Cremnops californicus (Morrison)

Tucker, Erika M., Chapman, Eric G. & Sharkey, Michael J., 2015, A revision of the New World species of Cremnops Förster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae), Zootaxa 3916 (1), pp. 1-83 : 42-43

Cremnops californicus (Morrison)

[ Plate 5 , Figs A–I]

Bracon californicus Morrison, 1917 . Female.

Bracon aionos Shenefelt, 1937 . Female. Synonymized by Marsh, 1961.

Diagnosis. This species is easily distinguished by its long, distinctly foveolate, up-curved (or diagonal) sternaulus, relatively long malar space, and numerous distal hind tibial spines (~10 or more).

Description. Holotype: female. Body length 9.0 mm (8–9.5 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Forty (38–42) flagellomeres. Lateral carina of frons weak, ending immediately anteriad lateral ocellus. Interocellar space not elevated, level with lateral ocelli. Malar space 1.0x (0.8–1.2x) eye height. Apical tooth of mandible extending well past margin of basal lobe, often appearing as one long tooth.

Mesosoma (Figs D, E & H). Subpronopes adjacent, separated by a partition wider than the longitudinal length of the dorsomedial portion of pronotum. Median mesonotal lobe not depressed medially. Notaulus smooth. Scutellar sulcus with 1 (1–4) longitudinal carina. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange not prominent; rather: 90° to obtuse (to lobed). Mesoscutellar trough with (to without) longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough with (to without) extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 11 (5–12) pits; about 2/ 3x (to 3/ 4x) length of mesopleuron. Medial propodeal areola with 5 (4–6) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral 1/3.

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 3– 4 x width. Distal tibia with 10 (7–14) spines. Claw missing on type specimen, inner tooth of inner and outer claws symmetrical.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Hyaline with melanic tint (to melanic); veins melanic; stigma melanic. 2nd submarginal cell slightly higher than wide (to as high as wide). Hyaline spot in anterior part of 1st submarginal cell (in upper part of 1st submarginal cell and basal part of 2nd discal space). (In upper part of 1st submarginal cell and basal part of 2nd discal space).

Metasoma (Figs A & B). 1st median tergite length about 1.5x apical width, apical width about 2x basal width.

Body Color Orange, except black as follows: propodeum, metapleuron, distal part of hind tibia and hind tarsus (color ranges from: all orange to all black, with the exception of the metasoma, which remains primarily orange).

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Associated Plants—Tamarix (L.) ( Caryophyllales : Tamericaceae) [from label data].

Adults Collected —April to July.

Geographic Range —Rocky Mountains westward, Washington south to Baja California and New Mexico (no records from Idaho). See map in Appendix II.

Etymology. Presumably named for the state of California, where the holotype was collected.

Material Examined. HOLOTYPE: female, South California, type no. 20481, ( USNM) (H3475); Bracon aionos female, Grand Coulee, Washington, Soap Lake, June 29, 1902, type no. 52168 ( USNM) (H3477). Non- Types: 11 ( HIC), 2 ( ANSP), 19 ( FSCA), 2 ( CNC), 21 ( ESSIG), 1 ( NMHM), 10 ( CAS), 3 ( MCZ), 8 ( UAIC), 6 ( CSCA). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 5. Cremnops californicus. A. lateral habitus (4 color variations); B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head (2 color variations); D. mesopleuron (2 color variations); E. mesoscutum with scutellar sulcus insert (2 color variations) with mandible insert; F. face; G. wings; H. propodeum; I. hind leg with distal tibial spines insert.