Astichus micans, Neser, Ottilie C., 2012

Neser, Ottilie C., 2012, The first record of Astichus Förster (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Entiinae), parasitoids of Ciidae (Coleoptera) in bracket fungi, from the Afrotropical Region and the description of four new species from South Africa, Zootaxa 3183, pp. 49-64 : 53-57

Astichus micans n. sp.

Figs 1 , 5, 9, 10 , 17; Map 1.

Etymology. micans (Latin) = glittering, twinkling.

Diagnosis. Both sexes: face with white crossband only above scrobes; angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins of forewing 45º and hyaline ( Fig. 5). Female: head with four longitudinal black stripes, thorax with six, on iridescent green background as in Fig. 1 ; antenna with scape cylindrical, nearly reaching median ocellus, funicle segments subquadrate, F1 and F2 dark, F3 and F4 yellow ( Fig. 9 ), forewing with distinctive pawprint-like pattern ( Fig. 5), disc with 8 or 9 setae below marginal vein on ventral surface; propodeum bowtie-shaped, with anterior and posterior margins meeting medially; gaster with posterior margin of T1 incised medially, T2 only slightly angled; cercus with 3 setae of equal length. Male: antenna ( Fig. 10 ) with F1 lacking peduncle, F2–4 calabash (gourd) shaped with peduncles, and club with spicule as long as third club segment.

Description. Female. Length: 1.0– 1.4 mm (average 1.2 mm). Colour: Head, thorax and propodeum iridescent blue-green with various blackish bands as follows ( Fig. 1 ): face with four very short dark crossbands at inner orbits but not reaching scrobes, vertex with four dark longitudinal bands, pronotum and mesoscutum with six longitudinal bands, the outer two crossing axillae, dorsellum and propodeum laterally, four central bands continuing to apex of scutellum, merging into single median band crossing dorsellum and propodeum; clypeus yellow-brown; short white crossband at apex of scrobal depression, below median ocellus; eyes red; antenna ( Fig. 9 ) with scape brown with both ends whitish, pedicel black, F1 and F2 black, F3 and F4 yellowy white, club black, white rhinaria and setae on funicle and club; fore wing ( Fig. 5) hyaline with short curved brown band below parastigma, irregular smoky brown crossband in proximal half and pawprint-like pattern in apical half, disc setae dark, submarginal vein brown, parastigma brown, marginal vein base white, followed by slightly expanded brown section, apical half whitish, stigmal and postmarginal veins brown, apex of postmarginal vein whitish, angle between stigmal and postmarginal veins hyaline; hind wing hyaline; legs yellow-brown with brown infuscations as follows: coxae brown with bluish sheen, trochanters with irregular brown infuscations, fore femur with brown ventral stripe, mid femur brown except dorsally at apex, hind femur dark brown with slightly paler apex, fore and mid tibiae with basal half partly and apical tips brown, hind tibia dark brown except ring near apex, tarsal segments 2 and 4 brown; gaster ( Fig. 1 ) dark brown with purple sheen, iridescent blue laterally on T1.

Head. Non-collapsing, very finely reticulate, dull; head in dorsal view about 1.8 times as wide as long and about 1.8 times as wide as vertex, slightly wider than thorax, in frontal view 1.3 times as wide as long; clypeus inconspicuous, oval-shaped; eye about one and a half times as long as malar space, fine malar groove present; ocelli small, IOL 5, OOL 3, POL 9; eyes with very short white hairs; antennae inserted just below lower level of eyes, small longitudinal reticulated ridge between toruli, small shiny depression laterad at scrobes, scrobes fairly deep, shiny, strigulate, parallel-sided, slightly widening at apex; antenna ( Fig. 9 ) with scape cylindrical (13:2), nearly reaching median ocellus, longer than club (13:10), pedicel slightly longer but narrower than funicle segments which are subquadrate, increasing slightly in width towards club; club one-segmented (no discernible septa at high magnification), wider than funicle; rhinaria as long as segments (diagonal on F1); short setae present on funicle segments and club; funicle as long as head width.

