Prokius Nieves Aldrey, Medianero & Nicholls, 2021
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5081.2.2 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CF7094EB-5966-422E-AECF-FE0E4371974D |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5772349 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039F87CC-FFF2-D719-FF1D-FD1840A6F916 |
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treatment provided by |
Plazi |
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scientific name |
Prokius Nieves Aldrey, Medianero & Nicholls |
| status |
gen. nov. |
Prokius Nieves Aldrey, Medianero & Nicholls gen. nov.
Figs 1-8 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 View FIGURE 7 View FIGURE 8
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:715A223C-A5CF-4C3B-811A-8340A734F9A0
Type species: Prokius cambrai Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero sp. nov., designated herein.
Etymology. The new genus is named in honor of Alfred Kinsey, eminent cynipidologist and one of the first who studied gall wasps in Central America. The name is derived from Prok, the nickname used for Professor Kinsey by his students.
Gender. Masculine
Diagnosis. The new genus differs from all other known Cynipini genera by the following combination of morphological characters. Head smooth to weakly alutaceous, mesoscutum and mesopleuron smooth. Malar (subocular) sulcus absent, or if present indistinct, sometimes marked by a group of incomplete striae or in the form of a shallow impressed area ( Figs 1A View FIGURE 1 , 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Facial striae radiating from clypeus inconspicuous to virtually absent. Transscutal articulation present. Antenna with 14‒15 antennomeres in the sexual female, 15 antennomeres in male. Lateral propodeal carinae distinct, narrow, subparallel to strongly divergent on the mid-upper part of propodeum, strongly curved and converging below the mid height ( Figs 2B View FIGURE 2 , 4A View FIGURE 4 ). Median propodeal area smooth, without sculpture. Projecting part of hypopygial spine short, shorter than basal height of spine. In ventral view, hypopygial spine has the same width along entire length and with a blunt cleft apex; the hypopygial spine bears long and thick setae, arranged in pairs perpendicular to spine margins and only just extending beyond apex of spine ( Figs 2F View FIGURE 2 , 4D View FIGURE 4 ). Notauli complete, smooth, broad, deep and convergent posteriorly. Scutellar foveae distinct, deep, internally the foveae not separated by a septum, with distinct lateral margins but posterior margins indistinct. Mesoscutellum with distinct margins laterally and posteriorly. Metatarsal claws simple, without a basal lobe ( Figs 2C View FIGURE 2 , 4B View FIGURE 4 ). Associated with white oaks.
In the recently published key to the genera of Nearctic Cynipini that have a transscutal articulation and toothed tarsal claws (Melika et al. 2021), the new genus Prokius runs close to Dros . Both genera share many morphological characters, such as an almost smooth and shiny head, mesoscutum and mesopleuron, a smooth face without striae and without malar sulcus, and the shape and sculpture of the propodeum ( Figs 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D View FIGURE 7 ). However, the tarsal claws in the two species of the new genus are simple and not toothed as in Dros ( Fig. 7F View FIGURE 7 ), and the hypopygial spine is quite distinct from the known species of Dros , which have a long hypopygial spine with an acute apex ( Kinsey 1937; Pujade-Villar et al. 2017; Fig. 7E View FIGURE 7 ).
The new genus is also morphologically similar to species of Dryocosmus Giraud, 1859 and Biorhiza Westwood, 1840 ; both genera have a smooth and shiny mesoscutum and mesopleuron and also have simple metatarsal claws. The new genus can be easily distinguished from Biorhiza by the absence of a malar (subocular) sulcus (distinctive in Biorhiza ; Fig. 8C View FIGURE 8 ) and by the ventral spine of the hypopygium, which in Biorhiza is broad, short, pointed apically and has an apical tuft of setae ( Fig. 8D View FIGURE 8 ). The new genus differs from Dryocosmus (a polyphyletic genus that needs revision; Nieves-Aldrey et al. 2021) by the shape and setation of the hypopygial spine, which in Dryocosmus has subapical setae extending beyond the apex of the spine ( Fig. 8B View FIGURE 8 ). In addition, Dryocosmus species have radiating striae on the face ( Fig. 8A View FIGURE 8 ) and a propodeum that is usually sculptured with a median propodeal carina.
