Cremnops witkopegasus, Tucker, Erika M., Chapman, Eric G. & Sharkey, Michael J., 2015

Tucker, Erika M., Chapman, Eric G. & Sharkey, Michael J., 2015, A revision of the New World species of Cremnops Förster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae), Zootaxa 3916 (1), pp. 1-83 : 79-80

Cremnops witkopegasus NEW SPECIES

[ Plate 32 , Figs A–I]

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished by its short malar space, 8–17 distal hind tibial spines, and non-prominent scutal flange.

Description. Holotype: female. Body length 7 mm (6.5–7.5 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Thirty-four (32–38) flagellomeres. Lateral carina of frons weak, ending immediately anteriad lateral ocellus. Malar space 0.7x (0.6–0.8x) eye height.

Mesosoma (Figs D, E & H). Median mesonotal lobe weakly depressed medially. Notaulus smooth (sometimes weakly foveolate). Scutellar sulcus with 1 longitudinal carina. Lobed (to 90° to obtuse). Mesoscutellar trough without longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough without extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 4 (3–5) pits; about 1/ 2x (1/3–1/ 2x) length of mesopleuron. Discrimen smooth. Medial propodeal areola with 3 (3–4) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral 1/3.

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 2.5– 3 x width. Distal tibia with 14 (8–17) spines. Inner tooth of inner and outer claws asymmetrical, broad, angled quadrangular-shaped.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Hyaline with melanic tint; veins melanic; stigma melanic. 2nd submarginal cell about as high as wide.

Metasoma (Figs A & B). 1st median tergite length about 2x apical width, apical width about 2.5x basal width.

Body Color Orange, except black as follows: hind trochanter, trochantellus, distal tibia, and tarsus.

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Associated Plants— Baccharis L. flowers ( Asterales : Asteraceae ), Boerhavia L. flowers ( Caryophyllales : Nyctaginaceae ) [from label data].

Adults Collected —September.

Geographic Range —Texas west to Baja California, south to Mexico. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. Cremnops witkopegasus is similar to all orange specimens of C. meabilis , but can be differentiated by the presence of more hind tibial spines (8–17 instead of 2 or 3) and a broader hind femur (1.5–2.0x instead of 3– 4 x width). It appears to be closely related to C. shenefelti , but can be distinguished by a shorter malar space (0.6–0.8x instead of 0.7–1.1x eye height) and less melanic coloration (primarily orange compared to head mostly black and mesopleuron black ventrally).

Etymology. Named for Crazy Horse, the Native American war leader of the Lakota people. Witko means crazy in the Lakota language and a Pegasus is a winged of horse.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: female, Arizona, Maricopa Co. , 10mi. s. Wickenburg Rest Area (Riparian refuge), 16-IX-2006, C. Porter & Stange, at Baccharis flowers, ( FSCA) (H7796). PARATYPE: female, Tanque Verde Wash, 20mi., E. Tucson on Redington Pass Rd., ARIZ. 3 Sept., 1964, M Noller, on flr Boerhavia , ( UAIC)(H12149); male, Mex., B. Calif. Sur: San Augustine, 8 Sept. 1989, coll F. S. Truxal, ( HIC) (H8949); female, Ariz: La Paz Co., 8 mi. S Ehrenburg Cibola area, VIII-9–00, N.J. Smith & A.J. Gilbert, ( UCDC) (H4437). Non-Types: 1 ( HIC). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 32. Cremnops witkopegasus. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face; G. wings; H. propodeum; I. hind leg.