Horismenus vitorinoi Pikart

Pikart, Tiago G., Costa, Valmir A., Hansson, Christer, De Cristo, Sandra C. & Vitorino, Marcelo D., 2017, A survey for potential biological control agents of Pereskia aculeata Miller (Cactaceae) in Brazil reveals two new species of Horismenus Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Zootaxa 4272 (3), pp. 430-438 : 433-436

Horismenus vitorinoi Pikart , Costa & Hansson, sp. nov.

Figs 3–4, 6 , 13–18

Type material. Holotype female (MZSP) point mounted, with label “BRASIL-SC-Itajaí, Ex Adetus analis em Pereskia aculeata , col. SC Cristo, 20.viii.2012 ”. Paratypes. 6♀ (3♀ MZSP, 3♀ BMNH) with same label data as holotype.

All specimens with fungal mycelium covering some body parts. Left hind wings are missing in two paratypes. Left hind tarsus is missing in one paratype.

Diagnosis. Antennal scrobes join below frontal suture ( Fig. 13 ); upper frons with two spots of raised reticulation running from frontal suture to anterior ocellus ( Fig. 14 , arrows); malar sulcus present ( Fig. 13 , arrow); mesoscutum with raised and strong reticulation in anterior part of mid lobe and on lateral lobes close to tegula ( Fig. 16 ), with engraved and strong reticulation on remaining parts; mesoscutum and scutellum metallic dark blue ( Fig. 4 ); propodeal callus with three setae; femora metallic dark blue with yellowish white apex ( Fig. 3 ), mid and hind tibiae pale brown with yellowish-white apex, fore tibia pale brown with brownish-white apex; propodeum with anterolateral foveae large and rounded laterally, reaching plicae ( Fig. 17 , arrow); petiole dorsomedially with a narrow and reticulate longitudinal carina ( Fig. 18 , arrow); first gastral tergite 1.1× as long as wide.

Similar to H. steirastomae , but upper frons with engraved reticulation and with two areas of raised reticulation running from frontal suture to anterior ocellus ( Fig. 14 , arrows), malar sulcus present ( Fig. 13 , arrow), mesoscutum and scutellum with stronger reticulation ( Fig. 16 ) and metallic dark blue ( Fig. 4 ), and propodeum with median carina blunt anteriorly ( Fig. 17 ). Also similar to H. elisae , described herein, but with scutellum metallic dark blue ( Fig. 4 ), mesoscutum with raised and strong reticulation along anterior margin of midlobe ( Fig. 16 ), scutellum with stronger reticulation ( Fig. 16 ), propodeum with median carina wider and submedian grooves narrower ( Fig. 17 ), fore wing with more admarginal setae, gaster with first tergite longer and more reticulate ( Fig. 18 , arrows).

Description. Female. Length 1.8–2.2 mm.

Color. Antenna dark brown with dark blue to golden-green tinges ( Fig. 3 ). Lower frons shiny black, upper frons metallic dark blue with two shiny black areas ( Fig. 6 , arrows), remaining parts metallic dark blue. Vertex metallic dark blue. Mesoscutum and scutellum metallic dark blue ( Fig. 4 ). Dorsellum metallic dark blue to metallic dark blue with green to golden-green tinges, anterior foveae shiny black ( Fig. 4 ). Propodeum metallic blue to metallic blue with green to golden-green tinges, reticulate parts shiny black ( Fig. 4 ). Coxae metallic dark blue to metallic dark blue with green to golden-green tinges; femora metallic dark blue with apex yellowish-white, mid and hind tibiae pale brown with apex yellowish-white, mid and hind tarsi yellowish-white with 4th tarsomere pale brown to brown ( Fig. 3 ); fore tibia pale brown with apex brownish-white ( Fig. 3 ); fore tarsus brownish-white with 4th tarsomere pale brown to brown ( Fig. 3 ). Wings hyaline. Petiole shiny black, longitudinal carina shiny black with blue tinges. Gaster with first tergite shiny black, with dark blue tinges along posterior margin, anterior one-half metallic dark blue; remaining tergites shiny black with posterior margins with dark blue tinges.

