Archaeoteleia mellea Masner

Early, J. W., Masner, L. & Johnson, N. F., 2007, Revision of Archaeoteleia Masner (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea, Scelionidae)., Zootaxa 1655, pp. 1-48 : 30-34

Archaeoteleia mellea Masner

Figures 46-49

Archaeoteleia mellea Masner 1968: 656. Original description. Loiacono & Diaz 1977: 96, description.

The original description was based on a series of males. This may be supplemented now with data from the females.

Description: Female. Length: 3.2-4.0 mm. Color generally light brown, sometimes varying to dark brown to black; A1-A5, legs, including coxae, mandibles, most of side of pronotum, mesopleuron, metapleuron lighter, yellowish brown; A6-A12, upper part of head, horn on T1 dark brown; wings clear, with only slight infuscation below marginal and stigmal veins; pseudostigma (begins at bulla, fills in space above venation) above marginal vein very dark brownish black, lighter in smaller specimens; dorsal portion of body, particularly metasoma, sometimes very dark brown to brownish black;

Head (Figs. 47-49): vertex, occiput, upper frons predominantly smooth, highly shining, with only few scattered setigerous fine punctures, in some specimens with occiput, vertex, upper frons with longitudinal rugulae on frons, transverse rugulae in ocellar triangle, diagonal rugulae on occiput; upper gena smooth, shining, almost glabrous; eye glabrous; LOL distinctly shorter than OOL, lateral ocellus located far from inner orbit; occipital carina strong, complete, finely crenulate at least medially, in some specimens crenulae strongly developed; frontal keel strong, continuing onto upper frons as shallow depression to anterior ocellus; facial striae strong, reaching inner orbit and extending dorsally to midpoint of eye; clypeus not particularly high, smooth, anterolateral corners weakly projecting; toruli confluent with dorsal margin of clypeus; A1 4.6-5.2 times as long as wide; A2 2.6 times as long as wide; A3 3.3 times as long as A2; flagellum with short setae; claval formula A5-A12/1-2-2-2-2-2-2-1.

Mesosoma (Figs. 48-49): transverse pronotal carina sharp, complete, almost straight, anterolateral corners angular, but not spikelike; vertical epomial carina sharp, complete, reaching anterior margin of lateral pronotum, from junction to ventral margin of lateral face with chain of large foveolae; horizontal epomial carina very sharp, shoulders narrow, punctured; lateral pronotum smooth, shining, glabrous; netrion well-defined by row of foveolae, with fine setigerous punctures; mesonotum entirely covered with dense, fine setigerous punctures, pilosity appressed; admedian lines absent; notaulus complete, deeply incised, foveolate; parapsidal line strongly developed, elevated; scutellum subrectangular, with same sculpture as mesoscutum, except somewhat sparser; scutellar spines sharp, slightly curved apically toward midline, slightly shorter than length of scutellar disk, in lateral view directed almost directly posteriorly; mesopleural carina not developed, but several horizontal grooves present on mesepisternum; mesopleuron largely smooth, shining, glabrous, upper portion, perfectly smooth, sometimes with horizontal striae reducing size of smooth area, mesepisternum predominantly smooth, shining, with only very few scattered hairs; acetabular carina fine, complete; row of foveolae along posterior margin of mesopleuron complete, reaching mid coxal cavity; metapleuron with more pilosity than mesepisternum, lower half of metapleuron above hind coxa distinctly more setose, with scattered fine punctures, arched line of deep foveolae mesally leaving fairly large smooth, glabrous, mirrorlike part of metapleuron above foveolae, carinae between metapleuron and propodeum present, complete; propodeum sides densely pilose, median keels well-developed, distinctly diverging ventrally, propodeum deeply excavate medially, excavation glabrous, with fine punctures; fore wing almost clear, slightly surpassing tip of metasoma; stigmal vein short, forming 45° angle with costal margin, subequal in length to marginal vein, apex distinctly slanted backwards; postmarginal vein not developed, in one specimen with nebulous streak in position of postmarginal vein, Cu, Rs, M nebulous, pigmented, basal vein strongly pigmented; legs slender, hind femur only slightly enlarged; spurs delicate; hind coxa either smooth or with weak transverse wrinkles.

Metasoma (Figs. 46, 49) moderately elongate, length 3.2-4.2 times width; length of T1 0.8 times width, horn only moderately developed, in lateral view not exceeding level of middle of propodeum, dorsal surface of horn smooth and shining, T1 otherwise longitudinally costate; length of T2 0.5 times width, entirely longitudinally costate; length of T3 0.5 times width, with row of deep foveolae along anterior margin, otherwise entirely longitudinally costate, sculpture irregular medially; length of T4 0.5 times width, with row of deep foveolae along anterior margin, longitudinally rugulose; length of T5 0.4 times width, posterior margin slightly excavate; T6 distinctly elongate, length 2.7-3.2 times width, with coarse longitudinal rugulosity, semierect setae, sometimes sculpture more confused.

Diagnosis: Archaeoteleia mellea is closest to A. penai and A. puncticeps , but has a complete, sharp, vertical epomial carina; the head is smooth and shining or with wrinkles (not punctation), extensively smooth and shining, and the male has a keel only on A4. Unlike A. puncticeps , in that it has some parts of body distinctly darker than the rest, especially the dorsum of the mesosoma and the metasoma.

Link to Distribution Map. [http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu:210/hymenoptera/eol_scelionidae.content _page?page_level=3&page_id=taxon_page_data&page_version=4040&page_option1=M]

Material Examined: Holotype male: CHILE: Aisen, Puerto Cisnes , II.1961, L. Pena. Deposited in AEIC.

Paratypes: CHILE: Aisen, Puerto Cisnes , 44°45'S 72°40'W, 16- 28.II.1961, II.1961, L.E. Pena, 5 males, OSUC 146526, 146528 ( CNCI), OSUC 151823, 151825, 151826 ( AEIC) . Los Lagos, Neltume , Prov. de Valdivia, 3.III.1955, L.E. Pena, male, OSUC 146527 ( CNCI) ; Dalcahue , Chiloe Isl., 17.I- 14.II.1962, L.E. Pena, male, OSUC 151827 ( AEIC).

