Table Of ContentPROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
109(1), 2007, pp. 45-51
BIOLOGY AND DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF
LAURELLA HERATY (HYMENOPTERA: EUCHARITIDAE)
FROM ARGENTINA
Javier Torrens, John M. Heraty, and Patricio Fidalgo
(JT, PF) CRILAR-CONICET, Entre Rios y Mendoza, 5301 Anillaco, La Rioja,
Argentina (e-mails: [email protected]; [email protected]);
(JMH) Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521,
USA
(e-mail: [email protected])
—
Abstract. Description ofthe adult, egg, and planidium ofa new species, Laurella
rugosa Torrens, Heraty, and Fidalgo (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), from Salta,
Argentina, is provided, along with a new key for the species of the genus. Laurella
rugosa deposits eggs on the underside of leaves of Serjania glabrata Kunth
(Sapindaceae), a climbing plant that grows in the understory of Piptadenia
macrocarpa Benth. (Leguminoceae).
Key Words: Laurella rugosa, egg, planidium, host plant
Laurella (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) but most development occurs on the host
was initially described to include three pupa (Clausen 1940b).
species, L. bonariensis (Gemignani), L. The biology ofLaurella was unknown,
vianai (Gemignani), and L. guriana and its immature stages undescribed,
Heraty (Heraty 2002). Two of these with the exception of a single planidium
species were described by Gemignani taken from the body of an adult of L.
(1947) as Lirata bonariensis and Para- vianaifrom Tucuman, Argentina (Heraty
kapala vianai. Laurella belongs to the 2002). The larva was similar in morphol-
largely Neotropical Kapala clade within ogy to that of a closely related genus,
the Eucharitinae, which usually can be Thoracantha Latreille, with both genera
recognized by the parallel elongate pro- sharing elongate channels on the crani-
jections arising from the scutellum um (Heraty 2002). Attachment of larvae
(Heraty 2002). Oviposition takes place to the adult host is relatively common in
with the deposition of large numbers of eucharitids attacking poneromorph ants
eggs, either in cavities in plant buds or and is associated with highly active
with the eggs scattered over the un- larvae seeking an adult ant host for
dersurface of the leaf (Clausen 1940a, phoretic transfer back to the brood in
Heraty and Darling 1984, Heraty 2002). the ant nest. These active planidia may
All members of the Kapala clade are attach accidentally to an adult eucharitid
known to only attack the immature visiting oviposition sites used by other
stages of large poneromorph ants in the females of the same species; thus, these
subfamilies Ectatomminae, Ponerinae, attached planidia on the eucharitid adult
and Paraponerinae (sensu Bolton 2003). are likely from the same species (Heraty,
Larvae initially attach to the host larva. unpublished).
46 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 1-6. L Laiirella rugosa, head and antenna (female, sublateral). 2, L. giiriana, head and antenna
(female, frontal). 3, L. rugosa, head and mesosoma (female, dorsal). 4, L. giiriana, head and mesosoma
(female, dorsal). 5, L. rugosa, habitus (female). 6, L. guriana, habitus (female).
LaureUa is known only from South UCRC, University of California, River-
America, with scattered locahty records side, California, U.S.A.
from Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay,
and Venezuela. A new species, LaureUa LaureUa rugosa Torrens, Heraty, and
rugosa, was discovered in northern Ar- Fidalgo, new species
gentina, and information is included on (Figs. 1, 3, 5, 7,9, 11-20)
—
its life history and immature stages. Diagnosis. Distinguished from the
Morphological terms used in the descrip- other species by a combination of semi-
tions are from Heraty (2002) and Darling appressed setae on the head and meso-
(1988), with details on sculpture from soma, darkened femora basally, and
Eady (1968). thick scutellar spines that are slightly
Type material is deposited in the bowed in dorsal view (Fig. 3). Addition-
following collections: MACN, Museo ally, females have an elongate basal
Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Ber- flagellomere that is lightly colored basal-
nardino Rivadavia", Buenos Aires, Ar- ly, and the mesoscutum is strongly
gentina; IFML, Instituto Fundacion rounded in profile (Fig. 5). The egg is
Miguel Lillo, Tucuman, Argentina; stalked and similar to other Eucharitinae
FSCA, Florida State Collections of as described by Heraty and Darling
Arthropods, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A.; (1984). The planidium is almost identical
VOLUME NUMBER
109, 1 47
Figs. 7-10. 7, Laurella rugosa, head and mesosoma (female, lateral). 8, L. guriana, habitus (male). 9,
