Table Of ContentPROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
107(1), 2005, pp. 78-83
A NEW SPECIES OF EPIMICTA FORSTER (HYMENOPTERA:
BRACONIDAE) FROM NORTH AMERICA AND NEW DISTRIBUTION
RECORDS FOR EPIMICTA GRIFFITHSI WHARTON
Robert R. Kula and Gregory Zolnerowich
Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-4004,
U.S.A. (e-mail: [email protected])
—
Abstract. Epimicta konzaensis Kula, new species, from Kansas and Tennessee is
described. A diagnosis and key are provided for differentiation of the three species cur-
rently included in Epimicta Forster. New distribution records for Epimicta grifftthsi Whar-
ton are reported from Kansas, Wyoming, and British Columbia.
Key Words: Alysiinae, Dacnusini, Nearctic, parasitoids
Epimicta Forster is an uncommon genus ed if the collecting effort does not coincide
in Dacnusini with two described species with the species' phenology. Long-term
worldwide. Epimicta grifftthsi Wharton is collecting programs are an effective strate-
the only described species from the New gy for collecting rare taxa (e.g., Epimicta)
World and is known from Texas (Wharton because they circumvent the problem of
1994). Epimicta marginalis (Haliday) is phenology. For example, Whitfield and
currently the only described species from Lewis (2001) sampled the braconid fauna
the Old World and is known from western of six tallgrass prairies in the midwestern
Europe (Shenefelt 1974, Tobias 1986). An- United States. Konza Prairie Biological Sta-
other Palaearctic species, Synelix rossica tion (KPBS), a 3,487 hectare tallgrass prai-
(Telenga), was originally placed in Epim- rie located in the Flint Hills near Manhat-
icta but was transferred to Synelix Forster tan, Kansas, was among the prairies sam-
by Tobias (1986). pled. For one week each month in June,
Relative to species in larger dacnusine July, and August, two Malaise traps were
genera (e.g., Chorebus Haliday), species in placed in KPBS watershed 4B (54.5 hect-
Epimicta are infrequently collected. For ex- ares). In that short period oftime and small
ample, determinations (by RRK) for 1,678 sampling area, 293 braconids representing
dacnusine specimens in the Canadian Na- 20 subfamilies and 86 species were col-
tional Collection ofInsects (CNCI) resulted lected. KPBS had the greatest species rich-
in 633 specimens ofChorebus and only five ness among the prairies sampled, but spe-
specimens ofEpimicta. Thus, the paucity of cies in Epimicta were not recovered.
described species in Epimicta appears to be The second author (GZ) initiated a long-
a reflection of taxon rarity, not a result of term collecting program at KPBS in April
limited collecting effort. 2001. At least five watershed units were
It is likely that most transient collecting continuously sampled annually, spring
efforts fail to acquire species in Epimicta. through fall, using Malaise traps and yellow
A species in Epimicta may be present at a pan traps. Additionally, sweep net samples
particular locality but will remain undetect- were periodically taken throughout the col-
VOLUME NUMBER
107, 1 79
lecting season. During the first two collect- Mandibular setation and the shape of
ing seasons, several specimens of Epimicta each tooth are described as observed in lat-
were acquired. In this paper one new spe- eral view. The numbering of teeth follows
cies in Epimicta is described, and the Wharton (1977). Terminology for anatom-
known distribution of E. griffithsi is ex- ical features, surface sculpture, and setation
panded. follows Sharkey and Wharton (1997).
Data used in the description were taken
Materials and Methods
from the holotype. four paratype females,
Most specimens used in this study were and the paratype male. Two additional fe-
collected with Malaise traps and a sweep males were examined but not used for the
net at KPBS. The Kansas State University description because of their poor condition.
