Leptopilina victoriae Nordlander, 1980

Lue, Chia-Hua, Driskell, Amy C., Leips, Jeff & Buffington, Matthew L., 2016, Review of the genus Leptopilina (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae, Eucoilinae) from the Eastern United States, including three newly described species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 53, pp. 35-76 : 64-65

Leptopilina victoriae Nordlander, 1980

Leptopilina victoriae Nordlander, 1980: 447 (original description); Novković, Mitsui, Suwito & Kimura, 2011: 344 (new distribution record from Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia, host association); van Noort, Buffington & Forshage, 2015: 92 (listed).

Diagnosis.

The shape of antenna and metasoma of Leptopilina victoriae is similar to Leptopilina boulardi . However, the two species can be easily separate by the patterns of the scutellum (Figs 11 , 20 ). In general, the hairy ring in Leptopilina victoriae (Figs 46-47 ) is dense and relatively shorter than other Leptopilina species (Fig. 22 ). This species also has a long horizontal ridge across middle of the metapleuron (arrow, Fig. 22 ). The ridge is parallel the upper ridge of metapleura and that different from other Leptopilina species the ridge is not display parallel.

Redescription.

Coloration with head, mesosoma, metasoma black to dark brown, legs light brown. Malar sulcus present. Apical segment of maxillary palp more than 1.5 times as long as preceding segment. Terminal flagellomere with three basiconic sensillae. Basiconic sensillae present on F6-F11. Placoidal sensilla present on F7-11. Number of ridges on pronotal plate in lateral view 2. Sculpture on mesoscutum absent, entire surface smooth, shiny. Dorsal surface of scutellum areolet - rugulose. Circumscutellar carina present, complete, delimiting dorsal and ventral halves of scutellum. Latero-ventral margin of scutellum posterior to axillula smooth ventrally, weakly rugulose dorsally. Dorsal part of scutellum entirely areolate. Scutellar plate, in dorsal view, medium sized, exposing about half of scutellum. Posterior impression of metepimeron absent. Anterior impression of metepisternum, immediately beneath anterior end of metapleural carina, present, small and narrow. Wing vein M present but not well defined. Inter propodeal carinae space lightly setose, smooth. Horizontal carina running anteriorly from lateral propodeal carina, absent. Surface of petiole longitudinally costate, ventral keel absent. Setal band (hairy ring) at base of tergum 3 present, interrupted dorsally, ventrally, dense short hair.

Distribution in Eastern North America.

Of the seven species in our identification key, Leptopilina victoriae did not appear in our field collections. However, because this species is commonly used in laboratory experiments we include this species in the identification key to assist with diagnosis of other Leptopilina species that are also commonly used as laboratory strains (e.g., Leptopilina boulardi , Leptopilina heterotoma and Leptopilina clavipes ).

Material examined.

Paratypes (2 females, 2 males, BMNH): Strain G 311-1, Seychelles. G. Nordlander. 1980. Es 551-552. BMNH(E) 970160-970161; Strain G 314-1, Seychelles. G. Nordlander. 1980. Es 553-554 .

Figures

Figures 11 - 16.

Figures 17 - 22.

Figure 46 - 47. Leptopilina victoriae.