Synaldis azorica FISCHER 2003

Fischer, M., Tormos, J., Pardo, X. & J. D, 2008, New citations of Alysiini from Spain, with a description of Dinotrema mediocornis hispanicum nov. ssp. and of the females of Aspilota inflatinervis and Synaldis azorica (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (2), pp. 1449-1466 : 1461-1462

Synaldis azorica FISCHER 2003 ( Figs 5, 6 )

D i a g n o s i s Length: 1.6 mm. Head not much broadened between temples. Face scarcely setose; flagellomeres with not markedly differentiated or without stria (tyloides, sensilla); flagellomeres approximately twice as long as wide. Flagellomere 1 usually slightly narrower than following ones; mandibles not wider distally than basally. Mesosoma black; mesoscutum with dorsal pit, glabrous, except for imaginary line of notauli; posterior costal sulcus smooth, with appreciable punctation: spiracle of propodeum small, almost unappreciable propodeum practically smooth.

G e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d m a t e r i a l s t u d i e d: Azores, Spain (Guadalajara: Alovera, 6.VI.1999, 6, 13).

Description of female

Body length: 1.6 mm.

.- Head: 2.1 times wider than long, 1.7 times wider than face, 1.4 times wider than mesoscutum, 3.6 times wider than T1; eyes not protruding, head rounded at temples and here as wide as between eyes; eyes as long as temples, distance between toruli and between these and eyes as long as their diameter; occiput excavated; ocelli moderately large, distance between them twice as large as their diameter; epicranial suture present; upper part mainly without setae, only a few setae on sides and on ocellar field. Face 1.6 times wider than high, weakly swollen, with a fairly dense setosity curved upwards, close to eyes several long erect setae, central elevation weak. Tentorial pits almost wider than their distance to eyes. Clypeus 2.2 times as wide as high, trapezoid, slightly swollen, with scattered fine setae, separated from face by a sulcus. Mandibles 1.3 times longer than wide; upper edge curved inwards at its centre, lower one straight, at base as wide as at apex; tooth 2 sharp and not very protruding; tooth 1 narrow; tooth 3 clearly rounded, sharp clefts between teeth, outer surface smooth, a sinuated ridge emerging from tooth 1; edges, except for tooth 2, with a thin edge; tooth 3 with a few very short, curved and erect setae; maxillary palpi as long as height of head. Antennae as long as body, 20- segmented, F1-3 of same length, following ones only slightly shorter; F1 2.5 times longer than wide, most antennomeres of flagellum between 2 and 2.3 times longer than wide, clearly separated from one another, their setae maximally as long as width of flagellomeres, in lateral view 3 sensilla recognizable.

Mesosoma: 1.4 times longer than high, upper part arched; mesoscutum longer than wide, rounded on anterior part; notauli developed on anterior declivity; marginal furrow crenellate on front part, almost devoid of setae, some large setae only in front and on the imaginary course of the notauli; dorsal fovea linearly prolonged. Prescutellar sulcus divided, each lateral field as long as wide and smooth. Postaxillae smooth. Lateral fields of metanotum wide, crenellate on posterior part. Propodeum with pentagonal areola, with central carina insinuated, basal carina and costulae, anterior fields from smooth to irregular, posterior ones slightly wrinkled, with clear lines at sides. Both furrows of sides of pronotum converge below, finely crenellate. Prepectal sulcus crenellate, sternauli shortened on either sides, crenellate. Mesopleuron completely smooth. Posterior femur 5 times as long as wide.

Fore wing: r3 2.2 times longer than r1 + r2; nv postfurcal at a distance equivalent to its own length.

Metasoma: T1 2.3 times longer than wide, sides parallel, only weakly narrowed at front; the sides parallel with edge, weakly swollen, wrinkled, dorsal carinae developed only on front part.

Colouration: Black. Yellow: Scape, pedicel, annellus, mouthparts, legs, tegulae and wing venation, wing membrane hyaline.

The female of this species is similar to the male, but differing in their 18-segmented antennae.

Figures

Figs 1-6: Aspilota inflatinervis FISCHER: (1) head in fronto-lateral view with detail of antennae. (2) right anterior wing. Aspilota mediocornis hispanicum ssp. n.: (3) head in lateral view with detail of antennae. (4) right anterior wing. Aspilota azorica FISCHER: (5) right mandible. (6) mesosoma with detail of propleuron, mesopleuron, and propodeum.