Orasema dubitata, Baker & Heraty, 2020

Baker, Austin J. & Heraty, John M., 2020, The New World ant parasitoid genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), Zootaxa 4888 (1), pp. 1-84 : 29-32

Orasema dubitata n. sp.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2DF4D9F8-3FBB-4BA4-864D-60A991A4441B

( Fig. 14 )

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other members of the bakeri group by the following combination of characters: mesoscutal midlobe and lateral lobes reticulate without any depressions ( Fig. 14F ), petiole relatively long (PTL:PTW = 1.0– 1.4 in females, 2.8–4.6 in males), and male antenna with setae long and broadly curved anteriorly ( Fig. 14E ).

This species is difficult to diagnose from O. bakeri but body color is generally more blue-purple (as opposed to blue-green in O. bakeri ) and has a smaller average body size.

Description. Female. Length 2.2–3.2 mm ( Fig. 14A ). Color. Head and mesosoma iridescent blue-purple. Scape, pedicle, and anellus pale brown. Maxilla and labium pale brown. Tibiae yellow. Fore wing venation clear to light brown. Head ( Fig. 14B ). Head in frontal view subtriangular; HW:HH = 1.1–1.3; scrobal depression deep, laterally rounded, reticulate; eyes bare; IOD:EH = 1.6–1.9; MS:EH = 0.7–1.0; supraclypeal area as long as broad, equal to length of clypeus, smooth to weakly reticulate; epistomal sulcus distinct; anteclypeus distinct, nearly straight. Palpal formula 3:2. Occiput with dorsal margin evenly rounded. Pedicel globose, broader than F1. FL:HH = 0.9–1.2; F2L: F2W = 1.0–1.7, F2L:F3L = 1.0–1.7 ( Fig. 14D ). Mesosoma ( Fig. 14C, F ). ML:MH = 1.2–1.4. Mesoscutal midlobe sparsely setose; lateral lobe reticulate; notauli deep. Axilla reticulate, dorsally rounded, on roughly same plane as mesoscutellum; scutoscutellar sulcus narrow, irregularly foveate, narrowly separated from transscutal articulation; mesoscutellar disc slightly longer than broad, reticulate; frenal line irregularly foveate; axillular sulcus indicated by a strong longitudinal carina; axillula reticulate. Propodeal disc broadly rounded, without depression or carina ( Fig. 14G ); callus reticulate, bare; callar nib absent. Propleuron convex. Postpectal carina weak. Upper mesepimeron reticulate to smooth; lower mesepimeron reticulate; transepimeral sulcus distinct. Metepisternum laterally reticulate. HCL:HCW = 1.4–1.9, reticulate; HFL:HFW = 4.8–5.9, sparsely setose. FWL:FWW = 2.3–2.6, FWL:ML = 1.8–2.3; fore wing with basal area and speculum bare, costal cell and wing disc sparsely setose; marginal fringe minute to absent; submarginal vein bare; marginal vein with sparse minute setae; stigmal vein about twice as long as broad, perpendicular to anterior wing margin; postmarginal vein longer than stigmal vein. Metasoma. Petiole broad, linear in profile, PTL:PTW = 1.0–1.4, PTL:HCL = 0.6–0.9, reticulate, lateral margin rounded, ventral sulcus present with margins narrowly separated. Ovipositor with subapical carina present; second (dorsal) valvula with 6 or 7 annuli that are narrowly separated dorsally, the carinae coalescing.

Male. Length 1.7–2.8 mm. HW:HH = 1.1–1.3; FL:HH = 1.1–1.5, F2L:F2W = 1.1–1.8 ( Fig. 14E ). Tibiae yellow. PTL:PTW = 2.8–4.6, PTL:HCL = 1.2–1.8.

Hosts. Taken from the nest of Pheidole californica Mayr in California.

Plant associates. Oviposits on the underside of the leaves of Desmodium sp. ( Fabaceae ) in Florida. Swept from Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michx.) Greene (Fabaceae) in Florida and Chilopsis linearis (Cav.) Sweet (Bignoniaceae) in New Mexico.