Mesosoma. Thorax with sculpture as on head, mesopleuron reticulate, upper mesepimeron, except dorsally, smooth and shiny; pronotum short, with a row of backward-pointing setae on hind margin; notauli deep and complete, side lobes convex; axillae with 3–5 white inward-facing setae; mesoscutum as long as scutellum, with short slender setae, more or less arranged in 4 longitudinal lines; scutellum with two pairs of long setae; fore wing ( Fig. 5) rounded at apex, about two and a half times as long as wide, 4–6 setae on submarginal vein, two on parastigma, 8 or 9 curved setae below marginal vein on ventral side of disc; no hairlines in distal part of wing; marginal vein less than one and a half times as long as submarginal, postmarginal slightly shorter than stigmal, stigmal vein forming angle of 45˚ with postmarginal vein, stigmal knob not expanded, fringe setae of forewing as long as stigmal vein; dorsellum short and sculptured, longer at centre, where it is longer than propodeum; propodeum short and bow-tie-shaped, anterior and posterior margins meeting medially, more lightly sculptured than rest of mesosoma, two setae on callus.

Metasoma. Gaster ( Fig. 1 ) smooth and shiny with slight sculpture ventrally at base, elongated and pointed, collapsing dorsally, nearly twice as long as mesosoma in lateral view, posterior margin of T1 incised medially, T2 only slightly angled, irregularly placed setae ventrally, T5 and T6 with slight reticulations and setae laterally; cercus with three short setae of equal length, epipygium smooth, shiny, slightly bulging upwards; ovipositor extended, setose, about length of T5.

Male. Colour on body and infuscations on wings reduced compared to female, smaller than female in size; antenna ( Fig. 10 ) similar to that of A. naiadis , with scape slender, slightly wider at base, brown with white ends, F1 short with no peduncle, F2–4 calabash shaped with distinct whitish peduncles; club three-segmented, slightly expanded at base, pointed, with spicule as long as third club segment; rhinaria on all funicle segments with short bases but free ends extending to apex of segments; setae short, delicate.

MAP 1. Collecting sites of Astichus micans and A. naiadis in South Africa. (Provinces: LIM, Limpopo Province; MPU, Mpumalanga Province; GAU, Gauteng Province; NW, North West Province; WC, Western Cape Province; KZN, KwaZulu- Natal Province).

Remarks. The wing pattern and antennal colour of A. micans are closest to A maculipennis Walker , but the latter differs in that the scape is “yellow, very long, black towards the tip” ( Walker 1872: 126), whereas the scape of A. micans is brown with both ends yellow. Further, females of A. maculipennis have filiform antennal segments in contrast to those of A. micans , which are subquadrate, the angle between the stigmal and postmarginal veins of A. maculipennis ( Hedqvist 1969, fig. 2B) is wider than 45º, and the head and thorax are copper and bronze coloured ( Walker 1872), whereas individuals of A. micans have distinctive stripes on the head and thorax. The wing pattern of A. micans is also somewhat similar to that of A. arithmeticus ( Bouček 1963, fig. 15), but that species has spindle-shaped female antennal segments with narrowed apices, and the head and thorax lack stripes ( Bouček 1963, fig. 14 and key). The antennal colour of both sexes of A. micans also resembles that of A. bachmaieri Doġanlar and the two species have somewhat similar forewing patterns, however, A. micans has three distinctive round infuscated patches at the apex of the wing ( Fig. 5), which are absent from A. bachmaieri ( Doġanlar 1992, fig. 3).