Museum of Entomological Prairie Arthro-
pod Research (KSU-MEPAR), the Univer- Results and Discussion
sity of Wyoming Insect Museum (UWIM),
Epimicta konzaensis Kula,
and the CNCI provided additional speci-
new species
mens. All specimens were compared with
(Figs. 1-4)
paratypes of E. griffithsi housed at Texas —
A&M
University (TAMU). Wharton (1994) Diagnosis. Several characters can be
indicated the holotype for E. griffithsi was used to differentiate E. konzaensis from E.
deposited in the National Museum of Nat- griffithsi. In konzaensis the head is yellow
ural History (NMNH), but it is currently except very dark brown surrounding the
missing and could not be examined. Diag- ocelli, the mandibles are whitish yellow, the
nostic information in Tobias (1986) and frons is smooth, and the 3RS vein in the
Wharton (1994) was used to differentiate forewing is evenly curved. In griffithsi the
Epimicta konzaensis Kula, new species, and head is entirely black, the mandibles are
E. griffithsi from E. marginalis. dark yellow to yellow brown, the frons is
Measurements are as in Wharton (1977) usually (90% of type specimens) rugose,
with the following additions and modifica- and the 3RS vein in the forewing is weakly
tions. Tergite 1 (tl) length is the maximum sinuate.
length of tl in lateral view, and tl width is The characters Wharton (1994) used to
the width ofthe posterior edge of11 in dor- differentiate griffithsi from E. marginalis
sal view. Thorax length and thorax height can also be used to differentiate konzaensis
are referred to as mesosoma length and me- from marginalis. The most distinct diag-
sosoma height, respectively. Mesonotal nostic difference between konzaensis and
width is referred to as mesoscutal width. marginalis is the location of crenulations
The following abbreviations are used for within the posterior mesopleural furrow. In
measurements in the description: head konzaensis the posterior mesopleural fur-
length (HL), head width (HW), temple row is smooth dorsal to the episternal scro-
width (TW), face width (FW), face height be and minutely crenulate ventrally. In mar-
(FH), eye length (EL), eye height (EH), ginalis the entire posterior mesopleural fur-
mandible length (MNL), mandible apical row is conspicuously crenulate (Fig. 5). Ad-
width (MNAW), mandible basal width ditionally, in konzaensis the head is yellow
(MNBW), flagellomere 1 length (FIL), fla- except very dark brown surrounding the
gellomere 2 length (F2L), mesosoma length ocelli, and in marginalis the head is entirely
(ML), mesoscutum width (MW), mesosoma black.
—
height (MH), tl length (TIL), and tl width Description. Female. Body length:
(TIW). Measurements were taken using an 2.06-2.34 mm. Head: HL 0.58-0.59X HW,
ocular micrometer in a Leica MZ APO ste- HW 0.94-l.OOX TW FW L78-L89X FH,
reomicroscope with lOX oculars. EL 0.5()-0.58X EH, MNL 1.00-1.13X
80 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
^^^^^^^^^^^1^ '''4^^'
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VOLUME NUMBER
107, 1 !1
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sopleural furrow smooth dorsal to episternal Host. Unknown. —
scrobe, minutely crenulate ventrally; me- Material examined. Holotype female:
sopleuron (excluding stemaulus and poste- Top label = USA, "KANSAS:Riley Co.;
rior mesopleural furrow) dorso-ventrally Konza Prairie Biol. Station; Kings Creek'\
crenulate along anterior margin, anterior Second label = "39°06.20'N,96°35.77'W;
portion of subalar region rugose, smooth 27.iv.-1.V.2001; Zolnerowich,Kula,Brown;
mesally, setiferous along anterior and ven- Malaise trap" (NMNH). Paratypes: 1 9
tral margins; metapleuron with smooth me- same data as holotype; 1 9 same data as
sal portion surrounded by rugosities, seti- holotype expect 26.iv.-30.iv.2002, 2002-
ferous. Forewing: Hyaline; stigma with 010; 1 female same data as holotype except
well-defined proximal and distal margins; 13.V.-16.V.2002, 2002-030; 1 6 same data
vein r basad middle of stigma; vein Im-cu as holotype except 23.iv.-26.iv.2002, yel-
basad vein 2RS; vein 3RS evenly curved to low pan traps 2002-005; 1 9 same data as
leading margin; 1st subdiscal cell closed by holotype except 1 1.v.2002 R. R. Kula,
tubular veins. Hind wing: Hyaline; basal sweep net (KSU-MEPAR). Other deter-
and subbasal cells closed by tubular veins. mined material: 1 9 same data as holotype
Metasoma: TIL 1.07-1.27X TIW; tl lon- except 4.V.-9.V.2002, 2002-020 (KSU-ME-
gitudinally rugose, setiferous, dorsope pre- PAR); 1 9 USA, TENNESSEE: Hamilton
sent; t2 striate, setiferous; t3 entirely Co., East Ridge, 9.V.1952, G. S. Walley
smooth or mostly smooth with anterior (CNCI).
