Polynema ( Dorypolynema ) magniceps ( Ashmead, 1900 )

Aquino, Daniel A., Triapitsyn, Serguei V. & Huber, John T., 2016, Nomenclatural changes in Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), Zootaxa 4205 (6), pp. 581-592 : 587-588

Polynema ( Dorypolynema) magniceps ( Ashmead, 1900)

( Figs 4a–e )

Polynema magniceps Ashmead 1900: 265 –266. Type locality: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Vincent Island, unspecified.

Polynema grenadensis Ashmead 1900: 266 . Type locality: Grenada, Mirabeau Estate (Windward side). Syn. n. Polynema ( Dorypolynema) gaucho Triapitsyn & Aquino 2010: 63 –67. Holotype female [ MLPA], examined ( Triapitsyn & Aquino 2010). Type locality: Argentina, Formosa, Estancia Guaycolec ( 25 km N of Formosa), 25°59'S 58°12'W. Syn. n.

Type material examined. Holotype male of P. magniceps [ BMNH] on point labeled: 1, “ Leward side St. Vincent, W. I., H.H. Smith 200”; 2, “ Type H. T. ”; 3, “ Polynema magniceps ♂ Type Ashm ”; 4, “ B.M. Type Hym ”; 5, “1455”.

Holotype female of P. grenadensis [ BMNH] on point labeled: 1, “Mirabeau Est. (Windward side) Grenada, W. I. H. H. Smith ”; 2, “ Type H. T. ”; 3, “ W. Indies. 99-331.”; 4, “ Polynema grenadensis ♀ Type ”; 5, “B. M . TYPE HYM. 5. 1456”; 6, “NHMUK 010198633”.

Additional material examined. Argentina: FORMOSA: Estancia Guaycolec , 25 km N of Formosa, 25°59'S 58°12'W, 17–20.xii. 1998, 185 m, S.L. Heydon [1 non-type ♀, UCRC] . Chile: X REGIÓN, Isla Grande de Chiloé, Río Dongo , 19.i.2000, T. Cekalovic [ 1 ♀, UCDC] .

Diagnosis. The holotype male of Polynema ( Dorypolynema) magniceps is characterized by the following combination of features: general body color dark brown with appendages yellowish brown except funicular segments and procoxa yellow; antennal scape with transverse striation on inner surface; pronotum divided mediolongitudinally, each lobe with 4 setae at posterior margin; mesoscutum and scutellum smooth; scutellar campaniform sensilla about in middle of scutellum; propodeum with complete median carina; fore wing hyaline, narrow, 5.2× as long as wide.

Redescription. Female ( holotype of P. grenadensis ). Similar to male except for normal sexually dimorphic features: antenna with scape smooth, 1.2× longer than F2, the latter the longest funicular segment and 2.2× as long as F1; F4–F6 similar in length and width; clava a little shorter than 3 preceding segments; ovipositor strongly exserted; fore wing hyaline, about 4.2× as long as wide.

Comments. Ashmead (1900) described Polynema magniceps from Saint Vincent Island based on a single male, which is in a very poor condition, so a more detailed diagnosis or redescription cannot be provided. Ashmead (1900) also described Polynema grenadensis from the neighboring island of Grenada based on a single female. We consider P. grenadensis to be a synonym of P. magniceps because the types are similar in general morphological features except for the normal sexually dimorphic ones.

Polynema magniceps definitely belongs to Polynema ( Dorypolynema Hayat & Anis ) and is very similar to the widespread Neotropical species P. gaucho Triapitsyn & Aquino. The female described as P. grenadensis differs from the latter by the slightly shorter F2 relative to the length of F1 (about 2.0×), whereas in P. gaucho F2 is about 2.2× length of F1 ( Triapitsyn & Aquino 2010). However, it seems that this morphological character is subject to intraspecific variability in the specimens from Formosa, Argentina, which fit both these nominal species, so P. ( Dorypolynema) gaucho is here synonymized under P. ( Dorypolynema) magniceps .

Distribution. Grenada ( Ashmead 1900, as P. grenadensis ) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ( Saint Vincent Island), as well as Argentina ( Formosa), Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru ( Triapitsyn & Aquino 2010, as P. ( Dorypolynema) gaucho), and Chile (new record).

Figures

FIGURES 4 a – e. Polynema (Dorypolynema) magniceps: a, ♀ habitus; b, ♂ habitus (holotype); c, ♀ antenna; d, ♂ head and antenna (holotype); e, ♀ mesosoma and antenna.