Signiphora biloba Woolley & Dal Molin, 2017

Woolley, J. B. & Dal Molin, A., 2017, Taxonomic revision of the flavopalliata species group of Signiphora (Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae), Zootaxa 4315 (1), pp. 1-150 : 23-25

Signiphora biloba Woolley & Dal Molin , n. sp.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1EF01CF3-4D89-4E2F-9258-B5318ADA52E2 Figures 49–60

Diagnosis. Mt1 shape unique and distinctive, consisting mostly of two widely separated lateral lobes ( Fig. 58 ); female sternites with distinctive shape of anterior projections: those on Ms6 are of normal length, but those on Ms3–Ms5 are quite short. The small mandibles with very short teeth are also diagnostic. Other diagnostic features, in combination with the above, are a fore wing without discal seta and marginal vein with at least seta M1 absent, sometimes also M1 and M2. This is also one of the smallest species of Signiphora .

Description. Female. Length, anterior margin of pronotum to epiproct apex, 0.34–0.36 mm (n=5). Head mostly pale tan with distinct dark band at clypeus. Pronotum and anterior half of mesoscutum brown, posterior half of mesoscutum and metanotum pale yellow, propodeum slightly darker (tan); Mt1–Mt4 brown, remainder of metasoma pale yellow. Antenna entirely pale tan. Fore wing with normal coloration for flavopalliata group, with infuscated area extending just beyond stigma vein and two hyaline areas at wing base.

Head. Vertex and frons weakly imbricate, with a few scattered punctations. Mandible with two very short teeth, the ducts not visible in slide mounts and apparently not well developed. Pedicel length:scape length 0.59– 0.70; 3 anelli, second anellus 1.3–3.0 the length of first, third anellus 2.67–4.0 the length of first, clava length:scape length 1.22–1.43.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutum and medial sclerite of propodeum transversely imbricate. Scutellum with 4 setae and 2 campaniform sensilla, medial propodeal sclerite rounded, process on medial sclerite narrowly rounded. Fore wing without discal seta, length:width 3.9–4.2, fore wing LMS:fore wing width 2.1; marginal vein length:stigmal vein length 1.2–1.7; marginal vein with 4 or 5 dorsal and no ventral setae; M1 or M1 and M2 without setae; seta M3 length:marginal vein length 0.8–1.0, apical end of costal cell at M2 or M3. Hind wing with margins parallel, hind wing length:width 14.7; hind wing width:fore wing width 0.25; hind wing LMS:hind wing width 6.67.

Mesofemur with 1 long spine and usually 1 short spine on posteroapical margin about ¼–1/5 length of long spine, mesotibial spur with 2 or 3 teeth; mesotibial spur length:basitarsus length 1.06–1.07; basitarsus:mesotibia length 0.40–0.42.

Metasoma. Mt1 shape distinctive, consisting of two widely separated lobes; Mt1 length:Mt2 length subequal or Mt1 slightly longer than Mt2; ovipositor with anterior-most portion lying under Mt3–Mt5; ovipositor length:metasoma length 0.54–0.77; ovipositor sheath length:ovipositor length 0.18–0.23; Ms3–Ms6 with anterior projections distinctive, those on Ms6 long but those on Ms3–Ms5 very short; Ms 6 in posterior ¼–posterior ¼–1/5 of metasoma and with 6–9 setae; Mt8 with anterodorsal margin apparently transverse with broad medial incision, but not clear in specimens examined.

Male. Unknown.

Discussion. Unfortunately, the shape of Ms8 is not clear in any of the specimens available. A series of five specimens mounted in balsam ( Guatemala, Cocales, coll. E.J. Hambleton, 16.v.1965, ex: Odonaspis Leonardi sp.) appears to be this species, but the specimens are in poor condition. So far as can be determined in this series, Mt1 has the distinctive bilobed shape of this species but the lobes are a bit wider and closer together than in the type series. In addition, the anterior projects on Ms3–Ms6 are longer than in the type series.

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♀: slide-mounted in balsam (TAMU-ENTO X0616380) “Ithaca, N.Y. March ’25”. Deposited in CUIC. PARATYPES: Four ♀ mounted in balsam, same data (TAMU-ENTO X0616378– X0616379 and X0616381–X0616382); two additional paratype ♀ in balsam, apparently from the same rearing, collected Ithaca, N.Y., March 19, 1925, reared from Diaspis boisduvalli (Signoret) on Cattleya by Grace Griswold, USNM ENT 0 0 763155 and USNM ENT 0 0 763156 . Paratypes deposited at CUIC, USNM, CNC, BMNH and TAMU.

Other material examined. GUATEMALA: 5 ♀, USNM ENT 763150–763154 ( USNM). Biology. The type series was reared from Diaspis boisduvalli on Cattleya.

Etymology. The species name refers to the distinctive shape of Mt1. It is to be treated as an adjective.

Figures

FIGURES 49 – 52. Signiphora biloba n. sp.: 49, head (TAMU-ENTO X 0616378); 50, female antenna (TAMU-ENTO X 0616380); 51, mandibles (TAMU-ENTO X 0616380); 52, middle leg, female (TAMU-ENTO X 0616381).

FIGURES 53 – 56. Signiphora biloba n. sp.: 53, fore wing, female (TAMU-ENTO X 0616380); 54, venation of fore wing (TAMU-ENTO X 0616379); 55, hind wing, female (USNM ENT 763154); 56, venation of hind wing (USNM ENT 763154).

FIGURES 57 – 60. Signiphora biloba n. sp.: 57, female habitus (TAMU-ENTO X 0616380); 58, mesosoma of female (TAMU- ENTO X 0616379); 59, metasoma of female (TAMU-ENTO X 0616380); 60, Mt 8 of metasoma, female (TAMU-ENTO X 0616830).