Prochiloneurus aethus, Noyes, 2023

Noyes, John Stuart, 2023, ENCYRTIDAE OF COSTA RICA (HYMENOPTERA: CHALCIDOIDEA), 4 Subfamily Encyrtinae: tribes Arrhenophagini, Habrolepidini, Cerapterocerini, Cheiloneurini, Trechnitini, Cercobelini, Polaszekiini, Protyndarichoidini, Gahaniellini and Syrphophagini (part), mainly primary parasitoids and hyperparasitoids of Coccoidea and Psylloidea (Hemiptera), Taxonomic Monographs on Neotropical Hymenoptera (Oxford, England) 2 (11), pp. 1-921 : 477-480

Prochiloneurus aethus sp.nov.

(Figs 1201-1203)

DIAGNOSIS. Female (length about 2.1mm): head orange, temple and gena with a distinct brown streak; antenna (Fig. 1201) with F1-F4 brown mixed pale orange dorsally, F5 dark orange-brown, F6 and clava dark brown; thorax mostly orange, posterior half of mesoscutum dark brown with a moderate dark blue sheen and clothed with dense silvery setae; mesopleuron orange-brown anteriorly, orange on posterior margin; fore wing (Fig. 1202) with a group of 4 or 5 setae below proximal half of parastigma but without a group of pale setae below distal half; hyaline apex of fore wing about as wide as 1.5X length of marginal vein; fore wing with a weak subapical band of very slightly paler setae; propodeum orange, laterally brown with a metallic sheen, with about 10 silvery setae surrounding spiracle; gaster dark brown with a metallic sheen, syntergum orange; head (Fig. 1203) about 1.1X as high as broad and about 7X as wide as frontovertex; antennal scrobes sharply margined, carinate laterally; scape (Fig. 1201) slightly broadened and flattened, about 4.3X as long as broad; paler parts of mesoscutum generally with fine, obliquely elongate, striate-reticulate sculpture, posterior, darker part with more regular, rounded, polygonally reticulate sculpture; apical scutellar tuft about 0.3X as long as scutellum; fore wing (Fig. 1202) about 2.7X as long as broad; line of setae on ventral surface of costal cell interrupted above parastigma; exserted part of ovipositor about 0.5X as long as gaster. Male: unknown.

Female (holotype): length, including ovipositor, 2.06mm; excluding ovipositor, 1.74mm (CPD).

Head generally orange; occiput slightly dusky around foramen and bordering hypostomal area; temple and gena with a distinct, dark brown streak from occipital margin to scrobal margin near torulus; area between ocelli brown; occipital margin with a weak purple sheen, area behind posterior ocelli with a weak brassy and purple sheen, area between ocelli with distinct metallic purple and blue reflections, frontovertex otherwise with a weak purple, blue and brassy sheen, more strongly blue immediately above scrobes; temple and area between eye and scrobe with a green and purple sheen and some blue reflections, lower eye margin slightly coppery; gena with a weaker green, coppery and purple sheen; interantennal prominence mostly with a weak coppery, purple and brassy reflections, but dorsally with a more distinct purple sheen; frontovertex with inconspicuous, translucent, pale brown setae along inner eye margins, these continued below eye; gena and interantennal prominence with numerous, scattered setae, those on interantennal prominence more dense; maxillary palpus pale yellow, terminal segment orange; antenna (Fig. 1201) with radicle proximally orange, but mostly dark brown; scape largely orange, apical one-quarter white, extreme apex dark brown, ventral margin narrowly dark brown for most of its length, more widely so on internal surface, dorsal margin dark brown for about two-thirds its length; pedicel dorsally mostly orange, otherwise brown; flagellum with F1-F4 largely very pale, slightly dusky orange dorsally, ventrally brown, more widely brown on proximal segments, F5 dark orange-brown, slightly paler dorsally, F6 and clava dark brown; pronotum orange with weak purple, coppery and brassy reflections, posterior margin translucent; propleuron and prosternum orange; anterior half of mesoscutum coloured as pronotum and with relatively sparse dark brown setae, posterior half dark brown with a moderately strong, dark blue sheen with some violet reflections and clothed with relatively dense silvery setae, posterior margin of mesoscutum orange-brown with a weak brassy and purple sheen; tegula orange, apex orange-brown; axilla orange with very weak brassy and coppery reflections, with dark brown setae; scutellum orange with weak coppery and brassy reflections, with dark brown setae, posteriorly with black setae, sub apical tuft black, apical setae pale and translucent; metanotum dusky orange; mesopleuron orange-brown with a weak purple, brassy and green sheen, posterior margin pale orange with a weak brassy sheen; mesosternum pale orange; fore coxa white; fore femur white, bordered brown towards apex, tibia orange, slightly dusky dorsally, tarsus orange; mid coxa largely pale orange, but brown ventrally towards mid-line; mid femur mostly white, but with dorsal margin brown apically, tibia orange with a brown streak externally for about two-thirds its length, spur and tarsus orange; hind coxa pale orange; hind femur orange, margined brown ventrally towards apex, tibia orange with an interrupted dark brown streak externally, tarsus orange; fore wing (Fig. 1202) mostly infuscate but hyaline towards base and at apex, submarginal vein pale orange, rest of venation brown; propodeum orange with a slight brassy sheen, laterally brown with a metallic blue, green and purple sheen, bordered metallic blue, purple and brassy internally, about 10 translucent silvery setae around spiracle; gaster dark brown, mainly with coppery, brassy, blue and green reflections, Gt1 with a distinct coppery, purple and green sheen, basal tergites laterally coppery and metallic green, syntergum orange, bordered dark brown; gonostylus pale orange.