Other material: CHILE: Araucania, 10 km S Pucon, 900 m, Nothofagus grove on ash, Villarrica N.P. , Cautin Prov., 15.XII.1984 - 10.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, 2 males, 5 females, OSUC 146561, 203578-203582, 203584 ( CNCI) ; 4.5 km W Los Portones entrance , 37°49.25'S 72°59.82'W, 1300 m, P.N. Nahuelbuta , Prov. de Malleco, 21.XII.1996 - 7.II.1997, A. Newton, M. Thayer, male, OSUC 146567 ( CNCI) ; Conguillio National Park, 1150 m, Araucaria / Nothofagus , Cautin Prov., 4- 5.II.1988, L. Masner, male, OSUC 146553 ( CNCI) ; Conguillio National Park, 1150 m, Nothofagus , Cautin Prov., 4- 5.II.1988, L. Masner, 21 males, 10 females, OSUC 192933-192940, 203327-203331, 203368, 203369, 203424-203439 ( CNCI) ; Conguillio National Park , 38°38'56"S 71°39'49"W, 1214 m , UCR AToL C05-010, Araucaria / Nothofagus forest , 11- 24.II.2005, male, OSUC 174438 ( CNCI) ; Cordillera de Nahuelbuta, 1100m, Cabreria , 20- 21.I.1977, L.E. Pena, male, OSUC 146566 ( CNCI) ; Flor del Lago, 300 m, Nothofagus forest, 15 km NE Villarrica , Cautin Prov., 14.XII.1984 - 10.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, male, OSUC 146530 ( CNCI) ; La Princesa Waterfall, 1000 m, Nothofagus forest, 20 km E Curacautin , Malleco Prov., 12.XII.1984 - 16.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, 2 females, OSUC 146558, 203583 ( CNCI) ; Lago Caburgua, 600 m, mixed forest remnant, 21 km NE Pucon , Cautin Prov., 15.XII.1984 - 10.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, male, female, OSUC 146532, 203560 ( CNCI) ; Lake Villarrica, 310m, Valdivian forest, Bellavista , Cautin Prov., 15- 30.XII.1982, A. Newton, M. Thayer, 2 females, OSUC 146529, 163003 ( CNCI) ; Monte Verde, Carahue , Prov. de Cautin, 29.I- 2.II.1993, L.E. Pena, 4 males, female, OSUC 146544, 203534-203536, 203559 ( CNCI) ; Monumento Natural Contulmo, 350 m, Puren , Malleco Prov., 11.XII.1984 - 13.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, female, OSUC 146559 ( CNCI) ; Nahuelbuta National Park, 1200-1500 m, Araucaria / Nothofagus forest, 40 km W Angol , 9.XII.1984 - 17.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, male, OSUC 146531 ( CNCI) ; Nahuelbuta National Park , 37°48'10"S 73°01'27"W, 1327 m , UCR AToL C05-004, Araucaria / Chusquea forest , 8.II.2005, male, OSUC 174434 ( CNCI) ; Nahuelbuta National Park , 37°48'54"S 73°00'44"W, 1288 m , UCR AToL C05-007, open scrub Nothofagus forest , 9.II.2005, female, OSUC 174439 ( CNCI) ; Nahuelbuta National Park , 37°49'42"S 73°00'39"W, 1138 m , 8- 9.II.2005, L. Masner, male, OSUC 203540 ( CNCI) ; Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta, 1200-1500 m, 40 km W Angol , 8.XII.1984 - 17.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, male, female, OSUC 203585, 203586 ( CNCI) ; Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta , 37.809°S 73.016°W, 3680 ft , 9- 12.I.2000, D. K. Yeates, D. W. Webb, male, OSUC 146568 ( CNCI) ; Puren, 350 m, mixed evergreen forest, Contulmo N.M. , Malleco Prov., 11.XII.1984 - 13.