Plumaroides brothersi, Diez, Patricia & Roig-Alsina, Arturo, 2008

Diez, Patricia & Roig-Alsina, Arturo, 2008, A new species of the genus Plumaroides Brothers (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea, Plumariidae) from Argentina, Zootaxa 1676, pp. 45-50 : 46-49

Plumaroides brothersi new species

Figures 1, 3, 4 , 6 and 7

Diagnosis. Plumaroides brothersi n. sp. can be distinguish from P. andalgalensis by the formation of the marginal cell of the forewings and the seventh tergum. The marginal cell is slightly wider, with the anterior margin 2.8X longer than posterior margin in P. brothersi n. sp. ( Fig. 4 ), while in P. andalgalensis the cell is narrower with the anterior margin 2.2X longer than the posterior margin ( Fig. 5 ). The seventh tergum in P. brothersi n sp. has the lateral carinae less developed and median longitudinal carina strongly elevated on basal fourth ( Figs. 6 and 7 ), while in P. andalgalensis lateral carinae are more strongly developed, and the medial longitudinal carina is uniform in height along its length ( Fig. 8 and 9 ). Other differences include the following characteristics: basal margin of clypeus slightly more curved in P. brothersi n. sp. ( Fig. 1 ), and nearly transverse in P. andalgalensis ( Fig. 2 ); the distance from the socket to the basal margin of clypeus is 0.2X the diameter of the socket in P. brothersi n. sp. ( Fig. 1 ), but in P. andalgalensis is 0.4X the diameter of the socket ( Fig. 2 ); malar space 0.15X the length of the eye in P. brothersi n. sp. ( Fig. 1 ), but in P. andalgalensis 0.34X the length of eye ( Fig. 2 ); P. brothersi n. sp. has the two preapical teeth of mandible are small, blunt and of similar size ( Fig. 1 ), while P. andalgalensis has the preapical teeth more developed and distinctly different in shape ( Fig. 2 ); scape shorter than the pedicel and the first flagellomere in P. brothersi n. sp., but in P. andalgalensis the scape is as long as the pedicel and the first flagellomere together. As well, the punctuation of the body and the surface hairs are more abundant in P. brothersi n. sp. comparing to P. andalgalensis .

Holotype male. Total length 3.7 mm. Color: light brown, with a pattern of darker or lighter areas as follows: most of head above clypeus, mandibular teeth and, vein of wings dark brown; antenna, lower part of head including clypeus, posterior surface of head, median and basal parts of mandible, mouthparts, ventral area on propleuron, pronotum in ventral view, ventral area on posterior part of mesopleuron, and coxae, lighter than rest of body; legs pale yellow, wings hyaline. Sculpture: alutaceous, body with conspicuous punctures, sparser on head, regular and abundant on mesoscutum (punctures separated approximately by 1X their diameter). Vestiture abundant, regular, hairs on scutum as long as 0.3X antennal diameter.

Head: hypognathous; in frontal view 1.37X wider than long ( Fig. 1 ), seen from above 1.4X wider than long, 0.8X as wide as maximum width of mesosoma. Eye hemispherical, protruding, glabrous, inner margins converging below. Ocellocular distance 1.6X diameter of lateral ocellus; postocellar distance 1.9X ocellocular distance. Antennocular distance 0.7X diameter of antennal socket; interantennal distance 4.9X antennocular, distance between clypeus and socket 0.2X diameter of socket. Gena without furrows or carinae. Malar space 0.15X eye length ( Fig. 1 ). Apex of clypeus in frontal view emarginate medially, apical margin recessed; epistomal suture distinct, curved medially. Discal setae of clypeus of variable size, longest on a transverse row on each side of clypeus; apical setae of clypeus variable in size, longest 0.5X clypeal length. Labrum small, visible in frontal view, slightly emarginate apically. Labium subrectangular, slightly wider at rounded apex; labial palpus with two segments, basal segment slightly longer than distal segment. Maxillary palpus five segmented; proportion of segments (length:width): 1.3:0.5; 1.6:0.4, 1.5:0.4; 1.1:0.4; 1:0.4. Mandible with three teeth, two preapical teeth small, blunt and of similar size; setae of mandible of variable length, the longest 0.8X basal width of mandible. Antenna with 11 flagellomeres, scape shorter than sum of pedicel and first flagellomere. Scape 1.7X its maximum width. Pedicel narrow basally, 1.4X its maximum width. Proportion of flagellomeres (length:width): 2.2:1.1; 2.4:1.2; 2.5:1.1; 2.5:1.1; 2.4:0.9; 2.4:0.9; 2.3:0.9; 2.4:0.9; 2.4:0.8; 2.3:0.8; 3.2:0.8 ( Fig. 3 ). Flagellomeres with short, decumbent, abundant setae, longest setae nearly 0.1X as long as width of flagellomere; sensory plates large, ovoid, present on flagellomeres 1–11, more abundant on 1–3.