edge striate, setiferous m—esally or in pos- Discussion. Epimicta konzaensis and E.
terior half of tergite; t4 16 smooth, seti- griffithsi are morphologically similar to cer-
ferous mesally or in posterior half of ter- tain species in Dacnusa Haliday and Exo-
gite; remaining tergites smooth, setiferous; tela Forster. However, the additional tooth
ovipositor partially exserted, slightly visible along the ventral margin of the mandible
dorsally. Color: Head yellow except very and striate t2 clearly place both species in
dark brown surrounding ocelli, mouthparts Epimicta. Epimicta marginalis is larger and
whitish yellow except distal margin ofman- more heavily sculptured than konzaensis
dible amber with tooth 2 conspicuously and griffithsi and in habitus more closely
darker than other teeth, antennal flagello- resembles certain species in Symphya For-
meres brown with proximal flagellomeres ster. Epimicta and Symphya contain all dac-
lighter than distal flagellomeres, scape and nusines with a striate t2 and an additional
pedicel brownish yellow to yellow; meso- tooth along the ventral margin of the man-
soma very dark brown except propleuron dible. However, in Symphya t2+t3 is cara-
brownish yellow to brown; tl very dark pacelike, while in Epimicta t2+t3 is not
brown, t2 orangish brown, t3 yellowish carapacelike. The relationship between
brown to brownish yellow with posterior Epimicta and Symphya is discussed in Grif-
edge brown, remaining tergites brown; pro- fiths (1964) and Wharton (1994).
thoracic and mesothoracic legs yellow with All specimens from KPBS were collected
tarsi darker than other leg parts, metatho- in a gallery forest along an intermittent
racic leg yellow except distal half of tibia stream. The dominant tree species in the
and entire tarsus brown to dark brown. forest are Quercus macrocarpa Michx. (bur
Male. As in female except: Head: HL oak). Quereus muehlenhergii Engelm.
0.63X HW, FW 1.67X FH, EL 0.69X EH; (chinquapin oak). Celtis occidentalis L.
antenna with 23 flagellomeres. Mesosoma: (hackberry), and Ulmus americana L.
ML 1.46X MH. Color: t2 whitish yellow, (American elm) (Knight et al. 1994). Host
metathoracic leg yellow with distal half of utilization is unknown tor all species in
tibia and entire tarsus darker than other leg Epimicta. —
parts. Etymology. This species is named after
82 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 6-7. Nolauli. 1. Lpuiucin inarginalis (complete). 2, E. griffithsi (incomplete).
the collection site, Konza Prairie Biological males 2 males Grand Teton National Park,
Station. University of Wyoming-National Park Ser-
vice Research Center, l.viii.-9.viii.2002; 1
Epimicta griffithsi Wharton female Grand Teton National Park, Univer-
Epimicta griffithsi Wharton 1994: 630 sity ofWyoming-National Park Service Re-
— search Center, 25.vii.1990 (UWIM).
