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Research Article
Three new species of the genus Centistidea Rohwer, 1914 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Miracinae) from India and Saudi Arabia
expand article infoHamed A. Ghramh‡, Zubair Ahmad‡, Kavita Pandey§
‡ King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
§ Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India

Corresponding author: Zubair Ahmad ( dzubair@gmail.com )

Academic editor: Jose Fernandez-Triana
© 2019 Hamed A. Ghramh, Zubair Ahmad, Kavita Pandey.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Ghramh HA, Ahmad Z, Pandey K (2019) Three new species of the genus Centistidea Rohwer, 1914 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Miracinae) from India and Saudi Arabia. ZooKeys 889: 37-47. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.889.34942
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B29D952D-7108-449C-9DBE-AFB4FE04CA89
Open Access

Abstract

Centistidea acrocercopsi Ahmad & Pandey, sp. nov., C. cosmopteryxi Ahmad & Pandey, sp. nov., and C. tihamica Ghramh & Ahmad, sp. nov. are described as new to science. The genus Centistidea Rohwer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Miracinae) is recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia. Two species were reared from Acrocercops phaeospora Meyrick and Cosmopteryx phaeogastra (Meyrick) in India, while Centistidea tihamica was collected by Malaise trap in Saudi Arabia. Characters of these new species and their affinities with related taxa are discussed. Data on habitat, host records, and host plant species for all the parasitoid species are also provided.

Keywords

Acrocercops phaeospora, Cosmopteryx phaeogastra, India, leafminer, parasitoids, Phaseolus cylindrica, Saudi Arabia, Syzigium cuminii

Introduction

The subfamily Miracinae is a small cosmopolitan subfamily with two genera, Centistidea Rohwer, 1914 and Mirax Haliday, 1833, bearing 56 species worldwide (Papp 2013; Cauich-Kumul et al. 2014; Farahani et al. 2014; Yu et al. 2016; Ranjith et al. 2018). Members of this subfamily are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids which usually attack leaf-mining caterpillars of lepidopteran families, viz., Nepticulidae, Tischeriidae, Heliozelidae, Lyonetiidae, and Gracillariidae (Maetô 1995; Memmott et al. 1994; Shaw and Huddleston 1991). This subfamily is characterized by the presence of a Y-shaped structure formed by the sclerotized part of the first three metasomal tergites, surrounded by membranous lateral parts, a reduced wing venation, the antenna being 14-segmented, and the compound eyes setose. The subfamily Miracinae has been studied by the following workers: Palaearctic Region (Papp 1984; Western Palaearctic, Tobias 1986; former USSR, Papp 1987; Korea, Belokobylskij 1989; East Palaearctic, Maetô 1995; Japan, Papp and Chou 1996; Taiwan, Wu et al. 2000; China, Beyarslan 2009; Turkey), Oriental Region (van Achterberg and Mehernejad 2002; North Oriental, Farahani et al. 2014; Iran, Ranjith et al. 2018; South India), and Neotropical Region (Papp 2013; Colombia and Honduras, Cauich-kumul et al. 2014; Mexico).

Centistidea Rohwer is a small genus with 27 described species worldwide (Yu et al. 2016; Ranjith et al. 2018). The genus Centistidea differs from Mirax in having the propodeum with medio-longitudinal carina and the notauli usually shallowly impressed anteriorly (van Achterberg and Mehernejad 2002; Papp 2013). Recently, Ranjith et al. (2018) described seven new species of Centistidea from the southern part of the Indian peninsula. In the present work, three new species of Centistidea are described as new to science, of which two are from the northern part of India and one species, Centistidea tihamica sp. nov., is described from Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods

The Indian specimens were collected from western Uttar Pradesh (north India) in order to identify the parasitoids of leaf miners along the roadside at Aligarh Muslim University campus. Saudi specimens were collected by Malaise trap from Tihama in Asir region (southwestern Saudi Arabia). We have followed van Achterberg (1988) for the terminology of various body parts and wing venation, and Eady (1968) for terminology of micro-sculpture. The specimens were deposited in the Insect Collection of the Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India (ZDAMU).

Taxonomic accounts

Centistidea acrocercopsi Ahmad & Pandey, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/58BABAEF-CDF0-4C96-90A9-37A3FAD2FA3E
Figs 1–4

Material examined

Holotype: INDIA • ♀: Uttar Pradesh, Etah, 7.VIII.2004; ex. Acrocercops phaeospora (Meyrick) on Syzygyium cuminii, Z. Ahmad leg. (ZDAMU). Paratype: 1♀, with same data as holotype (HB-138, ZDAMU).

