Encarsia longicauda Hayat, 1989

Schmidt, Stefan & Polaszek, Andrew, 2007, The Australian species of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae), parasitoids of whiteflies (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Aleyrodidae) and armoured scale insects (Hemiptera, Coccoidea: Diaspididae), Journal of Natural History 41 (33 - 36), pp. 2099-2265 : 2180-2182

46. Encarsia longicauda Hayat

( Figures 147–149 )

Encarsia longicauda Hayat 1989a, p 33 . Holotype ♀, India, Tamil Nadu, Sri Rangam, February 1967 (M. Hayat), ex aleyrodids (BMNH, examined). Encarsia longicauda Hayat : Hayat 1998, p 196 –197, Huang and Polaszek 1998, p 1904 –1906.

Diagnosis

Female. Colour: head yellow with light brown markings. Mesosoma yellow except following parts brown: pronotum, mesoscutum anteriorly, axillae slightly except posteromesal corner, mesopleuron and propodeum laterally. Gaster yellow, petiole brown, T1 anteriorly slightly brown, T4–T6 brown. Antenna pale. Fore wing yellow, very slightly infuscate behind marginal vein. Legs yellow.

Morphology: stemmaticum with transversely strigose surface sculpture. Antennal formula 1,1,3,3. Pedicel distinctly longer than F1 (1.60–1.71). F1 short, 1.30–1.31 times as long as its maximum width, subequal to half the length of F2 (0.54) and distinctly shorter than F3 (0.61– 0.62). F2 slightly longer than F3 (1.14–1.19). Flagellomeres with the following numbers of sensilla: F1: 0, F2: 3, F3: 2–3, F4: 2–3, F5: 3, F6: 3. Midlobe of mesoscutum with eight setae, arranged symmetrically, side lobes with three setae each. Scutellar sensilla widely separated (approximately six to seven times the maximum width of a sensillum). Distance between anterior pair of scutellar setae slightly smaller than or subequal to distance between posterior pair. Fore wing about 2.3 times as long as width of disc. Marginal fringe 0.20–0.24 times as long as width of disc. Basal cell with two to four setae. Submarginal vein with two setae, marginal vein anteriorly with seven setae. Tarsal formula 5-5-5. Apical spur of midtibia longer than half the length of the corresponding basitarsus (0.67). Tergites laterally with the following numbers of setae: T1: 0, T2: 1, T3: 1, T4: 1, T5: 2, T6: 3, T7 conically elongated, with four setae. Ovipositor longer than midtibia (1.38–1.39) and 2.27–2.36 times as long as clava. Third valvula 0.65 times as long as second valvifer.

Male. Body dark brown except mesoscutellar midlobe posteriorly and scutellum lighter. Legs pale, coxae, and hind femur brown. Antenna light brown (radicle, scape, and pedicel slightly darker). Flagellum six-segmented with apical two segments fused and sensilla overlapping.

Species group placement. E. opulenta group.

Distribution. Australia: Western Australia. China, India.

Host. Aleyrodidae : Dialeuropora decempuncta (Quaintance and Baker) The following additional hosts have been recorded: Aleurotuberculatus murrayae (Singh) ( Huang and Polaszek 1998) , indet. aleyrodids on Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. ( Fabaceae ) and indet. plants ( Hayat 1998).

Additional material examined

Western Australia: 6♀, Purnululu National Park, Piccadinny car park, 9 May 2000 (S. and O. Schmidt), ex Dialeuropora decempuncta (ANIC, ZSMG) .

Figures

Figures 147–149. Encarsia longicauda Hayat, female. (147) Mesosoma and gaster. (148) Antenna. (149) Fore wing.