NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 10 (Supplement 1): S22-S26 Article No.: 140201
©NwjZ, Oradea, Romania, 2014 http://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/index.html
>
An atypical new species of Halticoptera Spinola (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) from Valea lui David natural reserve, Romania Mircea-Dan MITROIU Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Bd. Carol I 11, 700506 Iaşi, Romania. E-mail:
[email protected] Received: 9. September 2013 / Accepted: 4. December 2013 / Available online: 23. March 2014 / Printed: December 2014
Abstract. Halticoptera grahami sp. n. is described from Valea lui David natural reserve, Romania. This is a rather unusual species because of several morphological characters such as the shape of the clypeus, the position of the toruli, and the shape of the anterior margin of the pronotum. The generic limits of the genus Halticoptera are discussed. Halticopterina Erdős, 1946 is proposed as a junior synonym of Halticoptera, syn. n. Consequently, Abyrsomele Dzhanokmen, 1975 is treated as a synonym of Halticoptera, syn. n. and six new combinations are proposed: Halticoptera triannulata (Erdős, 1946), comb. n., H. moczari (Erdős, 1954), comb. n., H. lauta (Dzhanokmen, 1975), comb. n., H. altiverticalis (Andersen, 1990), comb. n., H. magnistipes (Andersen, 1990), comb. n., and H. tahoensis (Andersen, 1990), comb. n. Key words: Chalcidoidea, Halticoptera, Halticopterina, Hymenoptera, new combinations, new species, new synonyms, Pteromalidae, Valea lui David natural reserve, taxonomy.
Introduction The meadows from Valea lui David natural reserve occupy about 46 ha west of Iaşi (Eastern Romania, 47°11′47″N 27°27′65″E). Almost 600 species of flowering plants (Poaceae being the dominant family) have been recorded in the area, the vegetation having many similarities with the South-Eastern European, Ponto-Sarmatic flora (Pop & Sălăgeanu 1965, Mititelu et al. 1969). Many rare species of plants and animals find refuge in the area, but unfortunately the anthropic pressure is high because of the surrounding agricultural areas and grazing. The species of Halticoptera are parasitoids of small flies (Diptera: Agromyzidae, Drosophilidae, Tephritidae) associated with herbaceous plants or ferns (Bouček & Rasplus 1991, Noyes 2013). Species from the West Palaearctic have been partly investigated by Graham (1969, 1972) (Western Europe), Askew (1972) (Britain, species allied to H. circulus (Walker)), Hedqvist (1975) (Sweden), Mitroiu (2005) (Romania, including a new species from Valea lui David natural reserve), and Doğanlar (2006) (Turkey and some areas of Europe). The aim of this paper is to describe an atypical new species of Halticoptera from Valea lui David natural reserve, to propose new generic synonymies, and consequently provide an extended diagnosis of the genus. The description of the new species is intended to draw attention to the neces-
sity of implementing better conservation measures in this natural reserve, which already proved to be a real sanctuary for many rare or threatened species of insects.
Material and methods Observations were made using a Krüss MSZ5400 stereomicroscope with a maximum magnification of 180×. The line drawings were made using a camera lucida connected to a microscope. Information on the specimen labels is given ad litteram, between quotation marks. The legs, antenna and wings of one side of the body are mounted on a microscopic slide. The type material is deposited in the Mitroiu collection, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iaşi, Romania (MICO) and will eventually be transferred to the “Grigore Antipa” Natural History Museum, Bucharest (MHNB). Terminology is according to Gibson (1997). The wing veins are abbreviated as follows: M = marginal vein; S = stigmal (or radial) vein; P = postmarginal vein. The scape is measured without the radicle. The pedicel is measured in lateral view. The funicular segments are abbreviated F1–F6. The mesosoma and metasoma are measured in lateral view, the latter including the ovipositor sheaths. The apparent length of petiole is measured in dorsal view (Mitroiu 2005). When referring to sensilla, only the longitudinal (= multiporous plate) sensilla are considered.