Mesosoma. 1.7X longer than wide. Proportion of length of mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, metanotum, metapostnotum and propodeum in dorsal view, along median axis: 24:22:16:3:16. Pronotum not visible dorsally, except for small part of pronotal lobe in front of tegula; posterior margin of pronotum laterally forming carina superimposed on lobe, giving it bilobate appearance; lateroventral angle rounded. Tegula semicircular. Mesoscutum with parapsidal line and notaulus distinct. Mesal area of axillae and scutellum forming nearly horizontal, posteriorly directed triangular surface which steeply slants postero-laterally. Hypoepimeral area of mesopleuron limited inferiorly by dark line running from mesopleural scrobe to meso–metapleural suture; mesepisternal groove present, as short dark line running antero–ventrally from mesopleural scrobe. Metanotum subrectangular, 0.6X length of mesoscutum. Propodeum convex, transverse in dorsal view, 2.5X as wide as long; propodeal spiracle narrow, removed from anterior margin of propodeum by less than its length. Legs slender; tibiae and tarsi with scattered weak setae, except fore and mid tibia apically and along outer margin with strong spiniform setae, more numerous on foretibia. Tibial spurs 1–2–2; anterior spur curved, with inner margin finely pectinate; metatarsus on basal third with curved comb of setae; inner mid tibial spur 2.1X as long as tibial apical width; inner hind tibial spur 2.7X as long as tibial apical width. Claws simple, longer on mid and hind tarsi; arolium present only on foretarsus. Wings: with fine, scattered, pubescence. Forewing 3X as long as maximum width. Pterostigma subtriangular, sclerotized. First nebulous vein originates at base of marginal cell; marginal cell with anterior margin 2.8X longer than posterior margin; basal margin strongly curved anteriorly ( Fig. 4 ). Hind wing with vannal lobe 3.5X as long as submedian cell; five hamuli.

Metasoma: in dorsal view 2.3X longer than maximum width. Seventh tergum subtriangular, distally arrowhead-like, smooth, shiny, with lateral carinae weakly developed; median longitudinal carina strongly elevated on basal fourth, and then low but rounded to apex ( Fig. 6 and 7 ). Genital capsule similar to that of P. andalgalensis .

Material studied. Holotype male: Argentina, province of San Juan, Ruta Nacional 141, Km 197, near Caucete, 580 m. a.s.l., 28-I-06, col. P. Fidalgo ( MACN). Paratypes: 3 males, same data as holotype ( IFML); 9 males, Argentina, La Rioja, near Patquia, 430 m. a.s.l., 15-XII-06, col P. Diez, P. Fidalgo and G. Fidalgo ( MLP); 14 males, Argentina, La Rioja, Ruta 141, near Mascasin, 450 m. a.s.l., 12-XII-06, col P. Diez, P.

Fidalgo and G. Fidalgo ( MLP); 2 males, province La Rioja, 18 km de Chepes, 11-XII-2006. P. Diez, G. Fidalgo & P. Fidalgo ( FSCA); 27 males, Argentina, La Rioja, between San Ramón and Valle Fértil, 730 m. a.s.l., 14-XII-06, col P. Diez, P. Fidalgo and G. Fidalgo ( MACN); 1 male, Argentina, Mendoza, Lavalle, Telteca, 15-II to 25-III-96, col. Flores and Roig-Alsina ( MACN); 1 male, Argentina, Mendoza, Lavalle, Telteca, 26-III to 2-V-96, col. Flores and Roig-Alsina ( MACN); 4 males, Argentina, Mendoza, Lavalle, Telteca, 6-XI to 3-XII-96, col. Flores and Roig-Alsina ( MACN).

Variation. This species varies considerably in size, with the length of the paratypes between 3.7 to 6.5 mm. The postocellar distance is between 1.6 to 2 X ocellocular distance; antennocular distance is between 0.3 to 0.7X diameter of antennal socket; interantennal distance is between 5.5 to 7 X antennocular. Some specimens are lighter or darker than the holotype, but the head is always consistently darker than the rest of the body.

Etymology. This species is named after Dr. Denis Brothers, who discovered and described Plumaroides for the first time.

Distribution. La Rioja and San Juan province of Argentina.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Plumaroides brothersi n. sp. (1, 3, and 4). Plumaroides andalgalensis Brothers (2 and 5). 1 and 2, head; 3, antenna; 4 and 5, forewings marginal cell. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 6 – 9. Plumaroides brothersi n. sp. (6 and 7). Plumaroides andalgalensis Brothers (8 and 9). 6 and 8, seventh tergum; 7 and 9, seventh tergum, lateral view. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.