Head (Fig. 1203) about 7X as wide as frontovertex, in profile about 2.1X as high as deep, anteriorly fairly evenly curved, although a little less so from top of scrobes to mouth margin, interantennal prominence weakly protuberant between toruli; occipital margin sharp, carinate; vertex with a conspicuous groove from posterior ocellus along eye margin nearly to occipital margin; ocelli forming an angle of about 40°; frontovertex quite shiny, with shallow, fairly regular, fine, polygonally reticulate sculpture of mesh size generally a little smaller than diameter of facet, area above scrobes with coarser, more irregular, transversely elongate sculpture; narrowest point between eye and scrobe about 0.25X length of scape and with shallow, obliquely to transversely elongate imbricate to substriate sculpture of relatively large mesh that continues on to anterior part of gena; temple with shallow, irregular, transversely elongate, sculpture, gena with similar, but slightly deeper, more longitudinally elongate sculpture; scrobes deep, very broadly ∩-shaped, meeting, dorsally very smooth, sharply margined dorsally and laterally, margin carinate laterally; interantennal prominence without median ridge, broadly rounded and with weak, regular, polygonally reticulate sculpture throughout; antenna as in Fig. 1201; scape slightly broadened and flattened, broadest below middle, about 4.3X as long as broad; F1 clearly a little longer than broad, F2 quadrate, F3-F6 transverse, segments larger and broader distad, linear sensilla present only on F5-F6; clava clearly broadened, slightly longer than funicle, sutures oblique, sensory area enlarged, extending ventrally nearly 0.9X length of clava, apex strongly obliquely truncate; eye reaching occipital margin, clothed in conspicuous setae that are about as long as diameter of facet; inner eye margins clearly diverging below anterior ocellus; malar sulcus absent; clypeal margin slightly concave medially; mandible with three teeth; apical segment of maxillary palpus not enlarged, hardly longer than radicle. Relative measurements: HW 91, HH 98, FV 13, POL 5, OOL 0, OCL 9.5, AOL 12.5, EL 66, EW 48, MS 41, SL 56, SW 13.

Thorax with polygonally reticulate sculpture on pronotum and mesoscutum that is similar to that in ocellar area, but of conspicuously smaller mesh, a little deeper on pronotum and anterior part of mesoscutum; anterior three-fifths of mesoscutum generally with fine, obliquely elongate, striate-reticulate sculpture, posterior two-fifths with more regular, rounded, polygonally reticulate sculpture; axilla and scutellum with sculpture slightly deeper and coarser and of slightly larger mesh; visible part of mesoscutum about 2.4X as broad as long; scutellum about 1.1X as broad as long, with a distinct subapical tuft, setae about 0.3X as long as scutellum; mid tibia with a strong external carina for about 0.7X its length; hind femur about 4.2X as long as broad; fore wing with venation and setation as in Fig. 1202; costal cell with 2 or 3 setae dorsally at apex; apices of postmarginal and stigmal veins connected by a naked, hyaline streak; propodeum medially about 0.15X as long as scutellum and smooth. Relative measurements: FWL 89, FWW 32.5; HWL 68.5, HWW 20.

Gaster with syntergum about 0.6X as long as mid tibia; exserted part of ovipositor about 0.5X length of gaster or mid tibia. Relative measurements: OL 74, GL 30.5 [MT 49].

Variation. Only holotype examined.

Male. Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION. Costa Rica.

HOSTS. Unknown.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.

