Promicrogaster virginianus Fernandez-Triana, 2019

Fernandez-Triana, Jose, 2019, Revision of the North American species of Promicrogaster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae), with an updated key to all described species in North and Meso America, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 70, pp. 89-112 : 89

Promicrogaster virginianus Fernandez-Triana sp. nov.

Fig. 8 A-E

Material examined.

Holotype. UNITED STATES • ♀, USNM; Virginia; 28 Aug 1884; CNC666702.

Diagnosis.

Among the darker coloured species (with uniformly dark antenna and entirely dark brown propleuron), with small areolet in the fore wing and tegula and wing base yellow, this species can be distinguished by its relatively small size (body and fore wing length 2.5-2.6 mm) and smaller ocelli (ocular-ocellar line 2.6 × as long as posterior ocellus diameter). All other species with dark colouration are either substantially larger (body and fore wing length at least 3.3 mm, usually more), and/or have larger ocelli, lack an areolet or have some other differences (as stated in the key above).

Description.

Head: mostly reddish-brown, labrum and mandibles yellow. Flagellomeres: brown. Mesosoma: reddish-brown. Tegula: yellow. Metasoma (dorsally): mostly reddish-brown. Metacoxa: mostly brown. Malar distance: less than 0.2 × eye length. Fore wing areolet: present. T1 sculpture:: anterior 0.4 smooth, posterior 0.6 sculptured. T2 sculpture: mostly sculptured. Body length: 2.60 mm. Fore wing length: approximately 2.80 mm. Ovipositor length: 2.30 mm. Ocular-ocellar line: 0.17 mm. Interocellar distance: 0.08 mm. Posterior ocellus diameter: 0.07 mm. Metacoxa length: 0.65 mm. Metafemur length: 0.75 mm. Metatibia length: 0.90 mm. T1 length/width at posterior margin: 0.43 mm/ 0.18 mm. T2 length/width at posterior margin: 0.08 mm/ 0.38 mm.

Distribution.

UNITED STATES, Virginia.

Biology.

Unknown.

Molecular data.

Not available.

Etymology.

Named after the state where it was collected.

Notes.

This is the oldest known specimen of Promicrogaster , having been collected 135 years ago.

Figures

Figure 8. Promicrogaster virginianus, female holotype. A Habitus, lateral B head, frontal C fore wing D propodeum and metasoma, dorsal E head and mesosoma, dorsal.