Plumaroides tiphlus, Diez, Patricia A., 2008

Diez, Patricia A., 2008, A new species of the genus Plumaroides Brothers (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea, Plumariidae) from Santiago del Estero, Argentina: male and female description, Zootaxa 1891, pp. 25-30 : 26-29

Plumaroides tiphlus , sp. nov.

Figures 1–7

Diagnosis. The male of Plumaroides tiphlus sp. nov. can be recognized by the distance between the socket and the clypeus is 1.3X diameter of socket, the malar space is 0.2X the length of the eye, in the forewings, the marginal cell with the anterior margin that is 4.3X longer than the posterior margin, and the seventh tergum with a longitudinal median carinae that increase its in height uniformly from the apex in lateral view, and that has a flattened surface in dorsal view.

The female of Plumaroides tiphlus sp. nov. can be recognized by the elongated body, the alutaceus sculpture, the conspicuous punctation scattered over the body, the eyes being absent, the occipital carinae being absent, the undefined proepisternum, the propodeum with an anterior ventral projection, and the first tergum with the anterior surface vertical.

Description of male holotype. Length 4.5 mm (Paratype males vary between 3.5 mm and 5.5 mm). Coloration: body generally dark brown with following parts slightly clearer: radicle, scape and pedicel, distal margin of clypeus, basal zone of mandibles and legs in general. Head and mesoscutum slightly darker than rest of body.

Head: hypognathous, in frontal view 0.8X longer than wide, 1.4X maximum width of mesosoma ; without carinae or furrows. Eye hemispherical, protruding, glabrous, inner orbits converging ventrally: ocellocular distance 2X diameter of lateral ocellus, postocellar distance 2.2X ocellocular. Antennocular distance 0.6X diameter of antennal socket; interantennal distance 4.3X antennocular. Distance between socket and clypeus 1.3X diameter of socket. Gena without carinae or furrows. Malar space 0.2X length of eye. Apex of clypeus almost straight in frontal view, apical margin recessed, epistomal suture distinct and curved medially ( Fig. 1 ); setae of clypeus variable in size, with row of setae placed at each side of clypeus along apical margin and almost as long as length of clypeus. Labium subrectangular, roundish in apical margin, labial palp with two segments, basal segment slightly longer than apical segment; maxillary palp with five segments, with following proportions (length/width): 1.2: 0.5; 1.7: 0.5; 1.7: 0.5; 1: 0.6; 1.3: 0.5 ( Fig. 2 ). Both mandibles with blunt apical tooth and single weakly differentiated medial tooth ( Fig. 1 ). Setae of mandible variable in length with four or five setae almost 1/3 of basal width of mandible. Antenna with 13 segments tapering apically. Scape subrectangular, with prominent ventral swelling apically, shorter than pedicel and first flagellomere combined. Pedicel narrower at base with subquadrate shape. Proportion of flagellomeres as follows (length/ width): 12:8; 13:8; 15:7; 16:7; 15:6; 17:6; 13:6; 14:5; 15:6; 15:5; 18:5 ( Fig. 3 ). Flagellomeres with short, abundant, decumbent setae; ovoid sensory plates present on flagellomeres 1 to 8 in quantities decreasing from first to eighth.

Mesosoma : 2X times longer than its maximum width. Proportions of lengths of mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, metanotum, metaposnotum and propodeum in dorsal view, along midline: 35:32:21:5:23. Pronotum not visible dorsally, except for small portion of pronotal lobe ahead of tegulae, mesoscutum with parapsidal line and notaulus weak. Metanotum subrectangular. Propodeum convex, transverse in dorsal view, 2.3X wider than long; spiracular opening narrow, elongate oval located on basal 0.1X of propodeum. Forewing: 2.3X longer than wide; marginal cell with anterior margin 4.3X longer than posterior margin ( Fig. 4 ). Hind wings: with vannal lobe 2.6X length of submedial cell ( Fig. 5 ). Legs slender, fore and mid tibiae with strong spines placed in outer margin and over apical margin. Tibial spurs 1-2-2. Claws simple; arolium only present on fore legs

Metasoma: in dorsal view 2X longer than its maximum width. Seventh tergum with subtriangular shape and polished distal zone; lateral carinae well developed; with longitudinal median carina that increases its height uniformly from apex in lateral view, and with flattened surface in dorsal view ( Figs 6 and 7 ).

Description of Female ( Figs 12-21 ): Total length 3.28 mm. Elongated body, with scattered weak setae and alutaceus sculpture. Eyes, ocellus, wings and tegulae completely absent ( Figs 12, 13 ). Body covered with various sensillae and light brown in color.

Head: with scattered weak setae throughout surface; dorsoventrally compressed, 1.24X longer than wide, prognathous. Occipital carina absent. Monthparts placed far from of occipital foramen, and separated from it by postgenal bridge 3.4X longer than diameter of foramen. Labium 1.65X longer than its maximum width, narrower basally, palpus with three segments. Maxillary palpus with five segments. Mandible long, acuminate apically, with three teeth, apical tooth weakly differentiated; mandible with scattered setae of different sizes, with longest placed laterally and about 0.6X basal width of mandible and with minute setae placed medially ( Fig. 14 ). Clypeus subrectangular, with apical margin almost straight. Antenna with 13 segments; all flagellomeres covered by short, erect setae; scape, pedicel and flagellomeres 1-3 with some setae almost as long as length of pedicel. Scape 3X longer than wide and cylindrical. Pedicel 1.5X longer than its maximum width, and broadest apically. Length of flagellomeres subequal, except apical flagellomere almost twice length of relative to others. Longitudinal placoid sensilla and separate lines of small circular sensilla (recessed basiconic peg sensilla) on all flagellomeres ( Fig. 15 ).

Mesosoma . Maximum width of thorax (measured across mesothorax) almost equal to width of head ( Fig. 12 ). Pronotum 1.7X longer than its maximum width; in dorsal view with two poorly development posterior lobes, posterior margin with small groove. Propleura separated in ventral view. Prosternum distinct in ventral view and with rhomboidal external surface ( Fig. 16 ). Mesothorax almost as long as wide, transverse in dorsal view, slightly narrower posteriorly; divisions not visible into scutum, scutellum or pleuron, however with two longitudinal furrows converging posteriorly, and with two soft and rounded lobes on posterior margin. Metathorax and propodeum fused and cylindrical; wider medially and narrower toward anterior region with anterior-ventral projection almost as long as width of propodeum, of subrectangular shape with group of long ventral setae ( Fig. 17 ); propodeal spiracle round and placed at 3X its diameter from anterior margin. Hind leg with scattered weak setae, coxa subtriangular with anterior articulatory process, trochanter well developed. Femur I cylindrical, femur II and III laterally compressed, with III notably wider than others ( Figs 18, 19, 20 ). Fore tibia with one or two strong spines apically; two tibial spurs, one curved and finaly pectinate along internal margin with approximately 46 setae, and other one simple, with length almost half of first one; basitarsus with curved comb of approximately 30 setae with length almost same as segment, and with about 20 strong spines over surface of basitarsus, three spatulate setae along apical margin of pretarsus ( Fig. 18 ). Mid tibia with spur not developed as well defined comb, and second simple spur with length almost half of first one, strong spines placed along external apical margin and approximately eight spatulate-shaped spines toward apex of tibia; basitarsus with strong spines and three spatulate-shape spines apically ( Fig. 19 ). Hind tibia with strong spines and row of approximately eight spatulate-shapes spines along apical margin; tibial spur forming curved comb with approximately 40 setae and other spur as described for foreleg; basitarsus and second tarsomere with longitudinal row of about 30 fine elongated setae, strong spines and spatula-shaped spines ( Fig. 20 ). Simple claws with large arolium present on all legs.

Metasoma. Elongated, joined to propodeum by transverse petiole. Spiracles present on tergites 1 to 7. First tergum with anterior surface vertical; first sternum with longitudinal ventral carina that occupies 2/3 of its anterior part ( Fig. 21 ). Seventh tergum simple, with several long setae at apex; sting occupies segments 5 to 7.

Variation. Ocellocular distance in males varies between 2.3 and 3.0X the diameter of lateral ocellus; postocellar distance varies between 3.8 and 4.25X the antennocular distance.

Etymology. This species was named for the lack of eyes in the female (Latinized from the Greek word typhlos, meaning blind).

Material studied. Male holotype: Argentina, Province of Santiago del Estero, near Termas de Rio Hondo, Ruta 9 km. 1190, col. P. Diez and P. Fidalgo (MACN). Paratypes: 23 males, same data as holotype (MACN); 1 male, same data as holotype (IFML); 1 male, same data as of holotype (MLP); 1 male same data as of holotype (FSCA); 1 female, same data as holotype (MACN).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 11. Plumaroides tiphlus sp. nov. Male (1 – 7). Plumaroides brothersi (8 – 9). Plumaroides andalgalensis (10 – 11). 1 head; 2 labium and maxilla; 3 antenna; 4 forewing: A anterior margin, B posterior margin; 5 hind wings; 6, 8 and 10, seventh tergum, dorsal view; 7, 9 and 11, seventh tergum, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 12 – 16. Plumaroides tiphlus sp. nov. Female. 12 dorsal view of body; 13 lateral view of body; 14 mandible; 15 antenna; 16 propleuro and prosternum, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 17 – 21. Plumaroides tiphlus sp. nov. Female. 17 metathorax and propodeum, lateral view; 18 fore leg; 19 mid leg; 20 hind leg; 21 first tergum and first sternum, lateral view,: A vertical anterior surface, B ventral carina. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.