Euplectrus chrisdarlingi 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 : 33-34

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus chrisdarlingi Hansson sp. n. Figures 189-195, 200-202, 745

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, ACG, Sector Pitilla, Pasmompa, 26.xii.2007, C. Moraga & M. Rios, ex Letis mycerina eating Inga oerstediana , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028698, 07-SRNP-34320" (BMNH). PARATYPES: 9♀ 1♂: Guanacaste: 6♀ 1♂ with same label data as holotype (BMNH, INBio, MZLU); 3♀ with same locality and host data but collected 8.xii.2007, sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028700, 07-SRNP-34119 (CNC, USNM).

Diagnosis.

Lower face with median part dark reddish-brown with two small yellowish-brown spots, pale area not reaching outside of outer lateral margins of toruli (Figs 190, 191); dorsellum anteriorly with a very narrow groove that is divided by longitudinal carinae (Fig. 745); legs yellowish-brown with fore and mid coxae yellowish-white (Fig. 189); gaster with anterior ½ white with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown (Figs 192, 193); petiole 0.8 × as long as wide in female, 1.0 × in male; male antenna with scape slightly expanded and widest in the middle, 2.9 × as long as wide (Fig. 195).

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.0 mm. Antenna with scape yellowish-brown with base yellowish-white, pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellomere 1 pale brown, 2-6 dark brown (Fig. 194). Mandibles and palpi yellowish-white. Head black and shiny, lower face with median part dark reddish-brown with two small yellowish-brown spots, pale area not reaching outside of outer lateral margins of toruli, and with parts between pale area and eyes black (Fig. 190). Frons close to eyes with one row of setae (Fig. 200). Vertex smooth (Fig. 201). Occipital margin with a carina (Fig. 201).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 189). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with nine setae. Scutellum 0.9 × as long as wide; with very weak engraved reticulation (Fig. 202). Dorsellum anteriorly with a narrow groove that is divided by longitudinal carinae (Fig. 745), groove medially 0.1 × as long as length of dorsellum. Propodeum with very weak reticulation (Fig. 745); anteromedially with a transverse triangular cup; propodeal callus with 13 setae. Legs yellowish-brown with fore and mid coxae yellowish-white (Fig. 189). Fore wing: costal cell with one row of setae on ventral surface, and margin with two setae close to marginal vein; with 13 admarginal setae, in one row.

Gaster with anterior ½ white with dark brown lateral margins, posterior ½ dark brown (Fig. 192).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 2.4/1.0/1.1; POL/OOL/POO = 8.0/4.6/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.3; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.4/4.4/3.3; WH/WT = 1.1; PM/ST = 1.6; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 3.6/2.2/5.6/1.7/1.3/1.0/1.6; LP/WP = 0.8; MM/LG = 1.2.

Male. Length of body 1.5 mm. Scape slightly expanded and widest in the middle (Fig. 195), sensory pores confined to apicoventral ¾, sensory area pale as scape. Otherwise similar to female except longer petiole.

Ratios. LC/WS = 2.9; LP/WP = 1.0: MM/LG = 1.2.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on penultimate instar larva of Letis mycerina ( Erebidae ) feeding on Inga oerstediana ( Fabaceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after D. Chris Darling, in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.