Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) blesticus ( Ogloblin, 1957 )

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., Huber, John T., Logarzo, Guillermo A., Berezovskiy, Vladimir V. & Aquino, Daniel A., 2010, Review of Gonatocerus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in the Neotropical region, with description of eleven new species, Zootaxa 2456, pp. 1-243 : 116-117

Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) blesticus ( Ogloblin, 1957)

( Figs 215–217 )

Lymaenon blesticus Ogloblin 1957: 39 –40 + unnumbered plate page 2 (illustrations). Type locality: Puerto Blest (at Lago Nahuel Huapi), Río Negro, Argentina.

Gonatocerus (Gonatocerus) biesticus [sic] (Ogloblin): De Santis 1967: 103 (catalog).

Gonatocerus blesticus (Ogloblin) : Yoshimoto 1990: 39 (list); Luft Albarracin et al. 2009: 9 (list; distribution in Argentina).

Lymaenon blesticus Ogloblin : Loiácono et al. 2005: 13 (type information).

Type material examined. Holotype female [ MLPA] on slide labeled: 1. “ Lymaenon blesticus A. Ogl. ♀ Puerto Blest, Lago N. Huapí, Ter. R. Negro 5.III. 1 953 V. K. y A. A. O. Holotypus [ip]”; 2. “5071/1”. The holotype is in rather bad condition, poorly cleared and mounted dorsoventrally, but almost complete except parts of the antennae, all the wings, and some leg segments detached.

Material examined. CHILE. REGIÓN X, Parque Nacional Puyehue: 16–17.ii.1988, L. Masner [1 ♀, CNCI] ; Antillanca , 40°46’02’’S 72°17’37’’W, 17.ii.2005, J.M. Heraty et al. [4 ♀, UCRC] .

Redescription. FEMALE (holotype). Body ( Fig. 216 ) mostly dark brown, antenna brown to dark brown except pedicel a little lighter; legs light to dark brown.

Antenna ( Fig. 215 ) with pedicel longer than F1; F2 longer than F1 and shorter than F3; F3–F8 subequal in length (F7 the longest segment), F1–F4 without mps; F5 apparently with 1 mps, F6–F8 each with 2 mps; clava 3.4–3.7x as long as wide, with 8 mps, a little shorter than combined length of F6–F8.

Propodeum with 2 fine submedian carinae, slightly curving towards each other and almost extending to but not touching anterior margin of propodeum. Forewing ( Fig. 217 ) 3.7x as long as wide; longest marginal seta about 0.3x maximum wing width; disc with a very slight brownish tinge throughout, almost hyaline, bare behind submarginal vein and setose elsewhere, including behind marginal and stigmal veins anterior to cubital row of setae. Hind wing about 20x as long as wide; longest marginal seta 2.6x maximum wing width; disc with a row of setae along each margin and several scattered setae (mostly at apex), with a slight brownish tinge throughout, more so apically.

Gaster longer than mesosoma; ovipositor long, projecting forward under petiole and projecting slightly under mesosoma (extending to about the middle of propodeum), and notably exserted beyond apex of gaster, apparently by about 0.2x own length; apparently about 2.0x as long as mesotibia [it is impossible to measure precisely because the ovipositor is positioned at a significant angle].

Measurements (µm) of the holotype. Total body length: 800; head: 123; mesosoma 292; gaster 369; ovipositor [real length likely somewhat longer because positioned at a substantial angle] 564. Antenna: pedicel 56; F1 33; F2 45; F3 61; F4 58; F5 61; F6 64; F7 70; F8 62; clava 167. Forewing 1033:276; longest marginal seta 85. Hind wing 775:39; longest marginal seta 103.

VARIATION (good quality non-type specimens from Chile). Body length (one dry-mounted specimen) about 1000 µm. Antenna with radicle 0.25x total length of scape, remainder of scape 2.7–2.8x as long as wide; F2 almost as long as F3; F5 with 1 mps. Forewing 3.5x as long as wide. Propodeum with submedian carinae uniting at posterior margin of propodeum (somewhat U-shaped). Petiole subtrapezoidal, 1.8x as wide as long. Ovipositor projecting slightly forward under petiole and extending to about posterior margin of propodeum, and notably exserted beyond apex of gaster by about 0.17x own length; 2.1–2.3x as long as mesotibia.

MALE. Unknown.

Diagnosis. Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) blesticus is a member of the chusqueicolus subgroup of the ater species group. It is characterized by the ovipositor projecting forward under the petiole and extending at least to about the posterior margin of the propodeum ( Fig. 216 ), and exserted beyond the apex of the gaster by about 0.17–0.2x its own length. It is very similar to the larger G. (Cosmocomoidea) chusqueicolus (Ogloblin) (see the diagnosis of the latter).

Distribution. NEOTROPICAL: Argentina, and Chile *.

Hosts. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 215 – 217. Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) blesticus ♀ (holotype): 215, antenna; 216, body; 217, forewing.