Sycophila binotata (Fonscolombe 1832)

(Figures 3C, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B and 8B)

Description

Body length 1.87 mm (n = 1); body width 0.93 mm (Figures 4B and 5B); body barrel-shaped slightly tapering anteriorly and posteriorly, with the lateral margins of abdominal segments 1–6 almost straight; ratio L/W = 1.72; ventral margin of body segments 4–8 in lateral view straight or slightly convex; anterodorsal protuberances (lateral view) absent, the intersegmental membranes not protruding.

Dorsal margin of the vertex straight or slightly concave; ratio SA/DAV = 1.46; anteromedial setae of vertex situated midway between anterior margin of vertex and the antennae; ventral margin of clypeus indistinct (Figure 6B); labrum with deep divisions almost reaching the level of labral setae, giving the appearance of seven subequal and clearly differentiated lobes; maxillae well-differentiated from labium (Figure 7B).

Mandibles bidentate with the first tooth long and slender (Figure 8B); ratio L/W 1T = 2.9; apex of the second tooth slightly blunt; inner margin of mandible from the base of second tooth straight with margin not interrupted.

Remarks

Similar in body shape to S. biguttata but differ in having convex margins of body segments and a second mandibular tooth with a blunt tip.

Biology

Adults of this species (Figure 9D) are oligophagous endoparasitoids associated specifically with Plagiotrochus (Cynipidae) on evergreen species of Quercus (Fagaceae) of the sections Cerris and Ilex . The specimen for this study was reared from an asexual generation gall of Plagiotrochus gallaeramulorum (Boyer de Fonscolombe 1832) (= kiefferianus Tav.) on Quercus coccifera L. ( Fagaceae) (Figure 9E).

Material examined

ex Plagiotrochus gallaeramulorum (asex.): Spain, Madrid: Arganda, March 2006, J.L. Nieves leg, (n = 1) .