Horismenus zuleidae Pikart

Pikart, Tiago G., Costa, Valmir A., Hansson, Christer, Zanuncio, José C. & Serrão, José E., 2015, Three new species of Horismenus Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) associated with seed pods of Pithecellobium dulce (Fabaceae), Zootaxa 3994 (4), pp. 565-578 : 574-577

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

Figs 32–45

Type material. Holotype female ( MZSP) point mounted, with label “BRASIL-PB-Patos, [07º03’31”S, 37º16’34”W], Ex frutos de Pithecellobium dulce (Fabaceae) , col. TG Pikart, 10.xi.2011 ”. Paratypes. 3♀ 1♂ ( MZSP) with same label data as holotype.

Left flagellum, left wing pair and apical one-half of right wing pair are missing from the male paratype; also, gaster is telescoped.

Diagnosis. Upper frons and scutellum with engraved and strong reticulation ( Figs 38, 41 , 44 ); malar sulcus present; mesoscutum with raised and strong reticulation in anterior two-thirds, posterior one-third with engraved and strong reticulation ( Fig. 41 ); first gastral tergite with punctuations in posterior one-half to one-third or with reticulation laterally and punctuations medially ( Fig. 43 ); fore wing with speculum open below ( Fig. 37 ); propodeum with median carina parallel-sided and with anterior part rounded ( Fig. 42 ); petiole dorsomedially with a narrow and smooth longitudinal carina ( Fig.42 ).

Similar to H. erasmus , but with area just above frontal suture with engraved reticulation ( Figs 38 , 44 ), malar sulcus present, mesoscutum with raised reticulation in anterior two-thirds ( Fig. 41 ), propodeum with median carina wider and submedian grooves narrower, and first gastral tergite different. Also similar to H. patensis , but posterior ocelli nearer to eye than to occipital margin ( Fig. 39 ), mesoscutum with raised and strong reticulation in anterior two-thirds, posterior one-third with engraved and strong reticulation ( Fig. 41 ), and propodeum with median carina narrower and submedian grooves wider.

Description. Female. Length 2.5–2.7 mm.

Color. Scape white, turning to pale brown in apical one-half and metallic bluish green in apical one-fourth; pedicel and flagellum metallic bluish green. Frons metallic bluish green ( Fig. 33 ). Vertex metallic bluish green to metallic green with golden tinges. Mesoscutum, scutellum and propodeum metallic bluish green with golden tinges, reticulate parts of propodeum shiny black ( Fig. 35 ). Coxae metallic blue to metallic bluish green; femora, tibiae and tarsi yellowish white ( Fig. 32 ). Wings hyaline. Petiole shiny black. Gaster with first tergite shiny dark brown in posterior two-thirds, anterior one-third with bluish green tinges; remaining tergites shiny dark brown with posterior margins with golden green tinges.

Head. Antenna as in Fig. 40 . Frons ( Fig. 38 ) with interscrobal area smooth and shiny, clypeal area and surface below antennal toruli with very weak reticulation, area between eyes and antennal scrobes with raised and strong reticulation and area just above frontal suture with engraved and strong reticulation; frontal suture V-shaped, incomplete and not reaching eyes; antennal scrobes joining below frontal suture. Malar sulcus present. Vertex with engraved and strong reticulation; median groove complete ( Fig. 39 ). Occipital margin rounded.

Mesosoma. Midlobe of mesoscutum with raised and strong reticulation in anterior two-thirds, posterior onethird with engraved and strong reticulation ( Fig. 41 ); notauli distinct and complete. Scutellum with engraved and strong reticulation, posterior margin smooth and shiny ( Fig. 41 ). Dorsellum convex, smooth and shiny, anterior margin with two foveae ( Fig. 42 ). Propodeum ( Fig. 42 ) smooth and shiny; submedian grooves, nucha, plica and supracoxal flange strongly reticulate; anterolateral foveae large and with rounded sides; propodeal callus with 2 setae. Coxae weakly reticulate. Fore wing with speculum open ( Fig. 37 ); with 13–17 admarginal setae; costal cell bare.

Metasoma. Petiole dorsomedially with a narrow and smooth longitudinal carina ( Fig. 42 ). First gastral tergite with posterior one-half to one-third with punctuations or reticulate laterally and with punctuations medially, anterior part and posterior margin smooth and shiny ( Fig. 43 ).

Ratios. DE /DO 4.8; WH/ DE 2.5; HE/MS/WM 4.9/1.0/2.7; POL/OOL/POO 3.5/1.0/1.5; WH/WT 1.1; LW/LM/ HW 1.8/1.1/1.0; PM/ST 0.9; LC/WC 7.2; WG/WC 1.6; LS/LT 0.2; LP/WP 1.1; MM/LG 1.1.

Male. Length 2.0 mm (approximate value because single specimen examined has gaster telescoped).

Similar to female, except as follows.

Color. Scape with apical one-fourth, pedicel and flagellum metallic green with golden tinges. Vertex and mesosoma metallic green with golden red tinges ( Figs 34, 36 ). Gaster with golden red tinges in anterior one-third.

Head. Antenna as in Fig. 44 . Frons with area below antennal toruli with raised and strong reticulation ( Fig. 45 ).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM 3.7/1.0/2.1; LP/WP not measurable; MM/LG not measurable because single specimen examined has gaster telescoped.

Etymology. Named after the researcher and beloved friend, Dra. Zuleide Alves Ramiro, born in the type locality of this species.

Distribution. Brazil (Patos, PB).

Hosts. Specimens obtained from seed pods of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. (Fabaceae) .

Species identification. Using the key of Hansson (2009), females run to subkey F, couplet 13, first alternative, and males run to couplet 74, first alternative. Both sexes can be differentiated from H. erasmus and H. patensis by the features given in the diagnosis above.

Figures

FIGURES 32 – 37. Horismenus zuleidae: 32, lateral habitus, female, paratype; 33, head, frontal, female, paratype; 34, head, frontal, male, paratype; 35, mesosoma, dorsal, female, holotype; 36, mesosoma, dorsal, male, paratype; 37, fore wing base with opened speculum (black arrows), female, paratype. Scale bars: 32 = 500 µm; 33 – 37 = 200 µm.

FIGURES 38 – 43. Horismenus zuleidae, females: 38, head, frontal, paratype; 39, vertex, showing median groove (black arrow), holotype; 40, antenna, lateral, paratype; 41, mesosoma, dorsal, holotype; 42, propodeum, with detail of petiole with a median carina (black arrow), holotype; 43, gaster, dorsal, indicating first tergite with punctuations and / or reticulation in posterior one-half (black arrows), holotype. Scale bars: 38 – 39, 41, 43 = 200 µm; 40, 42 = 100 µm.

FIGURES 44 – 45. Horismenus zuleidae, male, paratypes: 44, head, frontal, indicating area raised reticulated below antennal toruli (black arrow); 45, antenna, lateral. Scale bars: 44 = 200 m; 45 = 100 µm.