Achrysocharoides robiniae Hansson & Shevtsova, 2010, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Hansson, Christer
name: Shevtsova, Ekaterina
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2010
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Eulophidae
Achrysocharoides
Achrysocharoides robiniae

description: Achrysocharoides robiniae sp. nov.   
(Figs 25–36, 51–52, 56, 59, 65–66)  
 Diagnosis. Achrysocharoides robiniae belongs to the gahani -group sensu Kamijo (1991), i.e. with the pronotal collar sharply margined (Figs 29–30), the occipital margin carinate (Figs 27–28), the propodeum with submedian carinae that diverge posteriorly (Figs 29–30), and the male scape widest at base (Figs 32, 66). These features differentiate A. robiniae from all known European species of Achrysocharoides. This group also includes A. gahani (Miller), A. reticulatus Yoshimoto, A. villosus Kamijo, and the new species A. robinicolus described below, from North America, and A. littoralis Kamijo from Japan. Achrysocharoides robiniae differs from all but A. gahani and A. robinicolus in having the following combination of characters: scutellum more or less smooth with rows of punctate-reticulate pits on each side (Figs 29–30) (A. littoralis and A. villosus with scutellum completely reticulate without pits), and forewing rounded (A. reticulatus with forewing truncate). We are currently unable to distinguish females of A. gahani and A. robiniae from each other with certainty, but males do differ morphologically. Males of A. robiniae and A. robinicolus have the frons below the frontal suture bright blue (Figs 32, 44, 51–52), whereas males of A. gahani have this part bright green (Figs 53–54), males of A. robiniae and A. robinicolus have the white anteromedian spot on gaster with posterior margin straight (spot is shaped like a pentagon or a triangle respectively) and extending over tergites 1 and 2 (Figs 56–57, 59–60), whereas males of A. gahani have posterior margin of this spot rounded (spot is oval-shaped), extending over tergites 1–3 (Figs 55, 58). The host information is also an important diagnostic tool to separate A. robiniae and A. robinicolus from A. gahani, as accounted for below in the discussion. Achrysocharoides robiniae is very similar to A. robinicolus but differs in having hind coxae completely white in both sexes (Figs 35–36) (coxae completely white also in A. gahani, but base brown to metallic in both sexes of A. robinicolus, Figs 47–48), a wider male scape (Fig. 66) which is 1.8X as long as wide (holotype) (3.0X as long as wide in holotype of A. robinicolus, Fig. 68), white anteromedian spot in male gaster shaped like a pentagon (Figs 56, 59) (shaped like a triangle in A. robinicolus, Figs 57, 60).   
 Description. FEMALE. Length 1.0– 1.4 mm.   
Scape white; pedicel and flagellum dark brown with metallic blue shine, pedicel with ventral side pale. Frons below level of toruli golden-green, between level of toruli up to frontal suture golden-green to goldenred, antennal scrobes golden-red, above frontal suture metallic bluish-purple. Vertex inside ocellar triangle golden-red, outside ocellar triangle golden-green with blue tinges. Mesoscutum and scutellum metallic bluishgreen. Propodeum golden-green. Legs white. Wings hyaline. Gaster with first two tergites metallic green, remaining tergites dark brown with metallic tinges.  
Antenna as in Fig. 65. Frons below level of toruli smooth and shiny, between level of toruli and frontal suture with raised and strong reticulation with antennal scrobes smooth, above frontal suture smooth and shiny. Vertex inside ocellar triangle with engraved and very weak reticulation, outside ocellar triangle smooth and shiny. Occipital margin with a sharp edge behind ocellar triangle.  
Pronotal collar with a sharp carina. Mesoscutum with midlobe with raised and strong reticulation, sidelobes with fine and weak reticulation; notauli as smooth impressions in posterior 2/3. Scutellum smooth and shiny with rows of punctate-reticulate pits on each side. Dorsellum flat and smooth, anterolaterally with two foveae. Propodeum smooth and shiny with two submedian carinae which are more or less parallel and diverging posteriorly; propodeal callus with 3–4 setae. Forewing speculum closed below. Petiole conical without shoulders.  
 Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 4.2/1.0/2.0; POL/OOL/POO = 1.6/1.4/1.0; WH/WT = 1.3; LW/LM/HW = 1.7/1.0/ 1.0; PM/ST = 1.1; MM/LG = 1.0.   
MALE. Length 0.9–1.4 mm.  
Scape yellowish-white; pedicel dark brown with ventral side white; flagellum dark brown with goldengreen shine. Frons below level of toruli golden-green or golden-red, above level of toruli metallic blue. Vertex inside ocellar triangle golden-red, outside metallic blue. Mesoscutum and scutellum golden-green with blue tinges. Propodeum golden-green with red tinges. Legs white. Wings hyaline. Gaster with first tergite metallic green, anteromedially with a white spot shaped like a pentagon that extends over tergites 1 and 2; remaining tergites dark brown with metallic tinges.  
Antenna as in Fig. 66. Frons below level of toruli smooth and shiny, between level of toruli and frontal suture with strong and transverse striae, above frontal suture medially with raised and rather weak reticulation and close to eyes smooth. Vertex inside ocellar triangle with engraved and very weak reticulation, outside ocellar triangle smooth and shiny. Occipital margin with a sharp edge.  
