Euplectrus mikegatesi Hansson

Hansson, Christer, Smith, M. Alex, Janzen, Daniel H. & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2015, Integrative taxonomy of New World Euplectrus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), with focus on 55 new species from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica, ZooKeys 485, pp. 1-236 : 64-65

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus mikegatesi Hansson sp. n. Figures 438-440, 441-447, 771

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Alajuela, ACG, Sector Brasilia, Piedrona, 21.vi.2008, D. Briceno, ex Antiblemma amarga eating Vochysia ferruginea , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0031184, 08-SRNP-65612" (BMNH). PARATYPES: 8♀ 1♂: COSTA RICA (ACG): Alajuela: 5♀ 1♂ with same label data as holotype (BMNH, INBio, MZLU); Guanacaste: Sector Pitilla, Quebradona, 11.iii.2013, R. Calero, ex Antiblemma amarga eating Vochysia guatemalensis , sibling wasp of DHJPAR0054879, 13-SRNP-70421 (3♀, in CNC, INBio, USNM).

Diagnosis.

Lower face with median part yellowish-brown, pale area reaching to level of middle of toruli (Figs 442, 443); fore wing with four setae on dorsal surface of submarginal vein; dorsellum anteriorly with a very narrow groove (Fig. 771); fore and mid legs yellowish-white, hind leg yellowish-brown (Fig. 441); petiole 1.2 × as long as wide; female gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-brown, posterior ½ reddish-brown, entire gaster with dark brown narrow lateral margins (Fig. 444), male gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-white with dark brown lateral margins and posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 445); male antenna with scape slightly expanded and widest in the middle, 3.1 × as long as wide (Fig. 447).

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.0 mm. Antenna with scape yellowish-white, pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellomeres 1-3 pale brown, 4-6 dark brown (Fig. 446). Mandibles and palpi yellowish-white. Head black and shiny, lower face with median part yellowish-brown, pale area reaching to level of middle of toruli, parts between pale area and eyes black (Fig. 442). Frons close to eyes with one row of setae (Fig. 438). Vertex with very weak reticulation inside ocellar triangle, smooth outside (Fig. 439). Occipital margin rounded (Fig. 439).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 441). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with ten setae. Scutellum 0.9 × as long as wide; with very weak engraved reticulation, posterior margin smooth (Fig. 440). Dorsellum anteriorly with a very narrow groove (Fig. 771), medially 0.2 × as long as length of dorsellum. Propodeum smooth (Fig. 771); anteromedially with a semicircular cup; propodeal callus with seven setae. Legs (Fig. 441): fore and mid legs yellowish-white, hind leg yellowish-brown. Fore wing: submarginal vein with four setae; costal cell with two rows of setae on ventral surface, and margin with four setae close to marginal vein; with 11 admarginal setae, in one row.

Gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-brown, posterior ½ reddish-brown, entire gaster with dark brown narrow lateral margins (Fig. 444).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 2.5/1.0/1.4; POL/OOL/POO = 5.3/2.4/1.0; OOL/DO = 0.9; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.0/4.0/3.0; WH/WT = 1.1; PM/ST = 1.5; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 3.1/1.8/5.5/1.3/1.3/1.0/1.9; LP/WP = 1.2; MM/LG = 1.4.

Male. Length of body 1.6 mm. Scape slightly expanded and widest in the middle (Fig. 447), sensory pores confined to apicoventral ¾, sensory area pale as scape. Otherwise similar to female except gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-white with dark brown lateral margins and posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 445), and shorter.

Ratios. LC/WS = 3.1; MM/LG = 1.5.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on penultimate instar larva of Antiblemma amarga ( Erebidae ) feeding on Vochysia ferruginea and Vochysia guatemalensis ( Vochysiaceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Alajuela Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after Mike W. Gates, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.