Burnettweldia Pujade-Villar, Melika & Nicholls, 2021

Melika, George, Pujade-Villar, Juli, Nicholls, James A., Cuesta-Porta, Victor & Stone, Graham N., 2021, Three new Nearctic genera of oak cynipid gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini): Burnettweldia Pujade-Villar, Melika & Nicholls, Nichollsiella Melika, Pujade-Villar & Stone, Disholandricus Melika, Pujade-Villar & Nicholls; and re-establishment of the genus Paracraspis Weld, Zootaxa 4993 (1), pp. 1-81 : 12-14

Burnettweldia Pujade-Villar, Melika & Nicholls , gen. nov.

Figs 29–96

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AB060409-C0BA-4389-8093-7661D11855A

Type species. Cynips washingtonensis Gillette, 1894 (designated by J.A. Burnett for his “ Weldia ”, which we follow).

Etymology. Named in honor of American cynipidologists, J.A. Burnett and L.H. Weld. Burnett (1977) was the first to split out five Disholcaspis species into his new genus “ Weldia ”, although his transfer was not valid since it was not published and the name Weldia was preoccupied by Yoshimoto (1962). Lewis H. Weld had great influence on global cynipidology with his works, and also highlighted the distinctiveness of seven particular species in Disholcaspis ( Weld 1952a) which we transfer into three newly established genera.

Gender. Masculine.

Diagnosis. Only asexual females are known. Phylogenetically Burnettweldia is distinct from Disholcaspis , and most closely related to Acraspis ( Fig. 233 ). However, morphologically it most closely resembles Disholcaspis . In that genus the lateral propodeal carinae are either fragmented, absent or present and circular ( Fig. 26 ); the metasoma is smooth; the second metasomal tergum has only a few white setae anterolaterally, subsequent terga are bare and without setae; the prominent part of the ventral spine of the hypopygium is typically long, needle-like, always more than 2.0x as long as broad in ventral view ( Figs 27–28 ). In Burnettweldia the lateral propodeal carinae are always present, complete or nearly complete, reaching or nearly reaching anterior end of propodeum; the metasoma micropunctate, with dense white setae; the second metasomal tergum has dense white setae anterolaterally, subsequent terga with dense setae laterally; the prominent part of the ventral spine of the hypopygium is short, nearly as long as broad, with parallel sides, broad distally, with long setae extending beyond the apex of the spine and forming a tuft.

Description. Asexual female ( Figs 29–88 ). Head, mesosoma, antenna, legs are reddish to rusty brown, metasoma slightly darker.

Head reticulate, with dense white setae, denser on lower face, 2.0–2.1x as broad as long in dorsal view; 1.2–1.4x as broad as high in frontal view and slightly narrower than mesosoma. Gena reticulate, broadened behind eye, as broad as transverse diameter of eye. Malar space reticulate, without striae and sulcus; eye 2.5–3.4x as high as length of malar space. Inner margins of eyes parallel or slightly diverge ventrally. POL 1.2–2.0x as long as OOL; OOL 1.4–2.2x as long as diameter of lateral ocellus, slightly longer or equal to LOL; ocelli ovate, all three equal in size. Transfacial distance 1.2x as long as height of eye, 1.5–1.8x as long as height of lower face (distance between antennal rim and ventral margin of clypeus); diameter of antennal torulus variable among species, being as long as, shorter or longer than distance between them, distance between torulus and eye margin 1.2x as long as or equal to diameter of torulus. Lower face reticulate, without striae, with elevated median reticulate area, with dense setae. Clypeus rectangular or trapezoid, flat, broader than high, reticulate, with deep anterior tentorial pits, deep epistomal sulcus and deep clypeo-pleurostomal line; ventrally rounded, emarginate, not incised medially. Frons and interocellar area reticulate; small triangular area under central ocellus smooth, glabrous. Vertex, occiput uniformly reticulate. Postgena reticulate, with sparse white setae, postocciput around occipital foramen impressed, smooth, glabrous; posterior tentorial pits large, deep, elongate; height of oral foramen shorter than height of postgenal bridge+occipital foramen; occipital foramen as high as height of postgenal bridge; hypostomal carina emarginate, continuing into postgenal sulcus; postgenal sulci bent outwards anteriorly; postgenal bridge smooth, glabrous, anteriorly diverging, broader than width of occipital foramen. Antenna longer than head+mesosoma, with 12–13 flagellomeres (in some specimens indistinct suture present on F12 and thus antenna with 13 flagellomeres), F1 longer than scape+pedicel, longest flagellomere, F2 to F6 gradually shorter, all subsequent flagellomeres nearly equal in length, F12=F13; placodeal sensilla on F4–F13.

