Plumarius culminatus Diez, Fidalgo & Roig-Alsina

Diez, Patricia A., Fidalgo, Patricio & Roig-Alsina, Arturo, 2013, Revision of the ocellatus species-group of the genus Plumarius Philippi 1873 (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea, Plumariidae), with description of three new species from Argentina, Zootaxa 3721 (1), pp. 85-91 : 88

Plumarius culminatus Diez, Fidalgo & Roig-Alsina , sp. nov.

( Figs 2 A–F)

Diagnosis. Vertex densely punctate; clypeus rather flat in lateral view, pronotal lateral carina forming lower pocket, pronotum with evident carinae in front of and below pronotal lobe.

Description. Holotype male. Length of holotype 8.6 mm (paratypes 6.7–9.8 mm). Color. Dark brown with head evidently darker, and the following areas lighter: mandible except apex, antenna, legs, and metasoma.

Head: 1.3 × as wide as high in frontal view; in dorsal view subequal to width of scutum between tegulae (74:75). Inner margin of orbits converging ventrally. Ocellocular distance 1.1 × diameter of lateral ocellus; postocellar distance 1.4 × ocellocular distance. Antennocular distance 0.6 × diameter of torulus; interantennal distance 5.5 × antennocular distance. Vertex densely punctate, medially punctures separated by 0.5 × puncture diameter, behind lateral ocellus punctures separated by 0.4 × puncture diameter. Torulus closer to lateral ocellus than to clypeus (11:20). Lateral ocelli in frontal view reaching upper margin of head. Median ocellus crossed by supra-torular line ( Fig. 2 A). Genal carina present, distinct. Length of area between preoccipital carina and suboral swelling subequal to length of swelling (0.9:1.0); this area with median longitudinal carina ( Fig. 2 B); lower area of genal bridge close to mandibular articulation smooth, without carinae. Malar area longer than apical width of first flagellomere (20:15), striate anteriorly. Supraclypeal area in frontal view with lateral striae extending to above upper level of torulus; medially with rounded elevation with striae and punctate, in lateral view convex ( Fig. 2 C). Epistomal suture evident. Clypeus 1.2 × wider than high, with lateral striae; apico-lateral area scarcely bent forwards. Clypeus in lateral view rather flat ( Fig. 2 C). Ratios of segments of maxillary palp, from base to apex: 11:10:17:19:15:15. Scape cylindrical, without basal swellings or projections. First flagellomere 4.3 × as long as apical width, its length longer than sum of lengths of scape and pedicel (65:62).

Mesosoma . Area anterior to, and inferiorly to pronotal lobe with conspicuous carinae; pronotal lateral carina distinct, forming lower pocket ( Fig. 2 D). Notaulus distinct, as long as admedian line; anterior surface of scutum punctate, more densely around notauli. Metapostnotum with longitudinal striae reaching posterior margin. Propodeum transverse. Forewing: marginal cell with anterior margin 2.0 × as long as posterior margin; vein Rs 3 shorter than Rs 4 (26:32); vein M separated from cu-a by 0.4 × length of cu-a; medial cell rectangular. Hing wing: vein cu-a postfurcal to vein M. Forebasitarsus with 2 outer lateral spines. Hind trochanter with ventral setose area; middle basitarsus shorter than hind basitarsus (40:60); inner hind tibial spur 1.2 × as long as outer spur.

Metasoma. Seventh tergum sharply pointed. Genitalia as Fig. 2 F, G, aedeagus with apical lateral spines.

Type material. Holotype ♂: Argentina, province of Catamarca, Medanitos, 9.IV.2005, Fidalgo P. (MACN). Paratype males: 2 ♂, same data as holotype (MACN; IFML); 3 ♂, Campo El Arenal, 14.I.1981, Roig-Alsina (MACN); 1 ♂ Santa María, 7.II.1965 (IFML); 1 ♂, ca Saujil, 23.XI.2005, Porter, Fidalgo P., Diez (MACN). Provincia de La Rioja: 2 ♂, 5 km S Udpinango, 3.XII.2005, Fidalgo G., Fidalgo P. (MACN).

Variation. One specimen from Campo El Arenal (Catamarca) and one specimen from Santa María (Catamarca) have weak carinae on the area anterior to the pronotal lobe. One specimen from Medanitos (Catamarca) has the supraclypeal area weakly rounded in profile, and another specimen from the same locality has the clypeus with striae that cross it completely as opposed to lateral striae.

Distribution. Argentina (Catamarca, La Rioja).

Comments. Some specimens of P. stangei sp. nov. may also have carinae in front of the pronotal lobe as in P. culminatus , but these carinae are weak.

Etymology. The name of the species refers to the position of the lateral ocelli, on top of the head and originates from Latin (culminis: top).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Plumarius culminatus Diez, Fidalgo & Roig-Alsina, sp. nov., ♂. A. Head, frontal view; B. Head, ventral view; C. Head, lateral view; D. Anterior part of mesosoma, lateral view; E, F. Genital capsule, dorsal view. AAPL, anterior area pronotal lobe; C, carinae; MA, membranous area; P, pronotum; PL, pronotal lobe; PLC, pronotal lateral carina; T, tegula. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.