Lasalleistichus, Hansson, 2020

Hansson, Christer, 2020, Lasalleistichus a new genus of Tetrastichinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from the Neotropical regionı including four new species, Journal of Natural History 54 (9), pp. 621-633 : 622-626

Lasalleistichus , gen. n.

Figures 1 (a – f), 2(a – e), 3(c – d)

Type species

Lasalleistichus albiclava , sp. n.

Diagnosis. Antennae attached in middle of frons ( Figure 1 (c)), scape reaching to upper level of, or slightly above level of vertex, pedicel long and slender, female with clava predominantly white ( Figure 1 (c)); male antenna with F1 – F4 with subbasal whorls of setae ( Figure 3 (c)); ventral plaque on male scape with same pale colour as remaining scape ( Figure 3 (c)); mesoscutellum with submedian grooves wide apart and diverging towards posterior part, part between grooves smooth or with very fine and weak reticulation ( Figure 1 (e)), without sublateral grooves, with two pairs of setae, both in posterior onehalf of mesoscutellum; fore wing with a large infuscate spot medially ( Figure 1 (d)); petiole 1.0 – 2.2× as long as wide, with or without a short anterolateral spine on each side, and with irregular longitudinal carinae on dorsal surface.

Description. Antennae in both sexes attached in middle of frons, halfway between anterior ocellus and mouth margin ( Figures 1 (c), 3(c)); scape reaching to upper level of vertex, or slightly above this level; pedicel long and slender; female with three funiculars with F1 distinctly longer than F2, and three clavomeres with a weak constriction between C1 and C2 ( Figure 1 (c)), male with four funiculars and three clavomeres, with a dorso-basal whorl of long setae on F1 – F4, setae longer than flagellomere attached to ( Figure 3 (c)). Head with malar sulcus complete and ±straight; without subocular fovea and genal carina; clypeal margin bidentate ( Figure 1 (c)); frons shiny with very weak sculpture, with scattered setae below the level of toruli and with a row of setae along eyes; vertex with very weak reticulation; occipital margin rounded. Pronotum with very weak reticulation and shiny, without a transverse carina close to posterior margin of collar. Mesoscutum with an incomplete (present in only posterior part) to complete median groove; with 3 + 3 long and strong adnotaular setae, the two posterior setae attached away from notauli ( Figure 1 (e)). Axillae advanced half their length in front of transscutal articulation ( Figure 1 (e)). Mesoscutellum flat with submedian grooves strong, wide apart and diverging strongly towards posterior part ( Figure 1 (e)); without sublateral grooves; without frenal groove; with 2 + 2 long and strong setae, both attached outside submedian grooves in posterior one-half of mesoscutellum. Dorsellum smooth and shiny, without median carina or groove. Propodeum with a wide and short fovea just behind dorsellum and a complete and strong narrow median carina that expands to a triangular shape posteriorly; without paraspiracular carinae; spiracles large and not covered by a flap; callus with 2 – 3 setae. Coxae with very weak reticulation. Fore wing with a large infuscate spot medially; with 3 – 4 setae on the dorsal surface of a submarginal vein; postmarginal vein absent; costal cell very narrow, 17 – 32× as long as wide; speculum open below and towards the base of the wing. Petiole 1.0 – 2.2× as long as wide, with or without a short anterolateral spine and with irregular longitudinal carinae on the dorsal surface. Gaster 1.7 – 1.9× as long as wide, with longest cercal seta 2.4 – 3.0× as long as next longest (these ratios shall be regarded with some caution as curved setae are difficult to measure), and curved or sinuate but never kinked. Female hypopygium reaching half the length of gaster.

Distribution. New World tropics, from Costa Rica to Brazil.

Hosts/biology. Unknown.

Etymology. Named after John La Salle, friend and fellow eulophid taxonomist who had a special interest in the Tetrastichinae. Gender masculine.

Key to species (females)

1. Petiole 2.2× as long as wide ( Figure 3 (d)) ..... ..... L. longicaulis sp. n. (male unknown)

Petiole at most 1.3× as long as wide .......................................................................................... 2

2. Fore coxa dark brown to black ( Figure 2 (b)) ........ L. fuscicoxa sp. n. (male unknown)

Fore coxa predominantly white ( Figure 1 (a,b)) ...................................................................... 3

3. Gt 1 with a white band along the posterior margin (Figure (1b,f)) ....................................... ........................................................................................... L. albifasciatus sp. n. (male unknown)

Gaster completely dark ( Figure 1 (a,e)) .......................... L. albiclava sp. n. (male known)

Figures

Figure 1. (a) Lasalleistichus albiclava, ♀ holotype habitus lateral. (b) L. albifasciatus, ♀ holotype habitus lateral. (c–e) L. albiclava ♀: (c) paratype head frontal; (d) paratype fore wing; (e) holotype habitus dorsal. (f) L. albifasciatus, ♀ holotype habitus dorsal. Scales: (a–b, e–f) 1 mm; (c–d) 0.5 mm.

Figure 2. (a) Lasalleistichus albiclava, ♂ paratype habitus lateral. (b) L. fuscicoxa, ♀ holotype habitus lateral. (c) L. longicaulis, ♀ holotype habitus lateral. (d) L. albiclava, ♂ paratype habitus dorsal. (e) L. fuscicoxa, ♀ holotype habitus dorsal. Scale 1 mm.

Figure 3. (a) Palmistichus ixtlilxochitli, ♀ nontype habitus lateral. (b) Agmostigma frontale, ♀ holotype habitus lateral. (c) Lasalleistichus albiclava, ♂ paratype head lateral. (d) L. longicaulis, ♀ holotype habitus dorsal. Scales: (a–b, d) 1 mm; (c) 0.5 mm.