Type material. Holotype E: COSTA RICA, Guanacaste, Santa Cruz, Vista del Mar, LN 235350 357500, Torre Cocesna , 972m, #71769, 10.x.2002 (W. Porras) . Holotype in NHMUK .

COMMENTS. Prochiloneurus aethus is somewhat similar to helleria in general appearance, especially in the colour of the mesopleuron and very similar sculpture on the lower frontovertex and between the eye and scrobe. Apart from the characters given in the key the two species can be separated on the relative width of the scape and the arrangement of setae on the ventral surface of the coastal cell (see respective diagnoses). Other than this, in aethus the posterior ocellus is closer to the occipital margin than to the anterior ocellus (equidistant in helleria ), the narrowest point between the eye and scrobe is about 0.25X the length of the scape (less than 0.2X in helleria ) and the hind femur is orange, mixed brown towards apex (entirely dark brown in helleria ).

Prochiloneurus modestus (Timberlake) stat.rev.

(Figs 1204-1206; Hab. E 171)

Achrysopophagus modestus Timberlake, 1924:240-243 . Holotype E, USA (California), USNM,

examined. Synonymy with dactylopii by Noyes & Triapitsyn (2017:30,33). Prochiloneurus modestus (Timberlake) ; Gordh, 1979:936.

DIAGNOSIS. Female (length about 1.00- 1.92mm): head orange, without a dark brown longitudinal stripe on temple and gena; antenna (Fig 1204) with F1-F4 relatively pale, dorsally slightly dusky white, ventrally brown, F5 brown, F6 and clava dark brown, occasionally flagellum almost entirely dark brown; thorax mostly orange, exposed part of mesoscutum entirely dark brown, anteriorly with a mixed brassy and coppery sheen and posteriorly with a blue-green sheen, evenly clothed with translucent silvery setae; mesopleuron uniform orange; fore wing without a line of setae below proximal half of parastigma but with a group of about 3-15 pale setae below distal half; hyaline apex of fore wing about as wide, or slightly wider, than length of marginal vein; fore wing with a distinct subapical band of paler setae; propodeum medially orange, laterally dark brown and strongly metallic around spiracle with about 30-40 dense silvery setae that extend medially and posteriorly from the spiracle; gaster mostly dark brown with a metallic sheen, but at least syntergum pale orange; head about 1.08-1.26X as long as broad and about 3.8-6.1X as wide as frontovertex, head relatively longer and frontovertex narrower in larger individuals; antennal scrobes sharply margined, carinate laterally; scape (Fig. 1204) about 5.5-6.8X as long as broad, widest at about 0.3X along its length, relatively more slender in larger specimens, mesoscutum with fairly uniform, polygonally reticulate sculpture; apical scutellar tuft about 0.5X as long as scutellum; fore wing (Fig. 1206) about 2.78-3.2X as long as broad; line of setae on ventral surface of costal cell of fore wing interrupted above parastigma, sometimes quite narrowly; hypopygium Fig. 1205; exserted part of ovipositor about 0.6X as long as gaster. Male (length 0.92mm): face metallic blue or blue-green with some green areas; scape completely pale yellow; mesoscutum with a dull coppery and brassy sheen in anterior two-thirds or so, posterior one-third metallic blue green, anterior part clothed in dark brown setae, posterior part clothed in translucent silvery setae; hind femur brown with apex narrowly white, tibia mainly brown with apices dirty white; head in profile about 1.8X as high as deep; malar sulcus present and conspicuous; ocelli forming an angle of about 90°; sculpture on mesoscutum more or less with uniform rounded polygonal cells.

DISTRIBUTION. USA (California, Texas, Florida), Mexico (new record), Guatemala (new record) and Costa Rica (new record),

HOSTS. Recorded as hyperparasitoid of Anagyrus yuccae (Coquillett) and Zarhopalus corvinus (Girault) ( Hymenoptera : Encyrtidae ) both primary parasitoids of Pseudococcus maritimus (Ehrhorn) on grape ( Vitis vinifera L.; Vitales : Vitaceae ) (Timberlake, 1925; Gordh, 1979). Newly recorded below from Planococcus citri (Risso) on Gardenia “psimonoides” ( Gentianales : Rubiaceae ) and guava ( Psidium guajava L.; Myrtales : Myrtaceae ); and Phenacoccus Cockerell on Parthenium hysterophorus L. ( Asterales : Asteraceae ). The record from Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Cooley) ( Hemiptera : Diaspididae ) is probably an incorrect host association and requires confirmation.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.

Type material. Paratypes of modestus Timberlake : 2E, “Fresno Ca Nov. 1, 1919 ” “ex grape mealybug” “ C.P. Clausen No 1002” “ Achrysopophagus modestus Timberlake det Timberlake”. Material in NHMUK .

