Achrysocharoides serotinae, Shevtsova, Ekaterina & Hansson, Christer, 2011

Shevtsova, Ekaterina & Hansson, Christer, 2011, Species recognition through wing interference patterns (WIPs) in Achrysocharoides Girault (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) including two new species, ZooKeys 154, pp. 9-30 : 16-18

Achrysocharoides serotinae sp. n. Figures 72-87

Material.

HOLOTYPE male (CNC) glued to a card, labelled "U.S.A.: Connecticut, New Haven Co., North Haven, 30.ix.1981, Chris T. Maier", "Adult parasitoid lab-reared from tentiform mine of Phyllonorycter propinquinella collected on black cherry, Prunus serotina on 30.ix.1981". PARATYPES: 1 male with same label data as holotype (CNC); 2 females labeled "U.S.A.: Connecticut, Tolland Co., Union, 23.vi.1981, Chris T. Maier", "Adult parasitoid lab-reared from tentiform mine of Phyllonorycter propinquinella collected on black cherry, Prunus serotina on 23.vi.1981" (CNC).

Diagnosis.

Both sexes: fore wing WIP almost unicoloured, gradually changing hue from purple to green towards the margin, without any distinct details such as lines or spots (Figs 80, 81), fore coxa predominantly dark brown, hind coxa golden green (Figs 78, 79); male: scape with about same width throughout, with a single sparse row of setae along ventral margin, antennal scrobes joining on frontal suture (Fig. 73, 83), vertex with long forward pointing setae (Fig. 85) - setae at most as long as distance between posterior ocelli, upper frons without setae (Fig. 83); female: scape pale brown and widest medially, with a single row of setae along ventral margin (Fig. 74), propodeum smooth (Fig. 86), frons above frontal suture with raised and strong reticulation (Fig. 82).

Description.

Female. Length 1.2-1.3 mm. Scape and pedicel pale brown; flagellum dark brown (Fig. 74). Frons below frontal suture golden red, above frontal suture bluish green metallic (Fig. 72). Vertex inside ocellar triangle golden red, outside ocellar triangle golden green. Mesoscutum green metallic with blue metallic tinges, smooth parts of notaular depression golden green (Fig. 74). Scutellum golden green with sides and posterior margin bluish green metallic (Fig. 74). Propodeum golden green with blue metallic tinges (Fig. 74). Fore coxa dark brown with apical 1/3 white, mid coxa dark brown, hind coxa purple metallic (Fig. 78); femora, tibiae and tarsi on all legs white. Wings without pigmented areas; WIP in fore wing almost unicoloured, gradually changing hue from blue to green towards the margin when the membrane becomes gradually thinner (Fig. 80). Gaster with first two tergites golden green, remaining tergites golden purple with green metallic tinges.

Antenna as in Fig. 74. Frons below level of toruli smooth and shiny (Fig. 82), between level of toruli and frontal suture with raised and strong reticulation with antennal scrobes smooth, above frontal suture with raised and strong reticulation. Vertex inside ocellar triangle with engraved and weak reticulation, outside ocellar triangle smooth and shiny (Fig. 84). Occipital margin rounded.

Pronotal collar without transverse carina (Fig. 86). Mesoscutum with raised and strong reticulation (Fig. 86), meshes of reticulation smaller on sidelobes than on midlobe, midlobe with singular pits (i.e. with very strong reticulation) posteromedially; notauli as smooth impressions in posterior 2/3. Scutellum with very weak reticulation and shiny, smooth along posterior margin, with 2-4 pits medially on either side of imaginary median longitudinal line (Fig. 86). Dorsellum flat and smooth, anterolaterally with two foveae. Propodeum smooth and shiny (Fig. 86); propodeal callus with three setae. Fore wing speculum closed below. Petiole conical without shoulders.

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 3.7/1.0/1.6; POL/OOL/POO = 1.7/1.0/1.0; WH/WT = 1.2; LW/LM/HW = 1.6/1.0/1.0; PM/ST = 1.0; MM/LG = 0.8-0.9.

Male. Length 1.4 mm. Scape and pedicel white; flagellum dark brown (Fig. 75). Frons green metallic (Fig. 73B). Vertex inside ocellar triangle golden red, outside ocellar triangle golden green. Mesoscutum golden green with anterior part blue (Fig. 77). Scutellum golden green with golden red tinges and with lateral parts blue (Fig. 77). Propodeum golden green with golden red tinges (Fig. 77). Fore coxa dark brown with apical 1/3 white, mid coxa dark brown, hind coxa purple metallic (Fig. 79); femora, tibiae and tarsi on all legs white. Wings without pigmented areas; WIP very similar to that of the female (Fig. 81). Gaster with tergites 1-2 dark brown with golden green tinges, remaining tergites dark brown with weak metallic tinges, over tergites 1-3 with a large median white spot.

Antenna as in Fig. 75, i.e. scape with about same width throughout. Frons with raised and strong reticulation, some parts with transverse striation (Fig. 83); antennal scrobes joining on frontal suture; transverse ridge evenly curved. Vertex inside ocellar triangle with engraved and very weak reticulation (Fig. 85), outside ocellar triangle smooth and shiny; anterior part with a row of 3-5 long and forward directed setae. Occipital margin rounded.

Pronotal collar without transverse carina (Fig. 87). Mesoscutum with raised and strong reticulation (Fig. 87), meshes of reticulation smaller on sidelobes than on midlobe, midlobe with pits (i.e. with very strong reticulation) posteromedially; notauli as smooth impressions in posterior 2/3. Scutellum with weak reticulation, smooth along posterior and lateral margins, with 2-5 pits medially on either side of imaginary median longitudinal line (Fig. 87). Dorsellum flat and smooth, anterolaterally with two foveae. Propodeum smooth and shiny (Fig. 87); propodeal callus with three setae. Fore wing speculum closed below. Petiole conical without shoulders.

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 2.5/1.0/1.3; POL/OOL/POO = 4.6/1.8/1.0; WH/WT = 1.1; LW/LM/HW = 1.6/1.0/1.0; PM/ST = 1.0; MM/LG = 0.9.

Etymology.

Named after black cherry ( Prunus serotina ), the host plant.

Distribution.

U.S.A. (Connecticut).

Host.

Phyllonorycter propinquinella (Braun) ( Lepidoptera : Gracillariidae ) on black cherry ( Prunus serotina ).

Identification of the new species

In the most recent key to North American Achrysocharoides by Kamijo (1991) the two newly described species both key out to the clypeatus group. To include them in the key to species of this group the following changes can be made:

Females of both species run to couplet 3, alternative 2 (where Achrysocharoides arienascapus falls out). The second alternative is changed to lead to 3a instead of Achrysocharoides arienascapus and then: