Cremnops washingtonensis (Shenefelt)

Tucker, Erika M., Chapman, Eric G. & Sharkey, Michael J., 2015, A revision of the New World species of Cremnops Förster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae), Zootaxa 3916 (1), pp. 1-83 : 75

Cremnops washingtonensis (Shenefelt)

[ Plate 29 , Figs A–I]

Bracon washingtonensis Shenefelt, 1937 . Female.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished by a weak notaulus, broad face, mandible appearing as one long tooth, two hind tibial spines, and western North American distribution.

Description. Holotype: female. Body length 7.5 mm (7–8 mm).

Head (Figs C & F). Thirty-seven (36–40) flagellomeres. Lateral carina of frons weak, ending immediately anteriad lateral ocellus. Malar space 1.1x (0.9–1.2x) eye height. Apical tooth of mandible extending well past margin of basal lobe, often appearing as one long tooth.

Mesosoma (Figs D, E & H). Median mesonotal lobe not depressed medially. Notaulus smooth, defined (to almost absent). Scutellar sulcus with 1 (1–3) longitudinal carina. Lobed (to 90° to obtuse). Mesoscutellar trough without longitudinal carinae laterally. Metanotal trough without extensive longitudinal carinae laterally. Sternaulus with 3 (2–4) pits (often weak and merging into one or two elongate grooves); about 1/ 3x (to 1/ 2x) length of mesopleuron. Medial propodeal areola with 3 (2–4) transverse carinae. Metapleuron rugose on ventral 1/3.

Hind leg (Fig. I). Femur length about 3x width. Distal tibia with 3 (2–3) spines.

Fore wing (Fig. G). Melanic.

Body Color Orange, except black as follows: portions of head, pronotum, ventral mesosoma , propodeum, fore and mid leg, hind trochanter, trochantellus, tibia, and tarsus.

Biology. Host —Unknown.

Adults Collected —April to August.

Geographic Range —Primarily the Rocky Mountains westward; from British Columbia south to Mexico. See map in Appendix II.

Comments. Cremnops washingtonensis is difficult to differentiate from C. meablis , C. melanoptera , and C. shenefelti . It can be distinguished from C. meablis by its broad face (ventral margin of face almost as long as malar space as opposed to distinctly shorter than malar space) and usually weak sternaulus (compared to 3–5 pits); from C. melanoptera by its melanic coloration (at least part of head and ventral mesosoma melanic instead of primarily orange); and from C. shenefelti by its hind tibial spine number (2 or 3 instead of 7 or more). When the mandible is visible, it easily distinguishes C. washingtonensis from both C. meablis and C. shenefelti with the apical tooth extending well past the margin of basal lobe.

Etymology. Presumably named for the collection locale.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: Cremnops washingtonensis , female, Grand Coulee, Washington, Ephrata, 26.June.1902, Type No. 52169, ( USNM) (H3472). Non-Types: 25 ( MCZ), 14 ( CAS), 11 ( ESSIG), 3 ( FSCA), 4 ( CNC), 1 ( INHS), 6 ( UCDC), 2 ( HIC). For holotype and additional images see Appendix VIII.

Figures

PLATE 29. Cremnops washingtonensis. A. lateral habitus; B. dorsal habitus; C. lateral head; D. mesopleuron; E. mesoscutum; F. face; G. wings; H. propodeum; I. hind leg.