Distribution ( Fig. 11 ). Mexico: VE; United States: AZ, CA, FL, KS, NM, TX. Collected March–November.

Material Examined. Holotype. UNITED STATES.Florida: Highlands Co., Archbold Biol.Sta.Lk.Placid, Trail

1 SSo , 27 ° 10’54”N, 81 ° 21’6”W, 25.vii.1986, M.Deyrup, Malaise Trap [♀, deposited in USNM:UCRCENT00471759]. Paratypes: MEXICO. Veracruz: 28 km SE Jalapa, 19 ° 24’39”N, 96° 40’31”W, 7.vii.1984, G. Gordh [1³ UCRC: UCRCENT00435191]. UNITED STATES. Arizona: Cochise Co., 6.8 mi. SE Apache Tr. mouth Skeleton Cyn., 1371m, 31 ° 35’39”N, 109 ° 04’8”W, 14.viii.1982, G.Gibson [1³ 2♀, CNC: UCRCENT00415343–45]. Skeleton Can-yon, 8 mi. E Apache., 31°35’39”N, 109°04’8”W, 2.ix.1991, E.E. Grissell, creekside vegetation, sweep [1³, USNM: UCRCENT00247964]. Box Canyon Road, 1203m, 31°46’56”N, 110°51’2”W, 26.vii.2009, J. Mottern, dry wash, sweep, M09-018 [1♀, UCRC: UCRCENT00352479]. IBP. Sta, Rita Destr. Site, 917m, 31 ° 51’3”N, 110 ° 58’58”W, 12.viii.1970, CEPA, D. Vac [1³, UAZ: UCRCENT00403886]. Pima Co., Santa Rita Mtns., Box Cyn., 1700m, 31 ° 47’54”N, 110 ° 46’37”W, 3.viii.1996, M.W Gates, G96/045 [1³, UCRC: UCRCENT00414167]. Pinal Co., Oracle, 1371m, 32 ° 36’39”N, 110 ° 46’14”W, 25.viii.1934, Ian Moore [1³, SDNH: UCRCENT00242772]. California: Pinon Flat, San Jacinto Mts., 33 ° 34’48”N, 116 ° 27’36”W, 27.v.1939, J.G. Shanafelt [1♀, LACM: UCRCENT00305136]. Las-sen Co., Hallelujah Jct, 39 ° 46’30”N, 120 ° 02’19”W, 13.vii.1972, R.M. Bohart [2♀, UCDC: UCRCENT00416118–19]. Hallelujah Junction, 1440m, 39°47’0”N, 120°04’0”W, 30.vi.2006, P.S. Ward, ex Pheidole californica nest, 15622 [2♀, UCDC: UCRCENT00352480–81]. Florida: Alachua Co., 5.5 mi West Gainesville, 29°36’57”N, 82°24’22”W, L.R Davis Jr [1♀, UCRC:UCRCENT00311927]. 5.5 Mi. W.Gainesville, T10S R19E Section 4, Castlegate Mobile Home Park, 29 ° 39’14”N, 82 ° 24’7”W, 21.viii.1985, Lloyd R. Davis. Jr., on Cassia fasciculata [1³, FSCA: UCRCENT00322556]. Gainesville, 29 ° 39’6”N, 82 ° 19’29”W, 4.v.1937, L.J. Bottimer [1³, USNM: UCRCENT00416654]. Highlands Co., Archbold Biol. Sta., middle gate, 60m, 27°09’5”N, 81°21’16”W, 15.vii.2011, J.Heraty, oak scrub, swp, H11-095 [1³, UCRC: UCRCENT00292549]. Archbold Biol. Sta. Lk. Placid, Trail 1 SSo, 27 ° 10’54”N, 81 ° 21’6”W, 11.vi.1986, M. Deyrup, Malaise Trap [1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00421641]; 12.iii.1986 [1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00421654]; 14.viii.1986 [1³ 1♀,ABS: UCRCENT00421652–53]; 16.iii.1983 [2³, ABS: UCRCENT00421635–36]; 18.iv.1986 [1³ 1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00421642–43]; 