Aphidius staticobii, Kos & Trdan & Petrović & Starý & Kavallieratos & Petrović-Obradović & Tomanović, 2012

Kos, Katarina, Trdan, Stanislav, Petrović, Andjeljko, Starý, Petr, Kavallieratos, Nickolas G., Petrović-Obradović, Olivera & Tomanović, Željko, 2012, Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) from Slovenia, with description of a new Aphidius species, Zootaxa 3456, pp. 36-50 : 40-42

Aphidius staticobii sp. n. Tomanoviċ and Petroviċ

Description

Female.

Head. Eyes oval. Malar space equal to 0.63 of longitudinal eye diameter. Clypeus oval with 8 long setae. Tentorial index 0.45–0.58. Antenna 14-segmented, filiform, slightly thickened at the apex with semi erected setae shorter than the diameter of the segment. Flagellomere 1 (F1) 3.0–3.33 times as long as wide, without longitudinal placode sensilla ( Fig. 2 ). F2 about 2.9 times as long as wide, with 1–4 longitudinal placodes sensilla. F8 about 2 times as long as wide, with 4–5 longitudinal placodes sensilla. F1 subequal to F2 (F1/ F2 = 1.11). Maxillary palps 3-segmented, labial palps 1-segmented.

Mesosoma: mesonotum with notaulices distinct in the fore part, with irregularly distributed setae. Propodeum with two divergent carinae, sometimes with weak indication of two upper carinae ( Fig. 3 ).

Fore wing: stigma 2.9–3.0 times as long as wide and about 1.5–2 times as long as distal abscissa of R1; r-rs vein about equal to 3/RS vein; R1vein 1.1-1.8 as long as stigma width ( Fig 6 ).

Metasoma: petiole (=tergite 1) about 2.0–2.2 times as long as wide at spiracles with 8 costulae on its anterolateral area ( Fig. 4 ) and with weakly prominent mediodorsal carina.

Ovipositor sheath slightly concave on its dorsal margin ( Fig 5 ).

Colour: head brown. Eyes black. Face with mouthparts yellow. Clypeus yellow. Mandibles yellow. Scape and pedicel light brown, F1 with yellow ring at the base, remainder of antenna brown. Mesosoma brown. Wings hyaline with light brown venation. Petiole yellow. Rest of metasoma light brown. Legs light brown.

Body length about 2 mm.

Male.

Antenna 16-segmented, F1 with 3 longitudinal placodes. Stigma 2.69 times as long as wide and about 2.33 times as long as distal abscissa of R1; R1 vein 1.15 times longer than stigma width. Tergite 1 1.91 times as long as wide at spiracles with 7–8 costulae on its anterolateral area.

Body generally darker than in female.

Type material

Holotype female. Slovenia, Sečovlje, 17.06.2010, reared from Staticobium limonii Contarini 1847 on Limonium angustifolium (Tausch) Turr. (sin. Limonium vulgare Mill. ssp. Serotinum (Rchb.) Gams) coll. K. Kos. Holotype slide mounted and deposited in the collection of the Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade.

Paratypes. Slovenia, Sečovlje, 17.06.2010, reared from Staticobium limonii (Contarini 1847) on Limonium angustifolium (Tausch) Turr. 5 males, coll. K. Kos. Specimens preserved in 80% alcohol are deposited in the collection of the Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. France, Antibes, 0 6.04.1974, and France, Corse – Ajaccio, 27.05.1973, reared from Staticobium limonii on Limonium sp., 2 females, 1 male, coll. P. Starý: Slide mounted and deposited in the collection of P. Starý (České Budějovice).

Etymology: The name of the new species is named after the host aphid, Staticobium limonii .

Host aphid: It is a parasitoid of Staticobium limonii on Limonium angustifolium and Limonium sp.

Distribution: Slovenia and France (Antibes and Corsica).

Comments: This new species belongs to group of Aphidius species with an incomplete propodeal areola ( Fig. 2 ), with two divergent carinae at the base of propodeum, or sometimes with weak indication of two upper carinae, in combination with one segmented labial palps. The presence of an incomplete areola and the number of antennal segments suggests that A. staticobii sp. n. is related to A. artemisicola Tizado and Nunez-Perez and A. iranicus Rakhshani and Starý. Aphidius staticobii can be distinguished from A. artemisicola by having one segmented labial palps (two segmented labial palps in A. artemisicola ) and shorter petiole (2.0–2.2 times as long as wide at spiracles in Aphidius staticobii vs. 2.6 in A. artemisicola ). Aphidius staticobii can be distinguished from A. iranicus by having shorter petiole (2.0–2.2 times as long as wide at spiracles in A. staticobii vs. 2.7–2.8 in A. iranicus ) and shorter distal abscissa of R1 (distal abscissa of R1, 1.5–2 times shorter than stigma in A. staticobii vs. distal abscissa of R1 equal or subequal to stigma in A. iranicus ). The new species is also similar to other Aphidius (Lysaphidus) species with carinated propodeum [e.g. A. (Lysaphidus) arvensis Starý and A. (Lysaphidus) erysimi Starý from Europe] but it can be separated by forewing venation—presence M+m-cu vein in A. staticobii vs. reduction of this vein in Aphidius (Lysaphidus) species to only small part of this vein below r-m.

Figures

FIGURES 2–6. Aphidius staticobii sp. n.; 2) flagellomeres F1 and F2; 3) propodeum, dorsal aspect; 4) petiole, lateral aspect 5) ovipositor sheath, lateral aspect, 6) fore wing.