapleural sulcus distinct, reaching posterior margin of mesopectus at about mid-height of metapectal-propodeal complex. Metascutellum rugose; metanotal trough deep, smooth and pubescent. Median propodeal area with strong and coarse reticulate rugae; densely pubescent; lateral propodeal carinae distinct, subparallel anteriorly and converging posteriorly (Fig. 11E ).

Legs. Densely pubescent; femora and tibiae robust. Metatibia about 1.7 × as long as metatarsus. Metatarsal claws with strong triangular basal lobes or teeth (Fig. 12C ).

Forewing (Fig. 13A ), about 1.1 × as long as body, radial cell 3.9 × as long as wide; open along anterior margin; areolet absent. All veins heavily infuscate. M and Cu1 veins nearly straight, not reaching wing margin. Rs+M complete, reaching basalis. First abscissa of radius (2r) slightly angled, not projected into the radial cell. The two branches of the cubitalis vein are not interrupted by a gap. Apical margin with very short hair fringe.

Metasoma (Fig. 12A ) in dorsal view 1.5 × as long as wide; in lateral view 1.2 × as long as high (Fig. 11F ). Second metasomal tergite covering about 0.64 × the length of metasoma. In dorsal view, anterior half of T2 smooth and somewhat shining, posterior half with two types of microsculpture clearly visible, first a series of slightly hexagonal cells and in the back micropunctures, both microstructures occupying the same proportion (Fig. 12B ). In lateral view, anterior 2/3 smooth and somewhat shining; posterior one third with a band of micropunctures clearly visible. The punctate sculpture extended on subsequent tergites. Ventral area of second metasomal tergite moderately pubescent, with a relatively dense patch of setae. Projecting part of hypopygial spine long (Fig. 12D ); about 6.3 × as long as high in lateral view; laterally with long setae, longer than spine width, but not forming an apical tuft.

Male. Unknown.

Gall

(Fig. 13C ). A regular, spherical, moderately-sized gall with a green colour when it is fresh. When dry, the gall acquires a rough and slightly elongated appearance and turns brown in colour. The galls measure on average 16.5 × 21.5 mm (diameter of 14 to 19 mm and length of 17 to 25 mm; n = 4). The gall is monothalamic. The outer shell is thin, flexible and of fleshy consistency when fresh and becomes rigid and hardly detachable from the parenchyma when dry. Internally, there is a spherical larval cell in the centre of the gall (5 × 5 mm; n = 1); a spongy tissue occupies the entire space between the epidermis and the larval chamber and is hardly separable from the larval chamber. When it is dry, the gall is moderately fragile.

On twigs of Quercus sapotifolia Liebm. Closely resembles that of Amphibolips oaxacae Nieves-Aldrey & Pascual, 2012, A. michoacaensis Nieves-Aldrey y Maldonado, 2012, A. trizonata Ashmead, 1896 and Amphibolips kinseyi sp. nov. However, the gall of A. nigrialatus differs in its size, which is approximately half that of the other species. The gall is similar to that of A. murata Weld, 1957, but not as rough when dry and to that of A. quercusfuliginosa Ashmead, 1885, from which it is impossible to differentiate according to the original description of the gall. Nonetheless, the adults are completely different.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Veracruz State, Mexico.

Biology.

Presumably, a sexual generation. The gall was collected in late April and the insect emerged shortly afterwards.

Figures

Figure 8. Amphibolips kinseyi sp. nov. A female habitus B male habitus C female forewing D male forewing E galls F section of a gall.

Figure 10. Amphibolips nigrialatus sp. nov., female. A head and mesosoma, dorsal view B antenna C detail of last flagellomeres.

Figure 11. Amphibolips nigrialatus sp. nov., female. A head, anterior view B mesosoma, lateral view C mesoscutellum, dorsal view D mesoscutellum, lateral view E propodeum F metasoma, lateral view.

Figure 12. Amphibolips nigrialatus sp. nov., female. A metasoma, dorsal view B detail of sculpture C metatarsal claw D ventral spine of hypopygium, lateral view.

Figure 13. Amphibolips nigrialatus sp. nov., female. A forewing B habitus C gall on Quercus sapotifolia Liebm.

Figure 15. Details of wings and habitus of Amphibolips species A habitus of Amphibolips near fusus from Zacatecas B detail of forewing of Amphibolips fusus Kinsey (type) C habitus of Amphibolips cibriani Pujade-Villar (image taken from Pujade-Villar et al. 2018) D forewing of female Amphibolips aliciae Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey E habitus of male Amphibolips castroviejoi Medianero & Nieves-Aldrey F forewing of female Amphibolips castroviejoi G forewing of female of Amphibolips durangensis Nieves-Aldrey & Maldonado H forewing female of Amphibolips michoacaensis Nieves-Aldrey & Pascual I forewing male of Amphibolips michoacaensis.