Cremnops kelloggii (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 : 56-57

Cremnops kelloggii (Morrison)

[ Plate 15 , Figs A–I]

Bracon kelloggii Morrison, 1917 . Female.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished by the underdeveloped scutal flange, two hind tibial spines, weakly pitted sternaulus, mandible appearing as one long tooth, short antennae (28–33 flagellomeres), and western North American distribution.

Description. Holotype: female. Body length 6.5 mm (5.5–7 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Antennae broken on type specimen, 28–33 flagellomeres. Lateral carina of frons weak, ending immediately anteriad lateral ocellus. Interocellar space not elevated, level with lateral ocelli. Malar space 1.0x (0.8–1.2x) eye height. Apical tooth of mandible extending (or not extending) well past margin of basal lobe, often appearing as one long tooth.

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 weakly depressed medially. Notaulus smooth. Scutellar sulcus with 1 longitudinal carina. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange not prominent; reduced and blunt (to 90° to obtuse or lobed). Mesoscutellar trough without longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough without extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 4 (3–5) pits; about 1/ 2x (1/3–1/ 2x) length of mesopleuron. Discrimen smooth (to foveolate). Medial propodeal areola with 2 (2–5) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral 1/3.

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 3x width. Trochantellar carina absent. Distal tibia with 2 spines. Inner tooth of inner and outer claws asymmetrical.

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 cell and basal part of 2nd discal cell.

Metasoma (Figs A & B). 1st median tergite length about 1.2x apical width, apical width about 2.5x basal width.

Body Color Orange, except black as follows: head, propleuron, most of pronotum, ventral half of mesopleuron and metapleuron, propodeum, fore- and mid- leg, most of hind leg (varies from mostly orange to mostly black).

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Adults Collected —March to September.

Geographic Range —The Rocky Mountains westward (CA, NM, NV & Mexico, with a few specimens collected as far east as Texas and Kansas), Oregon south to Mexico. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. Cremnops kelloggii can be separated from most species by its scutal flange, which is usually reduced and blunt (compared to 90° to obtuse or prominent), shorter than average flagellomere length (28–33 compared to most 35+), and western North American distribution. Cremnops kelloggii can be separated from C. melanoptera by the breadth of the face; C. kelloggii is distinctly more tapered towards the ventral margin (ventral margin of the face ~1/2 the interocular distance) whereas C. melanoptera has a more quadrangular-shaped face (ventral margin of the face ~3/4 the length of the interocular distance).

Etymology. Presumably named after Vernon M. L. Kellogg, an American entomological taxonomist.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: female, Nevada, type no. 204787, ( USNM) (H3466). Non-Types: 4 (UKY), 23 ( ESSIG), 12 ( CAS), 6 ( CNC), 2 ( FSCA), 1 ( MCZ), 4 ( UAIC), 1 ( CSCA). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 15. Cremnops kelloggii. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face; G. fore wing; H. propodeum; I. hind leg.