Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) virlai Triapitsyn, Logarzo

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., Huber, John T., Logarzo, Guillermo A., Berezovskiy, Vladimir V. & Aquino, Daniel A., 2010, Review of Gonatocerus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in the Neotropical region, with description of eleven new species, Zootaxa 2456, pp. 1-243 : 229-231

Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) virlai Triapitsyn, Logarzo & de León, 2007

( Figs 492–498 )

Gonatocerus sp.: Logarzo et al. 2005: 116–117 (host information); Jones, Logarzo, Virla et al. 2005: 343–344 (host information).

Gonatocerus sp. 6: Hoddle & Stouthamer 2005: 339; Hoddle & Triapitsyn 2005: 341–342; de León et al. 2006a: 41–42; de León et al. 2006d: 54; de León et al. 2006e: 57–58 (molecular data); de León & Morgan 2006: 61 (molecular data); Triapitsyn 2006b: 112; Triapitsyn 2007: 59; de León et al. 2007: 74 (molecular data); de León & Morgan 2007: 83 (molecular data); de León et al. 2008: 99, 104–105 (molecular data).

Gonatocerus virlai Triapitsyn, Logarzo & de León in Triapitsyn et al. 2007: 62–67. Holotype female [MLPA] (examined). Type locality: Tafí Viejo, Tucumán, Argentina.

Gonatocerus virlai Triapitsyn, Logarzo & de León: Triapitsyn et al. 2008: 5, 22 (molecular data); Luft Albarracin et al. 2009: 10 (list; distribution and host associations in Argentina).

Material examined. ARGENTINA. CORRIENTES, Yapeyú , exposed to sentinel eggs of Tapajosa rubromarginata (Signoret) 4–9.x.2006, emerged 23–25.x.2006, G.A. Logarzo [14 ♀, 2 ♂, UCRC] . LA RIOJA, Castro Barros, Los Molinos , 7.i.2001, P. Fidalgo, J. Torréns, G. Fidalgo [1 ♀, UCRC] . SALTA, Rosario de la Frontera, Lumbrera (at Río Juramento ), 24.79°S 65.03°W, 730 m, 21.iii.2003, J. Munro [1 ♀, UCRC] .

Description. See Triapitsyn et al. (2007) for a detailed description and diagnosis.

Diagnosis. Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) virlai is a member of the morrilli subgroup of the ater species group. Females are characterized by the following unique combination: head, as well as mesosoma and metasoma ( Fig. 494 ) mostly light brown except trabeculae and vertex between the ocelli dark brown, mesoscutum posteriorly and scutellum anteriorly with irregular brownish spots, and middle gastral terga brown; scape and pedicel light brown, flagellum brown to dark brown; legs light brown; antenna ( Fig. 492 ) with pedicel longer than F1, F2 much longer than F1 and slightly shorter than F3 (F3 and F4 equal in length and the longest funicle segments), F5 a little longer than F6, F7 slightly longer than F6 and notably longer than F8; mps on F2 (0 or 1), F3 (1 or 2), F4 (2), F5 (2), F6 (2), F7 (2); propodeum ( Fig. 493 ) with curved submedian carinae, more or less smooth between submedian carinae but between submedian and lateral carinae with conspicuous transverse wrinkles; forewing ( Fig. 495 ) with disc slightly infumate throughout, bare behind submarginal and marginal veins except for a few setae just behind apex of marginal vein; ovipositor not exserted beyond gastral apex, ovipositor length: mesotibia length ratio about 1.0:1. Body color of the male usually a little, but sometimes notably, darker than in female, particularly mesonotum and gastral terga mostly brown, with some light brown. Also illustrated here are the antenna ( Fig. 496 ), genitalia ( Fig. 497 ), and forewing ( Fig. 498 ) of the male.

Distribution. NEOTROPICAL: Argentina (Triapitsyn et al. 2007).

Hosts. Tapajosa rubromarginata (Signoret) , as well as Dechacona missionum (Berg) and Molomea consolida Schröder (the latter two from sentinel eggs only) ( Proconiini ); also Ciminius platensis (Berg) and Plesiommata mollicella (Fowler) ( Cicadellini , from sentinel eggs only) ( Cicadellidae ) (Triapitsyn et al. 2007). Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) , Oncometopia tucumana (Schröder) , Tapajosa similis (Melichar) , and Tretogonia notatifrons Melichar (Proconiini) were laboratory and apparently factitious hosts (Triapitsyn et al. 2007).

Comments. The colonies of G. virlai , maintained on eggs of H. vitripennis in the quarantine facilities in California and Texas, USA (Triapitsyn et al. 2007), have been since discontinued.

Figures

FIGURES 492 – 495. Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) virlai ♀ (holotype): 492, antenna; 493, dorsellum and propodeum; 494, mesosoma and metasoma; 495, forewing.

FIGURES 496 – 498. Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) virlai ♂ (paratypes): 496, antenna; 497, genitalia; 498, forewing.