L. rugosa, habitus (male). 10, L. bonariensis, habitus (male).
to that of Thoracantha striata Perty median ocellus (Fig. 11). Eyes separated
(Heraty 2002), with both planidia having by 2.4X their height. Labrum with five
a distinct Hne extending laterally from digits, each digit with a terminal flat-
anterior cranial sensilla and presense of tened seta (Fig. 12). Clypeus smooth;
a seta ventrally on Tl. Laurella rugosa supraclypeal area swollen, slightly re-
differs by having a seta ventrally on TI ticulate with a few weak transverse
and no ventral or lateral seta on TIL As striae. Antenna with 11 segments
well, the ventral posterior process on (Figs. 1, 13), scape swollen apically, not
TIX is divided and developed laterally in reaching to ventral margin of median
L. rugosa. — ocellus. Length of flagellum 1.5X height
Holotype female. Length 3.6 mm. of head, basal flagellomere 6.2X as long
Body completely black except light as basal width, 1.9X as long as following
brown tegula; scape, pedicel, basal half segment; basal flagellomere flared api-
of F2 light brown, rest offlagellum dark cally, following segments flared and
brown; femora dark brown basally, weakly serrate apically, clava rounded;
distal half of femora, tibiae, and tarsi all flagellar segments scabrous.
yellow. Wings evenly infuscate with Mesosoma (Figs. 3, 5).- Mesoscutum
venation dark brown. rounded anteriorly; midlobe with irregu-
Head: 1.5X as broad as high (Figs. 1, lar transverse carinae, and with weak
11). Face with surface weakly scabrous longitudinal depression medially; side
and with weak striae converging from lobe with similar carinae but less distinct;
genae to clypeus, and from lower face to entire surface covered by semi-appressed
48 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 11-20. 11-14, Laurella rugosa (female). 11, Head (frontal). 12, Labrum. 13, Antenna. 14,
Prosternum and propleura (ventral). 15-16, L. rugosa (male). 15, Antenna. 16, Genitalia and aedeagus.
17-20, Host plant and immature stages. 17, Underside of Serjania glabrata with eggs (white area). 18,
Recently deposited egg. 19, Egg two days old with outline ofplanidium. 20, Planidium. Abbreviations:
pli= propleura; sti= prosternum; adg= aedeagus; dig= digitus; phl= phallobase; tp= tergopleural line.
setae; tegula with scattered setae. Notauli dinal striae, sculpture becoming rugose
vaguely impressed anteriorly to strongly in posterior half of spine, spines slightly
impressed posteriorly. Axilla, scutellum, bowed in dorsal view (Fig. 3); frenum
and scutellar spine with strong longitu- glabrous and smooth, reflexed below
—
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109, 1 49
spines and with a medial carina. Propo- mesosoma with carinae more irregular;
deal disc rounded and slightly rugose, scutellar spine almost completely rugous;
with a broad medial depression. Mese- mesepisternum and mesepimeron with
pisternum glabrous and smooth; upper carinae prominent and surface more
mesepimeron weakly reticulate to evenly rugose-areolate; legs with same
smooth dorsally, becoming more strong- coloration as female but darker; antenna
ly rugose-areolate ventrally, femoral de- pectinate (Figs. 9, 15), with same color-
pression deeply and narrowly impressed ation as female but darker, branch of
and with strong tranverse carinae; pre- basal flagellomere equal or shorter than
pectus triangular and separated from height of head and 3.5^.4x as long as
tegula by mesoscutum and acropleuron scape; mesoscutum more vaulted in
(Fig. 7). Prostemum(stl) trapezoidalwith lateral view; forewing hyaline; petiole
two carina directed medially (Fig. 14). 1.6-1.8X as long as hind coxa. Gastral
Forecoxa mostly smooth and bare, be- terga black and more slender. Genitalia
coming reticulate with scattered setae (Fig. 16) typical of most Eucharitidae;
anteriorly; midcoxa mostly smooth two volsellus with several small marginal
lateral longitudinal carina; hind coxa spines, aedeagus subacuminate.
