Pseudochalcura prolata Heraty

Torréns, Javier, 2016, A new species of Pseudochalcura Ashmead (Chalcidoidea: Eucharitidae) from Argentina with descriptions of alternate sexes of two other species, Zootaxa 4067 (2), pp. 239-245 : 243-245

Pseudochalcura prolata Heraty

( Figs 12–15 )

Pseudochalcura prolata Heraty, 1986: 202 –205 (description), holotype ♀, Argentina: Chaco, Resistencia (MACN); Heraty, 2002: 224 (catalog).

Diagnosis. Both sexes large-bodied, 3.3 – 3.5 mm, head transverse, 1.7 – 1.9× as broad as high ( Fig. 12 ), eyes bare, metatibial spur absent, fore wing disc with very short setae, superficially bare, submarginal vein without setae dorsally, and petiole curved in profile and shagreened dorsally; male with 12 antennal segments, with seven basal flagellomeres pectinate ( Fig. 13 ); female with 8–11 antennal segments, with basal 5–7 flagellomeres pectinate, and Gs1 striate.

Description. Female. Description and characterization in accordance with that provided by Heraty (1986). Male. Length 3.2 – 3.3 mm. Black with a faint metallic bluish luster; scape, pedicel coxae and petiole dark brown, gaster slightly darker; antenna and rest of legs yellowish. ( Fig. 14 ).

Head 1.8× as broad as high. POL 2.8× LOL; POL 4.0 – 4.6× OOL ( Fig. 12 ). Frons and face finely striate, with striae stronger toward vertex; clypeus and supraclypeal area smooth. Eyes separated by 2.3 – 2.4× their height. Malar space 0.8× height of eye. Labrum with 5 digits. Antenna 12-segmented, seven basal flagellomeres pectinate; branches slightly flattened, dorsal branch of F2 8.3 – 12.5× as long as broad, 8.3× as long as basal length and 0.8× as long as head height; F6 and F7 lobate and elongate; last flagellomeres not segmented ( Fig. 13 ).

Mesosoma areolate-rugose, lateral lobes shagreened, glabrous ( Figs 14, 15 ). Pronotum and prepectus areolaterugose. Mesoscutum 1.8 – 1.9× as broad as long. Mesoscutellum 1.3 – 1.4× as long as maximum width of scutellar disc ( Fig. 15 ). Propodeal disc slightly rounded, alveolate with broad interstices. Propleuron shagreened; mesopleuron and metapleuron with same sculpture as mesoscutum, femoral groove deeply impressed; callus with a few erect setae ( Fig. 14 ). Metacoxa subtriangular, 1.0 – 1.1× as long as broad, slightly striate and rugulose laterally but anterior and posterior surfaces punctate; mesocoxa without a lateral carina. Metafemur well expanded medially, 3.7 – 4.0× as long as broad; with sparse appressed setae laterally. Metatibia with semi-erect setae dorsally; metatibial spur absent.

Petiole 3.0× as long as broad and 1.4 – 1.5× as long as metacoxa; curved in profile and shagreened ( Fig. 14 ). Gaster semi-globose, Gt1 smooth with long setae dorsally and short setae to the sides.

Distribution. Argentina: Buenos Aires, Chaco, La Rioja, Santiago del Estero. Uruguay: Montevideo.

Material examined. 3♂: ARGENTINA: La Rioja: Bazán, RN9, 13.xi.2000, P. Fidalgo, UCRC _ ENT 0 0 357442 (1♂, IFML); Santiago del Estero: Campo Gallo, 26º41'53"S 62º45'54"W, 29–30.iii.2007, J. & J. Heraty, J. Torréns, UCRC _ ENT 0 0 435929, UCRC _ ENT 0 0 357443 (1♂, UCRC; 1♂, IFML).

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 16. Pseudochalcura spp. 9 – 11, Pseudochalcura pauca (♂): 9, habitus; 10, antenna (lateral); 11, head (frontal). 12 – 15, P. prolata (♂): 12, head (frontal); 13, antenna (lateral); 14, habitus; 15, mesosoma (dorsal). 16, P. pauca (♂): mesosoma (dorsal).