Results and Discussion Halticoptera Spinola Halticoptera Spinola, 1811: 148; type species
An atypical new species of Halticoptera Spinola from Valea lui David natural reserve
Diplolepis flavicornis Spinola, 1808, by designation of Ashmead, 1904: 376. Pachylarthrus Westwood, 1832: 127; type-species: P. insignis Westwood, 1832, by monotypy. Synonymy by Schmiedeknecht, 1909: 298. Phagonia Curtis, 1832: 427; type-species: P. flavicornis Curtis, 1832, by original designation. Synonymy by Graham, 1969: 155. Dicyclus Walker, 1833: 371; type-species: D. aeneus Walker, 1833, by designation of Westwood, 1839: 68. Synonymy by Gahan, 1933: 116. Phacostomus Nees, 1834: 121; type-species: Diplolepis patellana Dalman, 1818, by monotypy. Synonymy by Graham, 1969: 155. Megorismus Walker, 1846: 29; type-species: Miscogaster daiphron Walker, 1839, by monotypy. Synonymy by Peck, 1951: 542. Tityros Walker, 1848: 164; type-species: T. poreia Walker, 1848, by monotypy. Synonymy by Graham, 1969: 155. Megalorismus Schulz, 1906: 145; unjustified emendation of Megorismus Walker (Noyes, 2012). Halticopterina Erdős, 1946: 160; type-species: H. triannulata Erdős, 1946, by original designation, syn. n. Abyrsomele Dzhanokmen, 1975: 627; type species: A. lauta Dzhanokmen, 1975, by original designation, syn. n. Diagnosis. Size generally between 1.5 and 5 mm, body colour mostly green or blue-green, rarely with golden or violet reflections. Reticulation on head and mesosoma distinctly raised above body surface. Head slightly transverse in anterior view. Gena not strongly receding towards mouth. Scrobes mostly absent. Occiput without carina, slightly to distinctly emarginate in dorsal view. Clypeal margin with two large asymmetric teeth separated by a deep depression, the left tooth usually stronger than the right (occasionally with a thin groove, probably indicating the fusion of two smaller teeth). Antennae in both sexes 11263 or 11353, inserted from slightly below to distinctly above lower margins of eyes; all anelli transverse; funicular segments from transverse to longer than broad, with one to three rows of sensilla; clava symmetric, tip more or less rounded, micropilosity present at most on the last segment. Males with maxillary stipites and/or distal articles of maxillary palpi enlarged, yellow to brown. Mesosoma moderately to strongly arched dorsally. Pronotum collar usually rounded in anterior part, rarely angulate, narrower than mesoscutum. Notauli
S23
complete but not deep, hence sometimes appearing incomplete. Frenal line distinct. Median area of propodeum either smooth or with distinct reticulation, rarely partly smooth and partly reticulate, usually with two conspicuous basal foveae; median carina present, straight; plicae usually well defined, almost complete; nucha short. Fore wing with basal cell usually bare but sometimes more or less pilose; veins not thickened, M longer than P, S always distinctly shorter than both M and P; disc hyaline or slightly infumate. Hind tibia with one spur. Metasoma always petiolate, from distinctly shorter than mesosoma to about as long as head plus mesosoma, round to ovate-lanceolate. Petiole from strongly transverse (rarely) to longer than broad, dorsally smooth (rarely) or reticulate, usually with straight median carina and welldeveloped flanges in antero-lateral part, with or without lateral setae; ovipositor sheaths hardly exerted. First gastral tergite always larger than any of the following ones, its hind margin straight or slightly incised medially. Pygostilar setae sometimes unequal. Remarks. The genus Halticopterina Erdős, 1946, is synonymized here under Halticoptera