Type material. SOUTH AFRICA. Gauteng Province: Holotype Ƥ ( HYMC 01476) Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria, 25°46'S 28°16'E, 3.xi.2002, S & OC Neser, ex Ceracis cucullatus from Ganoderma applanatum (Ganodermataceae) (BF10). Paratypes: 18Ƥ, 183 ( HYMC 01476) same data as holotype; 13 ( HYMC 01477), same data (BF11); 3Ƥ, 10 3 ( HYMC 05835) Colbyn, Pretoria, 25º44'S 28º15'E, 29.iii.2010, S Neser, ex Ciidae from Lentinus elegans (Polyporaceae) (BF226) on Acacia karroo ; 74Ƥ 663 ( HYMC 01478) Rietondale Experiment Station, Pretoria, 25º44'S 28º13'E, 1.xi.2002, S Neser, ex Ceracis cucullatus from Phellinus sp. (Hymenocaetaceae)(BF6) on Gleditsia triacanthos ( Fabaceae , introduced from USA); 21Ƥ 163 ( HYMC 05723) same data except 15.xii.2002 from unidentified bracket fungus; 32Ƥ 803 ( HYMC 05039) same data, except 12.viii.2004, ex Ceracis cucullatus from Ganoderma applanatum (Ganodermataceae) (BF25) on Acacia galpinii (Fabaceae) ; 4Ƥ 103 ( HYMC 03802) same data except ix.2003, ex Ceracis cucullatus from Ganoderma lucidum (Ganodermataceae) (BF27) on Gleditsia triacanthos ( Fabaceae , introduced from USA); 5Ƥ 223 ( HYMC 01467) ‘Vredehuis’, Arcadia, Pretoria, 25º45'S 28º12'E, 21.i.2003, J du Plessis, ex Ciidae from bracket fungus (sample not kept) on unidentified tree. 3Ƥ 23 ( HYMC 05834) Wilgepoort, NE of Bronkhorstspruit, 25º37'S 29º00'E, 28.iii.2010, S Neser, ex Ceracis cucullatus from Trametes sp. ( Polyporaceae ) (BF225) on fallen log. KwaZulu-Natal Province: 5Ƥ 73 ( HYMC 05758) Mpisini Nature Reserve, Umkomaas, 30º12'S 30º48'E, 9.vii.2008, S & OC Neser, ex Ceracis cucullatus from Coriolus hirsutus (Polyporaceae) (BF134); 13 ( HYMC 05762) Ndumo nr, 26º55'S 32º15'E, 15.vii.2008, RP Urban, with Cis sp.B from Trametes cingulata (Polyporaceae) (BF106); 1Ƥ ( HYMC 05764) Twinstreams Nursery forest, nr. Mtunzini, 28º57'S 31º46'E, 13.vii.2008, RP Urban, ex Ciidae from unidentifiable bracket fungus (BF166); 2Ƥ 33 ( HYMC 05763) Umlalazi Nature Reserve, nr. Mtunzini, 28º57'S 31º46'E, 13.vii.2008, RP Urban, with Ceracis cucullatus & Cis sp.K from Coriolus hirsutus (Polyporaceae) (BF87). Limpopo Province: 32Ƥ 193 ( HYMC 04721) Blouberg, NW of Polokwane, 23º04'S 28º59'E, 27.iv.2007, OC Neser, with Ceracis cucullatus & Cis sp.Q from Trametes sp. ( Polyporaceae ) (BF34) (3Ƥ 23 QM); 11Ƥ 303 ( HYMC 05765) Otter’s Den 16km from Hoedspruit, 24º24'S 30º49'E, 18.vii.2008, D van Heerden, with Ceracis cucullatus , Cis spp.H & Q from Coriolus versicolor (Polyporaceae) (BF136); 13 ( HYMC 05756) Sekororo Kloof nr. Penge, 24º25'S 30º27'E, 27.vii.2008, S Neser, with Cis spp.O, A, B & C from Trametes cingulata (Polyporaceae) (BF155); 6Ƥ 173 ( HYMC 01920) Thabaphaswa (Groenkom Farm), W of Potgietersrus, 24º03'S 29º02'E, 30.vii.2003, S Neser, with Cis sp.E from cf. Coriolus sp. ( Polyporaceae ) (BF23); 13Ƥ 293 ( HYMC 05809) Wesfalia nr. Politsi, 23º44'S 30º07'E, 13.x.2009, D van Heerden, with Ceracis cucullatus & Cis sp.E from Coriolus versicolor (Polyporaceae) (BF218) on avocado trees ( Persia americana, Lauraceae ); 2Ƥ 43 ( HYMC 05810) same data except from Lenzites elegans (Polyporaceae) (BF220); 3Ƥ 153 ( HYMC 05811) same data except from Lenzites elegans (Polyporaceae) (BF223); 1Ƥ ( HYMC 05812) same data except with Cis sp.E from Pycnoporus sanguineus (Polyporaceae) (BF222). Mpumalanga Province: 4Ƥ 23 ( HYMC 05726) Alkmaar, W of Nelspruit, 25º27'S 30º50'E, 10.ii.2008, OC Neser, with Ceracis cucullatus & Cis sp.N from Trametes versicolor (Polyporaceae) (BF45) on Dichrostachys cinerea (Fabaceae) ; 29Ƥ 403 ( HYMC 05725), same data except ex Ceracis cucullatus from Trametes sp. ( Polyporaceae ) (BF68) on Dombeya rotundifolia (Sterculiaceae) ; 1Ƥ ( HYMC 05759) Die Hel Nature Reserve, nr. Loskop Dam, 25º30'S 29º15'E, 10.viii.2008, S & OC Neser, with Cis sp.C & I from unidentified bracket fungus (BF122); 4Ƥ 53 ( HYMC 05760), same data except with Ceracis cucullatus , Cis spp.H & A from Trametes sp. ( Polyporaceae ) (BF147); 12Ƥ 43 ( HYMC 05745) Mooihoek Farm nr. Wakkerstroom. 27º13'S 30º32'E, 15.vii.2008, S & OC Neser, with Ceracis cucullatus & Cis sp.Q from Coriolus versicolor (Polyporaceae) (BF135) on Acacia mearnsii ( Fabaceae , introduced from Australia); 1Ƥ ( HYMC 05744) same data except with Ceracis cucullatus , Cis spp.Q, E, I from Thelephora sp. ( Thelephoraceae ) (BF125); 12Ƥ 83 ( HYMC 05743) same data except ex Ceracis cucullatus from Coriolus versicolor (Polyporaceae) (BF143); 1Ƥ 13 ( HYMC 05746) same data except with Ceracis cucullatus & Cis sp.Q from unidentifiable bracket fungus (BF168); 6Ƥ 493 ( HYMC 05813), Nelspruit 25º29'S 30º59'E, 14.viii.2009, D van Heerden, with Ceracis cucullatus , Cis spp.F & G from Trametes sp. ( Polyporaceae ) (BF178) on Acacia sieberiana var. woodii (Fabaceae) . North West Province: 63Ƥ 703 ( HYMC 01522) Castle Gorge, Magaliesberg, 25º48'S 27º34'E, 3.vii.2003, S Neser, ex Ceracis cucullatus from Polyporus dictyopus (Polyporaceae) (BF2); 13 ( HYMC 01040) same data except 21.iv.2002, with Ceracis cucullatus & Cis sp.H from Phaeolus schweinitzii (Fomitopsidaceae) (BF13); 13Ƥ 83 ( HYMC 01528) Dome Kloof, Magaliesberg, 25º49'S 27º33'E, 27.vii.2003, S Neser, ex Ceracis cucullatus from Stereum hirsutum & Stereum sp. ( Stereaceae ) (BF1) on fallen log of probably Faurea saligna (Proteaceae) ; 33 ( HYMC 01523) same data except 3.v.2003, ex Ciidae from unidentified bracket fungus; 4Ƥ 1223 ( HYMC 01470) Grootkloof, Magaliesberg, 25º50'S 27º24'E, 16.xii.2002, S Neser, ex Ciidae from unidentified bracket fungus; 13 ( HYMC 01473) Maretlwane Kloof, Magaliesberg, 25º48'S 27º34'E, 24.viii.2002, S Neser, with Ceracis cucullatus & Cis sp.A from Hexagona tenuis (Polyporaceae) (BF9); 13 ( HYMC 01475) same data except with Ceracis cucullatus & Cis sp.A from Coriolopsis polyzona & Coriolus versicolor (Polyporaceae) (BF16); 3Ƥ 23 ( HYMC 01039) Mhlabatini Kloof, Magaliesberg, 25º48'S 27º19'E, 12.v.2002, OC Neser, ex Ceracis cucullatus from Phaeolus schweinitzii (Fomitopsidaceae) (BF17) or Coriolus versicolor (Polyporaceae) (BF18) (1Ƥ 13 QM); 13 ( HYMC 01469) same data except 16.vi.2002, S Neser, with Ceracis cucullatus & Cis sp.A from Ganoderma sp. ( Ganodermataceae ) (BF19) on dead Croton gratissimus (Euphorbiaceae) .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Dorsal habitus of female. 1. Astichus micans. 2. Astichus silvani. 3. Astichus gracilis. 4. Astichus naiadis. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 9 – 16. Male and female antennae. 9. Astichus micans Ƥ. 10. A. micans 3. 11. A. silvani Ƥ. 12. A. silvani 3. 13. A. gracilis Ƥ. 14. A. gracilis 3. 15. A. naiadis Ƥ. 16. A. naiadis 3.