Non type material. USA, 1E, Texas, Jeff Davis Co., Davis Mts St, Pk, 5000’ (= 1527m), 17-18.vii.1982 (G.A.P. Gibson); 3E, Texas, Brewster Co., Big Bend NP, 23-28.vi.1982 (G.A. P. Gibson); 1E, Texas, Kent Co., 5 ml. w. Hunt, 1-2.vii.1982 (G.A.P. Gibson); 1E, Texas, Brewster Co., Big Bend NP, 9-16.vii.1982 (G.A. P. Gibson); 1E, Texas, Brewster Co., Big Bend NP, 14.vii.1982 (G.A.P. Gibson); 1E, Texas, Culberson Co., Guadelupe Springs, 5200’ (= 1588m); 20-22.vii.1982 (G.A.P. Gibson); 3E, Texas, Hidalgo Co., Bentsen-Rio Grande SP, 2-6.iv.1989 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Texas, Zapata Co., Falcon Lake SP, 3.iv.1989 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Florida, Polk Co., Haines Co., G.C., on Gardenia , 92-079-28, 24.ix.1992 (H.W. Browning); 2E, Florida, Polk Co., Haines C., G. C., ex Planococcus citri on Gardenia , 9207912 and 9207915; 24.ix.1992 (H.W. Browning); 3E, Florida, Polk Auburndale, 132 Lakeview Dr, ex Pseudococcidae on Gardenia psiminoides , 03030003, 93030006 and 93030012, 16.vi.1993 (H.W. Browning); 1E, Florida, Osceola, Kissimmee, Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli , 30.v.1992 (G. Buckingham). BAHAMAS, 1E. G. Bahama Is., Freeport, Whit. Farm, ex Planococcus citri on guava, 92-560-29, 31.iv.1992 (H.W.B. & J.L.K.). MEXICO, 2E, 1G, Veracruz, La Tinaja, Phenacoccus / Parthenium hysterophorus , iv.1979 (F.D. Bennett); 1E, Nuevo Léon, Cadereyta Jimenez, San Juan, 2.ix.1983 (M.A. Rodriguez). GUATEMALA, 2E, Zacapa, San Lorenzo, 750m, xi.1986 (M. Sharkey). COSTA RICA, 1E, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP, H 10, 26.iv-18.v.1987 (D. Janzen, I.D. Gauld); 1E, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP, Hacienda 3-0, 17-27.iv.1985 (D. Janzen, I.D. Gauld); 2E, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP, H 30, 21.ii-14.iii.1987 (D. Janzen, I.D. Gauld); 2E, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP, H 30, iii.1987 (D. Janzen, I.D. Gauld); 2E, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP, H 30, 4-25.iv.1987 (D. Janzen, I.D. Gauld); 2E, Guanacaste, Santa Rosa NP, H 30, 26.iv-16.v.1987 (D. Janzen, I.D. Gauld); 2E, Guanacaste, Guanacaste NP (error for Santa Rosa NP ), near HQ, MT/YPT, 2-20.iii.1990 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Guanacaste, Guanacaste NP (error for Santa Rosa NP ), 7km E. of HQ, “small house”, 9-10.iii.1990 (J.S. Noyes); 2E, Guanacaste, PN Santa Rosa , 10°51’N 85°37’W, 300m, 24.ii.2009 (J.S. Noyes); 1E, Santa Cruz, Vista del Mar, Torre Cocesna, LN 357490 235430, 970m, #61247, xii.2000 - i.2001 (Y. Cárdenas); 3E, Guanacaste, Santa Cruz, PN Marino Las Baulas, LN 258040 332690, 0m, #59488, 16.viii.2000 (Y. Cárdenas). Material in MZUCR NHMUK, UCR, TAMU, USNM, MLP.

COMMENTS. Achrysopophagus modestus Timberlake was erroneously synonymised with Prochiloneurus dactylopii (Howard) by Noyes & Triapitsyn (2018). The two species are very close but can be separated reliably using the characters given in the key and respective diagnoses.

Prochiloneurus narendrani , known only from Puerto Rico and Dominica (new record), is very close to modestus . Females differ in the body being generally orange-brown, the subapical tuft of setae being only about 0.2X as long as the scutellum, the fore wing lacking the group of pale setae below the distal half of the parastigma, but a remote group of about 10 pale setae below the proximal half and only about 6 or 7 setae silvery setae in vicinity of propodeal spiracle. Males of narendrani differ in having the scape about 4X as long as broad and the flagellum brown.