smooth to slightly reticulated apically, Description ofimmatures. Eggs: Un-
with few setae, hind coxa 1.8X as long developed eggs whitish and translucent
asbroad. Forewing2.5X as longas broad; with a smooth chorion, slightly flattened
stigmal vein rectangular, 2.4X as long as ventrally along egg body, and convex
broad; postmarginal vein as long as dorsally (Figs. 18, 19). Within four days,
stigmal vein. dark coloration of developing embryo
Metasoma: Petiole 3.1x as long as noticed, giving egg a dark color
broad and 1.3X as long as hind coxa, (Fig. 19); length of egg body about
petiole mostly smooth with weak longi- 0.17 mm and caudal stalk 0.08 mm. In
tudinal carinae. Gastral terga black to mature eggs, larva occupies almost entire
brown, terga smooth; Gti with few egg body with head oriented to caudal
scattered curved setae; hypopygium with stalk. Planidium (Fig. 20): Morphology
cluster of den—se long hairs apically. and setal pattern is typical of most
Variation. Length 3.5-3.8 mm. Head Eucharitinae. Described by following fea-
1.4-1.5X as broad as high; eyes separat- tures: length 0.10 mm; width 0.03 mm;
ed by 1.9-2.6X their height. Length of pleurostomal spine present; three pairs of
flagellum 1.5-1.6X height of head, basal placoid sensilla on cranium, anterior pair
flagellomere 5-6.2X as long as basal connected to lateral margin by single line
width and 1.5-1.9X as long as following ofweakness, dorsal cranial spines absent;
segment. Labrum with 5-6 digits. De- hatchet-shaped sclerite present; pleuros-
pression of midlobe weak to almost toma extending laterally as a distinct
absent. Tegula whitish to light brown. spine; ventral transverse process ofcrani-
Scutellar spine with variation in breadth, um fmgerlike and separated medially;
and more than apical halfcan be rugose. tergopleural line (tp) separating pleural
Frenum with 1-3 carinae in different and dorsal tergites present on tergitesTII-
forms. Hind coxa 1.6-1.9X as long as VIII; TI and Til fused dorsally, with 1
broad. Forewing 2.4-2.6X as long as pair of small setae ventrally and dorsally
broad. Petiole 2.7-3.2X as long as broad with one anterolateral pair ofsetae and 1
and 1.3-—1.5X as long as hind coxa. medial pair of placoid sensilla; Till with
mm
Male. Length 3.3-3.6 (Fig. 9). three pairs of setae; TIV with 1 setae
Similar to female except for following: lateral to tp; TVI with one small pair of
head with sculpture more prominent; dorsolateral setae and one pair of stout
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
50
seta medial to tp; TVII with minute seta were collected January 24, 2004. The ant
on ventral margin; TIX entire and with host is unknown, however nests of
two longlateral processesvenlrally, lateral Odontoniachus chelifer (Latreille) (For-
process reaching beyond TXI; caudal cerci micidae: Ponerinae) were common near
not quite as long—as TXI+XII and stiff. the host plant, S. glabrata. Odoutoma-
Type material. Holotype female: Ar- clius Latreille is a common host for the
gentina, SALTA: Termas de Rosario de Kapala clade (H—eraty 2002).
la Frontera, 24/1/04, Coll. J. Torrens and Life history. In experimental trials,
P. Fidalgo. Deposited in MACN. Para- females were offered leaves of S. glab-
types: SALTA: Termas de Rosario de la rata, and oviposition observed with
Frontera, Hotel Termal, 25°50'14"S a magnifying glass. Leaves with eggs
64°55'55"W, 899 m, 21/III/2003, P. Fi- were subsequently put in a glass contain-
dalgo, H03-10b, sclerophyll forest, UCR er with dampened cotton. Females col-
DNA voucher #1073 (1 2,8 S, UCRC lected in January and February of 2004
specimen numbers 91466, 91828-91834, that were provided the host plant, de-
92210); same data, collector J. Heraty, posited their eggs on the underside ofthe
UCR DNA UCRC A
voucher #1092 (2 2, leaves (Fig. 17). single gravid female
specimen 91820-91821); Termas de Ro- oviposited about 25 eggs per 1 mm^ on
sario de la Frontera, 15/IV/2003, J. one leaf. Eggs hatched within 6 days;
Torrens and P. Fidalgo (1 ?, 3 S, however, many of the remaining eggs
FSCA); lO/XI/03, J. Torrens and P. contained mature, darkened planidia
Fidalgo (1 2, IFMU); 07/1/2004, J. that did not hatch.
