A new species of Trisecodes from the Afrotropics (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae)
Author
Gumovsky, Alex
text
Zootaxa
2014
3852
5
553
561
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3852.5.3
629360af-f7bc-42f5-9d4a-3ae23923922d
1175-5326
251817
F3201303-1585-43B4-A7F8-04AD38DD7565
Trisecodes africanum
Gumovsky
,
sp. n.
(
Figs 1–3
)
Comparative notes
. This species is similar to the type-species of the genus,
T. agromyzae
, but differs in having the mesosoma distinctly strigate dorsally (
Fig. 2
) with tiny elongate ridges forming virtually linear rather than circular meshes (in contrast, the mesosoma is alveolate dorsally in
T. agromyzae
,
Fig. 4
C), and the mesoscutum and scutellum lack a longitudinal median groove (
Fig. 2
) (groove present in
T. agromyzae
,
Figs 4
B, C). In addition, the scutellum has only 1 pair of setae posteriorly (3 pairs of setae in
T. agromyzae
), the disc of the fore wing is darkened in its basal three-fifths (
Figs 1
E, F and 2A) as opposed to transparent in
T. agromyzae
(
Fig. 4
), and the metapleuron is evenly reticulate and not clearly delimited from the propodeum (metapleuron smooth and delimited from propodeum by a broad, shallow groove in
T. agromyzae
).
Description
.
Female
(
Figs 1
A, B, F and 2, 3). Length
0.70–0.85 mm
. Body dark, antennae brownish, tips of all tibiae and tarsi (except for darker pretarsi) pale (
Figs 1
A, B). Wings transparent except for somewhat darker, pale brown area covering basal 3/5 (more discernible in reflected light,
Fig. 1
F, and under SEM,
Fig. 2
A). Veins dark brown (
Fig. 1
B).
Head in dorsal view 2.5× as long as broad, in frontal view (
Fig. 3
A) 1.2× as broad as high. POL approximately 3× OOL, MDO as long as OOL and twice as long as OCL, compound eye approximately 1.66× as high as broad. Mouth opening wider than length of malar space. Inner margin of eyes subparallel. Genae nearly straight. Frons with V-shaped frontal sulcus and suture-shaped scrobal grooves. Subtorular grooves long, extending from torulus to lateral edge of mouth opening (
Figs 3
B, C). Mandibles bidentate (
Figs 3
B, F). Malar suture sulcus-like, slightly curved basally and terminally (
Fig. 3
F). Lower edge of antennal toruli situated slightly below lower eye margin (
Fig. 3
A). Upper frons and areas near frontal sulcus with strigate sculpture (similar to dorsum of mesosoma,
Fig. 3
A), areas near scrobal grooves finely alveolate and lower face alutaceous with sculpture of broader meshes (
Fig. 3
B).
Antenna (
Figs 3
C–E). Scape 4.5–5.0× as long as wide. Pedicel about as long as broad. F1 very transverse, ringlike, F2 and F3 somewhat longer (
Figs 3
D, E). Clava 2-segmented, its first segment subquadrate, second segment longer than wide, with terminal spine comprising approximately 1/3 length of segment (
Figs 3
D, E). All flagellar segments with curved, multiporous plate sensilla and mushroom-shaped sensilla. Multiporous plate sensilla fused to surface of respective segments in their basal 1/3 (
Figs 3
D, E).
Mesosoma about 1.3× as long as broad, strigate dorsally (
Fig. 2
). Mesoscutum about 1.8× as broad as long, scutellum slightly longer than mesoscutum and as long as broad, without a furrow in mid part. Mesoscutum with 3 pairs of setae on midlobe; posterior end of scutellum with 1 pair of setae. Axillula present as a short, blunt projection. Spur of fore tibia (calcar) short and straight, fore basitarsus with a row of 5 large and 1 small paddlelike setae ventrally.
Metanotum with dorsellum appearing as a narrow reticulate bar with reticulate lateral panels. Propodeum and metapleuron not clearly separated and evenly reticulate. Lower and upper mesepimeron alutaceous, transepimeral sulcus traceable as a curved line.
Fore wing approximately 1.88× as long as broad. Submarginal vein broken where subcosta meets parastigma; subcosta with 1 dorsal seta. Marginal vein approximately 1.75× as long as costal cell, slightly more than half wing breadth. Stigmal vein very short, stigma sessile, postmarginal vein mostly reduced. Disc with a line of about 13 setae originating near uncus of stigmal vein and extending apically; another line of about 25 setae originating from stigma and extending to anterior margin of fore wing; and another row of about 14 setae connecting base of parastigma with stigmal vein (
Figs 1
A, B). Basal and cubital folds complete setose (speculum closed), subcubital fold along retinaculum as a row of 6 or 7 short setae. Marginal fringe slightly longer than breadth of marginal vein in its broadest part (
Figs 1
A, B).
Metasoma (
Figs 1
A, B, F, 2A) as long as or slightly longer than mesosoma; petiole reduced, transverse. Gaster about 1.4×–1.7× as long as wide. Tergite 2 with a row of 4 or 5 hairs laterally. Each of following tergites with one dorsal line of hairs. Basal end of ovipositor nearly reaching base of gaster. Cercal setae short, situated on small tubercles.
Male
(
Figs 1
C–E). Length
0.6–0.8 mm
. All characters identical to female except antennal flagellar segments longer (
Fig. 1
D), mostly with one ring-like multiporous plate sensilla each. Fore wing infumation paler than in female, traceable in reflected light (
Fig. 1
E); marginal fringe 2–3× longer than breadth of marginal vein in its broadest part (
Fig. 1
E). Gaster rectangular in dorsal view, 1.4× as long as broad.
Type
material
.
Holotype
♀,
Uganda
, Semuliki National Park,
N 0°50'30.77"
,
E 30°06'14.17"
,
19.III.2013
; semi-deciduous forest with moister areas near cut logs; altitude
670 m
(A. Gumovsky) (
BMNH
).
Paratypes
:
2 ♂
, same data as
holotype
(
BMNH
,
RMCA
); 2 ♀,
Uganda
, near Najembe, Mabira forest,
N 0°23'24.49"
,
E 33°1'5.41"
, logged patch in the forest,
22-23.II.2013
(A. Gumovsky) (
BMNH
,
RMCA
);
3 ♂
;
Guinea
(Conakry), Nimba Mountain, Gouan Camp, Gallery forest of Zie, nr. “Station de Pompage Zie”, canopy of trees, under-story shrub layer, Fogging 01, Mt Nimba, Zié forest,
N 07°40'23''
W 08°22'24''
1250 m
,
3.X.2011
(A. Hernard & D. Van den Spiegel) (
RMCA
); 1 ♀,
Cameroon
, Nkoemvone,
30.III-19.IV.1980
(D. Jackson) (
BMNH
).
Biology
. Unknown. In
Guinea
, specimens were collected from the forest canopy by fogging. In both localities in
Uganda
, numerous sweepings were conducted under forest canopy, but only those in recent clearings produced specimens. It is possible that the species is normally a canopy inhabitant and the collection of specimens in lower forest levels was associated with recently felled trees.
Distribution
.
Uganda
(Semuliki forest, Mabira forest),
Cameroon
(Nkoemvone),
Guinea
(Nimba Mountain).
Etymology
. Named for its distribution.