Trichogramma valmiri Querino & Zucchi

Querino, Ranyse B., Mendes, Jaci V., Costa, Valmir A. & Zucchi, Roberto A., 2017, New species, notes and new records of Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in Brazil, Zootaxa 4232 (1), pp. 137-143 : 139-141

Trichogramma valmiri Querino & Zucchi sp. nov.

Figs 5–9

Diagnosis. Trichogramma valmiri can be recognized by the male flagellum relatively short with unsocketed setae in the four regions, and the flagelliform setae very short. These features, together with the short IVP and the ventral process positioned at the base of the IVP, separate this species from other members of Trichogramma .

Description. Male. Based on field-collected specimens from the host. Quantitative data taken from 5 males (HTL = 108.6 ± 2.5 µm). Color of mounted specimens brown.

Antenna. Flagellum short (95.3 ± 3.5), 1.5x length of scape (60.3 ± 1.8), FL/FW = 4.90 ± 0.4, FL/HTL = 0.9 ± 0.0; flagelliform setae short (38.3 ± 2.2), evenly tapering to apex, ca. 1.96x FW, FSL/FW = 1.95 ± 0.1; unsocketed setae along ventral surface of flagellum; basiconic sensilla prominent, subglobose, formula 2-2-2-0-1-1; three placoid sensilla, terminal PLS = 32.0 ± 1.9 with apical sensillum extending beyond apex of flagellum 4.6 ± 0.4.

Wings. Forewing slightly infuscate behind venation; FWW/FWL = 0.54 ± 0.01; fringe setae =25.8 ± 0.8, 0.12 FWW, ca. 0.24 HTL; 9-11 setae between 4th and 5th setal tracks. Hind wing with anterior track usually absent, posterior track with 3 to 5 setae, not reaching midpoint of middle track.

Scutum/Scutellum. Smooth, microsculpturing indistinct. Scutellum with anterior pair of setae 4.4× length of posterior pair.

Genital capsule. 0.38 ± 0.02 as wide as long, usually widest slightly anterior to middle; sides typically gradually convergent posteriorly, slightly constricted at level of IVP; PM slightly convergent; AD elongate, AD/ GL = 0.23 ± 0.01; AW/GW = 0.62 ± 0.01; DA elongate, DA/GL = 0.22 ± 0.01; DLA originating slightly anterior to middle of GC, slightly to moderately notched with little-developed shoulders, width at shoulders less than width anterior to notch, sides tapering to form sublinguiform posterior extension whose width at level of IVP is slightly less than aedeagus width, extending to near apex of VS; posterior extension of DLA long, 27.8 ± 1.5; DLA 1.30 ± 0.05 as long as wide, DLA/GL = 0.46 ± 0.02; VS relatively straight, symmetrical; IVP short, pointed apically, occupying 0.15 AD; VR only moderately elongate (36.3 ± 1.0), occupying 0.48 BD, distinct, easily observed; VP positioned at base of IVP and near VR; AL ca. 0.47 length of apodemes, AL/HTL = 0.41 ± 0.02; apodemes 1.09x AL.

Type material. Holotype: male, BRAZIL. SÃO PAULO: Jundiaí (23°11'12"S, 046°53'03"W), 18.v.2011, ex eggs Urbanus esta on Desmodium uncinatum, M. S. Franco collr. ( ESALQ) . Paratypes: 3 males, same data as holotype ( ESALQ) .

Material examined. BRAZIL. SÃO PAULO: Anhembi , 1 male, 01-ix-1999, unknown host on Eucalyptus sp., R. B. Querino collr. ( ESALQ, specimen damaged in remounting in Canada balsam); Piracicaba, Tupi forest reserve , 1 male, 05-vi-2000, suction trap, R. B. Querino collr. ( ESALQ, remounted in Canada balsam).

Distribution. Brazil: São Paulo (Anhembi, Jundiaí, Piracicaba).

Hosts. Urbanus esta Evans, 1952 ( Lepidoptera , Hesperiidae ) on Desmodium uncinatum ; unknown host on Eucalyptus sp.

Etymology. The species epithet honors Valmir Antonio Costa for his studies on hymenopteran parasitoids.

Remarks. In the key of Querino & Zucchi (2005), Trichogramma valmiri Querino & Zucchi sp. nov. runs to T. bruni , T. rojasi Nagaraja & Nagakartti or T. lasallei Pinto , from which it differs mostly in having a relatively short flagellum with unsocketed setae. This characteristic is unique among the South American species. Additionally, in T. valmiri , the ventral processes are located at the base of the IVP and near the VR, while in T. lasallei the ventral processes are situated anteriorly (distant from the base of the intervolsellar process) and the short ventral ridge has an indistinct anterior limit (difficult to observe with the optical microscope). In T. bruni , the ventral processes are close to the base of the intervolsellar process and the ventral ridge is long; in T. rojasi the ventral processes are located very near the base of the intervolsellar process, the ventral ridge is short and distinct, and the posterior track of setae reaches the apex of the hind wings.

Trichogramma valmiri Querino & Zucchi is the Trichogramma species reported by ( Franco 2013) as a parasitoid of Urbanus esta ( Lepidoptera : Hesperiidae ) eggs on Desmodium uncinatum . The mean percentage of parasitism was 26.6% during the two years of data collection.

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 9. Trichogramma valmiri sp. nov. Male. 5: Antenna; 6: Forewing; 7: Hindwing; 8: Genital capsule, ventral view; 9: Genital capsule, dorsal view.