Corresponding author: Ryan D. Ridenbaugh (
Academic editor: J. Fernandez-Triana
Ridenbaugh RD, Barbeau E, Sharanowski BJ (2018) Description of four new species of
Although native to Australia, the cultivation of production and trade of goods derived from
Species of
Larval endoparasitic wasps in the genus
In this paper, we formally describe these three new species discovered from
We utilized material collected from
A molecular diagnostic key was created using the barcoding region (
Photographs were taken using a Canon 7D Mark II with the following lenses: MP-E 65mm 1–5× Canon macro lens, and a M Plan Apo 10× Mitutoyo objective mounted onto the EF Telephoto 70–200mm Canon zoom lens. For lighting, the MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Canon Flash was used in conjunction with a custom made diffuser. Multiple images were taken of each specimen and compiled into a single image using Zerene Stacker 1.04 (Zerene Systems LLC.). Scale bars were added using ImageJ 1.51 (
Of the four species supported by the molecular data presented in
The characters evaluated in this study were as follows: Lateral ocellar line (
The host,
Abbreviations and definitions of the 8 morphological characters used for the morphometrics analysis of
Abbreviation | Character name | Definition | Magnification ( |
Magnification ( |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lateral Ocellar Line | The shortest distance between the median and lateral ocellus, dorsal view (Fig. |
100× | 100× |
|
Ocular Ocellar Line | The shortest distance between the lateral ocellus and the eye, dorsal view (Fig. |
100× | 100× |
|
Posterior Ocellar Line | The shortest distance between the lateral ocelli, dorsal view (Fig. |
100x | 100× |
|
Occipital Ocellar Line | The shortest distance from the posterior edge of the lateral ocellus at a 90° angle to the occipital carinae, dorsal view (Fig. |
100× | 100× |
gsp.l | Genal Space | Length of the genal space taken midway between the dorsal and ventral margins of the eye from the posterior edge at a 90° angle to the occipital carinae, lateral view (see Fig. |
100× | 100× |
mlr.l | Malar Space | Length of the malar space taken from the posterior margin of the eye to the base of the mandible, anterior view (Fig. |
100× | 100× |
hea.b | Head breadth | Greatest breadth of head, dorsal view (see Fig. |
50× | 50× |
|
Metasomal tergite 1 breadth | Greatest breadth of metasomal tergite 1 at the posterior margin, dorsal view (see Fig. |
50× | 100× |
Separating most species of
A PCA and allometry ratio spectrum were generated to determine which characters were the best for delimiting the two cryptic species. The most discerning ratios according to the first principal component were
Multivariate morphometric ratio analysis of female specimens of
When applied to
Female. Body length 6.46mm. Ovipositor length 1.72mm.
Paratype with propleuron black except for lateral posterior margin orange; mesoscutum orange except for the median mesonotal lobe black with the anterior margin and lateral mesonotal lobes ferrunginous (Fig.
Amino acid positions (22–27) MWAGIL; (32–34) SII; (41–46) SRGSLL; (54) R; (67–73) MVMPVIM; (81) I; (90) I; (95–98) MNNM; (104–109) LPSLFI; (112–118) LRRLTNI; (126) I; (133–139) GGRHSGV; (143–144) VA; (150) I; (157) [I or K]; (167–169) FNM; (172–191) NGIAVDRVTLFRWSVKITAF (Fig.
Tasmania.
This species is named in honor of the science fiction author, Ann Leckie by the second author (EB).
This species is referred to as
Holotype, Female (
Female. Body Length 5.77mm. Ovipositor Length 0.82mm.
Amino acid positions (22–27) [M or R]WSGII; (32–34) RVL; (41–46) ILGRLL; (54) S; (67–73) IVIPIII; (81) I; (90) I; (95–98) INNI; (104–109) PPSL[I or V]L; (112–118) IRNFIGA; (126) I; (133–139) NLSHRGV; (143–144) [V or I]S; (150) L; (157) I; (167–169) INI; (172–191) LGLSYDNISLLVWSVNITAI (Fig.
Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania.
This species is named for Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mother of Dragons, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains, from the literary series
This species is referred to as
Holotype, Female (
See Suppl. material
Male. Body length 6.37mm.
Unknown.
New South Wales, Victoria (see discussion).
This epithet is named in honor of the senior author’s (BJS) sister in law, Julie Brant nee Duncan, who is an Australian-born beauty. This is a noun in apposition to the generic name in order to retain integrity of the surname Duncan.
The holotype for this species was identified as a species of
Holotype, Male (
Female. Body Length 5.26mm. Ovipositor Length 1.80mm.
Unknown.
Paratype with foreleg coxa orange and trochanter, trochantellus, femur, tibia, and tarsus black.
Western Australia.
The crenulation at the apex of the notaulus is difficult to see in the holotype due to damage caused by pinning (Fig.
Holotype, Female (
Female. Body Length 6.29mm. Ovipositor Length 1.08mm.
(22–27) MWSGII; (32–34) SVL; (41–46) ILGRLI; (54) S; (67–73) IVIPIII; (81) V; (90) M; (95–98) INNI; (104–109) PPSLIL; (112–118) TRNFIGI; (126) I; (133–139) NLRHRGI; (143–144) IS; (150) L; (157) M; (167–169) INI; (172–191) LGLNYDNISLLVWSVNITAI (Fig.
Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania.
Holotype, Female (
See Suppl. material
Female. Body length without abdomen 3.30mm. Abdomen 2.86mm. Ovipositor 1.17mm.
Paratype with clypeus orange (Fig.
(22–27) IWSGII; (32–34) SVL; (41–46) [M or K]LGRLL; (54) S; (67–73) IVIPIII; (81) I; (90) MM; (95–98) INNI; (104–109) PPSLIL; (112–118) IRNFIGM; (126) M; (133–139) NLRHRGI; (143–144) MS; (150) L; (157) I; (167–169) INI; (172–191) LGLNYDNISLLVWSVNITAI (Fig.
Tasmania.
This species is named in honor of Edwin Spitzer, the first author’s (RDR) late grandfather. This is a noun in apposition to the generic name in order to retain integrity of the surname Spitzer.
The paratype is for this series is badly damaged, missing both antennae, all six legs, and the abdomen excluding metasomal tergite 1. However, the specimen was photographed before destruction and can be seen in Figures
Holotype, Female (
Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 amino acid sequences from
Characters used in the morphometric analysis.
1 | Propodeum with transverse carinae (See arrows, Fig. |
|
– | Propodeum without transverse carinae (Fig. |
|
2 | Occipital carinae simple (See arrow, Fig. |
|
– | Occipital carinae emarginate (See arrow, Fig. |
|
3 | Notaulus impressed towards anterior margin of mesoscutum, crenulate at apex (Fig. |
|
– | Notaulus rugulose (Fig. |
|
4 | Head black (Fig. |
|
– | Head orange except for antenna, apex of mandible, and ocellar triangle black (Fig. |
|
5 | Pronotum orange (Fig. |
|
– | Pronotum black except for anterior dorsal margin orange (Figs |
|
With the description of the four new species described here, the distribution of
Interestingly, knowledge on
“A small (7mm) wasp with an orange head, thorax and first pair of legs. The rest of the wasp was black. The larvae being parasitized were those of the eucalyptus leaf beetle (
Although the image quality and detail was not sufficient to positively identify the beetle larvae, the images of the wasp coupled with the contributor’s description matches that of
Host records for
Much is still unknown about the species of
Finally, it is prudent to discuss the subfamily placement of
Three new species from the genus
We would like to thank Geoff Allen, Anthony Rice, and Dean Satchell for collecting the material used in the description, Toni Withers and her team at Scion for their feedback on the key to the species of
Table S1
Data type: species data
Explanation note: List of all materials examined along with collecting localities, its type designation and location of deposition, and associated DNA voucher number or unique identifier.