Spinola, 1811, syn. n. Consequently, Abyrsomele Dzhanokmen, 1975 (synonymized with Halticopterina by Dzhanokmen & Grissell (2003)) also is treated as synonym of Halticoptera, syn. n. Six new combinations are thus proposed: Halticoptera triannulata (Erdős, 1946), comb. n., H. moczari (Erdős, 1954), comb. n., H. lauta (Dzhanokmen, 1975), comb. n., H. altiverticalis (Andersen, 1990), comb. n., H. magnistipes (Andersen, 1990), comb. n., and H. tahoensis (Andersen, 1990), comb. n. The only character separating Halticopterina from Halticoptera is the different number of funicular segments/anelli: five/three in Halticopterina and six/two in Halticoptera. All other characters, such as the shape of the clypeus, shape and structure of the mesosoma and metasoma, wings, enlarged mouth parts in males, etc., are shared with species of Halticoptera. Size was considered to be another separation criterion, all species of Halticopterina being less than 2 mm in length. However, many species of Halticoptera e.g. H. aureola Graham, 1972, H. letitiae Askew, 1972 or H. andriescui Mitroiu, 2005, are also less than 2 mm in length. Moreover, other pteromalid genera such as Homoporus Thomson, Pachyneuron Walker or Macroglenes Westwood, also have variable number of funicular segments. The opinions regarding the status of Halticopterina vary. While Peck et al. (1964) and
D.M. Mitroiu
S24 Bouček & Rasplus (1991) considered that it might be better placed as a subgenus of Halticoptera, Andersen (1990) preferred to keep its generic status, without giving additional separation characters other than the number of the funicular segments and size. As stated above, size is not informative, while the different number of funicular segments is in my opinion insufficient to keep Halticopterina as a separate genus.
Halticoptera grahami Mitroiu, sp. n. (Figs 1-5) Type material. Holotype ♀, “RO, IS, Rez. Nat. Valea lui David, 25.v.1999, Popescu leg.” (MICO, on card and microscopic slide). Etymology. The new species is dedicated to Marcus W. R. de V. Graham, whose work on the European Pteromalidae from 1969 remains a basic reference for anyone interested in the taxonomy of this group of chalcids.
Figures 1-5. Halticoptera grahami sp. n., holotype, female. 1. Habitus is dorsal view, without appendages. 2. Head in frontal view. 3. Fore wing. 4. Hind wing. 5. Antenna.
An atypical new species of Halticoptera Spinola from Valea lui David natural reserve
Diagnosis. Easily recognizable from all other Palaearctic species mainly by a combination of high antennal insertions, transverse funicular segments, angulate pronotal collar, entirely reticulate propodeum, and slightly transverse petiole. Description. Female holotype, length 2.5 mm. Body colour green, with slight bluish reflections; mesoscutum and metasoma with slight golden reflections; scape and pedicel metallic green, flagellum dark brown; mandibles brown; coxae, trochanters and femora as mesosoma, except distal end of femora reddish-brown; fore and mid tibiae reddish-brown, hind tibiae extensively dark medially; all tarsi reddish-brown, last article brown; wings hyaline, tegulae and venation brown. Head (Figs 1, 2) about 1.1× as wide as mesosoma, width about 2.3× length in dorsal view; width about 1.3× height in in frontal view. Temple in dorsal view somewhat less than 1/4 eye length. POL about 1.6× OOL. Eye height about 1.3× length. Malar space about 0.6× eye length and about 0.4× eye height. Oral fosa about 2.2× malar space and about half head width. Antennae inserted above lower eye margin; antennal scape distinctly shorter than eye, not reaching lower edge of anterior ocellus; combined