Cremnops violaceipennis ( Cameron )

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 : 71-72

Cremnops violaceipennis ( Cameron)

[ Plate 26 , Figs A–I]

Agathis violaceipennis Cameron, 1887 . Female.

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

Description. Holotype: female. Body length 10 mm (10.5–12 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Antennae broken on type specimen, 38–42 flagellomeres. Lateral carina of frons weak, ending immediately anteriad lateral ocellus. Interocellar space elevated, higher than lateral ocelli. Malar space 0.8x (0.8–1.1x) eye height. Apical tooth of mandible not extending past margin of basal lobe.

Mesosoma (Figs D, E & H). Subpronopes contiguous, merged into one large pit. Median mesonotal lobe not depressed medially (often with a weak longitudinal carina or two anterior bumps). Notaulus smooth. Scutellar sulcus with 1 (1–3) longitudinal carina. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange not prominent; rather: 90° to obtuse (to lobed). Mesoscutellar trough with (to without) longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough without extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 2 (1–2, rarely 3) pits; about 1/ 4x (or less) length of mesopleuron. Discrimen foveolate. Medial propodeal areola with 4 (4–7) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral 1/3.

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 3.5x width. Trochantellar carina absent. Distal tibia with 2 spines. Inner tooth of inner and outer claws symmetrical, narrow and angled (to curved), with 6–7 basal pectines.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Melanic (to black); veins melanic (to black); stigma melanic (to black). 2nd submarginal cell about 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 2x apical width, apical width about 2x basal width.

Body Color Black, except orange-red as follows: propodeum (to completely black, or rarely all black with orange metasoma).

Biology. Host— Epicorsia avilalis Amsel ( Crambidae ).

Associated Plants— Host's plant: Citharexylum costaricense Moldenke (Verbenaceae) (Janzen & Hallwachs 2009).

Adults Collected —September.

Geographic Range —Central Mexico south to Colombia. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. See discussion under C. boliviensis .

Etymology. The name presumably refers to the violet colored reflections seen in the wings of freshly collected specimens.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: Cremnops violaceipennis , female, Volcan de Chiriqui, 25–4000ft, Champion, B.M. Type Hym 3:934, ( BMNH) (H8923). Non-Types: 7( HIC), 1 ( ANSP), 2 ( CNC), 2 ( FSCA), 3 ( MCZ). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 26. Cremnops violaceipennis. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face; G. fore wing; H. propodeum; I. hind leg.