19.v.1986 [1♀,ABS:UCRCENT00421638]; 21.iii.1986 [1³,ABS: UCRCENT00421649]; 21.xi.1986 [1³, ABS: UCRCENT00421648]; 19.iii.1986 [1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00305344]; 14.v.1986 [1³ 1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00305372, UCRCENT00421632]; 21.iv.1986 [4³ 1♀,ABS: UCRCENT00305331, UCRCENT00305367– 70]; 22.vii.1985 [1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00305366]; 26.v.1986 [2³ 2♀, ABS: UCRCENT00421624–26, UCRCENT00421629]; 28.iv.1986 [2³, ABS: UCRCENT00305336, UCRCENT00421650]; 3.vi.1985 [1³, ABS: UCRCENT00421657]; 30.v.1986 [2♀, ABS: UCRCENT00305326, UCRCENT00421659]; 30.vi.1986 [1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00421620]; 4.vi.1986 [1♀,ABS:UCRCENT00421631]; 7.iv.1986 [3³ 2♀,ABS:UCRCENT00305339–43]; 9.vi.1986 [2♀,ABS: UCRCENT00421627–28]; 23.vi.1986 [1³, ABS: UCRCENT00421622]; Trail 2 SSo, 20.iv.1986 [1³ 1♀,ABS: UCRCENT00421646–47]; 23.iv.1986 [1³ 1♀,ABS: UCRCENT00421639–40]; 24.iii.1986 [1³, ABS: UCRCENT00421656]; 28.iii.1986 [1³, ABS: UCRCENT00421655]; 7.iv.1986 [1³, ABS: UCRCENT00421645]. 11.viii.1984 [1³, UCDC: UCRCENT00477673]; 12.v.1986 [1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00305346]; 16.vi.1986 [2³, ABS: UCRCENT00305337–38]; 19.v.1986 [1³, ABS: UCRCENT00305335]; 26.v.1986 [1♀,ABS: UCRCENT00305345]; 28.v.1986 [1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00421633]; 30.vi.1986 [1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00421619]; 31.iii.1986 [2³ 1♀, ABS: UCRCENT0030533–34]; 7.v.1986 [1³,ABS:UCRCENT00305371]; 10.iv.1986 [1³ 1♀,ABS:UCRCENT00305327– 28]; 7.vii.1986 [1♀, FSCA: UCRCENT00411879]; 25.iv.1986 [2³ 2♀, ABS: UCRCENT00305358–61]; 30.iv.1986 [2³ 2♀, ABS: UCRCENT00305362–65]; 4.iv.1986 [4³ 2♀, ABS: UCRCENT00305347–48, UCRCENT00305350– 53]; 9.iv.1986 [2³ 1♀, ABS: UCRCENT00305354, UCRCENT00305356–57]. Archbold Biol. Sta.; middle gate, 60m, 27°09’5”N, 81°21’16”W, 15.vii.2011, J. Mottern, southern ridge sandhill, sweep, M11-021 [1♀, UCRC: UCRCENT00292550]. Archbold Biol. Sta., 27 ° 10’54”N, 81 ° 21’06”W, 26.iv–1.v.1968, D. Wahl, MT [1♀ UCRC: UCRCENT00436388]. Marion Co., 9mi SSW Ocala (KCE), 20-30m, 29 ° 03’55”N, 82 ° 11’36”W, 4-10.ix.1975, J.Wiley, malaise trap [1♀, UCRC: UCRCENT00311928]. Orange Co., Wekiwa Springs State Park, Burn Zone 43/31, 28°44’32”N, 81°30’33”W, 13.v.2001, P.J. Russell and S.M. Fullerton, Longleaf Pine—Turkey Oak, Malaise Trap [1³, UCFC: UCFC00105176]; 18.viii.2001 [1♀, UCFC: UCFC00113078]; 23.vi.2001 [1³, UCFC: UCFC00106282]; 26.v.2001 [1♀, UCFC: UCFC00105910]; 7.vii.2001 [1♀, UCFC: UCFC00107110]. Polk Co., Tiger Ck. Preserve Bab-son Pk.; NE of Pfundstein Rd, 27°48’36”N, 81°29’1”W, 23.v.2007, B. Pace-Aidana, A. Peterson, Sandhill/ Xeric Oak Hammock, Malaise [1³, EMEC: UCRCENT00236101]; 5.v.2007 [1³, EMEC: UCRCENT00236099]. Putnam Co., 2mi W Interlachen, 29°38’14”N, 82°00’17”W, 30.v.1991, G. Zolnerwich [1³, UCRC: UCRCENT00436362]. Idaho: Owyhee Co., Murphy, 43 ° 12’54”N, 116° 33’04”W, 21.vi.1977, D.M. Kirkbride [1³, WFBM: UCRCENT00403630]. Kansas: Clark Co., Sitka, 37 ° 10’30”N, 99 ° 39’5”W, 12.vi.1960, W.T. Van Velzen [1♀, MEM: UCRCENT00242498]. New Mexico: Dona Ana Co., nr. Whitesands, 1539m, 32°24’47”N, 106°32’52”W, 25.vi.2014, A. Baker & S. Heacox, sweep Chilopsis, AB 14.025 [1³, UCRC: UCRCENT00436482]. 14.9 km W Animas, 1326m, 31 ° 56’13”N, 108 ° 57’10”W, 26-30.vii.1982, G. Gibson [1³, CNC: UCRCENT00415374]. 9.3 mi W Animas, 1308m, 31°56’14”N, 108°56’45”W, 26-30.vii.1982, G Gibson [3³, CNC: UCRCENT00415376–78]. Hidalgo Co., Grat Ranch, Whitewater Mtns, nr border obelisk #61, 31°20’22”N, 108°35’59”W, 5.viii.2002, Gates/George [1³, UCRC:UCRCENT00414036]. Gray Ranch, Animas Mtns., Culberson Camp, 31°23’08”N, 108°37’53”W, 2.viii.2002, M. Gates [1³ UCRC: UCRCENT00408496]. Texas: Brewster Co., Big Band Nat’l Pk, Glenspring Pond in 0.5 mi., 914m, 29 ° 12’60”N, 103 ° 15’59”W, 9.vii.1982, G. Gibson [1³, CNC: UCRCENT00415392]. Erath Co., 5 mi. north Stephenville, 397m, 32 ° 17’40”N, 98 ° 11’23”W, 1-6.vi.1980, P. T. Riherd, ex Malaise trap [2³ 2♀, TAMU: UCRCENT00243111, UCRCENT00426202–04]; 27-30.v.1980 [1³, TAMU: UCRCENT00243112, UCRCENT00426511]. Presidio Co., Big Bend Ranch, 1.6 km NE McGuirks Tanks, 1318m, 2928’56”N, 10348’14”W, 19.vi.1990, J.B Woolley, 90/020 [1³, UCRC: UCRCENT00312086]. GenBank sequences. UCRCENT00292550 (D3153): 18S ( MH231641 ), 28S D2 ( MH247293 ), 28S D3–5 ( MH247458 ), COI-NJ ( MH247668 ); UCRCENT00352479 (D3720): 18S (KR632485.1), 28S D2 (KR632424.1), 28S D3–5 (KR632463.1), COI-BC (KR733142.1), COI-NJ (KR733178.1).

Etymology. From Latin dubi meaning “doubtful” in reference to the difficulty distinguishing this species from O. bakeri and the mistaken identifications in Baker et al. (2020).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Distribution map of species in the Orasema bakeri species group.

FIGURE 14. Orasema dubitata. Holotype female (UCRCENT00471759): A, habitus, lateral; B, head, anterior; C, mesosoma, lateral; D, antenna; F, mesosoma, dorsal; G, propodeum, posterior. Paratype male (UCRCENT00305342): E, antenna.