length of pedicel and flagellum about 0.7× head width; pedicel length about 1.7× width; all funicular segments transverse, with one row of sensilla (Fig. 5); F1 width about 1.3× length, distinctly shorter than pedicel; F2-F5 width about 1.6× length each; F6 width about 1.7× length; clava length about 1.9× width, approximately equal to combined length of F4-F6, micropilosity present only on last segment. Mesosoma (Fig. 1). Length about 1.4× width and about 1.6× height. Pronotal collar angulate before neck, medially slightly more than 1/4 length of mesoscutum. Mesoscutum width about 1.8× length, strongly reticulate; notauli complete but shallow. Scutellum slightly convex, with finer reticulation, slightly wider than long. Propodeum about half scutellum length, median area entirely reticulate; median carina distinct, mostly straight but slightly sinuous medially; basal foveae superficial; plicae raised only posteriorly, but reaching spiracular area; spiracle ovate, separated from anterior edge of propodeum by a distance smaller than its largest diameter; nucha small, lateral margins convergent posteriorly. Wings hyaline (Figs 3, 4); fore wing (Fig. 3) length about 2.2× width; basal cell mostly glabrous, with 5 setae near basal vein; basal vein
S25
with 10 setae; ventral side of costal cell with a continuous row of setae and 2-3 shorter rows of setae distally; speculum moderate, open posteriorly, reaching slightly beyond parastigma; disc with moderate pilosity; M:S:P = 32:16:29. Metasoma (Fig. 1). Petiole with parallel sides, distinctly reticulate, with a fine median carina and antero-lateral flanges; petiole width about 1.3× apparent length. Gaster ovate, dorsally slightly convex, almost twice as long as wide, only slightly longer than mesosoma; first gastral tergite about 1/3 gaster length, posterior margin straight; last tergite width about 1.8x maximum length; pygostylar setae approximately equal in length; ovipositor sheaths hardly projecting beyond tip of metasoma. Male. Unknown. Biology. Unknown, but probably parasitoid of some small Diptera mining plants, as other reared species. Remarks. In all available keys H. grahami runs to H. patellana (Dalman, 1818) due to the strongly reticulated propodeum and arched mesosoma. However, the new species can be easily separated from the latter using the following couplet: 1. Lower margins of antennal toruli not or only slightly above lower margins of eyes; antenna with funicular segments quadrate, or the proximal ones slightly longer than broad; pronotal collar with anterior margin rounded; petiole slightly longer than broad, with three to six setae on each side H. patellana (Dalman) 2. Lower margins of antennal toruli distinctly above lower margins of eyes (Fig. 2); antenna with all funicular segments transverse (Fig. 5); pronotal collar with anterior margin angulate; petiole about 1.3X as broad as long, without visible setae on sides (Fig. 1) H. grahami sp. n. Because of the rather moderately arched mesosoma, the new species somewhat resembles H. elongatula Graham, 1972, but differs in having the mesosoma less elongated (length of about 1.4× width, versus 1.6×), the toruli situated much higher and the funicular segments more transverse (Figs 2, 5).
Acknowledgments. This study was funded by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS–UEFISCDI, project number PN–II–RU–TE–2012–3– 0057. I thank Dr. Cees van Achterberg (Naturalis
S26 Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands) for the useful suggestions and Dr. Irinel Popescu (“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Iaşi, Romania) for the donation of the specimen.
