Pseudochalcura pauca Heraty

Torréns, Javier, 2016, A new species of Pseudochalcura Ashmead (Chalcidoidea: Eucharitidae) from Argentina with descriptions of alternate sexes of two other species, Zootaxa 4067 (2), pp. 239-245 : 242-243

Pseudochalcura pauca Heraty

( Figs 9–11, 16 )

Pseudochalcura pauca Heraty, 1986: 202 –205 (description), holotype ♀, Argentina: Córdoba, Dean Funes (California Academy of Science, USA); Heraty, 2002: 224 (catalog).

Diagnosis. Both sexes with head subtriangular, 1.5 – 1.7× as broad as high ( Fig. 11 ), antenna 8-segmented, mesocoxa with lateral carina, metatibial spur present, fore wing disc with very short setae, appearing bare, and submarginal vein and costal cell without setae; male with basal four flagellomeres pectinate ( Fig. 10 ); female with Gs1 densely micropunctate basally.

Differs from P. chilensis (most similar species) by females having 8 antennal segments (versus 10) with the basal flagellomeres strongly serrate with acute apices (versus flagellomeres lobate), and Gs1 granular (versus striate); males have 8 antennal segments (versus 11), with the last two flagellomeres fused, much longer than broad and subdivided ( Fig. 10 ), and the metafemur well expanded.

Description. Female. Description and characterization in accordance with that provided by Heraty (1986).

Male. Length 3.0 – 3.2 mm. Dark brown to black; lateral lobes and pleura slightly lighter; head and gaster black; coxae and basal ¾ of femora dark brown; antenna light brown, lighter closer to apex; apex of femora and rest of legs yellowish ( Fig. 9 ).

Head 1.5 – 1.7× as broad as high. POL 3.4× LOL; POL 2.1 – 2.4× OOL ( Fig. 11 ). Frons and face irregularly striate; clypeus and supraclypeal striate. Eyes separated by 2.0 – 2.1× their height. Malar space 0.8 – 0.9× height of eye. Labrum with 5 digits. Antenna 8-segmented, four basal flagellomeres pectinate; branches slightly flattened, dorsal branch of F2 5.0 – 7.0× as long as broad, 3.5 – 4.0× as long as basal length and 0.6× as long as head height; F6 serrate and F7 (clava) much longer than broad and bisegmented ( Fig. 10 ).

Mesosoma mostly with areolate sculpture, interstices broad and smooth, asetose ( Figs 9, 16 ). Pronotum and prepectus areolate with broader interstices. Mesoscutum 1.9 – 2.0× as broad as long. Mesoscutellum 1.2 – 1.3× as long as maximum width of scutellar disc ( Fig. 16 ). Propodeal disc slightly rounded, alveolate with broad interstices. Propleuron with same sculpture as pronotum and prepectus; mesopleuron and metapleuron areolate, femoral groove deeply impressed and smooth; callus with a few erect setae. Metacoxa semi-globose to globose, 1.2 – 1.4× as long as broad, bare; mesocoxa with a lateral carina. Metafemur expanded medially, 3.8 – 4.0× as long as broad; with short, sparse, appressed setae laterally. Metatibia with semi-erect setae dorsally and dense appressed setae ventrally; one metatibial spur present.

Petiole 3.4 – 3.7× as long as broad and 1.8 – 2.0× as long as metacoxa; slightly curved in profile and smooth ( Fig. 9 ). Gaster semi-globose, Gt1 smooth with a few scattered short setae.

Distribution. Argentina: Córdoba, Salta.

Material examined. 2♂: ARGENTINA: Salta: Cabeza de Buey, 24º47'38"S 64º01'56"W, 19.xii.2003, P. Fidalgo, UCRC _ ENT 0 0 357441 (1♂, IFML); same location, 15.iii.2007, J. & J. Heraty, J. Torréns, UCRC _ ENT 0 0 435928 (1♂, UCRC).

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 16. Pseudochalcura spp. 9 – 11, Pseudochalcura pauca (♂): 9, habitus; 10, antenna (lateral); 11, head (frontal). 12 – 15, P. prolata (♂): 12, head (frontal); 13, antenna (lateral); 14, habitus; 15, mesosoma (dorsal). 16, P. pauca (♂): mesosoma (dorsal).