Trichogramma esalqueanum Querino & Zucchi

Querino, R. B. & Zucchi, R. A., 2003, New species of Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) associated with lepidopterous eggs in Brazil, Zootaxa 163, pp. 1-10 : 3-6

Trichogramma esalqueanum Querino & Zucchi , new species

( Figures 1 b, 3)

Antenna: flagellum length (0.15 0.009); ratio of length to width of flagellum (6.25 1.00); flagellum length to hind tibial length (1.02 0.05); flagelliform setae long (0.09 0.006), evenly tapering to apex; longest flagelliform setae length to flagellum width (3.61

0.40); unsocketed setae present near base of flagellum or not; basiconic sensilla ovaliform and elongate, formula 2­2­2­0­1­1; three placoid sensilla, the basal one 0.04 0.003. Forewing: width to length ratio of forewing (0.55 0.01); fringe setae length (0.03 0.002) and ca. 0.22 the length of the hind tibia; 4­7 setae between the 4th and 5th setal tracks. Hind wing: anterior track absent; posterior with 2 to 4 setae, not reaching the midpoint of the middle track. Scutellum: anterior setae long; ratio of anterior to posterior pair (0.53 0.01). Male genitalia: genital capsule dark, longer (0.13 0.006) than wider (0.05

0.004); ratio of width to length of genital capsule (0.37 0.02); apical distance to genital capsule length (0.23 0.01); apical width to genital capsule width (0.74 0.05); dorsal lamina originating anterior to middle of genital capsule with basal notching; dorsal lamina length to genital capsule length (0.37 0.03); dorsal lamina length to dorsal lamina width (1.46 0.11); dorsal aperture length to dorsal lamina length (1.44 0.13); posterior extension of dorsal lamina short (0.04 0.003), with rounded apex at level or approaching of apex of the intervolsellar process; posterior extension of the dorsal lamina length to dorsal lamina length (0.78 0.06); dorsal ridge absent; ventral ridge long (0.06 0.004), extending beyond the mid­point of the genital capsule; ventral ridge length to basal distance (0.63

0.05); basal distance to genital capsule length (0.77 0.01); intervolsellar process short with pointed apex (0.01 0.002); ventral processes near base of intervolsellar process; Quantitative data were obtained from 20 males.

TYPE MATERIAL ­ Holotype male. BRASIL. SÃO PAULO: Piracicaba, October 1999, ex egg of Mechanitis lysimnia on Passiflora sp., J.A. Cerignoni collr. ( ESALQ); Twenty paratypes (males) with same data as holotype ( ESALQ); seven paratypes (males), Piracicaba, November 1999, ex eggs of Heliconius erato phyllis, J.A. Cerignoni collr. ( ESALQ). Two paratypes (males) with same data as holotype (UCR).

DIAGNOSIS ­ Trichogramma esalqueanum is characterized by the elongate flagelliform setae; the usual presence of unsocketed setae basally on the flagellum; the ovaliform and elongate basiconic sensilla; the elongate and dark anterior setae of the scutellum; the short dorsal lamina with its apically rounded posterior extension which only approaches the intervolsellar process and base of the volsellae. Trichogramma esalqueanum is similar to T. bruni , but differs in basiconic sensillum shape and formula, the usual presence of unsocketed setae on the flagellum, the elongate anterior scutellar setae and the short dorsal lamina. Samples of T. esalqueanum were anlysed for ITS2 sequence of the r­DNA and the results showed it to be different from that of any other species known previously (Raul P. Almeida, pers. com.).

VARIATION – The number of unsocketed setae of the first section of the flagellum varies from 0 to 3; the posterior extension of the dorsal lamina does not always reach the base of the volsellae (some specimens with a tiny cleft at apex) and the intervolsellar process does not always attain the base of the volsellae. Apex of the intervolsellar process with a tiny cleft best viewed under SEM.

ETYMOLOGY ­ The specific name is a latinized adjective in reference to the acronym ESALQ of "Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz", campus where the species was collected.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Genital capsule: a – Trichogramma bertii n. sp.; b ­ Trichogramma esalqueanum n. sp.; c ­ Trichogramma iracildae n. sp.; d ­ Trichogramma pratissolii n. sp. (1 – ventral; 2 – dorsal; scale 20 m).