Monoctonia pistaciaecola Starý 1962

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 : 477-479

Monoctonia pistaciaecola Starý 1962

( Fig. 2 ; Fig. 5 A)

Monoctonia pistaciaecola Starý 1962 . Revue d´Entomologie de l´USSR 41(4): 875–877.

Material examined. Female paratype (and allotype), Former USSR, Yalta, southern Crimea, Nikitsky Botanical Garden, 0 8 VI 1949, reared from Forda hirsuta mordwilkoi CB on Pistacia , leg. Rubtzov; Spain, San Juan de Paluezas, 28 VII 2011, three females reared from Geoica utricularia (Passerini) on Pistacia terebinthus .

Redescription. Female. Head— ( Fig. 2 A) in dorsal view wider than mesosoma at tegulae, covered with moderately dense setae. Eyes medium sized, sparsely haired, slightly converging toward clypeus. Face uniformly pubescent with long setae, except in median area. Clypeus prominent, 2.6–2.8 times as broad as long, frontally and laterally bearing 12–16 long setae. Tentorial index (tentoriocular line/intertentorial line) 0.35–0.40. Malar space equal to 0.18–0.20 of longitudinal eye diameter. Mandible bidentate, bearing several long setae on outer surface.

Maxillary palp four-segmented, labial palp three-segmented ( Fig. 2 C). Antennae ( Fig. 2 B) short, filiform, 13- segmented, not reaching the first metasomal tergite, covered with dense semi-erected setae; pedicel subquadrate; setae on scape and pedicel distinctly longer than those on flagellum. Flagellomere 1 (F1) equal to or slightly longer than flagellomere 2 (F2) (F1 1.00–1.15 times as long as F2) and 2.6–2.7 times as long as its maximum width; F1 and F2 bearing 1–2 and 5–6 longitudinal placodes (= rhinaria), respectively. Club short, comprising two fused segments ( Fig. 2 B).

Mesosoma— Mesoscutum humped, covering pronotum as seen from above, with large hairless area in lateral and central parts; notaulices distinct in ascendent portion of anterolateral margin as strong rugosities effaced dorsally, where indicated by superficial furrows surrounded by 3–4 rows of long setae. Propodeum ( Fig. 2 D) with wide central areola divided by two irregular internal carinae into four areolets, medial carinae irregular. External and dentiparal areola of propodeum with 8–10 and 4–5 long setae on each side, respectively. Fore wing ( Fig. 2 F) venation reduced, median vein remnant highlighted by line of short setae; stigma triangular, 2.10–2.30 times as long as its width and 2.45–2.55 times as long as R1 (= metacarpus) vein. Hind wing ( Fig. 2 G) with closed basal cell; M+CU, 1M, and 1r-m veins colorless. Hind wing surface covered with short and dense setae, posterior margin with long setae, vein 2M straight, nebular, but only traced by rows of short setae.

Metasoma— Petiole (= metasomal tergum I) ( Fig. 2 E) short, subquadrate, its length 1.10–1.20 times its maximum width at spiracles, slightly divergent toward base after the spiracles, strongly convex dorsally, bearing 12–14 evenly distributed setae on each dorso-lateral side, and 4–6 setae on lateral sides. Lateral carinae feebly extended after spiracles. Spiracular tubercles prominent laterally, situated in first third of segment. Ovipositor sheath ( Fig. 2 H) triangular in shape, curved downwards, narrowed to the apex, bearing 3–4 very long setae at ventral margins. Lateral and dorsal setae distinctly shorter. Second valvula with a convex dorsal outline.

Coloration. General body color dark brown, eyes black, mouthparts yellowish brown. Antennae brown, annelus yellow, thorax dark brown, mesoscutum slightly darker in middle portion. Wings translucent, venation brown, tegulae yellowish. Legs yellowish brown. Petiole brown, other terga becoming darker gradually. Ovipositor sheath dark brown.

Body length: 2.9–3 mm.

Male: Antennae 18-segmented. Coloration darker than in the female.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Monoctonia pistaciaecola Starý, 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.