Zagrammosoma trifurcatum Perry, 2021

Perry, Ryan K. & Heraty, John M., 2021, Read between the lineata: A revision of the tattooed wasps, Zagrammosoma Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), with descriptions of eleven new species, Zootaxa 4916 (1), pp. 1-108 : 95-97

Zagrammosoma trifurcatum Perry n. sp.

( Fig. 44 )

Diagnosis. This species has a unique mesosomal color pattern: dark stripes that trifurcate anteriorly from the posterior margin of the mesoscutellum, to the apex of the notaulus ( Fig. 44D, E ). Zagrammosoma trifurcatum also possesses a dark metacoxa with a transverse yellow band ( Fig. 44B ). The fore wing pattern is similar to Z. flavolineatum ( Fig. 16C ) and Z. metallicum ( Fig. 32C ), however, the mesoscutellum has a medial, yellow band in Z. flavolineatum ( Fig. 16D, E ), and metallic color is present in Z. metallicum ( Fig. 32 ).

Description. Female - body length 1.78–2.82 mm. Metallic luster on body absent. Scape yellow with black stripe dorsally. Lower face with median stripe present. Vertex with 2 stripes above compound eye. Gena posteriorly with dark stripes below compound eye. Occiput yellow with 2 dark, vertical stripes. Pronotum with median band complete; laterally with 2 black stripes. Prepectus yellow with dark stripe along dorsal margin. Mesoscutum with median band posteriorly expanding. Mesoscutellum black with yellow along lateral margin, sometimes with additional yellow inverted “U” originating on anterior margin ( Fig. 44D inset). Propodeum black. Procoxa and mesocoxa yellow. Metacoxa with transverse, yellow band. Profemur and mesofemur yellow. Metafemur with banding encircling femur. Fore wing: basal band absent; cubital band present; parastigmal band present, with perpendicular extension greater than that of stigmal apex; stigmal band and postmarginal band present, with perpendicular extension greater than that of stigmal apex; connection from parastigmal band to stigmal band present; connection from stigmal band to postmarginal band absent or present. Hind wing hyaline. Gaster dark.

Upper ocular sulcus present. Pedicel longer than wide. Funiculars symmetrical: first longer than wide (w:l = 0.72–0.84); second longer than wide (w:l = 0.86–0.95).

Pronotum, in dorsal view, bell-shaped (w:l = 1.06–1.26); 3–4 pairs of setae along posterior margin. Mesoscutum reticulate; small, scattered setae and intermediate setae present. Mesoscutellum subequal or wider than long (w:l = 1.02–1.14); submedian grooves present. Hind tibial spur distinctly shorter than basitarsus. Hind basitarsus longer than second tarsomere, (bst:2 nd = 1.08–1.1).

Fore wing l:w = 2.46–2.55. Submarginal vein with 4–7 pairs of setae dorsally. Basal fold setose. Cubital fold setose. Admarginal setae present. Uncus originating on stigma by more than own length from stigmal apex.

Male - as female, except: body length 0.79–1.46 mm. Propodeum black with yellow spot lateral to median carina; cubital band absent; parastigmal band present, with perpendicular extension less than that of stigmal apex; connections from parastigmal band to stigmal band and from stigmal band to postmarginal band absent; metafemur yellow or with spot dorsally; gaster yellow with median band Gt 2 –Gt 6.

Remarks. A rarely collected species, with significant sexual dimorphism of the gaster color, similar to Z. flavolineatum ( Fig. 16D, E ). These are the only two species of Zagrammosoma where the female gaster is completely black, and the male gaster is yellow with a large dark spot dorsally. While no male Z. trifurcatum was successfully sequenced, this dimorphism is also seen in Burkseus flavoviridis , which, like Z. flavolineatum , had both males and females sequenced and confirmed as valid species ( Perry & Heraty, 2019).

Hosts. Unknown.

Distribution. Nearctic: USA (CA). Neotropical: Belize ( Fig. 33 ).

Etymology. Taken from Latin for the trifurcating dark lines on the dorsal surface of the mesosoma that converge at the apex of the mesoscutellum.

Type material. Holotype: USA: California: Kern Co., Cuddy Valley Rd. , 1630m, 34°50’4”N, 119°02’17”W, 12.viii.2015, J. Heraty, H15-073, swp [1♀, UCRCENT416914 (D4600)], deposited at UCRC . Paratypes: USA: California: Kern Co., Cuddy Valley Los Padres Natl. Frst., 1612m, 34°49’26”N, 119°01’18”W, 31.viii.1984, R. D. Goeden, reared from flower head of Chrysopsis villosum [4♁ 4♀, UCRC: UCRCENT312296 , 312304 , 312305 , 312311 , 312314 , 414596 , 414597 , 485708 ]. Cuddy Valley Rd. , 1630m, 34°50’4”N, 119°02’17”W, 12.viii.2015, J. Heraty, H15-073, swp [1♀, UCRC: UCRCENT416557 (D4592)] .

Additional material examined: BELIZE: Cayo Dist.: Belmopan , 79m, 17°14’54”N, 88°46’11”W, 25.i.1952 [1♁, CNC: CNC508680 ] . USA: California: Kern Co., Cuddy Valley Los Padres Natl. Frst., 1612m, 34°49’26”N, 119°01’18”W, 31.viii.1984, R. D. Goeden, reared from flower head of Chrysopsis villosum [9♁ 7♀, UCRC: UCRCENT312294 , 312295 , 312297–312303 , 312306–312310 , 312312 , 312313 ]. San Diego Co. , Imperial Beach, 8m, 32°34’54”N, 117°06’04”W, 10.vii.2009, photographed by S. Snover, ypt [1♀, https://bugguide.net/node/ view/325435/bgimage] .

Figures

FIGURE 16. Zagrammosoma flavolineatum, ♀: (A) head, frontolateral, (B) lateral habitus, (C) fore wing, dorsal, (D) dorsal habitus; (E) ♁ dorsal habitus. Scale bar = 0.2 mm (A), 0.5 mm (B–E).

FIGURE 32. Zagrammosoma metallicum n. sp., ♀: (A) head, frontolateral, (B) lateral habitus, (C) fore wing, dorsal, (D) dorsal habitus; (E) ♁ dorsal habitus. Scale bar = 0.2 mm (A), 0.5 mm (B–E).

FIGURE 33. Distributions of Zagrammosoma metallicum n. sp., Z. trifurcatum n. sp., and Z. velerii.

FIGURE 44 Zagrammosoma trifurcatum n. sp., ♀: (A) head, frontolateral, (B) lateral habitus, (C) fore wing, dorsal, (D) dorsal habitus, inset with color variant; (E) ♁ dorsal habitus. Scale bar = 0.2 mm (A), 0.5 mm (B–E).