Cremnops ashmeadi (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 : 38-39

Cremnops ashmeadi (Morrison)

[ Plate 2 , Figs A–I]

Bracon ashmeadi Morrison, 1917 . Female.

Diagnosis. This species is distinguished by its prominently projecting, strongly acute scutal flange and black head and mesosoma .

Description. Holotype: female. Body length 5.9mm (5–6.5mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Thirty-three (32–35) flagellomeres. Lateral carina of frons weak, ending at the anterolateral (or anterior) edge of the lateral ocellus. Interocellar space not elevated, lower than lateral ocelli. Malar space 1.0x (0.7–1.2x) eye height. Apical tooth of mandible not extending past margin of basal lobe.

Mesosoma (Figs D, E & H). Subpronopes adjacent, separated by a partition wider than the longitudinal length of the dorsomedial portion of pronotum. Median mesonotal lobe not depressed medially. Notaulus smooth (sometimes weakly foveolate). Scutellar sulcus with 3 (1–4) longitudinal carinae. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange prominent; strongly acute (straight to weakly curved, but NOT as strongly curved as in C. comstocki ). Mesoscutellar trough with (to without) longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough without extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 4 (3–6) pits; about 2/ 3x (1/2–2/ 3x) length of mesopleuron. Discrimen foveolate (to smooth). Medial propodeal areola with 4 (3–5) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral 1/2 (1/3–1/2).

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 3.5x width. Trochantellar carina absent. Distal tibia with 2 (or 3) spines. Claw missing on type specimen, inner tooth of inner and outer claws symmetrical, narrow and angled (to curved), with 3–4 basal pectines.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Hyaline with melanic tint; veins melanic; stigma melanic. 2nd submarginal cell slightly higher than wide (to as high as wide). Hyaline spot in anterior part of 1st submarginal cell and basal part of 2nd discal cell.

Metasoma (Figs A & B). 1st median tergite length about 1.5x apical width, apical width about 2x basal width.

Body Color Black, except orange as follows: metasoma and parts of fore leg tarsal segments (to hind femur orange, tarsal segments melanic).

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Adults Collected —May to October.

Geographic Range —Central Canada (Alberta, Ontario & Manitoba) south to Kansas and Kentucky. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. This species is similar to C. montrealensis , but can be distinguished by the scutal flange; whereas C. ashmeadi has prominently projecting scutal flange, C. montrealensis has a non-prominent, rather: 90° to obtuse hind angle of the scutal flange. Cremnops ashmeadi also closely resembles C. bertae , but C. ashmeadi has 2–3 hind tibial spines (compared to 4–8) and a malar space shorter than eye height (compared to at least as long).

Etymology. Presumably named after William Harris Ashmead, a prominent systematist of Hymenoptera .

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: female, type no. 20480, ( USNM) (H3476). Non-Types: 2 ( BMNH), 5 ( CAS), 7 ( CNC), 6 ( ESSIG), 3 ( HIC), 2( INHS), 2 ( MCZ), 3 ( USNM), 5 ( UCDC). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 2. Cremnops ashmeadi. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum with scutal flange inset; F. face; G. wings; H. propodeum; I. hind leg.