Colocharis hungi Torréns 2012

Schoeninger, Karine, Silva, Thiago S. R., Kawada, Ricardo & Torrens, Javier, 2018, Description of the female of Colocharis hungi Torréns (Hymenoptera, Eucharitidae) and identification key for the species of Colocharis, Zootaxa 4446 (2), pp. 265-272 : 267-268

Colocharis hungi Torréns 2012

( Fig. 1A‒E )

Diagnosis. The female is distinguished by a short FL2, 2.7× as long as greatest width and 1.3× as long as following flagellar segment ( Fig. 2B ); propodeal disc with weak, broadly areolate sculpture and petiole with rough surface ( Fig. 2C ) and two weak longitudinal carinae and a weak basal carina. The male has a shorter flagellum than C. napoana (1.3× height of head), a long fore wing (2.4× as long as broad), and the propodeal disc is sharply areolate.

Description. Female. Length 1.9 ‒ 2.3 mm ( Fig. 2E ). Head, mesosoma, and petiole black; gaster dark brown; antennal flagellum, pedicel, scape, and legs white; wings hyaline; fore wing venation light brown.

Head. 1.3 ‒ 1.4× as broad as high. Face, including genae, smooth and shining, with sparse, fine appressed hairs ( Fig. 2A ); vertex slightly rugose. Eyes separated by 1.9‒2.0× their height. Malar space 0.6 ‒ 0.9‒ height of eye. Scape 3.3 ‒ 4.7‒ as long as wide, elongate and smooth, with scattered semierect hairs in dorsal region; flagellum with 6 segments ( Fig. 2B ), length of flagellum 1.3 ‒ 1.5× height of head, FL2 2.7 ‒ 3.3× as long as greatest width, 1.3 ‒ 1.7× as long as greatest length of following flagellar segment; FL2 swollen in apical half; clava elongate, about as long as previous two segments combined ( Fig. 2B ).

Mesosoma. Mesoscutum midlobe with irregular carinae radiating from midpoint to posterior margins, evenly covered with fine appressed hairs; lateral lobes smooth and shining, with sparse setae. Axillae and scutellar disc with parallel longitudinal carinae dorsally, lateral face of axilla with some irregular striae, axillula with oblique carinae; frenal process 2.1 ‒ 3.3× as long as broad. Propodeal disc with weak, broadly areolate sculpture, bordered by propodeal carina ( Fig. 2C ). Metacoxa 2.0 ‒ 2.1× as long as broad, smooth, shining, and bare. Metafemur smooth with semi-appressed setae ( Fig. 2D ). Fore wing 2.4 ‒ 2.5× as long as broad, stigmal vein subquadrate, 1.2 ‒ 1.4× as long as broad; postmarginal vein indistinct, but apparently a little longer than stigmal vein; entire wing pilose except for basal area.

Metasoma. Petiole 4.7 ‒ 5.1×x as long as broad and 1.5× as long as metacoxa, cylindrical in cross section with rough surface, with two weak longitudinal carinae and weak basal carina. First gastral segment smooth and bare. Hypopygium with one seta on each side of mucro. Ovipositor sheath extending beyond cerci (and metasoma) by much more than one diameter of the cercus.

Distribution. Argentina and Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul and Roraima).

Material examined. BRAZIL: Roraima: Amajari, Serra do Tepequém , 1‒15.i.2016, Malaise Gressit-Gressit, Rafael et al. col., 1♀ and 2♂, INPA ; Mato Grosso do Sul: Dourados , 22°13’16’’S / 54°48’20’’W, 26.v.2015, Calhau, Kawada & Coelho col., 3♀ and 14♂ UFES .

Remarks. Colocharis hungi is recorded, so far, from two distinct biogeographic provinces, Paraná Forest and Pantepui provinces ( Fig. 4 ). Both provinces are structurally dissimilar, with a transition between savannas and humid forests in northern Brazil, with characteristic sandstone plateaus, representing the Pantepui province ( Morrone 2000), and humid and seasonal forests representing the Paraná Forest province ( Morrone 2001). Although both provinces present little similarity in fauna and flora ( Morrone 2000, 2001, 2014), we cannot properly infer if historical events and regional characteristics shape eucharitid distribution, since their presence in a specific location could be constrained by other factors, such as host availability and preference for oviposition sites. As long as our knowledge on the biology of this group remains scant we will not fully comprehend the processes that explain their distribution.

According to Heraty (2002), there are specimens of Cholocharis collected in Peru, but not for the described species, indicating that the diversity of this genus remains largely unexplored.

Undersampling can inhibit our ability to understand the species distribution in many genera of Eucharitidae . Sadly, we do not have standard procedures to enhance eucharitid sampling in poorly studied areas. We still do not have enough phylogenetic and taxonomic support to accurately establish causal relations between biogeographic events and current distribution in most eucharitid genera.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Specimen measurements. A, frontal view of head; B, antenna, female; C, mesosoma in dorsal view; D, head to petiole in lateral view; E, fore wing.

FIGURE 2. Specimen from Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados. A‒E, Colocharis hungi (female). A, head and antennae, frontal view; B, head, frontolateral view, and antenna, lateral view; C, propodeum and petiole; D, wings; E, head and mesosoma, lateral view.

FIGURE 4. Distribution map with records for species of Colocharis.