Cremnops pectoralis (Ashmead)

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 : 64-65

Cremnops pectoralis (Ashmead)

[ Plate 21 , Figs A–I]

Agathis pectoralis Ashmead, 1894 . Male.

Diagnosis. Distinguished by its Caribbean distribution, non-prominent scutal flange, sternaulus present, and asymmetrical inner teeth on hind claw.

Description. Holotype: female, or male. Body length 5 mm (5–7 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Thirty-three (32–37) flagellomeres. Interocellar space not elevated, level with lateral ocelli. Malar space 1.0x (0.7–1.0x) 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 depressed medially (to not depressed). Notaulus smooth (sometimes weakly foveolate). Scutellar sulcus with 1 (1–3) longitudinal carina. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange not prominent; rather: 90° to obtuse (to lobed or reduced and blunt). Mesoscutellar trough with (to without) longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough with (to without) weak longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 7 (3–7) pits (usually large and prominent, but varies to small and weak); about 1/ 3x (to 1/ 2x) length of mesopleuron. Discrimen smooth. Medial propodeal areola with 5 (3–5) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral 1/3 (to 1/2).

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 3.5x width. Trochantellar carina absent. Distal tibia with 2 (or 3) spines. Inner tooth of inner and outer claws asymmetrical, broad, angled quadrangular-shaped, with 3–5 basal pectines.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Melanic, or hyaline with melanic tint; veins melanic; stigma melanic. 2nd submarginal cell about as high as wide. Hyaline spot in anterior part of 1st submarginal

Metasoma (Figs A & B). 1st median tergite length about 2x apical width, apical width about 1.2x basal width.

Body Color Orange, except black as follows: head, ventral mesosoma , most of mid and hind leg (to all reddishorange).

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Adults Collected —February ( Trinidad & Tobago), April ( Trinidad), & December ( Trinidad).

Geographic Range —Caribbean Islands ( Cuba, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago). See map in Appendix II.

Comments. Cremnops pectoralis is difficult to distinguish from to C. meabilis , C. cameronii and C. plesiopectoralis , but appears to be restricted to the Caribbean Islands, while the other species are only found on the mainland.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: male, windward side St. Vincent, West Indies, B.M type Hym. 3:622, ( BMNH) (H8919). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 21. Cremnops pectoralis. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face; G. fore wing; H. propodeum; I. hind leg.