Percnobracon rugosus Martinez

Martinez, Juan José, 2006, Three new species of Percnobracon Kieffer & Jörgensen (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Argentina, reared from cecidomyiid (Diptera) and eurytomid (Hymenoptera) galls, Zootaxa 1282, pp. 49-58 : 53-55

Percnobracon rugosus Martinez , sp. nov.

( Figs. 5–9 )

Diagnosis: Head 0.75 to 0.85 times as long as high; mesoscutum stronlgy angled in lateral view, 0.70 to 0.80 times as long as wide; notauli mostly obscured by sculpturing; propodeum rugose­areolate medially; forewing vein 2RS at most 0.30 times as long as vein (RS+M)b; males brachypterous.

Female. Body length: 1.2–2.3 mm.

Colour: Dark reddish brown, base of antenna, face, mouthparts, trochantelli and tarsomeres I to IV lighter, telotarsi distinctly darker. Forewing infuscated with hyaline patterns as in figure 5, hind wing hyaline. Some specimens tend to be uniformly darker.

Head: 13 to 18 antennomeres; head 0.75 to 0.85 times as long as high; face rugulose; vertex and temple strigate; oral opening small, its maximum diameter 0.60 to 1.00 times the length of malar space, eye relatively small, malar space 0.60 to 0.90 times eye height.

Mesosoma: Mostly coarsely coriaceous, 0.60 to 0.70 times as high as long. Pronotum with a transverse scrobiculate groove. Anterior margin of mesoscutum strongly angled anteriorly, completely covering pronotum dorsally. Mesoscutum 0.70 to 0.80 times as long as wide( Fig. 7 ), with a posteromedian carina, notaulus obscured by sculpture, represented only by a few hollows anteriorly. Scutellum strongly convex and somewhat smoother than mesoscutum. Basal face of propodeum areolate­rugose medially and appically ( Fig. 8 ). Forewing with vein 2RS at most 0.30 times as long as (RS+M)b ( Fig. 5 ), usually much shorter, sometimes 2RS almost indistinguishable between 3RS and 2M.

Metasoma: Tergum I with smooth area clearly shorter than half the length of the segment, and not tapering appically ( Fig. 8 ). Terga II and III striate, remainder of terga coriaceous basally and smooth apically. Ovipositor sheath 0.40 to 0.60 times as long as metasoma ( Fig. 9 ).

Male: Brachypterous, forewing only with veins C+SC+R, M+CU and 1–1A recognisable ( Fig. 6 ), other characters similar to female.

Biology: This species has been reared from eurytomid galls on spiny stipules of Prosopis caldenia . Galls are very common in young specimens of P. c a l d e n i a, when spiny stipules are well developed; they are very rare in older and less thorny trees. Adults of this species were observed on the branches of P. caldenia during spring.

Etymology: The name rugosus refers to the medially areolate­rugose propodeum.

Distribution: Known only from La Pampa province, Argentina.

Material examined: Holotype female — ARGENTINA: La Pampa, 10 km N of Santa Rosa, 23/XI/2004 ( MACN). Paratypes— ARGENTINA: 1 male, same data as holotype ( MACN); La Pampa, Santa Rosa: 3 females, 3 males, 2/X/2004, from galls of Eurytomidae on Prosopis caldenia, Martinez ( MACN, one male and one female at IFML); 1 female, 15/VIII/2004, from galls of Eurytomidae on Prosopis caldenia, Martinez ( MACN); 1 female, 3 males, 24/X/2004, Martinez ( MACN); 8 females, 2 males, 29/X/ 2004, Martinez ( MACN, one male and one female at IFML); La Pampa, Ing. Luiggi: 1 female, 1 male, 12/XII/2004, Gorordo ( MACN).

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 9. Percnobracon rugosus sp. nov. 5, forewing of female; 6, forewing of male; 7, mesoscutum in dorsal view; 8, propodeum and metasomal tergum I in dorsal view; 9, habitus of female in lateral view.