Peristenus carcamoi, Goulet & Mason, 2006

Goulet, Henri & Mason, Peter G., 2006, Review of the Nearctic species of Leiophron and Peristenus (Hymenoptera Braconidae: Euphorinae) parasitizing Lygus (Hemiptera: Miridae: Mirini:), Zootaxa 1323 (1), pp. 1-118 : 46-48

Peristenus carcamoi n. sp.

(Table 11)

Type material. Type locality: Canada, Alberta, Lethbridge. Holotype, female ( CNCI), labelled: [ White ] “ CANADA: AB, Lethbridge Victoria Church, alfalfa­weed mix, coll. 24.VII.2002 49º42.279'N 112º44.951'W C. Herle, Cage ID:3E”; [White] “ Lab emg. 13.VI.2003 Ex Lygus nymph”; [Red] “ HOLOTYPE Peristenus carcamoi Goulet CNC No. 23476”. Condition of holotype: perfect. Allotype male, labelled as holotype but from “Cage ID: 3F”. Paratypes: all specimens from Lethbridge, Alberta .

Origin of species name. This species is named in honour of Hector Cárcamo who reared this and other species of Peristenus and Leiophron in southern Alberta. Hector was instrumental in actively supporting our sampling efforts which led to the discovery of many species of Peristenus and Leiophron in Alberta.

Diagnosis. Clypeus reddish brown, the most common frequency of flagellomeres, 20 in females and 22 in males, and specimens found in temperate regions of western North America.

Description. FEMALE. Colour. Head and mesosoma black; metasoma usually brown, rarely black or reddish brown. Legs generally straw coloured, metacoxa occasionally light reddish brown and exceptionally reddish brown. Basal 0.3–0.5 of metatibia usually straw coloured, or occasionally light reddish brown and apical 0.5–0.7 of metatibia and metatarsomere 1 clearly darker than basal 0.5 of metatibia. Metatarsomeres 2–5 less dark than metatarsomere 1. Palps, tegula and mandible (except apex) straw coloured. Scape to flagellomere 2 straw coloured, then gradually darkening to reddish brown in middle to brown or dark brown in apical third. Stigma dark brown and straw coloured in basal 0.3.

Structure. Flagellum with 19–21 flagellomeres (respectively 32%, 50% and 18% of 44 specimens) and flagellomeres enlarged in apical half. At most, one preapical flagellomere subquadrate (none 57% and one 43%). Length of gena behind eye 0.88–1.19 times as long as length of eye. Height of eye 1.32–1.48 times as long as minimum distance between inner eye margins (as in Fig. 18 ). Maximum width of head behind eyes subequal (0.93–0.96) to maximum head width at eye level. Occipital carina developed in dorsal 0.3. Metasomal tergum 1 with lateral edges clearly convergent (posterior margin 2.2–2.4 times as wide as narrowest width near base) and elongate (medial length of tergum 1.5–1.8 times as long as maximum width at posterior end). Radial cell length 0.72–1.1 as long as stigma width (as in Figs. 58–63 ). Forewing vein r usually developed and short (as in Figs. 60, 61 ) and basal cell except extreme base pubescent (as in Fig. 54 ).

Sculpture. Punctures on vertex 5–10 µm in diameter, frons and mesoscutum about 10–15 µm in diameter (a little larger than diameter of ommatidia). Punctures 20–25 µm apart on vertex, 5–15 µm apart on frons to 5–10 µm apart near antennal socket, and 20–25 µm apart on mesoscutum. Punctures in front of median ocellus generally fine to moderate (none or few 37%, many small 58% and coarse 5% based on 40 specimens) and surrounding surface not densely punctate. Punctures on mesopleuron generally dense, occasionally scattered. Clypeus generally punctate over surface, rarely almost glabrous. Metasomal tergum 1 with about 10–12 longitudinal ridges, these often anastomosing on disc and forming a puncture­like sculpture.

MALE. Colour. As in female.

Structure. Flagellum with 21–24 flagellomeres (respectively 1%, 41%, 48% and 10% of 69 specimens) and flagellomeres narrow in apical half. Height of eye 1.03–1.13 times as long as minimum distance between inner eye margins. Otherwise structure and sculpture as in female.

Geographical variation. None observed.

Taxonomic notes. Four species of the P. pallipes complex that are associated with Lygus have the clypeus mainly reddish brown and the metacoxa almost always straw coloured.

Adults of P. carcamoi are most similar to those of P. otaniae and differ in their geographic range, the flagellomere frequency, and puncture development in front of the median ocellus. A summary of measurement differences between P. carcamoi and P. otaniae is given in Table 11.

Adults of P. carcamoi and P. mellipes differ in number of subquadrate preapical flagellomeres in females, and their geographic range. A summary of measurement differences between P. carcamoi and P. mellipes is given in Table 11.

Adults of P. carcamoi differ from those P. pseudopallipes in their geographic range, the number of subquadrate preapical flagellomeres in females, and their biology. A summary of measurement differences between P. carcamoi and P. pseudopallipes is given in Table 11.

Based on colour patterns of the clypeus, metacoxa and metatibia, and puncture development on the frons, adults of P. carcamoi resemble those of only one European species of the P. pallipes complex. This European species occurs during mid summer in nymphs of two species of Stenodema ( Miridae : Stenodemini ). No specimen of P. carcamoi was ever reared from Stenodemini nymphs. Therefore, P. carcamoi is a Nearctic species. The same comment would apply to P. mellipes , P. otaniae and P. pseudopallipes .

Host and biological notes. Adults of P. carcamoi have been reared from several Lygus species. Adults have been recorded from late May to late June with peak abundance in early June. This is a univoltine species on nymphs of the first generation of Lygus .

Material examined and range. 101 (52♂, 49♀) adults were studied. Of these, 59 were reared from Miridae and 25 were field collected. The species is known from southernmost Alberta to Harrison Lake in the Cascade Mountains in southern British Columbia .

CANADA. AB: Elkwater (1♂) ; Glenwood (2♂, 4♀) ; Lethbridge (3♂, 6♀) ; Lethbridge Research Centre (10♂, 10♀) ; Lethbridge , 49º42.279'N 112º44.951'W (23♂, 17♀) ; Lethbridge , Pavan Park 49º45.116'N 112º44.951'W (11♂, 8♀) ; Rolling Hills (2♀) ; Vauxall (1♂) ; Waklin (1♂) . BC: Harrison Lake (2♀) .

Figures

FIGURES 13–24. 13–22. Frontal view of head. Code: “a” ventral edge of clypeus. 23–24. Dorsal view of head.

FIGURES 50–58. 50–52. Forewing. 53–54. Basal and subbasal cells of forewing. 55–58. Radial cell and stigma of forewing.

FIGURES 59–66. 59–63. Radial cell and stigma of forewing. 64. Hind wing. 65–66. Basal and subbasal cells of hind wing.