Mesosoma as long as high in lateral view. Pronotum delicately coriaceous, sometimes with punctures, with white setae, without striae laterally, emarginate, foveolate along lateral edge; propleuron delicately coriaceous, with dense white setae. Mesoscutum uniformly reticulate, with dense white setae, especially in anterior half; nearly as long as broad (width measured across base of tegulae). Notaulus incomplete, extending to half the length of mesoscutum or slightly shorter; broadest at most posterior end and gradually narrowing until anterior end, with smooth, glabrous bottom. Anterior parallel line indicated by broad smooth, glabrous stripe, extending to 1/4 of mesoscutum length. Parapsidal line slightly impressed, indicated by smooth, glabrous narrow stripe, extending to half length of mesoscutum, reaching above tegula; parascutal carina narrow, deep, smooth, glabrous, reaching anterior edge of tegula. Median mesoscutal line absent or if present then distinct, impressed, extending to 1/6 of mesoscutum length. Transscutal articulation deep, distinct. Mesoscutellum nearly as long as broad, shorter than mesoscutum, uniformly coriaceous, with dense white setae, trapezoid; broadest part at the most posterior end; slightly overhanging metanotum; with carina going around lateral and posterior part which is sometimes complete; mesoscutellar foveae transverse, 2.0x as broad as high, with smooth, glabrous bottom, divided by narrow triangular central elevated carina which is interrupted in some species. Mesopleuron uniformly reticulate, with dense white setae; mesopleural triangle coriaceous, with dense white setae. Metapleural sulcus reaching mesopleuron at around half of its height, upper part of sulcus indistinct, hidden by dense white setae; dorsal and lateral axillar areas delicately coriaceous, with dense setae; axillar carina broad, with longitudinal striae; subaxillular bar narrow, smooth, glabrous, triangular, at its most posterior end higher than height of metanotal trough. Metascutellum reticulate, as high as height of smooth, glabrous ventral impressed area; metanotal trough smooth, glabrous, with sparse white setae. Lateral propodeal carinae complete or nearly complete, distinct, bent outwards, central propodeal area smooth, glabrous, with strong rugae reaching to anterior end of propodeum; lateral propodeal area delicately coriaceous, with dense white setae; nucha short, dorsally smooth, glabrous, with longitudinal sulci laterally. Tarsal claws with acute basal lobe.

Forewing longer than body, with pale brown veins, margin with short dense cilia; radial cell 3.0–4.2x as long as broad, R1 and Rs not reaching wing margin; areolet triangular, well-delimited by distinct veins; Rs+M distinct, reaching basalis or visible for at least 3/4 of the distance between areolet and basalis, its projection reaching basalis at mid-height.

Metasoma slightly longer than head+mesosoma, longer than high in lateral view. Second metasomal tergum extending to 2/3–4/5 length of metasoma in dorsal view, smooth, glabrous dorsally; with dense white setae and micropunctate; all subsequent terga micropunctate, with dense white setae; hypopygium reticulate or micropunctate, the prominent part of ventral spine of hypopygium short, as broad as long, with parallel sides; with dense long white setae that reach far beyond apex of spine and form a tuft. Body length 3.4–4.1 mm.

Comments. Four species are herein transferred to Burnettweldia : B. conalis (Weld) , comb. nov., B. corallina (Bassett) , comb. nov., B. plumbella (Kinsey) , comb. nov., B. washingtonensis (Gillette) , comb. nov., and one new species is described, B. californicordazi Cuesta-Porta, Melika & Pujade-Villar , sp. nov. We provide formal descriptions of all five species using the current morphological criteria and terminology, plus give a description of galls and data on biology and distribution. We also provide the following key to species.

Key to Burnettweldia species

1. Head around occipital foramen, antenna, propleura, propodeum dark brown to black; rest of body reddish brown......... 2

- Entire body, antenna, legs uniformly reddish brown.......................................................... 3

2. Mesoscutum with black areas around anterior parallel lines and parapsidal lines ( Figs 36–37 ); posterior 1/3 of second and subsequent metasomal terga dark brown, darker than rest of metasoma ( Figs 40–42 ); Rs vein distinctly curved, radial cell around 3.0x as long as broad ( Fig. 39 )..................................................... B. californicordazi sp. nov.

- Mesoscutum and mesoscututellum uniformly reddish brown, anterior parallel lines and parapsidal lines not infuscated ( Figs 59–60 ); posterior 1/3 of second and subsequent metasomal terga reddish brown, lighter than rest of metasoma ( Figs 63–64 ); Rs vein straight or slightly curved, radial cell around 4.0x as long as broad ( Fig. 62 )............... B. corallina comb. nov.

3. Radial cell around 4.0x as long as broad; parascutal carina absent or visible only laterally ( Figs 84–85 ); lateral propodeal carina distinct only at base, central propodeal area without rugae; lateral propodeal area with sparse white setae ( Fig. 86 )................................................................................... B. washingtonensis comb. nov.

- Radial cell around 3.0x as long as broad; parascutal carina conspicuous ( Figs 47 , 72 ); lateral propodeal carina complete, central propodeal area with strong rugae reaching anterior end of propodeum; lateral propodeal area with dense white setae ( Figs 49 , 74 )................................................................................................ 4

4. Median mesoscutal line distinct, impressed, extending to 1/6 of mesoscutum length ( Figs 72–73 ); POL 1.8x as long as OOL; OOL above 2.0x as long as diameter of lateral ocellus ( Fig. 66 ); upper part of metapleural sulcus distinct ( Fig. 7 ).......................................................................................... B. plumbella comb. nov.

