Chirotica bruchii ( Brèthes, 1904 )

Lima, Adriane G. M. & Fernandes, Daniell R. R., 2024, Synopsis of the Darwin wasp Chirotica Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Phygadeuontinae) in Brazil, Zootaxa 5418 (2), pp. 101-139 : 118

Chirotica bruchii ( Brèthes, 1904)

( Figures 17B ; 19A ; 20A ; 22 )

Allocota bruchii Brèthes, 1904: 17 . Argentina. Lectotype female, designated by Townes (1966). Argentina (MACN, photo examined) [Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia, Buenos Aires, Argentina].

Phobetes brethesi Costa Lima, 1962: 37 . New name for Phobetes bruchii Brèthes, 1904: 21 . Argentina.

Chirotica bruchii ( Brèthes, 1904) ; Townes, 1966: 58.

Material examined. 1 female and 2 males. Lectotype female, photo examined ( Onody et al. 2021). Argentina, Buenos Aires, Flores , / 20.vii.1902, / Brèthes // Allocota bruchii / Br [Brazil] / Lectotypus, Tow ́65 [Townes, 1965] [MACN-En 34797]. Brazil. SP [São Paulo], Luiz Antonio, / estação Ecológica de Jataí , / 21°36’45.5”S / 47°49’06.7 ”W / Mata ciliar— Light trap 1. / 21.xi.2007. RIR Lara (1 male, LRRP); same except 09.vi.2008 (1 male, LRRP) .

Diagnosis. Chirotica bruchii can be distinguished from all other Neotropical Chirotica species by the combination of the following characters: (1) notaulus centrally with rugae along their length ( Fig. 22D ); (2) area below juxtacoxal carina triangular shape; (3) gastrocoelus transverse; (4) scutellum with punctuation with setae ( Fig. 22E ); (5) tergite 1 with lateromedian carinae; (6) tergites 2 and 3 reddish-brown ( Fig. 22E ).

Additional description. Male. Body length (head to T8) 4.90 mm to 5.70 mm.

Head. Frons with punctuation with sparse setae. Antenna length 2.00 mm to about 4.00 mm (broken antenna). Median longitudinal sulcus between posterior ocelli absent. Frons width 0.45 mm to 0.50 mm. Face width 0.52 mm to 0.60 mm. Eye height 0.40 mm to 0.55 mm. Basal mandible width 0.05 mm to 0.09 mm. Malar space 0.16 mm to 0.21 mm. Ocellus diameter 0.07 mm to 0.10 mm. Shortest distance between anterior and posterior ocelli 0.07 mm. Shortest distance between posterior ocellus and compound eye 0.07 mm. Shortest distance between posterior ocelli 0.20 mm ( Figs 22B and 22C ).

Mesosoma . Mesoscutum weak granulate, with punctuation, sparse setae, without posterocentral rugae or striae ( Fig. 22D ). Notaulus with rugae centrally along their length ( Fig. 22D ). Scutellum polished, punctuation with sparse setae and without lateral rugae. Metapleuron polished, with rugae and long setae; area below juxtacoxal carina triangular shape. Fore wing length 3.70 mm to 4.40 mm. Hind wing length 2.50 mm to 3.00 mm.

Metasoma. Tergite 1 length 0.63 mm to 0.94 mm. Basal width of tergite 1 0.15 mm to 0.16 mm. Apical width of tergite 1 0.35 mm to 0.35 mm. Tergite 2 length 0.51 mm to 0.58 mm. Basal width of tergite 2 0.42 mm to 0.47 mm. Apical width of tergite 2 0.48 mm to 0.55 mm. Tergite 3 length 0.38 mm to 0.45 mm. Basal width of tergite 3 0.48 mm to 0.54 mm. Apical width of tergite 3 0.48 mm to 0.55 mm ( Fig. 22E ).

Distribution. Argentina ( Brèthes 1904; De Santis & Monetti 2008; Risi et al. 2013; Yu et al. 2016; Baudino et al. 2017), Brazil (São Paulo **), Uruguay ( Brèthes 1904; Yu et al. 2016) ( Fig. 22F ).

Host. Oiketicus kirbyi Guilding, 1827 ( Lepidoptera : Psychidae ) ( De Santis & Monetti 2008; Yu et al. 2016); Oiketicus platensis Berg, 1883 ( Lepidoptera : Psychidae ) ( Brèthes 1904; Risi et al. 2013; Baudino et al. 2017).

Discussion. Chirotica bruchii is morphologically similar to C. nigripes having a weak granulate mesoscutum with punctuation and without posterocentral rugae or striae ( Figs 22D and Fig. 27D ); metapleuron with rugae; and smooth area between the posterior ocelli without a median longitudinal sulcus. However, C. bruchii differs from C. nigripes in the following characters: clypeal apex rounded ( Fig. 22C ) (versus C. nigripes which has clypeal apex short and slightly angled ( Fig. 27C )); frons has punctuation with setae ( Fig. 22C ) (versus C. nigripes which has fine diagonal rugae and punctuation ( Fig. 27C )); and area below the juxtacoxal carina triangular shape (versus C. nigripes which has area below the juxtacoxal carina reniform shape).

Recently, Fernandes et al. (2024) corrected the erroneous occurrence of Chirotica bruchii in Brazil. This species was erroneously reported by Yu et al. (2012) and this information was later replicated by Yu et al. (2016) and Fernandes et al. (2023). For more details, see Fernandes et al. (2024).

Figures

FIGURE 17. A–B: Tergites 2 and 3, male, dorsal view. A: Chirotica stangei Townes, 1983. B: Chirotica bruchii (Brèthes, 1904).

FIGURE 19. A–B: Tergite 1, male, dorsal view. A: Chirotica bruchii (Brèthes, 1904). B: Chirotica nigripes Townes, 1983.

FIGURE 20. A–B: Area below the juxtacoxal carina, male, lateral view. A: Chirotica bruchii (Brèthes, 1904). B: Chirotica nigripes Townes, 1983.

FIGURE 22. A–F: Chirotica bruchii (Brèthes, 1904). Male. A: habitus; B: head, dorsal view; C: head, frontal view; D: mesoscutum, dorsal view; E: tergites 2 and 3, dorsal view; F: distribution map (pink triangle for type locality, orange square for previous records, yellow circle for new record).

FIGURE 27. A–F: Chirotica nigripes Townes, 1983. Male. A: habitus; B: head, dorsal view; C: head, frontal view; D: mesoscutum, dorsal view; E: tergites 2 and 3, dorsal view; F: distribution map (pink triangle for type locality, yellow circle for new record).