Diagnosis

Following the key to East Palearctic and Oriental species of the genus Centistidea Rohwer (Ranjith et al. 2018), C. acrocercopsi sp. nov. keys near to C. rugator (Ranjith et al. 2018); however, it differs in the following characters (C. rugator in parentheses): (i) body largely yellowish (body largely yellowish except tergites 1–6 dark brown dorsally), (ii) length of eye 1.3 × long as temple in dorsal view (length of eye 2.90 × as long as temple), (iii) ovipositor sheath 0.10 × as long as fore wing length (0.20 × as long as forewing), (iv) first tergite smooth, widening medially, slightly narrowing basally and apically, 4.0 × as long as its maximum width (first tergite smooth, widening medially, distinctly narrowing basally and apically, 3.0 × as long as its maximum width).

Description

Female: body length: 1.7 mm; length of fore wing: 2.1 mm; length of antenna: 1.7 mm.

Head: ca. 2 × as wide as long in dorsal view; length of eye 1.3 × as long as temple in dorsal view; temple and vertex shiny with indistinct punctures; OOL: POL: AOL: OD = 6: 3: 2: 1.5; inner margin of eyes subparallel; face distinctly convex medially, flattened laterally and almost smooth and shiny; clypeus smooth and evenly convex; malar space ca. 2 × as long as basal width of mandible; antenna 14-segmented, F1 as long as F2, apical flagellomere pointed.

Mesosoma: 1.4 × as long as wide; mesoscutum shiny with indistinct punctures, notauli only anteriorly impressed and finely crenulate; prescutellar furrow poorly developed without any groove; scutellum smooth and shiny, medio-posterior depression of scutellum elliptical; propodeum somewhat smooth, with a complete median longitudinal carinae and two transverse carinae posteriorly, few rugosities adjacent to median longitudinal carina; meso- and metapleuron almost smooth and shiny.

Wings: Pterostigma with long and slender apical expansion, 2.7 × longer than wide, vein r issuing from its middle; vein 1-M 1.5 × longer than vein m-cu; vein 1-CU1 0.9 × as long as vein 2-CU1.

Legs: Hind coxa smooth, length of femur, tibia, and basitarsus of hind leg 3.0 ×, 7.1 ×, and 4.0 × their maximum width, respectively; length of hind tibial spur 0.30 × as long as hind basitarsus. Hind tarsal claw large and without acute lobe.

Metasoma: 1.5 × as long as wide; first tergite, smooth, widening medially, slightly narrowing basally and apically, 4.0 × as long as its maximum width; second tergite sclerotized with strong longitudinal striations; hypopygium small, membranous, desclerotized, sparsely setose at apex, not surpassing end of metasoma; ovipositor thick, setose, distinctly shorter than petiole and hind basitarsus.

Color: Largely yellow except for the following: antenna (except for scapus and pedicel yellow), veins, pterostigma, and ovipositor apically brown; wings moderately infuscate apically.

Figures 1–4. 

Centistidea acrocercopsi sp. nov. 1 mesosoma and metasoma, dorsal view 2 hypopygium 3 forewing 4 metasomal T1 and T2.

Male

Unknown.

Host

Acrocercops phaeospora (Meyrick).

Distribution

India: Uttar Pradesh.

Etymology

The new species is named after its host insect.

Centistidea cosmopteryxi Ahmad & Pandey, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/BF7CFA22-06E7-4308-A0F6-D839996B4013
Figs 5–10

Material examined

Holotype: INDIA • ♀; Uttar Pradesh, Etah, 5.x.2004; ex. Cosmopteryx phaeogastra (Meyr) on Phaseolus cylindrica (coll. Z Ahmad) (ZDAMU). Paratype: 1♀, with same data as holotype (HB-139, ZDAMU).

Diagnosis

Following the key to East Palaearctic and Oriental species of the genus Centistidea Rohwer (van Achterberg and Mehernejad 2002; Ranjith et al. 2018), C. cosmopteryxi sp. nov. keys with C. sii (Maetô, 1995) on the presence of yellowish head, notauli only anteriorly impressed and finely crenulate, and vein 1-R1 of fore wing distinctly vein-like. This combination of characters is quite unique among the genus Centistedea. However, the new species differs in the following characters: (i) wings slightly infuscate (wings hyaline in C. sii), (ii) length of eye 1.8 × temple (dorsal length of eye 1.10 × temple in C. sii), (iii) length of first tergites 2.3 × its maximum width and 3.2 × its apical width (length of first tergites 3–3.5 × its maximum width and 3.2 × its apical width in C. sii). When considering the similarities of characters like vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.9 × as long as vein 2-CU1 and scutellum with oval pits medio-posteriorly, then the new species runs near to C. mogra (Papp 1987). However, it differs in the following characters: (i) sub-alar depression of fore wings finely aciculate (sub-alar depression of fore wings smooth in C. mogra), (ii) propodeum with some rugosity on anterior part of median longitudinal carina (propodeum without any rugosity on anterior part of median longitudinal carina in C. mogra), (iii) vein 1-CU1 slightly shorter than 2-CU1 (vein 1-CU1 of fore wing as long as 2-CU1 in C. mogra), and (iv) mesonotum complete dark brown (mesonotum tinged with brown in C. mogra).