Distribution. New distribution records
are indicated by asterisks. ^CANADA, Key TO Species in Epimicta
BRITISH COLUMBIA: 1 female Vaseux 1. Posterior mesopleural funow entirely crenu-
Lake, Oliver, 13.v.1959; 1 female Oliver, late; notauli complete, extending to posterior
24.V.1959 (CNCI). USA, *KANSAS: Riley margin of mesoscutum (Fig. 6) (Palaearctic)
Co. 1 female Manhattan, 25.iv.1938; 1 male E. inarginalis (Haliday)
KPBS, Kings Creek, 39°06.20'N - Posterior mesopleural furrow smooth, at most
with a few crenulae ventral to episternal scro-
96°35.77'W, 25.iv.-27.iv.2001; 1 female 2 be; notauli incomplete, terminating anteriad
males KPBS, Kings Creek, 39°06.20'N mesoscutal midpit (Fig. 7) (Nearctic) 2
96°35.77'W, 4.V.-9.V.2001; 2 males KPBS, 2. Head entirely black; mandibles dark yellow to
Kings Creek, 39°06.20'N 96°35.77'W, yellow brown; frons usually rugose; forewing
11.V.-15.V.2001; 1 male KPBS, Kings — H3eRaSdvyeeilnlwoweaekxlcyepstinvueartyed.ar.k. bE.rogwrinffsiuthrsriouWnhda-rton
Creek, 39°06.20'N 96°35.77'N, 30.iv.-
ing ocelli; mandibles whitish yellow; frons
4.V.2002; 1 male KPBS, watershed 4B, smooth; forewing 3RS vein evenly curved
. .
39°04.65'N 96°35.75'W, 4.v.-9.v.2001; 1 E. konzaensis Kula, new species
female KPBS, watershed 4F, 39°04.37'N
Acknowledgments
96°34.26'W, 11.V.-15.V.2001; female
1
KPBS, watershed SpB, 39°04.50'N We thank Henri Goulet (CNCI), Scott
96°35.25'W, l.vi.-8.vi.2001 (KSU-ME- Shaw (UWIM), and Bob Wharton (TAMU)
PAR); TEXASW: Bosque Co. 7 females 1 for supplying material used in this study.
male 3 mi. Laguna Park, 13.iv.l984 We are also grateful to Srinivas Kambham-
(CNCI, TAMU, NMNH); Brazos Co. 1 pati (KSU) and Paul Marsh for reading the
male College Station, 13.iii.-18.iii.l982; 1 manuscript. Kent Hampton (Scanning Elec-
male College Station, 8.iii.-31.iii.l991 tron Microscope Laboratory, KSU) cap-
(TAMU); *Kerr Co. 1 male Kerrville, tured all original scanning electron micro-
30.iii.l959 (CNCI); *WYOMING: 3 fe- graphs. We acknowledge the cooperation of
VOLUME NUMBER
107, 1 83
KPBS and the Department of Entomology (Hymenoptera). International Society of Hymen-
at KSU. This article is Contribution No. 04- opterists. Special Publication 1, 439 pp.
221-A from the Kansas Agricultural Exper- Shenefelt, R. D. 1974. Pars 11. Braconidae 7, Alysi-
inae, pp. 937-1113. In Vecht, J. van der and R.
iment Station (KAES) and was supported D. Shenefelt, eds. Hymenopterorum Catalogus
by KAES Hatch Project No. 583, Insect (nova editio). Dr. W. Junk, The Hague.
Systematics, and the NSF Long Term Eco- Tobias, V. I. 1986. Subfamily Alysiinae, pp. 100-231.
logical Research Program at Konza Prairie IEnurMoepdevaendePva,rtGo.fS.t,heedU.SKSeRy,s tVoolt.heIlIl,nsHecytmseonfotph-e
Biological Station. tera, Part V. Akademia Nauk, Leningrad, 501 pp.
[in Russian, English translation published in
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