Opius marshi Wharton

Wharton, Robert & Norrbom, Allen L., 2013, New species and host records of New World, mostly Neotropical, opiine Braconidae (Hymenoptera) reared from flower-infesting, stem-galling, and stem-mining Tephritidae (Diptera), ZooKeys 349, pp. 11-72 : 44-45

Opius marshi Wharton sp. n. Figs 24, 59-62

Type locality.

Mexico, Chiapas, south slope Volcan Tacaná, Chiquihuites.

Type material.

Holotype. Female (UNAM), first label, first line: MEXICO: Chiapas second line: Chiquihuites, ~15°05'N third line: 92°06'W, NW Union Juarez Second label, first line: S slope Volcan Tacana, second line: 1800-2000 m, 31.X.1993 third line: A.L.Norrbom & C.Estrada Third label, first line: reared ex. stem gall second line: Squamopappus skutchii third line: (Blake) Janson, Harriman fourth line: & Urbatsch (93M11) Fourth label, first line: reared ex stem second line: gall of Eutreta apicata third line: ( Tephritidae ).

Paratypes: 1 male, same data as holotype (TAMU). 1 male, Mexico: Chiapas, between Union Juarez & Chiquihuites, ~ 15°05'N, 92°05'W, S slope Volcan Tacana, 1500-1800 m, 4.xi.1993, A. L. Norrbom & C. Estrada, 93M22, reared from gall of Eutreta apicata Hering on stem of Podachaenium eminens (Lag.) Sch.Bip. (USNM).

Description.

Eyes in dorsal view bulging beyond temples, temples weakly but distinctly receding. Clypeus 1.75-1.85 (male) and 2.0 (female) × wider than high, weakly punctate throughout, more deeply punctate along ventral margin; very weakly triangular, nearly hemispherical with epistomal sulcus almost evenly rounded; nearly flat in profile dorsally, ventral margin weakly but distinctly protruding, truncate in anterior view with mandibles deflected, exposing most of labrum. Antenna with 43-45 (male) and 46 (female) flagellomeres. Malar sulcus impressed throughout, deeper near eye, weak to nearly absent near mandible. Mesosoma 1.35-1.4 × longer than high. Pronotum laterally weakly crenulate dorsally and ventrally along posterior side of distinctly elevated vertical carina, broadly absent medially, sculpture more distinct in largest specimen. Notaulus about as in Opius godfrayi , but curved groove not ending in distinct pit at anterior end. Setae scattered along traces of notaulus longer and denser over anterior 0.7 of mesoscutum. Metapleuron with median pit adjacent anterior margin not directly connected to dorsal pit at posterior margin by a sulcus; ventral margin without well-developed spine anteriorly, but with ventral carina angled at 90 degrees anteriorly and weakly expanded as a flange. Propodeum with small rugulose area mesal-ventrad spiracle, a few irregular, deep punctures anteriorad ends of short lateral-median carinae, and a few weak carinulae along posterior margin, otherwise mostly smooth and polished; sculpture more distinct in largest specimen. 3RSa 1.55-1.75 × longer than sinuate to strongly sinuate 2RS; (RS+M)a weakly sinuate. T1 1.75-2.0 (male) and 2.15 (female) × wider at apex than at base, 0.95-1.0 × as long as apical width; T1 smooth, unsculptured basally and apical-laterally, striate to finely strigose over middle portion of apical 0.4-0.5, more extensively sculptured in female: striate to strigose apical-laterally and over apical 0.5; dorsal carina sharply elevated basally, forming almost a tuberculate angle as it extends posteriorly, extending to apex but broader, rounded, gradually becoming indistinct over apical 0.5. Color: Head adjacent eyes yellow above, fading to whitish below, especially on face laterad clypeus and mouthparts (except apical teeth of mandible dark); frons medially, continuing posteriorly as a band through ocellar field and onto vertex dark brown to black, with similarly dark transverse band across middle of occiput, enlarged at each end; face with infumate spot dorsal-medially or broader dark band extending to epistomal sulcus; head darker in female than male. Mesosoma of male yellow-orange with propodeum, midline of metanotum, and small spot along lateral margin of mesoscutum immediately anteriorad axilla black; small to large spot at apex of scutellum and large spot dorsal-medially on pronotum laterally dark red-brown; parascutellar field, posterior-lateral field of metanotum, and mesopleuron ventrally anteriorad mid coxa infumate (as a spot in one specimen and a longer streak in the other); tegula and basal wing sclerite white, propleuron and polished, anterior margin of pronotum laterally white or nearly so; female darker, with mesopleuron mottled yellow and brown and scutellar and metanotal areas completely suffused with brown. Metasomal terga black with hyaline posterior margin of T3 and following usually visible, T3-T6 medially with white band along anterior margin, visible portion of T7 white in female. Fore and mid tibiae and femora whitish to pale yellow; hind femur with pale brown subapical spot only on anterior face, otherwise pale yellowish white; hind tibia brown with basal 0.2 dark brown, usually pale brown medially, especially on posterior face. Body length 4.0-4.75 mm; wing length 4.75-5.4 mm; mesosoma length 1.65-1.9 mm. Otherwise having all the characteristics described above for the godfrayi species group.

Diagnosis.

Opius marshi belongs to the godfrayi species group based on the fusion of the hypostomal and occipital carinae ventrally. It differs from Opius godfrayi by the more broadly exposed labrum and from Opius nablus by the more deeply incised notauli.

Biology.

Opius marshi was reared from tephritid stem galls made by Eutreta apicata on two different plants in the family Asteraceae . Sample 93M11 from Squamopappus skutchii produced two wasps and one fly (66.7% parasitism), and sample 93M22 from Podachaenium eminens yielded one fly and one wasp (50% parasitism). Both are new host plant records for Eutreta apicata .

Etymology.

This species is named for Paul Marsh for his contributions to braconid taxonomy and his assistance in facilitating the work on this material.

Remarks.

The male wasp from Podachaenium eminens is larger than the male from Squamopappus skutchii and the dark markings on the head are not quite as extensive though of the same pattern. The base of the ovipositor and ovipositor sheath are too well-concealed in the only female specimen to provide a useful approximation of total length for this species.