Description. Description of this genus is based in the sexual generation of the two known species. The eventual discovery of asexual generations will require revision of the generic definition.
Sexual female slightly pubescent. Head in anterior view generally oval ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 , 3A View FIGURE 3 ), 1.2-1.3x wider than high, smooth to slightly alutaceous on front and vertex, with gena not expanded behind eyes. Facial striae radiating from clypeus very short, barely discernible ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Anterior tentorial pits visible; epistomal sulcus apparent, clypeopleurostomal lines visible. Clypeus with ventral margin sinuate, moderately projecting over mandibles, slightly pubescent. Malar (subocular) sulcus absent, or if present indistinct, sometimes marked by a group of incomplete striae or in the form of a shallow impressed area ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). Head from posterior view ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ) without occipital carina. Gula short, distance between occipital and oral foramina as high as occipital foramen ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). Hypostomal sulci well separated from oral fossa.
Antenna ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 , 3E View FIGURE 3 ) with 14‒15 antennomeres in sexual female, 15 antennomeres in male; flagellum not broadening towards apex.
Mesosoma: Pronotum short medially, slightly pubescent, lateral surface of pronotum smooth; pronotal plate indistinct dorsally ( Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ). Mesoscutum smooth, strongly convex dorsally, sparsely pubescent with scattered setae anteriorly. Notauli percurrent, smooth, well impressed along entire length, reaching pronotum, convergent posteriorly, median mesoscutal impression present. Transscutal fissure present. Mesoscutellum rectangular to slightly trapezoidal, marginated, surrounded by distinct carina. Scutellar foveae distinct, deep, internally the foveae not separated by a septum, with distinct lateral margins but posterior margins indistinct. Mesopleuron smooth, speculum glabrous; mesopleural triangle moderately pubescent ( Fig. 1F View FIGURE 1 ). Lateral propodeal carinae distinct, narrow, subparallel to strongly divergent in mid to upper part of propodeum, strongly bent and convergent inwards below the mid height. Medial propodeal area smooth, glabrous, lateral propodeal area smooth, with dense white setae ( Fig. 2B View FIGURE 2 ). Nucha rugose.
Metatarsal claws simple, without an acute basal lobe ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ).
Forewing ( Figs. 5E, 5F View FIGURE 5 ) hyaline, without fuscate spots or stripes, radial cell open along anterior margin; areolet triangular, closed and distinct. Apical margin of wing with short hair fringe.
Metasoma with second metasomal tergum covering about two thirds of metasoma. Projecting part of hypopygial spine short, shorter than basal height of spine. In ventral view, hypopygial spine has the same width along its entire length with a blunt cleft apex; the hypopygial spine bearing long and thick setae, arranged in pairs perpendicular to spine margins and only just extending beyond apex of spine ( Figs. 2E, 2F View FIGURE 2 , 4D View FIGURE 4 ).
Distribution. Based on our data, the new genus is found only from 1,440m to 3,000m a.s.l. at Volcán Barú, Chiriqui, Panama.
Key to adults of species of Prokius
1. Antennae with 14 segments in female, 15 in the male ( Figs 1C, 1D View FIGURE 1 ). Median mesoscutal impression visible only in posterior one eighth of the mesoscutum ( Fig. 1E View FIGURE 1 ). Antero-lateral part of second metasomal tergum with a dense patch of setae ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). R1 vein always strongly pigmented and visible, reaching wing margin ( Fig. 5F View FIGURE 5 ). Body coloration dark brown ( Fig. 5C, 5D View FIGURE 5 )........................................................................................ P. cambrai n. sp.
• Antennae with 15 segments in both sexes ( Figs 3E, 3F View FIGURE 3 ). Median mesoscutal impression almost complete but shallow, visible in posterior three quarts of the mesoscutum ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ). Antero-lateral part of second metasomal tergum with only a few setae ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ). R1 vein sometimes depigmented and not reaching wing margin ( Fig. 5E View FIGURE 5 ). Body coloration amber to light brown in both sexes, lighter in males ( Fig. 5A, 5B View FIGURE 5 ).......................................................... P. lisethiae n. sp.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.