Eurytoma infracta Mayr, 1904

Gómez, José Francisco, Nieves-Aldrey, José Luis, Nieves, María Hernández & Stone, Graham Nicholas, 2011, Comparative morphology and biology of terminalinstar larvae of some Eurytoma (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae) species parasitoids of gall wasps (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) in western Europe, Zoosystema 33 (3), pp. 287-323 : 308-310

Eurytoma infracta Mayr, 1904

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Ex Aylax minor : Spain. Madrid, Rivas Vaciamadrid, 14. V.2003, J. L. Nieves leg (n = 2).

Ex Neaylax verbenacus : Spain. Madrid, Dehesa de Arganda, 1. VI.2003, J. L. Nieves leg (n = 4). — Same locality, 6. VI.2004, J. L. Nieves leg (n = 8, of which 2 specimens MNHN-EY 6408).

DESCRIPTION

n = 14; body length 1.67 mm (range 1.3-2.0); body width 0.73 mm (0.7-0.8) ( Figs 5D; 7D); body more or less fusiform, ratio L/W = 2; ventral margin of body segments clearly convex; anterodorsal protuberances present from second thoracic segment to the third abdominal and not protruding beyond the dorsal margin of body segments ( Fig. 7D).

Head with upper margin of vertex straight; anteromedial setae of the antennal area situated at the same level as the antennae; ratios SA/LAA = 0.38 and SA/DAV = 1.1; antero-medial setae of vertex situated relatively high on the upper face ( Fig. 9C); dorsal-labral setae as long as clypeal setae; ventral margin of clypeus indistinct; labrum with slight divisions restricted to its apical part; flaps or lobes not well differentiated; maxillary palps conspicuous ( Fig. 11D).

Mandibles with two teeth and exposed in part, with the tip of the first tooth visible ( Fig. 11D); first tooth relatively long and slender; ratio between the length at its base and the width 2.38; outer margin of first tooth strongly convex, tip moderately recurved; apex of the second tooth straight, directed upwards in the same direction as the first tooth and more or less acute; inner margin of mandible from the base of second tooth strongly convex ( Fig. 13D).

BIOLOGY

This species is a primary oligophagous ectoparasitoid, reared from galls of Aylacini cynipids in fruits of species of Salvia ( Lamiaceae ) and Papaver ( Papaveraceae ) ( Askew et al. 2006). It is univoltine; fully-grown larvae usually overwinter and adults emerge in summer when the new host galls are developing.

REMARKS

The straight upper margin of the vertex and the strongly convex inner margin of the base of the second mandible tooth allow separation of the larva of this species from the others in this study.