Cremnops slossonae (Morrison)

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 : 68-69

Cremnops slossonae (Morrison)

[ Plate 24 , Figs A–I]

Bracon slossonae Morrison, 1917 . Female.

Cremnops misionensis Berta, 1987 . Female. NEW SYNONYMY

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished by the merged subpronopes, high ocellar space, red-orange abdomen, and sternaulus usually with 2 pits.

Description. Holotype: female. Body length (9.5–12 mm, with males tending toward the lower end and female the upper).

Head (Figs C & F). Antennae broken on type specimen, 38–42 flagellomeres. Interocellar space elevated, higher than lateral ocelli. Malar space 0.8x (0.8–1.0x) eye height.

Mesosoma (Figs D, E & H). Subpronopes contiguous, merged into one large pit. Median mesonotal lobe depressed medially (sometimes weakly). Notaulus smooth. Scutellar sulcus with 1 longitudinal carina. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange not prominent; lobed (to 90° to obtuse). Mesoscutellar trough with longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 1 (to 2, rarely 3) pit(s); about 1/ 3x length of mesopleuron. Medial propodeal areola with 5 (4–7) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral 1/3 (to 1/2).

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 2.5– 3 x width. Distal tibia with 2 spines. Claw missing on type specimen, inner tooth of inner and outer claws symmetrical, narrow and angled (to curved).

Fore wing (Fig. G). Melanic.

Metasoma (Figs A & B). 1st median tergite length about 1.5x apical width, apical width about 2.5x basal width.

Body Color Black, except orange-red as follows: metapleuron, propodeum, metasoma, hind leg.

Biology. Host— Cremnops slossonae has been reared from Epicorsia mellinalis Hübner ( Lepidoptera : Crambidae ) (now Pyrausta mellinalis ) [from label data].

Adults Collected —March (Florida), August ( Puerto Rico) & November ( Colombia & Argentina); reared specimens emerged October & December.

Geographic Range— Cremnops slossonae was originally only recorded from Florida. The synonymization of C. misionensis extends the species distribution south to Paraguay and Argentina. I have also seen a specimen from Puerto Rico. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. This is one of only four species with subpronopes merged into one space ( C. boliviensis , C. cubensis , and C. violaceipennis ). Cremnops slossonae most closely resembles C. violaceipennis , but has an orange metasoma and hind legs, whereas the metasoma and hind legs of C. violaceipennis are black.

Etymology. Likely named after Annie Trumbull Slosson, an author and entomologist who donated a large insect collection to AMNH.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: Bracon slossonae , female, Biscayne Bay, Florida, Type No. 20476, ( USNM) (H3473 & H3910); Cremnops misionensis (photographs), female, Argentina: Misiones: San Javier, 12/ XI/1971, C. Porter coll., ( IFML). Non-Types: 7( HIC), 1 ( ANSP), 2 ( CNC), 2 ( FSCA), 3 ( MCZ). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 24. Cremnops slossonae. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face with mandible insert; G. fore wing; H. propodeum; I. hind leg.