Euplectrus scottshawi Hansson

Hansson, Christer, Smith, M. Alex, Janzen, Daniel H. & Hallwachs, Winnie, 2015, Integrative taxonomy of New World Euplectrus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), with focus on 55 new species from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica, ZooKeys 485, pp. 1-236 : 78-79

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus scottshawi Hansson sp. n. Figures 539-545, 549-551, 783

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, ACG, Sector Pitilla, Sendero Cuestona, 22.v.2006, C. Moraga, ex Trauaxa lua eating Stemmadenia robinsonii , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028877, 06-SRNP-31991" (BMNH). PARATYPES: 24♀ 4♂: COSTA RICA (ACG): Alajuela: Sector San Cristobal, Finca San Gabriel, 29.v.2006, C. Cano, ex Trauaxa lua eating Tabernaemontana alba , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028857, 06-SRNP-4258 (2♀, in INBio); Guanacaste: Sector Pitilla: Sendero Mismo, 18.v.2006, C. Moraga, ex Trauaxa lua eating Stemmadenia robinsonii , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028892, 06-SRNP-31937 (3♀ 1♂, in BMNH, INBio); Sendero Cuestona, 22.v.2006, C. Moraga, ex Trauaxa lua eating Stemmadenia robinsonii , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028877, 06-SRNP-31991 (2♀, in CNC, USNM); Sendero Evangelista, 15.vii.2006, P. Rios, ex Trauaxa lua eating Stemmadenia robinsonii , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028894, 06-SRNP-32841 (10♀, in BMNH, CNC, INBio, MZLU, USNM), with same locality and host as previous but collected 19.v.2012, sibling of wasp DHJPAR0050062, 12-SRNP-30860 (1♀ 1♂, in INBio); Sendero Naciente, 30.iv.2008, P. Rios, ex Trauaxa lua eating Stemmadenia robinsonii , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0031172, 08-SRNP-31151 (2♀ 1♂, in BMNH); Sendero Nacho, 2.xii.2013, ex Trauaxa lua eating Stemmadenia robinsonii , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0054868, 13-SRNP-31727, (4♀ 1♂, in BMNH); Sendero Orosilito, 15.iv.2013, F. Quesada, ex Callionima denticulata eating Stemmadenia robinsonii , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0052363, 13-SRNP-30579 (2♀ 1♂, in BMNH).

Diagnosis.

Lower face black (Figs 540, 541); fore and mid coxae white, remaining parts of fore and mid legs yellowish-brown, hind leg with coxa dark brown to almost black, femur with basal ½ yellowish-white and apical ½ dark brown, tibia yellowish-white, tarsus yellowish-brown (Fig. 539); petiole 1.0 × as long as wide; gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-white with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown (Figs 542, 543); male scape expanded and widest above the middle (Fig. 545), sensory pores confined to apicoventral ⅔, sensory area pale brown.

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.4 mm. Antenna with scape yellowish-white, pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellomere 1 pale brown, 2-6 dark brown (Fig. 544). Mandibles yellowish-brown with base brown, palpi yellowish-white. Head including lower face black and shiny (Fig. 540). Frons close to eyes with one row of setae in lower ½, with two rows in upper ½ (Fig. 549). Vertex smooth (Fig. 550). Occipital margin with a weak carina (Fig. 550).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 539). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with 10 setae. Scutellum 0.9 × as long as wide; with weak engraved reticulation (Fig. 551). Dorsellum along anterior margin with a groove that is divided by longitudinal carinae (Fig. 783), groove medially 0.3 × as long as length of dorsellum. Propodeum smooth (Fig. 783); anteromedially with a semicircular cup; propodeal callus with 11 setae. Legs (Fig. 539): fore and mid coxae white, remaining parts of fore and mid legs yellowish-brown; hind leg with coxa dark brown - almost black, femur with basal ½ yellowish-white and apical ½ dark brown, tibia yellowish-white, tarsus yellowish-brown. Fore wing: costal cell with two irregular rows of setae on ventral surface, and margin with three setae close to marginal vein; with 17 admarginal setae, in one row.

Gaster with anterior ½ yellowish-white with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 542).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 1.8/1.0/1.1; POL/OOL/POO = 6.5/3.5/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.4; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.4/4.5/3.3; WH/WT = 1.0; PM/ST = 1.7; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 4.4/2.6/6.4/2.4/1.2/1.0/2.1; LP/WP = 1.0; MM/LG = 1.4.

Male. Length of body 2.1 mm. Scape white, expanded and widest above the middle (Fig. 545), sensory pores confined to apicoventral ⅔, sensory area pale brown. Otherwise similar to female.

Ratio. LC/WS = 3.5.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on last instar larva of Trauaxa lua ( Erebidae ) feeding on Stemmadenia robinsonii and Tabernaemontana alba ( Apocynaceae ), and on second instar larva of Callionima denticulata ( Sphingidae ) feeding on Stemmadenia robinsonii , parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after Scott R. Shaw, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.

Remarks.

The specimens from Callionima denticulata are distinctly paler than specimens from Trauaxa lua but it is not known whether this is due to some aspect of their treatment, or if they were preserved in ethanol while still teneral. The unexpected host record of Callionima denticulata , a normal herbivore for this plant, was confirmed by further inspection and photography of the morphology of the mummy.