Neolirata, Torréns, Javier & Heraty, John M., 2013

Torréns, Javier & Heraty, John M., 2013, A new genus of Eucharitidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), with notes on life history and immature stages, Zootaxa 3630 (2), pp. 347-358 : 348-349

Neolirata , new genus

Type species. Lirata daguerrei Gemignani.

Diagnosis. Heraty (2002) placed eight species in Lirata and, at the time, was confident of the monophyly of the group based on it having an elongate basal flagellomore and median scutellar depression. Four different phenotypic groups were recognized. Two of these species, Lirata alta and L. daguerrei , were recognized based on a sharp carina separating the ocelli, the mesosoma coarsely rugose, and the antennal flagellum of females 9 or 10 (rarely 8) segmented (Heraty 2002). As well, the median ocellus is slightly anterior to the lateral ocelli, the lateral margin of the mesoscutum abuts the prepectus and does not form a lateral flange, and the scutellum is broadly rounded and not medially elevated. The other Lirata species, including the type species L. luteogaster , have the scutellum distinctly humped with a median longitudinal depression, whereas the three species described here within Neolirata have a broadly rounded scutellum without a distinct median depression ( Figs 1, 2, 4 , 14, 15). Phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data for 18S, 28S, COI and COII suggest that L. luteogaster and a species related to L. pustula Heraty (representing two of the phenotypic groups from Heraty 2002) are monophyletic within the Kapala clade but distant from a monophyletic L. alta and L. daguerrei in the same clade (Murray et al. submitted). Together, these data suggest that Lirata needs to be divided. We propose a new genus, Neolirata , for L. alta , L. daguerrei , and L. furcula n. sp.

Description. Body length, moderate to large (3.7–7.0 mm). Mesosoma black; wings hyaline, fore wing venation pale brown.

Head. In frontal view subtriangular ( Figs 3 , 20, 21). Eyes rounded and with long erect setae; median ocellus in line with lateral ocelli, anterior ocellus separated from lateral ocelli by strong transverse carina ( Fig. 2 ). Frons and lower face smooth or striate, scrobal depression shallow and broadly impressed; interocular area narrow, produced as fine, sharp median ridge. Occiput smooth, its dorsal margin with sharp carina. Clypeus smooth, anteclypeus present, clypeal margin transverse or only slightly rounded; supraclypeal area swollen but without distinct lateral margins. Genal depression absent; hypostomal lobes broadly separated. Mandibles falcate with a 3/2 formula and long apical tooth. Labrum with 5–7 cylindrial digits, each digit with a terminal flattened seta ( Fig. 8 ). Palpal formula 2:1 with long palpomeres; maxillary complex relatively large. Antenna of both sexes with 11 or 12 segments; scape long and thin, length reaching or exceeding vertex. Female: flagellum with 9 or 10 segments ( Figs 3 , 16, 17); funicular segments strongly or weakly serrate; MPS small and recessed into depressions, dense apically, absent basally. Male: scape without pores and smooth; anellus absent; flagellum with 9 segments ( Fig. 5 ), funicular segments pectinate with narrow branches, that of F2 elongate and about as long as F3; MPS few and located on apices of branches; secondary segmentation absent.

Mesosoma. Pronotum abutting mesoscutum, without overlap of sclerites. Mesoscutum with lower anterior margin reflected, lateral margin over spiracle with thin marginal carina, posterolateral margin over tegula with pronounced marginal carina; dorsum with broadly spaced, erect hairs; notauli complete but without distinct margins; transscutal articulation (TSA) present. Scutoscutellar sulcus (SSS) transverse, well marked, not meeting TSA, and with knob-like processes on each cross ridge; axilla and scutellar disc longitudinally carinate; lateral axillar lobe small; axillular groove present. Frenal line distinct laterally but not medially; scutellar disc broadly rounded medially; frenum with pair of long spines exceeding apex of gaster, the spines cylindrical and broadly separated basally, longitudinally carinate ( Figs 6, 7 , 18, 19). Metanotum with narrow smooth flange laterally, only slightly overlapping propodeum. Propodeum with spiracle broadly separated from dorsal margin and ventral margin of spiracle with elongate, narrow emargination. Propodeal disc evenly sculptured and lateral to postspiracular furrow weakly expanded, callus with a few long hairs. Metepimeral groove irregular and obscured by strong sculpture. Femoral groove present, vertical, obscured by strong sculpture; mesepimeron irregularly sculptured to evenly rugose, transepimeral sulcus absent; acropleuron evenly rounded and grooved for reception of upper corner of prepectus; mesepisternum with anteromedial margin overlapping posterior margin of prepectus, ventral margin wedge-shaped and extending vertically anterior to mesocoxa. Prepectus fused with pronotum and in same plane, triangular, anteriorly with strong vertical carina meeting pronotal spine dorsally, and with dorsal apex narrowly separated from tegula; spiracle narrowly enclosed. Legs. All coxae smooth and shiny; calcar acicular, rarely slightly bent apically; mesocoxa without lateral groove or carina; metacoxa elongate; metatibia with 2 spurs. Wings. Fore wing venation distinct; stigmal vein longer than broad, perpendicular to fore wing margin; postmarginal vein slightly longer than stigmal vein; disc with dense covering of short setae, without marginal fringe. Hind wing venation incomplete medially; fringe present or absent.

Metasoma. Petiole of female longer than broad and longer than metacoxa; petiole of male about as long as metafemur; petiole cylindrical or subtriangular; base of petiole truncate with vague or distinct carina not overlapping nucha. Gastral terga smooth, with scattered setae or bare; posterior margin of Gt1 with 1 longitudinal line of weakness (both sexes); tergal scar present and linear; cerci present. Gs1 smooth, in males articulating with apex of petiole. Hypopygium with tuft of about 4–18 hairs on each side. Genitalia typical for family. Valvulae acicular, short; valves with apex smooth. Gonostylus fused to second valvifer. Sclerotized epiproct absent.

Etymology. From Greek neo which means “new”, referring to the new genus based on two species originally described within Lirata . Gender feminine following designation of Lirata as feminine (ICZN Article 30.2.4).

Distribution. Neotropical: Southeastern Brazil to northwestern Argentina (Map 1). Notably, the geographic coordinates of two males of N. alta from Amazonas ( Brazil) may be an error of interpretation of this locality, as they fall outside of the range of other specimens in the genus.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Neolirata daguerrei: 1, habitus (female); 2, head (female, dorsal; carina indicated); 3, antenna and head (female, frontal); 4, habitus (male); 5, antenna (male, lateral); 6, mesosoma (male, lateral); 7, mesosoma (female, dorsal).

FIGURES 8 – 13. Neolirata daguerrei: 8, Labrum (female), lbd, labral digit; sld, seta of labral digit. 9 – 13, biology and immature stages of N. daguerrei: 9, habitat; 10, Urvillea chacoënsis; 11, underside of leaf of U. chacoënsis with eggs (eggs represented in white area); 12, egg; 13, planidia. md, mandible; plst, pleurostomal seta or spine; Tp, tergopleural line.