Schoenlandella montserratensis Kang, sp. nov.

Kang, Ilgoo, Sharkey, Michael J. & Diaz, Rodrigo, 2021, Revision of the genus Schoenlandella (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cardiochilinae) in the New World, with a potential biological control agent for a lepidopteran pest of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 86, pp. 47-61 : 47

Schoenlandella montserratensis Kang, sp. nov.

Fig. 4A-F

Material examined.

Holotype: Montserrat • ♀; 16°45'34.19"N, 62°13'1.58"W; leg. Elvis Gerald (Ref. CM-Mt-2019-41) woodlands, private farm. Single adult on Momordica charantia L. (bitter melon), hand caught in a plastic pot . Paratype same data as for holotype.

Diagnosis.

Members of Schoenlandella montserratensis sp. nov. are distinguished from other New World Schoenlandella species by having shorter malar space (Fig. 4C ); longer mouthparts (Fig. 4C ); stigma basally pale and apically melanic (Fig. 4F ); 3r vein of forewing present at basal half (Fig. 4F ).

Description.

Body 4.21-4.40 mm. Forewing length: ~4.45 mm (holotype). Antenna length: ~3.25 mm (paratype). Head: Antenna 34-segmented (paratype). Eye length ~0.52 × longer than its height (31:60). Malar space slightly shorter than basal width of mandible. Clypeus ~2.08 × longer than its width (50:23); two clypeal tubercles with smooth margins. Galea ~2.12 × longer than malar space in lateral view (36:17), apically narrowed. Mesosoma: Scutellar sulcus with five crenulae. Propodeal median transverse carina reaching lateral margin. Pronotum medially crenulate, ventrally costate. Mesopleuron mostly smooth; precoxal sulcus strongly crenulate with ~10 crenulae, not reaching posterior margin. Legs: Basal spur on mid tibia ~0.88 × mid-basitarsus (30:34). Basal spur on hind tibia ~0.68 × longer than hind basitarsus (36:53). Hind basitarsus laterally broaden. Tarsal claw pectinate with five teeth; apical tooth obtuse, other remaining teeth sharp. Wings: Forewing second submarginal cell width ~2.79 × longer than height (78:28); 3r apparently present at basal half and slightly curved; Rs angled at basal two-fifths; stigma about ~3.36 × longer than wide medially (74:22); 1a absent (Fig. 4F ). Hind wing 2-1A absent (Fig. 4F ). Metasoma: Medial length of T1 ~2.68 × longer than medial length of T2 (59:22). Medial length of T2 ~0.20 × longer than its apical width (22:110). T3 entirely smooth, ~1.27 × longer than T2 medially (28:22). Hypopygium surface entirely sclerotized with a distinct median longitudinal fold (Fig. 4D ). Ovipositor slightly downcurved; protruded ovipositor sheath ~0.40 × longer than hind tarsus, broadened apically.

Color.

Body mostly pale orange; the following areas melanic: apical scape, pedicel, flagellomere, apical mandible, hind tarsus, external ovipositor sheaths. Wings entirely lightly infuscate, stigma dark brown at apical half.

Etymology.

This species is named after the collecting site, “Montserrat”, a volcanic Caribbean Island.

Host.

Unknown but see details in the following discussion section.

Distribution.

Schoenlandella montserratensis sp. nov. is only known from Montserrat (Fig. 3 ).

Figures

Figure 3. Distribution map of S. montserratensis sp. nov. in Montserrat.

Figure 4. Schoenlandella montserratensis, sp. nov. A lateral habitus B dorsal habitus C anterior head D ventral metasoma; arrow: median fold on hypopygium E dorsal propodeum and mesonotum F wings; arrow: 3 r vein on forewing.