- Median mesoscutal line absent ( Figs 47–48 ); POL 1.2x as long as OOL; OOL around 1.4x as long as diameter of lateral ocellus ( Fig. 43 ); upper part of metapleural sulcus invisible ( Fig. 45 )................................. B. conalis comb. nov.

Figures

FIGURE 233. Consensus tree showing the relationships among the three new Nearctic gall wasp genera Burnettweldia, Nichollsiella and Disholandricus, the re-established genus Paracraspis and other allied genera, based on a Bayesian analysis of a concatenation of three loci (cytochrome b, long-wavelength opsin, and the D2 region of the 28S rRNA gene). Numbers above nodes indicate posterior probability support; nodes with <70% support have been collapsed.

FIGURES 29–34. Burnettweldia californicordazi, sp. nov., asexual female. 29–32, head: 29, frontal view, 30, dorsal view, 31, lateral view, 32, posterior view. 33, antenna. 34, mesosoma and propleura, frontal view.

FIGURES 35–38. Burnettweldia californicordazi, sp. nov., asexual female. 35, mesosoma, lateral view. 36, mesoscutum, dorsal view. 37, mesoscutellum, dorsal view. 38, metascutellum and propodeum, posterodorsal view.

FIGURES 39–42. Burnettweldia californicordazi, sp. nov., asexual female. 39, forewing. 40–42, metasoma: 40, lateral view, 41, dorsal view, 42, ventral view.

FIGURES 43–47. Burnettweldia conalis, comb. nov., asexual female. 43, head, frontal view. 44, mesosoma, part, anterodorsal view. 45, mesosoma, lateral view. 46, mesosoma and propleura, frontal view. 47, mesosoma, dorsal view.

FIGURES 48–51. Burnettweldia conalis, comb. nov., asexual female. 48, mesosoma, dorsal view. 49, metascutellum and propodeum, posterodorsal view. 50–51, metasoma: 50, ventral view, 51, lateral view.

FIGURES 52–57. Burnettweldia corallina, comb. nov., asexual female. 52–55, head: 52, frontal view, 53, dorsal view, 54, lateral view, 55, posterior view. 56, antenna. 57, mesosoma and propleura, frontal view.

FIGURES 58–61. Burnettweldia corallina, comb. nov., asexual female. 58, mesosoma, lateral view. 59, mesoscutum, dorsal view. 60, mesoscutellum, dorsal view. 61, metascutellum and propodeum, posterodorsal view.

FIGURES 62–64. Burnettweldia corallina, comb. nov., asexual female. 62, forewing. 63–64, metasoma: 63, lateral view, 64, ventral view.

FIGURES 65–70. Burnettweldia plumbella, comb. nov., asexual female. 65–68, head: 65, frontal view, 66, dorsal view, 67, lateral view, 68, posterior view. 69, antenna. 70, mesosoma and propleura, frontal view.

FIGURES 71–74. Burnettweldia plumbella, comb. nov., asexual female. 71, mesosoma, lateral view. 72, mesoscutum, dorsal view. 73, mesoscutellum, dorsal view. 74, metascutellum and propodeum, posterodorsal view.

FIGURES 75–76. Burnettweldia plumbella, comb. nov., asexual female. 75–76, metasoma: 75, lateral view, 76, ventral view.

FIGURES 77–82. Burnettweldia washingtonensis, comb. nov., asexual female. 77–80, head: 77, frontal view, 78, dorsal view, 79, lateral view, 80, posterior view. 81, antenna. 82, mesosoma and propleura, frontal view.

FIGURES 83–86. Burnettweldia washingtonensis, comb. nov., asexual female. 83, mesosoma, lateral view. 84, mesoscutum, dorsal view. 85, mesoscutellum, dorsal view. 86, metascutellum and propodeum, posterodorsal view.

FIGURES 87–88. Burnettweldia washingtonensis, comb. nov., asexual female. 87–88, metasoma: 87, lateral view, 88, ventral view.

FIGURES 89–96. Burnettweldia asexual galls. 89–91, B. californicordazi, sp. nov.. 92, B. conalis, comb. nov.. 93, B. corallina, comb. nov.. 94–95, B. plumbella, comb. nov.. 96, B. washingtonensis, comb. nov.. Fig 95 courtesy of J. Gross.

FIGURES 23–26. Disholcaspis canescens, asexual female. 23, mesosoma, lateral view. 24, mesoscutum, dorsal view. 25, mesoscutellum, dorsal view. 26, metascutellum and propodeum, posterodorsal view.

FIGURES 27–28. Disholcaspis canescens, asexual female. 27–28, metasoma: 27, lateral view, 28, ventral view.

FIGURES 1–10. Disholcaspis asexual galls: 1, D. eldoradensis, 2–3, D. edura, 4–5, D. insulana, 6, D. mamillana, 7, D. mellifica, 8, D. pedunculoides, 9, D. perniciosa, 10, D. prehensa.