Kinseyella Pujade-Villar & Melika

J. Pujade-Villar, S. Romero-Rangel, Chagoyán-García, A. Equihua-Martínez, E. G. Estrada-Venegas & G. Melika, 2010, A new genus of oak gallwasps, Kinseyella Pujade-Villar & Melika, with a description of a new species from Mexico (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini), Zootaxa 2335, pp. 16-28 : 17-19

Kinseyella Pujade-Villar & Melika , new genus

Figs 1–4

Etymology. Named in honour of Alfred C. Kinsey (1894–1956), outstanding researcher of Cynipidae . Gender: female.

Diagnosis. Kinseyella differs from all other known Cynipini genera by its characteristic set of morphological features in combination with the paculiar gall it induces. In all known asexual females of Andricus Hartig (including the synonymized Trichoteras Ashmead (Melika & Abrahamson 2002)) , some species of which known to induce the same structured galls, e.g. T. coquiletti Ashmead and T. vacciniifoliae (Ashmead)) , Callirhytis Foerster and Disholcaspis Dalla Torre & Kieffer (the three largest genera in the Nearctic) the prominent part of the ventral spine of the hypopygium always needle-like ( Fig. 6 b), tapering to a point at the apex, subapical setae never forming a broadly dense tuft like in Kinseyella ( Fig. 4 b). There is, however, a group of species, provisionary placed into Disholcaspis (Melika & Abrahamson 2002) which have differently shaped ventral spine and which group we shall comment below in Discussion. All the representatives of Amphibolips Reinhard , many of which induce the same structured galls as Kinseyella, have a dull rugose mesoscutum and mesoscutellum ( Fig. 6a ), a long needle-like ventral spine of hypopygium, while in Kinseyella the mesoscutum and mesoscutellum are microreticulate. In addition, all the four mentioned genera, Andricus , Amphibolips , Callirhytis , Disholcaspis , have distinct complete lateral propodeal carinae, delimiting a differently sculptured central propodeal area, and the metasomal tergites are glabrous or only the first one is pubescent, while in Kinseyella lateral propodeal carinae are absent or very indistinct, incomplete and the central propodeal area of the same sculpture as laterally and all the metasomal tergites are in dense white setae laterally. Many representatives of the genus Atrusca Kinsey induce the same structured galls as Kinseyella, however, in Atrusca the forewing usually possesses darker (smoky) spots and/or dark stripes along veins, the radial cell is short, only 2.0–2.5 times as long as broad, the 2nd abscissa of Rs is strongly angulate ( Fig. 6 c), the prominent part of the ventral spine of the hypopygium at least 3–4.0 times as long as broad.

The Holarctic genus Cynips L. (= Antron Kinsey , = Besbicus Kinsey ) has a short broad ventral spine of hypopygium, with long subapical setae forming a dense tuft and some nearctic species induce the same structured galls as Kinseyella. It is possible that the nearctic genera Antron and Besbicus were erroneously synonymized to Cynips (Melika & Abrahamson 2002) and, thus we prefer to compare Kinseyella separately to Cynips , Antron and Besbicus , making our diagnosis more precise and undoubtfull. In the Palaearctic Cynips the mesoscutum is smooth and shiny, if microreticulate than only anteriorly along complete notauli, lateral propodeal carinae always distinct and complete, only the first metasomal tergite with setae, the main apex of the very short ventral spine of the hypopygium is the broadest part, while in Kinseyella the mesoscutum entirely uniformly microreticulate, notauli are incomplete, never reach the pronotum, lateral propodeal carinae are absent or very indistinct, all metasomal tergites with dense setae laterally and sides of the ventral spine of the hypopygium are parallel, the apex is not the most broadest part of it. Many species of Antron and Besbicus induce the same structure galls as Kinseyella, both on leaves and buds and also on the White oak section. However, Antron differs by more concave mesosoma, the mesoscutellum is elongated, nearly 2/3 length of the mesoscutum, notauli complete, and what is very characteristic, the 2nd metasomal tergite always specifically shaped, long, dorsally occupying nearly the entire length of the metasoma; and at least 4/5 length of metasoma in lateral view ( Fig. 6 d), while in Kinseyella the metasoma is differently shaped, dorsally and laterally occupying nearly the half length of the metasoma only. Besbicus species, particularly B. mirabilis (Kinsey) , is most closely resembles Kinseyella from the Cynips complex. It induces the same structured galls, underside of leaves on White oaks, the entire habitus of the body resembles that of Kinseyella, however the female differs by much less broadened gena behind compound eye; the central propodeal area smooth, limited by distinct lateral propodeal carinae; the forewing with smoky dark spots and the Rs vein is much strongly curved; the broadest part of the very short ventral spine of the hypopygium is the main apex ( Fig. 6 e), while these characters differs in Kinseyella (see above).

Description. Robust and pubescent specimens, body length 4.0–4.3 mm. Malar sulcus absent. Gena strongly broadened behind compound eye. Antenna with 12 flagellomeres, F1 the longest one. Mesoscutum microreticulate, notauli incomplete, extending to 3/4 length of mesoscutum. Mesoscutellum uniformly dull rugose, with transverse depression anteriorly, without distinct and separated scutellar foveae, with some longitudinal, parallel rugae on the bottom. Propodeum uniformly rugose, lateral propodeal carinae indistinct, incomplete, central propodeal area of the same sculpture as lateral parts. Forewing hyaline, without smoky spots or stripes, radial cell elongated. Tarsal claws with strong basal lobe. All metasomal tergites with dense setae laterally. Ventral spine of hypopygium short, as long as broad or maximum 2.0 times as long as broad, never longer, with parallel sides along entire length, with long dense subapical setae of different length, forming a tuft and directed backwards, reaching far beyond apex of spine.

Distribution. Mexico. Two known species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Kinseyella quercusobtusata, new species: a, head, front view; b, head, dorsal view; c, clypeus, dorsal view; d, head, posterior view; e, antenna.

FIGURE 2. Kinseyella quercusobtusata, new species: a, forewing; b, mesosoma, lateral view.

FIGURE 3. Kinseyella quercusobtusata, new species: a, mesoscutum, dorsal view; b, mesoscutellum, dorsal view; c, metascutellum and propodeum, postero-dorsal view; d, tarsal claw, hind leg.

FIGURE 4. Kinseyella quercusobtusata, new species: a, metasoma, lateral view; b – c, ventral spine of hypopygium: b, lateral view, c, ventral view.

FIGURE 6. a, Amphibolibs quercuscinerea, mesoscutum, dorsal view; b, Disholcaspis spissa, ventral spine of the hypopygium, ventral view; c, Atrusca cava, forewing; d, Antron plumbeum (Weld), metasoma, lateral view; e, Besbicus mirabilis (Kinsey), ventral spine of hypopygium, ventral view.