Distatrix carolinae Fernandez-Triana

Fernandez-Triana, Jose L., 2010, Eight new species and an annotated checklist of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from Canada and Alaska, ZooKeys 63, pp. 1-53 : 16-18

Distatrix carolinae Fernandez-Triana sp. n. Figs 15, 16

Type locality.

Canada, Quebec, Gatineau, 45°29'16"N, 75°51'52"W.

Type material.

Holotype. Female (CNC), with label as follows: Summit King Mtn. Old Chelsea, QUE, 26.vi.77, M. Sandborne. CNC TYPE 23940.

Diagnosis.

This species is very similar to Distatrix solanae Whitfield, 1996, the other known Nearctic species. They differ slightly in body coloration (meso and metasoma mostly dark brown in Distatrix carolinae , mostly honey-orange in Distatrix solanae ), length/width of flagellomere 2 and 14 (2.9 × and 3.3 × for Distatrix carolinae and 3.7 × and 3.8 × for Distatrix solanae respectively) and a longer inner metatibial spur compared to the outer one (1.5 × in Distatrix carolinae , 1.2 × in Distatrix solanae ). The raised medial region of mediotergite 2 is delimited by divergent grooves that fade posteriorly in Distatrix solanae while the grooves are more or less parallel and not fading posteriorly in Distatrix carolinae .

Description.

Female

Antenna length 3.5 mm; body length 3.2 mm; forewing length 3.7 mm. Head with glossa truncate and short, maxillary and labial palps light yellow. Face with shallow and sparse punctures and uniformly distributed setae. Face width at antennal base/face width at clypeus edge: 1.1 ×; intertentorial pit distance/face width at clypeus edge: 0.7 ×; compound eye height/head height: 0.8 ×; head height/width: 0.8 ×; face width at antennal base/head maximum width: 0.4 ×; malar space/basal width of mandible 1.3 ×. Clypeus transversely narrow, its width/height: 4.6 ×. Length/width of flagellomeres: 1st (3.0 ×), 2nd (2.9 ×), 3rd (3.0 ×), 8th (3.0 ×), 14th (3.3 ×), 15th (3.0 ×), 16th (3.2 ×). Ocelo-ocular distance/posterior ocelli diameter: 0.4 ×; distance betwen posterior ocelli/ocelli diameter: 0.8 ×.

Mesosoma. Pronotum with ventral groove present, dorsal one almost obliterated. Mesoscutum with shallow, sparse punctures (distance between punctures about the same as its diameter); punctures almost disappearing in the notauli and posterior area of mesoscutum. Notauli not impressed, visible only because of the contrast of different coloration and smoother area than most of the mesoscutum. Mesoscutum 1.3 × wider than long. Mesoscutum and scutellum uniformly covered by dense, silvered-coloured pilosity. Scutellum almost completely smooth. Scutellum length/width at base 1.2 ×. Scutellar suture shallow and thin with 8-9 costulae some of them confluent. Posterior band of scutellum polished. Scutellar lateral face with polished area about 1/3 the face height. Mesopleura smooth and glabrous, except for a few punctures and setae on the margins; sternaulus marked by a shallow impression with transverse striae. Crenulated sulcus separating meso and metapleura. Metapleura smooth in basal half, apical half punctuated and with setae; metapleura with a crenulated, longitudinal sulcus running from lower margin near the metacoxa through the spiracle. Metapleural carina with lamella. Propodeum weakly punctuate, almost smooth; propodeal areola absent but there is a short, postero-median longitudinal band of rugosity (consisting of several short carinae radiating from nucha).

Metasoma. Mediotergite 1 parallel sided for over 3/4 of its length, then slightly narrowing towards apex where it is rounded at posterior end; basal width/apical width 1.8 ×; length/apical width 3.6 ×; mediotergite 1 essentially unscultured except postero-laterally near apical margin; with broad excavation medially over anterior half. Mediotergite 2 subtriangular but with lateral margins weakly defined; basal width/apical width 0.3 ×; length/apical width 0.5 ×; essentially smooth, with fine, longitudinal grooves sublaterally, delimiting a central, raised region that is more or less rectangular in shape. Mediotergite 3 1.2 × longer than mediotergite 2. Mediotergite 3 and following unsculptured, polished and with sparse setae. Hypopygium evenly sclerotized, truncated and slightly longer than apical tergites. Ovipositor sheaths very short (visible part 1/10 the length of metatibia), the tip blunt and with very sparse, tiny setae (those setae much shorter than hypopygium pilosity).

Legs. Metatibial inner spur 1.5 × the length of outer spur, and 0.7 × the length of metatarsomere 1. Metafemur 3.6 × as long as wide. Protarsus with Protapanteles-like spine. Tarsal claws basally with a large lobe that extends more than half the claw length.

Wings. Fore wing vein R1a as long as stigma length; length of R1a about 5.0 × as long as the distance between its end and the end of 3RSb. Vein r 0.8 × the maximum width of stigma. Vein r meeting 2RS in a distinct angle marked by a knob. Vein 2M about the same length that vein (RS+M)b. Hindwing with margin of vannal lobe medially straight and without setae in the flat area.

Colour: Maxillary and labial palps, labrum, mandibles, scape, pedicel, tegula, wing base, all legs (except for metatibia apex which is darker), medio tergite 1 and most of sternite yellow. Flagellomere light brown; clypeus orange-brown. Mesosoma dark brown, except for most of propleura and pronotum, notauli, lateral margins and apical 1/4 of mesoscutum which are honey-orange. Head brownish-black. Rest of metasoma brown. Stigma and veins in forewing brown.

Distribution and biology.

This species represents the northernmost record of the genus. Nothing is known of its biology.

Comments.

Based on morphology only, the limits between Distatrix carolinae and Distatrix solanae seem weak; however, morphological similarities are common within this genus. For example: Distatrix solanae shares a number of characteristics with Neotropical species (see Grinter et al. 2009). I consider the Canadian specimen as a new and distinct species based on the major differences within the localities and habitats ( California’s inner Coast Range and Oregon Cascade Mountains for Distatrix solanae ; King Mountain in Gatineau Park, Quebec, for Distatrix carolinae ). In the CNC there are several specimens representing at least another undescribed species from the Nearctic (southern and eastern US); the study of those specimen will clarify in time the limits of the North America species.

Etymology.

I dedicate this species to Caroline Boudreault (CNC), who likes so much to ski and enjoy the Gatineau Park. Your friendship, advices and jokes are always a great encouragement!