Monoctonia japonica Rakhshani & Tomanović, 2015

Rakhshani, Ehsan, Starý, Petr, Hidalgo, Nicolás Pérez, Čkrkić, Jelisaveta, Moghaddam, Mostafa Ghafouri, Tomanović, Snežana, Petrović, Andjeljko & Tomanović, Željko, 2015, Revision of the world Monoctonia Starý, parasitoids of gall aphids: taxonomy, distribution, host range, and phylogeny (Hymenoptera, Braconidae: Aphidiinae), Zootaxa 3905 (4), pp. 474-488 : 479-481

Monoctonia japonica Rakhshani & Tomanović , sp. n.

( Fig. 3 ; Fig. 5 B)

Monoctonia vesicarii Tremblay, 1991 , Boll. Lab. Ent. Agr. Filippo Silvestri 18: 137–142 in Takada et al. (2010)

Diagnosis. Monoctonia japonica sp. n. is characterized by 16–17-segmented antennae in female, subquadrate petiole, and triangular stigma. With respect to the number of antennal segments, Monoctonia japonica sp. n. differs from congeneric M. pistaciaecola ( M. pistaciaecola has 12–13-segmented antennae). In the number of antennal segments Monoctonia japonica sp. n. is most closely related to M. vesicarii . However, Monoctonia japonica sp. n. differs from M. vesicarii in having a more elongate flagellomere 1 ( Monoctonia japonica sp. n. has a flagellomere 1 length/width ratio of 2.10–2.30, while M. vesicarii has flagellomere 1 1.75–2.00 times as long as wide); in the number of longitudinal placodes on flagellomere 2 ( Monoctonia japonica sp. n. has 3–4, while M. vesicarii has 0–1 longitudinal placodes on flagellomere 2); and in shape of the ovipositor sheaths (more elongate in M. japonica sp. n.).

Material examined. Female holotype: Japan, Nakasatsunai, Hokkaido, mid-July 2007, Pemphigus matsumurai Monzen on Populus maximowiczii (within closed leaf gall), leg. H. Torikura; Paratypes: 26 females, 12 males, same data as holotype; Nakasatsunai, Hokkaido, mid-July 2007, two females, one male, ex Pemphigus matsumurai Monzen on Populus maximowiczii , leg. H. Torikura; late September 2007, one female, one male, ex Pemphigus matsumurai Monzen on Populus maximowiczii , leg. H. Torikura; Obihiro, Hokkaido, 4 VIII 2012, ex Pemphigus matsumurai Monzen on Populus maximowiczii (within closed leaf gall), leg. H. Torikura.

Female. Head— ( Fig. 3 A) in dorsal view wider than mesosoma at tegulae, moderately pubescent. Eyes medium sized, sparsely haired, slightly converging toward clypeus. Face slightly protrudent, uniformly pubescent with moderately long setae, except in a narrow median area. Clypeus strongly protrudent, bearing more than 12 long setae. Tentorial index (tentoriocular line/intertentorial line) 0.30–0.40. Malar space equal to 0.22–0.30 of longitudinal eye diameter. Mandible bidentate, bearing several long and short setae on outer surface, with central depressions at tip. Maxillary palp four-segmented, labial palp three-segmented ( Fig. 3 C). Antennae ( Fig. 3 B) 16–17-segmented, filiform, segments becoming shorter in second half; antennal segments covered with semi-erect setae, pedicel spherical; F1 equal to or slightly longer than F2 (F1 1.00–1.15 times as long as F2) and 2.1–2.3 times as long as its maximum width; F1 and F2 bearing 0–1 and 3–4 longitudinal placodes, respectively. Club short, comprising two (or rarely three) fused segments.

Mesosoma— Mesoscutum humped, covering pronotum from above, with several dorso-lateral long setae, notaulices as distinct sculptures in ascendent portion of anterolateral margin, effaced dorsally. Propodeum ( Fig. 3 D) areolated, with irregular carinae and some rugosities in median portion; oblique antero-central carinae extending toward spiracles with several lateral branches, of which two vertical carinae extend laterally to lower portion of the segment, postero-central carinae regular, closing the wide central pentagonal areola; medial carinae irregular, masked with rugosities. External and dentiparal areola of propodeum with 9–11 and 4–5 long setae on each side, respectively. Fore wing ( Fig. 3 F) densely pubescent with short setae, venation reduced, median vein remnant traced by a line of short setae. Stigma widely triangular, 2.3–2.5 times as long as its width and 2.2–2.30 times as long as R1 (= metacarpus). Vein RS short, not extending farther than R1 vein. Hind wing ( Fig. 3 G) covered densely with short setae. Veins M+CU, 1M, and 1r-m nebular; vein 2M straight, colorless but traced by rows of short setae.

Metasoma— Petiole (= metasomal tergum I) ( Fig. 3 E) short and subquadrate, its length 1.10–1.20 times its maximum width at spiracles. Two prominent lateral carinae separate three longitudinal rows of the scattered setae; median carinae comprising one strong and two weak lateral longitudinal projections joining rugosities at base. The area between median and lateral carinae with five long setae, the posterior margin with 3–4 long setae on each side. Spiracular tubercles slightly prominent laterally. Ovipositor sheath ( Fig. 3 H) widely quadrangular at base, sharply narrowed ventrally, truncated at tip, with smooth dorsal outline, bearing at least 5–6 long setae at dorsal and ventral margins. Lateral setae slightly shorter. Second valvula with a convex dorsal outline. Length of ovipositor sheath 1.60–1.80 times its maximum width at base. Length ratio of dorsal/ventral outline equal to 1.90–2.10.

Coloration— Head black-brown, mandibles dark brown, otherwise mouth parts yellowish brown. Antennae dark brown; pedicel, first and second flagellar segments ventrally lighter. Pronotum brown; mesoscutum, mesopleuron, and propodeum blackish brown. Legs brown, hind femur and tibia slightly darker. Wings slightly infumated, venation light brown. Petiole and remainder of metasoma dark brown. Ovipositor sheath dark brown with light setae.

Body length: 3.1–3.3 mm

Male: Same as in female. Antennae (24) 25–26-segmented, moniliform, narrowed at tip.

Etymology. The name of the new species is derived from its current distribution.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Monoctonia japonica Rakhshani & Tomanović, sp. n., female—A. Head; B. Antenna; C. Maxillary and labial palpomeres; D. Propodeum; E. Petiole; F. Fore wing; G. Hind wing; H. Genitalia.

FIGURE 5. Cocoons of Monoctonia species, A. Forda marginata parasitized by Monoctonia pistaciaecola; B. Pemphigus matsumurai parasitized by Monoctonia japonica; C and D. Pemphigus spyrothecae parasitized by Monoctonia vesicarii; E. Emergence of adult parasitoid, M. vesicarii from the cocoons.