Pronotal collar with a sharp carina. Mesoscutum with midlobe with raised and strong reticulation, sidelobes with fine and weak reticulation; notauli as smooth impressions in posterior 2/3. Scutellum smooth and shiny with rows of punctate-reticulate pits on each side. Dorsellum flat and smooth, anterolaterally with two foveae. Propodeum smooth and shiny with two submedian carinae which more or less parallel and diverging posteriorly; propodeal callus with 3–4 setae. Forewing speculum closed below. Petiole conical without shoulders.  
 Ratios. HE/MS/WM = 2.1/1.0/1.3; POL/OOL/POO = 3.3/2.5/1.0; WH/WT = 1.3; LW/LM/HW = 1.6/1.0/ 1.0; PM/ST = 1.0; MM/LG = 1.2–1.6.   
 Distribution. Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, U.S.A.   
 Host. Phyllonorycter robiniella (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) on Robinia pseudoacacia. In three previous investigations of the parasitoids associated with P. robiniella two different species of Achrysocharoides were reported. Stojanović & Marković (2005) and Melika et al. (2006) reported A. cilla (Walker) as a parasitoid of P. robiniella, and Navone (2003) and Girardoz et al. (2007) reported A. gahani from the same host, although Navone was not adamant in his identification and left the possibility open for alternate interpretations. We examined material used in Navone (2003) and Melika et al. (2006) and this material belongs to A. robiniae. So very likely neither A. cilla, nor A. gahani are parasitoids on P. robiniella.   
 Material examined. Holotype male labeled “ HUNGARY: Pest Co., Gödöllö, 14.viii.2003, Balács Klára”, “ Robinia pseudoacacia ”, “ex Phyllonorycter robiniella, em. 1.ix.2003 ” (HNHM); 2 females with same label data as holotype (HNHM); 9 females 6 males ” HUNGARY: Vas Co., Meszlen, 6.viii.2002, leg. I. Mikó”, “Ex. Phyllonorycter robiniella ” (BMNH, CH, PDL); 6 females 5 males “ HUNGARY: Vas Co., Köszeg, Als-erd, 23.vi.2002, leg, Zs. Pénzes”, “Ex. Phyllonorycter robiniella ” (BMNH, CH, PDL); 2 females 5 males ” AUSTRIA: Vienna, Laaer Berg, 48°10'N, 16°24'E, 20.vi.2007 ”, “ Phyllonorycter robiniella, G. Grabenweger ” (CH, GG, NHMV); 1 female 2 males “ GERMANY: Berlin, Wönnichstrasse, 5.ix.2005 ”, “ Phyllonorycter robiniella on Robinia pseudoacacia, G. Grabenweger ” (GG, NHMV); 1 female and 1 male “ ITALY: Torino, Pianezza, em. 21-27.iv.2003, P. Navone”, “Host: Phyllonorycter robiniella ” (Clemens) (CNC); 1 female “ U.S.A.: Connecticut, Hartford Co., Farmington, near jct. State Road 4 and River Road, 18.x. 2002, C.T. Maier”, “Host: Phyllonorycter robiniella ” (CNC); 2 females 2 males from same locality and host as previous but collected 26.vi.2002 (CAES, USNM); 1 male “ U.S.A.: New Hampshire, Cheshire Co., Town of Hinsdale, 1.5 km S jct. State Highways 63 and 119, 17.x. 2002, C.T. Maier”, “Host: Phyllonorycter robiniella ” (CNC); 2 females 3 males from same locality and host as previous but collected 28.vi.2002 (CAES, CH).   
 Identification. To include A. robiniae in the latest key to European Achrysocharoides (Bryan 1980) the following addition should be made:   
Start with  
 1a. Pronotal collar sharply margined (Figs 29–30); propodeum with submedian carinae (Figs 29–30).. robiniae sp. nov. - Pronotal collar without sharp margin (e.g. Figs 5–6); propodeum without submedian carinae (e.g. Figs 5–6)......... 1   
 To include A. robiniae and A. robinicolus in the latest key to Nearctic Achrysocharoides (Kamijo 1991) the following addition should be made:   
 In the key to the species of the gahani -group (starts on page 27) the second alternative in couplet 2 should run to 3 instead of gahani   
 3. Male frons below frontal suture bright green (Figs 53–54); male gaster with white spot oval-shaped and reaching over tergites 1–3 (Figs 55, 58)............................................................................................................. gahani (Miller) - Male frons below frontal suture bright blue (Figs 32, 44, 51–52); male gaster with white spot triangular or shaped like a pentagon and reaching over tergites 1–2 (Figs 56–57, 59–60).......................................................................... 4 4. Both sexes with hind coxae completely white (Figs 35–36); male scape 1.8X as long as wide (Fig. 66); male gaster with white spot shaped like a pentagon (Figs 56, 59)........................................................................ robiniae sp. nov. - Both sexes with hind coxae with base (up to 1/3) brown (Figs 47–48); male scape 3.0X as long as wide (Fig. 68); male gaster with white spot shaped like a triangle (Figs 57, 60).................................................. robinicolus sp. nov.   
 Etymology. Named after the host plant, Robinia pseudoacacia, of its lepidopteran host.
description: Published as part of Hansson, Christer & Shevtsova, Ekaterina, 2010, Three new species of Achrysocharoides Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitoids of Phyllonorycter spp. (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) on Acer platanoides and Robinia pseudoacacia, pp. 23-43 in Zootaxa 2388 on pages 29-35, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.193825