Torrens and P. Fidalgo (1 S, IFML);
KeyTO Species of Laurella Heraty
24/1/04, J. Torrens and P. Fidalgo (72,4
$, MACN); 10/11/04, J. Torrens and P. I. Semi-erectsetaeonheadandmesosoma
Fidalgo (32,1 S UCRC); 07/III/2004, (Figs. 2, 4, 6, 8) giiriana Heraty
JT.UTCorUrMenAsNa:ndTPa.piFai,dal14g/o1/(1199S3,, ICFuMeUz)z;o -2 (I). AsSipodpmeraels(osFbieegdso.fs1e,mtea3es,o5os)ncuthuemadsmaonodthmedsoor-- 2
and Fidalgo (M—.T.) (1 c?, IFML). sally. Scape reaching ventral margin of
Distribution. Argentina: Salta, Tu- medianocellus. Antennayellow. Petiole
cuman. in female as long as hind coxa. Male
unknown vianai (Gemigniani)
Biology - Side lobe of mesoscutum carinate or
— rugose. Scape not reaching ventral
Location and habitat. Specimens margin of median ocellus. Antenna
were collected in Los Banos, Rosario de dark brown or bicolored. Petiole in
la Frontera (Salta: Argentina), within female longer than hind coxa 3
500 m of the Hotel Termas. The host 3 (2). Scutellum longitudinally carinate, cari-
nae reaching to apex ofscutellar spine;
plant, Serjania glabrata Kunth (Sapinda- carina twisted along scutellar spine.
ceae), grows in the understory ofa forest Coxae black, rest of legs yellow. An-
of "cebil Colorado," Piptadenia nuicro- tenna dark brown (Fig. 10); male with
carpa Benth. (Leguminosae). The host branch of basal flagellomere 1.5-2.6X
as long as scape; female funicle not
p6l0anctm ahriegh,smdailslperssherdubbsetawpepernoxtihmeattreeleys saesrrhaitned. cPoetxiaole in fbeonmaarlieen2s.iOsx(Gaesmilgonnigani)
. .
in the collected place. Adults of L. - Scutellum with irregular longitudinal
rugosa, S. glabrata, and the potential carinae, spines becoming rugoseapically
host ants were collected in 2003 and (Fig. 3). Coxae and basal two-thirds of
2004. All of the adults ofL. rugosa were femora dark, distally yellow (Fig. 5).
Antenna with scape, pedicel and basal
collected in the same location, mainly half of basal flagellomere light brown,
close to or on the host plant. Most adults rest of flagellum dark brown (Figs. 5,
VOLUME NUMBER
109, 1 51
15); male with branch ofbasal flagello- . 1940b. The immature stages of the
mere 3.5-^.4x as long as scape; female Eucharidae. Proceeding of the Entomological
funicleserrate(Fig. 13).Petioleinfemale Society ofWashington 42: 161-170.
1.3-1.5X as long as hind coxa Darling, D. C. 1988. Comparative morphology of
nigosa, n. sp. the labrum in Hymenoptera: the digitate
labrum of Perilampidae and Eucharitidae
Acknowledgments (Chalcidoidea). Canadian Journal of Zoology
66: 2811-2835.
This investigation was funded by Pro- Eady, R. D. 1968. Some illustrations of micro-
ject PIP 702/8 of CONICET. We thank sculpture in the Hymenoptera. Proceedings of
Dr. Fabiana Cuezzo for identifications the Royal Entomological Society of London
of the ants. Lie. Alberto Slanis for (A) 43: 66-72.
identifications of the plants, and Dr. Gemignani, E. V. 1947. Nuevas especies de la
Familia "Eucharidae'" (Insecta, Hymenop.
Arturo Roig who very kindly loaned the Chalcid.). Comunicaciones del Museo Argen-
specimens in the Museo de Ciencias tino de Ciencias Naturales, Serie Ciencias
Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia." Zoologicas 1: 1-15.
Heraty, J. M. 2002. A Revision of the genera of
Literature Cited Eucharitidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of
the World. Memoirs of the American Ento-
Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and classification of mological Institute 68: 1-359.
Formicidae. Memoirs of the American Ento- Heraty, J. M. and D. C. Darling. 1984. Compar-
mological Institute 71: 1-370. ative morphology of the planidial larvae of
Clausen, C. P. 1940a. The ovipositionhabits ofthe Eucharitidae and Perilampidae (Hymenoptera:
Eucharidae (Hymenoptera). Journal of the Chalcidoidea). Systematic Entomology 9:
Washington AcademyofSciences 12: 504—516. 309-328.
