Corresponding author: Fernando Henrique Antoniolli Farache (
Academic editor: M. Engel
The species of
Farache FHA, Rasplus J-Y (2014) Revision of the Australasian genus
The
The phylogeny of the
1)
2) A strongly supported clade of three genera,
3) A well-supported clade composed of two groups:
The biogeography of the subfamily has been discussed by
Among the guilds that constitute fig wasp communities,
In this paper we describe and illustrate six previously unknown species (two from Australia and four from Papua New Guinea). Redescriptions are also provided for
Maturing fig syconia were collected, opened, and transferred to tissue bags until the wasps emerge, which happens after a few hours - days. Wasps were killed using acetate and transferred to 70% ethanol. Most geographical coordinates and altitudes were estimated using label information. Field recorded coordinates were provided when available. Field-collected specimens were dehydrated through an ethanol and HMDS series (
Type and specimen depositories, and their respective curators are:
Australia, New South Wales, Orange, Orange Agricultural Institute, Agricultural Scientific Collections Unit (Peter Gillespie).
United Kingdom, London, The Natural History Museum [formerly British Museum (Natural History)](Natalie Dale-Skey Papilloud).
France, Montpellier. Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (Emmanuelle Artige).
South Africa, Cape Town, Iziko South African Museum (Simon Van Noort).
To produce high quality images, some specimens were point-mounted on grey card in order to avoid loss of contrast caused by white background. Images were produced with an EntoVision Premium Portable Imaging System, comprising a Leica M16 zoom lens, a JVC KY-75U 3CCD digital camera and a portable computer workstation running EntoVision Imaging Suite software (GT Vision, Hagerstown, MD U.S.A.). Cartograph v5.6.0 (Microvision, Evry, France) software was subsequently used to merge an image series (representing about ten to twenty focal planes), producing a single image with increased depth of field. Illumination was achieved using a “quadrant” setup, with four fibre optic light guides stemming from two individual light sources (Leica CLS 150 X), similar to the one described by
Online dichotomous and multi-access interactive LUCID keys to
1 | Ovipositor sheaths extremely short, only weakly protruding beyond metasoma apex ( |
|
– | Ovipositor sheaths long, distinctly protruding beyond metasoma apex. Pedicel clearly shorter than the scape, at most 0.5 × the scape length. Mesosoma colour different, metallic or, when brown, with at least the pronotum yellow in lateral view | 2 |
2 | Pronotum yellow, without metallic tinge. Mesoscutum with irregular transverse striae ( |
3 |
– | Mesosoma metallic green, including pronotum. Mesoscutum smooth or reticulated. Marginal and postmarginal veins not widened | 5 |
3 | Head and mesosoma excluding pronotum with metallic tinge ( |
|
– | Body without metallic tinge. Median sulcus of propodeum unconspicuous or absent. Metascutellum not crenulated | 4 |
4 | Mesosoma brown in dorsal view ( |
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– | Mesosoma yellow in dorsal view ( |
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5 | Mesosoma entirely smooth and shiny ( |
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– | Mesosoma sculpture mostly reticulate. First funicular segment ca. 1–1.5 × as long as wide. Distal antennomeres forming a definite clava. Propodeum medially with a deep carinulated sulcus, at least on the anterior half of the sclerite | 6 |
6 | Ovipositor sheaths short, about as long as the metasoma ( |
|
– | Ovipositor sheaths longer than metasoma. Propodeal median sulcus not reaching the posterior margin | 7 |
7 | Petiole transverse in dorsal view ( |
|
– | Petiole longer than wide in dorsal view ( |
Pedicel elongated, slightly shorter than the scape. Mesosoma entirely brown. Petiole short, transverse in dorsal view. Ovipositor sheaths extremely short, only weakly protruding beyond metasoma apex.
The specific name refers to the short ovipositor sheaths exhibited by this species.
Associated with an undetermined
Body without metallic tinge. Pronotum long, nearly 1.5–2 × as long as high in lateral view. Mesoscutum with faint irregular transverse striae. Median area of metascutellum and median area of propodeum with irregular transverse rugae. Marginal and postmarginal vein widened.
The specific name is dedicated to our friend Astrid Cruaud for the long long walks we share together in the jungles of the world, trying to find fig trees.
Reared from syconia of
Pronotum long, nearly 1.5–2 × as long as high in lateral view. Mesosoma brown in dorsal view. Mesoscutum with irregular transverse rugae. Metascutellum with faint longitudinal striae. Marginal and postmarginal veins widened. Median line of propodeum absent
The specific name refers to the similarity of
Collected from syconia of
Metallic tinge present at least in some body regions. Mesosoma sculpture mostly reticulate. Propodeum with a crenulated median sulcus extending to the posterior margin. Postmarginal vein shorter than stigmal vein. Ovipositor sheaths short, about as long as the metasoma.
The specific name is dedicated to our friend and colleague Dr. James Cook, in recognition of his amazing contribution to our knowledge of fig wasps.
This species is strictly associated with
GenBank sequences: COI
Head and mesosoma excluding pronotum with metallic tinge. Pronotum long, nearly 1.5–2 × as long as high in lateral view. Mesoscutum with irregular transverse rugae. Marginal and postmarginal veins widened. Propodeum with a well delimitated and carinulated median sulcus, extending to the posterior margin of the sclerite. Metascutellum as well as lateral panel of metanotum crenulated.
Collected from syconia of
Mesosoma metallic green. Mesosoma sculpture mostly reticulate. Median sulcus of the propodeum extending over the anterior half of the sclerite. Postmarginal vein shorter than the stigmal. Petiole transverse in dorsal view. Ovipositor sheaths longer than metasoma.
The specific name is dedicated to our friend and colleague Dr. Finn Kjellberg, in recognition of his excellent work in fig wasps.
Reared from syconia of
Mesosoma metallic green, entirely smooth and shiny. First funicular segment 2 × as long as wide. Distal antennomeres not forming a definite clava.
The specific name refers to the smooth body sculpturation exhibited by this species.
See
Mesosoma metallic green, mostly reticulate. Median sulcus of the propodeum extending over most of the propodeum length, not reaching the posterior margin. Postmarginal vein as long as the stigmal. Petiole longer than wide in dorsal view. Ovipositor sheaths longer than metasoma.
Body length 2.6 mm. Ovipositor sheaths length 2.33 mm.
Wingless males were described for this species (
Reared from
GenBank sequences: COI
Collected in
Two specimens belonging to this species were included in the phylogenetic analysis by
GenBank sequences: COI
Due to their low abundance and relative rarity, some species were described here from very small series. Nevertheless, many specimens of
Here we collected and analysed wasps from both sexes in five from the eight studied species.
The eight
This is the first revisionary treatment of
We are greatly indebted to Armelle Coeur d'acier, James Cook, Dale Dixon, Emmanuelle Jousselin, and Carlos L. Vaamonde for contributing with samples. For assistance in the development of online keys we express our gratitude to Simon van Noort. We also express our sincere gratitude to Astrid Cruaud and Serge Meusnier for kind sampling assistance to JYR. For the loan of specimens we thank the following curators: Natalie Dale-Skey Papilloud (BMNH, London, U.K.) and Peter Gillespie (ASCI, Australia). The Synthesys project.