References Andersen, H.E. (1990): Three new Nearctic species of Halticopterina Erdös (Hymenoptera; Pteromalidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist 66(2): 131-139. Ashmead, W.H. (1904): Classification of the chalcid flies of the superfamily Chalcidoidea, with descriptions of new species in the Carnegie Museum, collected in South America by Herbert H. Smith. Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum 1(4): 225-551. Askew, R.R. (1972): A revision of the British species of Halticoptera (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) allied to H. circulus (Walker). Journal of Entomology 41(1): 45-52. Bouček, Z., Rasplus, J.Y. (1991): Illustrated key to West-Palearctic Genera of Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). INRA, Paris. Curtis, J. (1832): British Entomology 9. London. Dalman, J.W. (1818) Några nya Genera och Species af Insecter. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar 39: 69-89. Doğanlar, M. (2006): Systematic studies on some species of Halticoptera Spinola, 1811 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae), with descriptions of new species. Journal of Applied Sciences Research 2 (3): 168-183. Dzhanokmen, K.A. (1975): New Palaearctic species of parasitic Hymenoptera of the family Pteromalidae (Chalcidoidea). Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie 54(3): 625-635. Dzhanokmen, K.A., Grissell, E.E. (2003): Nomenclatural changes in Pteromalidae, with description of the first new world species of Ormocerus Walker (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 105(3): 535-541. Erdős, J. (1946): Genere nova et species novae chalcidoidarum (Hym.). Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici 39: 131-165. Erdős, J. (1954): Species nova Hungarica: Halticopterina moczári (Hym., Miscogast.). Folia Entomologica Hungarica 7: 153-154. Gahan, A.B. (1933): The serphoid and chalcidoid parasites of the hessian fly. Miscellaneous Publication of the United States Department of Agriculture 174: 1-147. Gibson, G.A.P. (1997): Morphology and terminology. pp. 16-44. In: Gibson, G.A.P., Huber, J.T., Woolley, J.B. (eds.), Annotated keys to the genera of Nearctic Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). NRC Research Press, Ottawa. Graham, M.W.R de V. (1969): The Pteromalidae of North-Western Europe (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology, Supplement 16: 1-908. Graham, M.W.R de V. (1972): Two new British species of Halticoptera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae). Journal of Entomology 4: 103-106.
D.M. Mitroiu Hedqvist, K.J. (1975): Notes on Chalcidoidea VII. A key to Swedish Species of the Genus Halticoptera Spin. and three related genera (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Entomologica Scandinavica 6: 167-181. Mititelu, D., Moţiu, T., Dăscălescu, D., Teşu, C., Viţalariu, C. (1969): Flora şi vegetaţia pajiştilor "Valea lui David" Iaşi. Studii şi Comunicări, Muzeul de Ştiinţele Naturii Bacău 1969: 81-100. Mitroiu M.-D. (2005): A review of the Romanian Halticoptera Spinola (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae), with description of three new species. Zootaxa 1090: 35-49. Nees von Esenbeck, C.G.D. (1834): Hymenopterorum Ichneumonibus affinium monographiae. Genera Europaea et Species Illustrantes 2: 1-448. Noyes, J.S. (2013): Universal Chalcidoidea Database. World Wide Web electronic publication. Peck, O. (1951): Superfamily Chalcidoidea. pp. 410-594. In: Muesebeck, C.F.W., Krombein, K.V., Townes, H.K. (eds), Hymenoptera of America north of Mexico - synoptic catalog. Agriculture Monographs. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Peck, O., Bouček, Z., Hoffer, A. (1964): Keys to the Chalcidoidea of Czechoslovakia (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 34: 1-120. Pop, E., Sălăgeanu, N. (1965): Monumente ale naturii din România. Editura Meridiane, Bucharest. Schmiedeknecht, O. (1909): Hymenoptera fam. Chalcididae. Genera Insectorum 97: 1-550. Schulz, W.A. (1906): Spolia Hymenopterologica. Paderborn. Spinola, M. (1808): Insectorum Liguriae species novae aut rariores, quas in agro ligustico nuper detexit, descripsit, et iconibus illustratavit 2(2-4): 1-261. Spinola, M. (1811) : Essai d'une nouvelle classification générale des Diplolépaires. Annales du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 17: 138-152. Walker, F. (1833): Monographia Chalciditum (Continued). Entomological Magazine 1 (4): 367-384. Walker, F. (1839): Monographia Chalciditum. London. Walker, F. (1846): List of the specimens of Hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part 1 Chalcidites. London. Walker, F. (1848): List of the specimens of Hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum, part 2: 99-237. Westwood, J.O. (1832): Descriptions of several new British forms amongst the parasitic hymenopterous insects. Philosophical Magazine 1: 127-129. Westwood, J.O. (1839): Hymenoptera. Introduction to the modern classification of insects founded on the natural habits and corresponding organisation; with observations on the economy and transformations of the different families 2(11): 129-192.
