Gonatocerus atriclavus Girault, 1917

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., 2006, A key to the Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) egg parasitoids of proconiine sharpshooters (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in the Nearctic region, with description of two new species of Gonatocerus, Zootaxa 1203, pp. 1-38 : 18-19

Gonatocerus atriclavus Girault, 1917

( Figs 15, 16 )

Gonatocerus triguttatus atriclavus Girault 1917: 19 (as a new variety). Gonatocerus triguttatus atriclavus Girault : Huber 1988: 57.

Gonatocerus atriclavus Girault : Triapitsyn, Bezark and Morgan 2002: 35 –38 (lectotype designation, redescription, diagnosis, distribution, host associations, failed rearing attempts on eggs of H. coagulata ).

Type locality

Mitan, Trinidad Island, Trinidad and Tobago.

Material examined [ UCRC]

ARGENTINA. JUJUY, Santa Clara, 13.iv.2003, G. Logarzo (ex. egg of a proconiine sharpshooter on mandarin) [1 female]. MEXICO. VERACRUZ: Tamos, 27.iii.2001, D. Morgan, C. Pickett, S.M. Myartseva, A. Ríos (ex. eggs of Homalodisca sp. on hibiscus leaf) [5 females]. Temiahua, 14–15.ii.2001, G. Simmons, A. Ríos (ex. egg mass of an unknown proconiine sharpshooter on a salt marsh shrub leaf) [8 females].

Diagnosis

Body length 1580–1900. Female coloration as follows. Head pale except upper face and ocellar triangle brown, trabeculae and occiput dark brown, eyes and ocelli dusky. Antenna with scape yellow to light brown; pedicel, F1–F3, F4 (basally) and F7 brown; F4 (distally), F5 and F6 light brown; F8 dark brown; clava black. Neck pale, pronotum pale brown with darker spots; mesoscutum orange­brown anteriorly and yellowish posteriorly, notauli black; anterior scutellum light brown to brown; axilla brown with darker spot at middle; posterior scutellum yellowish­orange­brown; dorsellum, propodeum, pro­, meso­, and metapleura brown; lateral panels of metanotum and propodeal carinae dark brown. Legs yellowish­brown except all tarsi, meso­ and metatibiae brown. Wings hyaline; venation brown to dark brown. Petiole dark brown; gaster pale to light yellow with dark brown bands on terga; ovipositor plates brown. Male coloration as follows. Antenna brown to dark brown except base of scape yellow; face brown; ocellar triangle and occiput dark brown, remainder of vertex and gena light brown; eyes and ocelli pinkish brown. Neck light brown; pronotum, mesoscutum (except light brown edges of lateral lobes), axilla, anterior and posterior scutellum, dorsellum, and propodeum shining brown; mesosomal pleura light brown. All legs light brown except mesotibia and meso­ and metatarsi slightly darker, metatibia brown. Petiole brown, gaster light brown with several dark cross­bands on terga. Female antenna ( Fig. 15 ) with a dilated scape and very long clava; longitudinal sensilla present on F2–F8. Submedial carinae on the propodeum complete, reaching the dorsellum. Forewing ( Fig. 16 ) with cubital row of microtrichia complete, extending to base of marginal vein.

Distribution

Argentina (new record), Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago. In the Nearctic region, this species was recorded only from Ciudad Victoria in Tamaulipas, Mexico ( Triapitsyn, Bezark and Morgan 2002).

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 17. Gonatocerus spp. 15, 16. G. atriclavus (female). 15. Antenna. 16. Forewing. 17. Forewing of G. fasciatus (female).