Cremnops crassifemur (Muesebeck)

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 : 47-49

Cremnops crassifemur (Muesebeck)

[ Plate 9 , Figs A–I]

Bracon crassifemur Muesebeck, 1927 . Male.

Diagnosis. This species is easily distinguished by its relatively large size, spine-like projection on the scape, excessive number of distal hind tibial spines (20–35), and relatively broad hind femur (femur length only ~ 2x its width).

Description. Holotype: male. Body length 9.5 mm (9–11 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Antennae broken on type specimen, 40–45 flagellomeres. Acute dorsoapical projection on scape present. Lateral carina of frons strong, ending immediately anteriad lateral ocellus. Interocellar space not elevated, level with (or higher than) lateral ocelli. Malar space 1.0–1.5x eye height. Apical tooth of mandible 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, or not depressed medially. Notaulus smooth. Scutellar sulcus with 1 longitudinal carina. Hind margin of posterolateral scutal flange not prominent; rather: 90° to obtuse (to lobed). Mesoscutellar trough without longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough without extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 1–2 pits. Discrimen smooth. Medial propodeal areola with (2–4) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral margin.

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 1.5– 2 x width. Trochantellar carina absent. Distal tibia covered with (20–35) spines. Claw missing on type specimen, inner tooth of inner and outer claws asymmetrical, broad, angled quadrangular-shaped, with 4–5 basal pectines.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Melanic; 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 1.3x apical width, apical width about 2x basal width.

Body Color Orange, except black as follows: head, pronotum, anterior mesoscutum, mesopleuron (sometimes only half), tegula, posterior scutal flange, fore and mid leg, hind trochanter, trochantellus, and tarsus.

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Associated Plants —flowering plants: Psoralea L. (legume family), Chrysothamnus Nutt. (sagebrush) ( Asteraceae family) and Haplopappus Cassnini ( Asteraceae family) (misspelled Applopappus on the label) [from label data]. Chrysothamnus is known to be a host plant of Coleophora linosyridella Fuchs and C. viscidiflorella Walsingham ( Lepidoptera : Coleophoridae ), and Schinia walsinghami H. Edwards ( Lepidoptera : Noctuidae ).

Adults Collected —April, July-September, December (California). While most Cremnops specimens are collected by Malaise traps, there are records of this species being collected at light traps and by hand netting from flowering shrubs.

Geographic Range —Rocky Mountains westward (AZ, CA, Mexico, Baja California and two specimens from Texas), California south to Mexico. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. The unusual morphology of this species (e.g. acute scape projection and numerous hind tibial spines) suggests it is sister to C. vulgaris . While analyses of limited COI data for C. vulgaris does not support this sister relationship, these shared character states suggest such a relationship may be the case.

Etymology. The word “crass” translates to broad, which is appropriate for this species as it is one of only a few species that does have a broad femur.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: literature description: male, Baboquivari Mountains, Arizona, ( INHS). Non-Types: 3 ( HIC), 7 ( ESSIG), 4 ( CAS), 1 ( CNC), 1( FSCA), 1 ( MCZ), 6 ( UAIC), 9 ( CSCA). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 9. Cremnops crassifemur. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head with scape insert; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face; G. wings; H. propodeum; I. hind leg with distal tibial spines insert.