Euplectrus sondrawardae 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 : 80-81

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Eulophidae

Euplectrus sondrawardae Hansson sp. n. Figures 552-558, 566-568, 784

Material.

Holotype a female labeled "COSTA RICA: Guanacaste, ACG, Sector Pitilla, Sendero Mismo, 23.v.2006, C. Moraga, ex Sanys irrosea eating Maytenis recondita , sibling of wasp DHJPAR0028850, 06-SRNP-31984" (BMNH). PARATYPES: 1♀ 1♂ with same label data as holotype (BMNH, INBio).

Diagnosis.

Lower face black with a dark reddish-brown spot medially, pale area reaching to level of middle of toruli (Figs 553, 554); antenna long and slender, flagellum 3.2 × as long as height of eye in female (Fig. 557), and 3.8 × in male (Fig. 558); legs yellowish-brown with fore and mid coxae yellowish-white (Fig. 552); hind tarsus short with 1st tarsomere short, 1.1 × as long as 3rd tarsomere; petiole 0.8 × as long as wide; gaster dark brown, anterior ½ with a ± T-shaped yellowish-white (female, Fig. 555) or white (male, Fig. 556) spot; male antenna with scape slightly expanded and widest just below the middle, 2.7 × as long as wide (Fig. 558).

Description.

Female. Length of body 2.7 mm. Antenna long and slender, flagellum 3.2 × as long as height of eye (Fig. 557); scape yellowish-white, pedicel yellowish-brown, flagellomere 1 yellowish-brown, 2 yellowish-brown ventrally and dark brown dorsally, 3-6 dark brown. Mandibles yellowish-brown, palpi yellowish-white. Head black and shiny, lower face black with a dark reddish-brown spot medially, pale area reaching to level of middle of toruli (Fig. 553). Frons close to eyes with one row of setae (Fig. 566). Vertex smooth (Fig. 567). Occipital margin rounded (Fig. 567).

Mesosoma black and shiny (Fig. 552). Each sidelobe of mesoscutum with seven setae. Scutellum 0.9 × as long as wide; with weak engraved reticulation (Fig. 568). Dorsellum along anterior margin with a groove that is divided by longitudinal carinae (Fig. 784), groove medially 0.3 × as long as length of dorsellum. Propodeum with very weak reticulation (Fig. 784); anteromedially with a semicircular cup; propodeal callus with nine setae. Legs yellowish-brown with fore and mid coxae yellowish-white (Fig. 552). Fore wing: costal cell with one row of setae on ventral surface, and margin with five setae close to marginal vein; with 17 admarginal setae, two rows in basal ½ and one row in apical ½.

Gaster dark brown, anterior ½ with a ± T-shaped yellowish-white spot (Fig. 555).

Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 2.5/1.0/1.6; POL/OOL/POO = 7.8/3.8/1.0; OOL/DO = 1.3; WE/WF/WH/HH = 1.0/2.2/4.1/3.0; WH/WT = 1.0; PM/ST = 2.1; TS1/TS2/LT/LT1/LT2/LT3/LT4 = 3.6/2.2/5.6/1.1/1.3/1.0/1.9; LP/WP = 0.8; MM/LG = 1.1.

Male. Length of body 2.0 mm. Scape slightly expanded and widest slightly below the middle (Fig. 558), sensory pores confined to ventral margin and scattered along entire margin, sensory area pale as scape. Otherwise similar to female except antennal flagellum 3.8 × as long as height of eye (Fig. 558); fore and mid coxae white; gaster shorter and with pale part white (Fig. 556).

Ratios. LC/WS = 2.7; MM/LG = 1.3.

Hosts and biology.

Feeding on last instar larva of Sanys irrosea ( Erebidae ) feeding on Maytenis recondita ( Celastraceae ), parasitoid cocoons stuck to dead larva and substrate.

Distribution.

Costa Rica (Guanacaste Province).

Etymology.

This species is named after Sondra Ward, in recognition of her contribution to the understanding of ACG Hymenoptera taxonomy.