Cynips fatihi Azmaz & Katılmış, 2021

Azmaz, Musa & Katilmiş, Yusuf, 2021, Two new oak gall wasp species (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae, Cynipini) from Quercus pontica (Fagaceae) in Turkey, Zootaxa 5016 (3), pp. 382-394 : 388-392

Cynips fatihi Azmaz & Katılmış sp. n.

Type material. HOLOTYPE female: TURKEY, Rize, İkizdere, İkizdere-Cimil Plateau 19. km, 40°44’N, 40°43’E, 1780 m a.s.l.; ex Quercus pontica ; M. Azmaz & Y. Katılmış leg., collected date: 15.XI.2017 . PARATYPES (in total 12♀♀): TURKEY, Rize, Güneysu, Arapdüzü-Handüzü Plateau 2. km, 40°54’N, 40°38’E, 1315 m a.s.l., collected dates: 13.XI.2018 (2♀♀) , 26.IX.2019 (1♀) ; Güneysu, Handüzü Plateau , 40°52’N, 40°39’E, 1875 m a.s.l., collected date: 26.IX.2019 (1♀) ; İkizdere, Güneyce , 40°46’N, 40°27’E, 2100 m a.s.l., collected date: 25.IX.2019 (3♀♀) ; İkizdere, İkizdere-Cimil Plateau 19. km, 40°44’N, 40°43’E, 1780 m a.s.l., collected dates: 13.XI.2018 (2♀♀) , 28.VIII.2019 (1♀) ; Fındıklı, Sultandağı Plateau , 41°12’N, 41°16’E, 1150–1300 m a.s.l., collected date: 14.XI.2018 (2♀♀) . The holotype and all paratypes are deposited in the ERL-PAU.

Etymology. The specific epithet was given in honour of Mehmed II (Fatih Sultan Mehmed, known as the Conqueror), who is a genius statesman and leader interested in literature, fine arts, and monumental architecture.

Diagnosis. Asexual females belong to a group of species that has the prominent part of the ventral spine of hypopygium very short, broad and truncate apically; and the metasomal tergite II 1.4–1.5 times as long as high as occurs in C. korsakovi Belizin, 1961 , C. divisa Hartig, 1840 and C. disticha Hartig, 1840 ( Melika 2006) . The new species differs from C. korsakovi in body color (head and metasoma black in C. korsakovi , uniformly dark brown in Cynips fatihi n. sp.), in scutellar foveae (foveae strongly punctate in C. korsakovi , without punctures in Cynips fatihi n. sp.), and in metasomal tergite III and subsequent all tergites (with very few sparse punctures in C. korsakovi , without punctures in Cynips fatihi n. sp.). Also, the new species differs from C. divisa and C. disticha by having all metasoma tergites without micropunctures (metasomal tergite II with punctures posteriorly, subsequent tergites with uniform dense punctures in C. divisa and C. disticha ). Moreover, the new species most closely resembles C. divisa . However, in C. fatihi sp. n. head 2.15 times as broad as long from above; POL 1.7 times as long as OOL; OOL 1.5 times as long as diameter of lateral ocellus and 1.3–1.4 times as long as LOL; diameter of antennal torulus 0.8 times as long as distance between them; antenna 13-segmented; F1 3.9 times as long as pedicel; scutum broader than long; median mesoscutal line weakly distinct, extending to 1/4–1/2 length of scutum; internotauli area only with a few setae (especially in antero-laterally corners); scutellum delicately and uniformly rugose, with dense long setae; scutellar foveae separated by a central wide carina, the width of the carina 0.35 times as broad as the width of scutellar foveae; mesopleural triangle with longitudinal rugae and dense long setae; dorsellum rugulose with wrinkled, around 1.2 times as high as height of ventral impressed area; lateral propodeal carinae strongly curved outwards in the middle; central propodeal area smooth, polished, with setae; whereas in C. divisa head 1.8 times as broad as long from above; POL slightly longer than OOL; OOL around 2.0 times as long as diameter of lateral ocellus and 1.8–2.0 times as long as LOL; diameter of antennal torulus only slightly longer or equal to distance between them; antenna 14-segmented; F1 3.25 times as long as pedicel; scutum slightly longer than broad; median mesoscutal line absent; internotauli area with setae; scutellum delicately and uniformly coriaceous, with dense setae; scutellar foveae absent, only a slightly impressed transverse groove present anteriorly; mesopleural triangle coriaceous, setose, with some irregular striae; dorsellum delicately coriaceous, 2.0 times as high as height of ventral impressed area; lateral propodeal carinae strongly curved outwards in the posterior half, nearly subparallel anteriorly; central propodeal area smooth, shining, without setae. The new species clearly differs from C. divisa (see SEM images by J. Liljeblad in Morphbank database; Liljeblad et al. 2008) based on important diagnostic characters such as the presence of the median mesoscutal line, the presence of scutellar foveae, all metasoma tergites without micropunctures, structure of dorsellum, shape of lateral propodeal carinae, the number of antennal segments. The morphological structure of the scutellar foveae provide useful characters for the separation of species. The scutellar foveae are absent, only a slightly impressed transverse groove present anteriorly as in C. divisa and others Cynips species ( Melika 2006) . Cynips fatihi sp. n. has two obvious scutellar foveae that are separated by a thick carina.