Head. Antenna as in Fig. 15 . Frons ( Fig. 13 ) with interscrobal area smooth and shiny, lower frons with raised and strong reticulation, upper frons engraved-reticulate, with two areas of raised reticulation running from frontal suture to anterior ocellus ( Fig. 14 , arrows), clypeal area and part below antennal toruli weakly reticulate, area just above frontal suture smooth and shiny to very weakly reticulate; frontal suture V-shaped, incomplete and not reaching eyes; antennal scrobes joining below frontal suture. Malar sulcus present ( Fig. 13 , arrow). Vertex with engraved reticulation ( Fig. 14 ); median groove indicated posteriorly. Occipital margin rounded.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutum with raised and strong reticulation along anterior margin of mid lobe and on lateral lobes close to tegula, engraved and strong reticulation on remaining parts ( Fig. 16 ); notauli complete. Scutellum with engraved reticulation, smooth and shiny to weakly reticulate laterally, smooth and shiny along posterior margin ( Fig. 16 ); median groove not reaching posterior margin. Dorsellum convex, smooth and shiny, with two large anterior foveae strongly reticulate ( Fig. 17 ). Propodeum smooth and shiny, submedian grooves, posterior onethird to one-fourth of median carina, nucha and plicae raised-reticulate ( Fig. 17 ); anterolateral foveae large with sides rounded, reaching plicae ( Fig. 17 ); propodeal callus with three setae. Coxae smooth and shiny to very weakly reticulate. Fore wing with speculum closed below; with 15‒18 admarginal setae; costal cell bare.

Metasoma. Petiole dorsomedially with a narrow and smooth longitudinal carina ( Fig. 18 ). Gaster elongated; first tergite 1.1× as long as wide, anterior two-thirds and posterior margin smooth and shiny but reticulate in posterior one-third ( Fig. 18 , arrows).

Ratios. DE/DO 6.0; WH/DE 1.8; HE/MS/WM 2.6/1.0/1.3; POL/OOL/POO 9.1/2.7/1.0; WH/WT 1.2; LW/LM/ HW 1.8/1.2/1.0; PM/ST 1.0; LC/WC 3.1; WG/WC 0.7; LS/LT 0.2; LP/WP 0.9; MM/LG 0.7.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. Named after Dr. Marcelo Diniz Vitorino, former advisor to the fourth author.

Distribution. Brazil (Itajaí, SC).

Hosts. Specimens reared from larvae of Adetus analis ( Coleoptera : Cerambycidae ) on Pereskia aculeata (Cactaceae) .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. Horismenus spp., females. 1 – 2, H. elisae, paratype: 1, habitus, lateral; 2, mesosoma, dorsal. 3 – 4, H. vitorinoi, paratype: 3, habitus, lateral; 4, mesosoma, dorsal. 5, H. elisae, paratype, vertex, showing two black areas (white arrows). 6, H. vitorinoi, paratype, vertex, showing two black areas (white arrows). Scale bars: 1, 3 = 500 µm; 2, 4 – 6 = 100 µm.

FIGURES 13 – 18. Horismenus vitorinoi, female, paratypes: 13, head, frontal, with detail of malar sulcus (black arrow); 14, vertex, indicating area of raised reticulation running from frontal suture to anterior ocellus (black arrows); 15, antenna, lateral; 16, mesosoma, dorsal, showing area of raised reticulation; 17, propodeum, with detail of anterolateral foveae with rounded sides reaching plicae (black arrow); 18, first gastral tergite, dorsal, with detail of reticulation in posterior one – third (black arrows) and petiole with a median carina (white arrow). Scale bars: 13 – 14, 18 = 100 µm; 15, 17 = 50 mm; 16 = 200 µm.