Trichogramma nerudai Pintureau & Gerding, 1999

Querino, Ranyse B. & Zucchi, Roberto A., 2019, Annotated checklist and illustrated key to the species of Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) from South America, Zootaxa 4656 (2), pp. 201-231 : 212

Trichogramma nerudai Pintureau & Gerding, 1999

Diagnosis. Genital capsule narrow and strongly constricted at the level of intervolsellar process.

Comments. Trichogramma nerudai can be separated from T. pintoi Voegel, 1982 as follows: in T. nerudai , the sides of the genital capsule narrow abruptly at the level of the intervolsellar process and the parameres are straight toward the apex. In T. pintoi , the sides of the capsule are narrower and the parameres are arcuate. Other species that may be confused with T. nerudai were discussed by Pintureau et al. (1999), and according to J. D. Pinto (pers. com.), it is difficult to morphologically separate T. nerudai from T. principium Sugonjaev & Sorokina, 1976 ( Querino & Zucchi 2003b). Trichogramma nerudai was originally described from Chile (Angol region) and has been recorded only in that country. It was introduced into Argentina from Chile, where it was collected from Rhyacionia buoliana (European pine shoot moth) to control this introduced pest in Argentina ( Botto et al. 2004).

Type repository. Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (holotype); Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Santiago de Chile and Pintureau’s collection (paratypes).

Type locality. Angus, Chile.

Distribution in South America. Argentina and Chile.

Hosts. Rhyacionia buoliana (Denis and Schiffermuller, 1775) ( Lepidoptera : Tortricidae ) on Pinus radiata ( Pintureau et al. 1999) . Trichogramma nerudai was also reared from eggs of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) ( Lepidoptera : Gelechiidae ) on tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) in Chile.