Description.

ASEXUAL FEMALE (holotype) ( Figs. 4 , 5 ).

Body length. 2.8–3.6 mm (n=5).

Colour. Body, including antennae and legs uniformly dark brown.

Head. Delicately coriaceous, with long white setae, 2.15 times as broad as long from above; 1.2 times as broad as high in anterior view and slightly broader or equal to mesosoma. Gena delicately coriaceous, slightly broadened behind eye, well-visible in anterior view behind eye. Malar space delicately coriaceous, with indistinct delicate striae radiating from clypeus and near to eye; 0.4 times as long as height of eye. POL 1.7 times as long as OOL; OOL 1.5 times as long as diameter of lateral ocellus and 1.3–1.4 times as long as LOL. Transfacial distance between compound eyes 1.25 times as wide as height of eye and only 1.4 times as wide as height of lower face (distance between antennal rim and ventral margin of clypeus); diameter of antennal torulus 0.8 times as wide as distance between them, distance between torulus and eye margin only slightly longer or equal to diameter of torulus. Inner margins of eyes parallel. Lower face coriaceous with irregular rugae and partially smooth, median elevated area narrow. Clypeus trapezoid, ventrally coriaceous, broader than high, with distinct deep anterior tentorial pits, deeply impressed along distinct epistomal sulcus and clypeo-pleurostomal line, ventral margin widely emarginated, medially strongly incised. Frons delicately coriaceous, with strongly elevated narrow central triangular area, with rounded impression above toruli; vertex and occiput uniformly delicately coriaceous with setae.

Antenna. 13-segmented, longer than head+mesosoma; pedicel subglobose, F1 3.9 times as long as pedicel and 1.2 times as long as F2; F2 1.2 times as long as F3; F7–F10 only slightly longer than broad; placodeal sensilla on F4–F11, absent on F1–F3.

Mesosoma. Convex, slightly longer than high in lateral view, with dense white setae. Pronotum with some delicate wrinkles along emarginated antero-lateral margin. Scutum uniformly smooth, broader than long (width measured across the basis of tegulae); notauli complete, well-impressed in all length, smooth, polished; median mesoscutal line weakly distinct, extending to 1/4–1/2 length of scutum, parapsidal lines and anterior parallel lines absent; internotauli area (especially in antero-laterally corners) only with a few setae. Scutellum slightly longer than broad, rounded and slightly broadened posteriorly, delicately and uniformly rugose, with dense long setae. Scutellar foveae separated by a central wide carina, smooth, polished; the width of the carina 0.35 times as broad as the width of a scutellar fovea. Mesopleuron, smooth, polished with very sparse setae; acetabular carina sulcate laterally; mesopleural triangle with longitudinal rugae and dense long setae. Dorsellum rugulose with wrinkles, around 1.2 times as high as height of ventral impressed area; metanotal trough coriaceous, with dense white setae; ventral impressed area smooth, with wrinkles. Lateral propodeal carinae strongly curved outwards in the middle; central propodeal area 1.6 times as broad as long, smooth, polished, with setae; lateral propodeal area coriaceous, with dense white setae; nucha short, with irregular wrinkles.

Forewing. Margin with long cilia; radial cell 4.2 times as long as broad; R1, 2r, basalis infuscated. Rs+M of forewing nearly reaching basalis in the lower half.

Legs. Tarsal claws with basal lobe.

Metasoma. Metasoma longer than high in lateral view, metasomal tergite 2 relatively short, only 1.4–1.5 times as long as high, with a few white setae laterally; tergites and hypopygium without micropunctures; prominent part of ventral spine of hypopygium very short and broad, with dense long setae, extending far behind apex of spine and forming a tuft.

Gall. ( Fig. 6 ) The gall forms on the main veins or major lateral veins on the underside of leaves as a globular or slightly oval structure, has a smooth and glassy surface and is monolocular, 5–10 mm in diameter. Initially greenishyellow, later reddish and pale brown when mature. There is no distinct inner cell, and the larval chamber is surrounded by a thick layer of fleshy nutritive tissue, similar to grape tissue. The wall is thin and woody. Galls are often solitary or in groups under leaves. The asexual galls are similar to the asexual galls of C. divisa in shape, but differ from the asexual galls of C. divisa in the upper surface area of mature galls (no dark spots or warts in the asexual galls of C. fatihi sp. n., distinctly with dark spots in the asexual galls of C. divisa ), and in the internal structure and wall of the gall (very thin in the asexual galls of C. fatihi sp. n., thick in the asexual galls of C. divisa ).

Biology. The adult wasps emerged in January and December under laboratory conditions.

Host plant. Quercus pontica .

Distribution. Only known from Turkey (Artvin, Rize, Trabzon).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Cynips fatihi sp. n., asexual female: a, head in anterior view; b, mesosoma in dorsal view; c, metasoma in lateral view; d, head in dorsal view; e, mesosoma in posterior view; f, scutellum in dorsal view.

FIGURE 5. Cynips fatihi sp. n., asexual female: a, mesosoma in lateral view; b, mesopleuron; c, hypopygium in ventral view; d, antenna; e, leg; f, radial cell of forewing.

FIGURE 6. Fresh (a, b, c) and mature galls (b, c, d) of Cynips fatihi sp. n. asexual females. (photos by M. Azmaz).