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, male, OSUC 203561 ( CNCI) ; Rio Blanco , Prov. de Cautin, 5- 20.I.1996, T. Cekalovic, 4 males, OSUC 203596-203599 ( CNCI) ; Villarrica Volcano , 39°23.27'S 71°57.82'W, 1390 m, stunted Nothofagus pumilo forest, road to ski center, Villarrica N.P. , Cautin Prov., 27.XII.1996 - 3.II.1997, A. Newton, M. Thayer, male, OSUC 146542 ( CNCI) ; Bio-Bio, Las Trancas, 1250 m, 19.5 km ESE Recinto , Prov. de Nuble, 8- 11.II.1988, L. Masner, male, OSUC 192692 ( CNCI) ; Pata de Gallina, E of Contulmo , Arauco Prov., II.1989, P. Salinas, 2 males, 2 females, OSUC 146543, 203520, 203521, 203556 ( CNCI) ; Los Lagos, 0.6 km W route to Miraflores , 42°46.74'S 73°47.70'W, 130 m, secondary Valdivian rainforest with few conifers , Chiloe Isl., 12- 21.XII.2002, Newton, Thayer et al., male, female OSUC 146564, 203538 ( CNCI) ; 11 km W Quemchi , 42°10.40'S 73°35.73'W, 140 m , 2002-066, Valdivian forest remnant with thick bamboo understory , Chiloe Prov., 10- 21.XII.2002, Clarke, Newton, Thayer, male, OSUC 146541 ( CNCI) ; 14.5 km W Puaucho , 40°37'S 73°45'W, 175 m , Prov. de Osorno, 11- 28.XI.1994, R. Leschen, male, OSUC 146546 ( CNCI) ; 2.5 km SSW Puerto Fui, L. Pirehuico , Prov. Valdivia, 160 m , 25- 28.XI.1988, A. Ashworth, male, OSUC 146562 ( CNCI) ; 30 km W La Union, 600 m , Prov. de Valdivia, 10- 11.II.1988, L. Masner, male, OSUC 151836 ( AEIC) ; 34 km WNW La Union, 700 m, mixed evergreen forest , Valdivia Prov., 17.XII.1984 - 7.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, 2 females, OSUC 146540, 203539 ( CNCI) ; 34 km WNW La Union, 700 m , Valdivia Prov., 17.XII.1984 - 7.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, 2 males, 6 females, OSUC 203562-203569 ( CNCI) ; 37 km SE Chaiten, 60 m, riverside / 2nd forest , Palena Prov., 28.XII.1984 - 30.I.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, 5 males, 1 female, OSUC 146560, 203570-203574 ( CNCI) ; 37 km SE Chaiten, 700 m, mixed evergreen forest , Palena Prov., 17.XII.1984 - 7.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, 3 females, OSUC 203575-203577 ( CNCI) ; 4 km E Anticura, 430 m , Prov. de Osorno, 19- 24.XII.1982, A. Newton, M. Thayer, male, OSUC 146534 ( CNCI) ; 6 km NW Choshuenco, Puente Blanco , Prov. Valdivia, 180 m , 3- 6.XII.1987, A. Ashworth, female, OSUC 146563 ( CNCI) ; 8 km S Ancud, forest remnant litter, Chiloe Isl., 1.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, female, OSUC 146535 ( CNCI) ; Aguas Calientes Hot Springs, 600 m, Nothofagus forest, Puyehue N.P. , Osorno Prov., 18.XII.1984 - 8.II.1985, J. Peck, S. Peck, 2 females, OSUC 146538, 203533 ( CNCI) ; Ahoni, 70m, primary forest , Isla Chiloe, II.1988, 21.II.1988, 22.II.1988, 23.II.1988, IV.1988, V.1988, L. Masner, 55 males, 36 females, OSUC 146551, 163631, 163633, 192474-192484, 192665-192675, 192925-192932, 203464-203485, 203487-203519, 203526-203528 ( CNCI) ; Ahoni , Isla Chiloe, 3- 15.II.1995, A. Ugarte, 3 males, OSUC 146548, 203557, 203558 ( CNCI) ; Ahoni, primary forest , Chiloe Isl., XII.1988 - III.1989, L.E. Pena, female, OSUC 203537 ( CNCI) ; Ahoni, primary forest , Chiloe Isl., IX.1988, L.E. Pena, 2 males, 2 females, OSUC 203552-203555 ( CNCI) ; Alerce Costero National Monument , 40°11'38"S 73°26'02"W, 938 m , UCR AToL C05-026, mature Fitzroyia forest, W of La Union , 19.II.2005, male, OSUC 174432 ( CNCI) ; Anticura , 40°39'53"S 72°10'02"W, 447m , UCR AToL C05-022, Nothofagus / Chusqueia forest, Puyehue N.P., Repucura Path , 17.II.2005, male, OSUC 174435 ( CNCI) ; El Chingue, 200m, Nothofagus forest, nr. Correntoso , Llanquihue Prov., 18.II.1988, L. Masner, 9 males, OSUC 203446-203454 ( CNCI) ; El Chingue, Lago Chapo , Prov. de Llanquihue, IV-V.1990, VI-IX.1990, L.E. Pena, 3 males, 2 females, OSUC 146556, 203524, 203593- 203595 ( CNCI) ; Lago Chapo, 200 m , Prov. de Llanquihue, 16- 19.II.1988, L. Masner, male, OSUC 55601 ( OSUC) ; Laguna Sargazo, 150 m, vegetation along track, Alerce Andino N.P. , 18.I.1986, N. A. Deans, 3 males, OSUC 163626-163628 ( LUNZ) ; Lake Chapo, 200m, Nothofagus forest , Llanquihue Prov., 16- 19.II.1988, L. Masner, 49 males, 7 females, OSUC 146536, 192435-192445, 192447-192457, 192965- 192991, 192994, 192995, 192997-193000 ( CNCI) ; Las Lajas, W of La Union , Prov. de Valdivia, 9- 13.I.1990, L.E. Pena, male, OSUC 146557 ( CNCI) ; Las Trancas, 500m, Nothofagus , 30 km W La Union , Valdivia Prov., 7.II.1988, 7- 11.II.1988, 7- 12.II.1988, 8- 11.II.1988, 11- 24.II.1988, 25.II.1988, L. Masner, 117 males, 35 females, OSUC 146550, 163632, 163634, 192676-192679, 192681-192691, 192693, 192941-192964, 203209-203281, 203304, 203332-203367 ( CNCI) ; Las Trancas, 500m, Nothofagus , 30 km W La Union , Valdivia Prov., II.1990, P. Salinas, 2 males, OSUC 203550, 203551 ( CNCI) ; Las Trancas , Dept. de La Union, I.1995, A. Ugarte, female, OSUC 146549 ( CNCI) ; Mirador , 40°10'12"S 73°30'00"W, 1004 m , UCR AToL C05-027, recovering Fitzroyia forest, Alerce Costero N.M. , 19- 20.II.2005, female, OSUC 174436 ( CNCI) ; N of Correntoso, El Chingue , Prov. de Llanquihue, IV-V.1989, IV-V.1990, L.E. Pena, 4 males, 6 females, OSUC 146555, 203522, 203523, 203525, 203587-203592 ( CNCI) ; nr. Lake Chapo, 200m, Nothofagus forest , Llanquihue Prov., 16- 19.II.1988, 18.II.1988, L. Masner, 113 males, 13 females, OSUC 192485-192489, 192491-192499, 192558-192586, 192588-192600, 192640-192654, 192656-192695, 203282-203303, 203305-203309, 203311-203326, 203445, 203463 ( CNCI) ; nr. Mafil, 150 m, forest floor, Valdivia Prov., 26.II.1988, L. Masner, male, OSUC 192694 ( CNCI) ; Parque Nacional Chiloe , 42°20'S 74°7'W, sea level , Isla Chiloe, 11- 12.XII.2002, L. Masner, male, OSUC 146565 ( CNCI) ; Piopio , Isla Chiloe, 3- 15.II.1995, A. Ugarte, male, OSUC 146547 ( CNCI) ; Puntra River, 100 m, Nothofagus forest, Route 5 , Chiloe Isl., 24.II.1988, L. Masner, 7 males, 2 females, OSUC 146554, 203455, 203456-203462 ( CNCI) ; Puyehue National Park, 250 m, Nothofagus forest, nr. Anticura , Osorno Prov., 12- 13.II.1988, 12- 14.II.1988, 14.II.1988, L. Masner, 4 males, OSUC 203529-203532 ( CNCI) ; S side of Huillinco Lake , 42°41.81'S 73°55.88'W, 45m , #2002-072, Valdivian rainforest with emergent Saxegothaea conspicua , road to Bellavista, 1.3km S road to Cucao , Chiloe Prov., 12- 22.XII.2002, Chani, Newton, Thayer, male, OSUC 146539 ( CNCI) ; Terao , 42°42'22"S 73°39'12"W, 10 m , UCR AToL C05-016, beach / shrub forest, 10km S Chonchi , Chiloe Isl., 13.II.2005, male, OSUC 174433 ( CNCI) ; Terao , 42°43'01"S 73°38'47"W, 45 m , UCR AToL C05-013, 10 km S Chonchi , Chiloe Isl., 12- 13.II.2005, male, OSUC 174437 ( CNCI) ; Terao, 50m, 2nd growth forest, nr. Chonchi , Chiloe Isl., 21- 23.II.1988, L. Masner, 51 males, 39 females, OSUC 146537, 146552, 192458-192473, 192696-192700, 203201-203208, 203370-203423, 203440-203444 ( CNCI) ; of La Union , Prov. de Osorno, III.1987, L.E. Pena, male, OSUC 146533 ( CNCI) . Rio Cruces, S of Conception , XII.1994, P. Salinas, male, OSUC 146545 ( CNCI).

Remarks: Archaeoteleia mellea is a common crepuscular species: numbers of individuals were caught near Lago Chapo by L. Masner in yellow pan traps. The peak of activity fell between 8-10 P.M. (in February, therefore still with some light at that latitude). From 10 P.M. to midnight very few specimens were collected.