Description

Holotype: Female body length: 2.0 mm; length of forewing: 2.1 mm; length of antenna: 2.0 mm.

Head: 1.9 × as wide as long in dorsal view (12 : 23); length of eye 1.8 × temple (9 : 5) in dorsal view: head and vertex indistinctly punctate; OOL; POL : AOL: OD = 4: 2: 1: 2; inner margin of eyes subparallel; face distinctly convex medially, flattened laterally smooth; clypeus smooth and evenly convex; malar space 0.9 × as long as basal width of the mandible; antennae with 14 segments, F1 ca. 5 × as long as wide, 1.1 times longer than F2, penultimate flagellomere 2.5–3.0 × as long as wide and apical flagellomere pointed.

Mesosoma: 1.5 × as long as wide; mesoscutum shiny with few distinct punctures, notauli only anteriorly impressed and finely crenulate; prescutellar furrow distinct as a narrow groove with few crenulations; scutellum almost smooth and shiny, medio-posterior depression of scutellum oval and moderately close to each other; propodeum almost smooth (except few rugosity on anterior part of median longitudinal carina) with a complete median longitudinal carina bifurcate posteriorly near the end of propodeum, median carina of propodeum absent behind level of costulae; pair of membranous white spots at side of pronotum distinct, mesopleuron and metapleuron smooth.

Wings: Pterostigma with a long slender, apical expansion, 2.4 × longer than wide; vein 1-R1 of fore wing distinctly vein-like; vein r issuing from its middle; vein 1-M 1.6 × longer than vein m-cu; vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.9 × as long as vein 2-CU1.

Legs: Hind coxa smooth, lengths of hind femur, tibia, and basitarsus of hind leg 3.0, 7.0, and 4.5 × their maximum widths, respectively; length of hind tibial spurs 0.26 × and 0.33 × as long as hind basitarsus.

Metasoma: Ca. 2.0 × as long as wide; first tergite smooth, widening medially, distinctly narrowing basally and apically, 3.2 × as long as its maximum width; T2 subtriangular, smooth, laterally membranous and longitudinally striated; T3 longitudinally striated; ovipositor sheaths setose at apical half 0.1 × as long as forewing; hypopygium smooth medially folded, truncate apically, weakly sclerotized and setose.

Color: Yellowish brown except for the following: antennae, mesonotum, and metasoma dark brown to blackish brown; propleuron, mesopleuron, metapleuron, and ovipositor brown; T3, laterotergites yellow; wings infuscate.

Figures 5–10. 

Centistidea cosmopteryxi sp. nov. 5 body profile, dorsal view 6 head, frontal view 7 mesosoma, dorsal view 8 metasoma, dorsal view 9 metasomal T1 and T2 10 forewing.

Male

Unknown.

Host

Cosmopteryx phaeogastra (Meyrick).

Distribution

India: Uttar Pradesh.

Etymology

The new species is named after its host insect.

Centistidea tihamica Ghramh & Ahmad, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/4B0EEBD0-E096-4325-9089-AB0C0B931574
Figs 11–13

Material examined

Holotype: Saudi Arabia • ♀; Abha, Tihama, 5.x.2015; malaise trap (coll. Z Ahmad). Paratype: 3 ♀; with same data as holotype (HB-139, ZDAMU).

Diagnosis

Following the key to East Palaearctic and Oriental species of the genus Centistidea Rohwer (Ranjith et al. 2018), C. tihamica sp. nov. keys near C. zhaoi Chen et al., 1997; however, it differs in the following characters: (i) mesoscutum blackish brown (mesoscutum yellowish), (ii) dorsal length of eye 1.5 × temple (dorsal length of eye 1.80 × temple), (iii) first flagellomere 1.25 × as long as second flagellomere (first flagellomere 1.30 × as long as second flagellomere), (iv) mesonotum complete dark brown (mesonotum tinged with brown).

Description

Holotype: Female: body length: 1.8 mm; length of forewing: 1.9 mm; length of antenna: 1.8 mm.

Head: 2.0 × as wide as long in dorsal view, distinctly wider than the mesosoma dorsally; length of eye 1.5 × temple in dorsal view: head and vertex indistinctly punctate; OOL: POL : AOL: OD = 4: 2: 1: 2; inner margin of eyes subparallel; face distinctly convex medially, flattened laterally smooth; clypeus smooth and evenly convex; malar space 0.9 × as long as basal width of the mandible; antenna with 14 segments, F1 ca. 6 × as long as wide, 1.25 × longer than F2, penultimate flagellomere 2.5–3.0 × as long as wide, and apical flagellomere pointed.

Mesosoma: 1.5 × as long as wide; mesoscutum shiny with few distinct punctures, notauli only anteriorly impressed; prescutellar furrow distinct, present as a narrow groove and crenulations; scutellum almost smooth and shiny, medio-posterior depression of scutellum semicircular; propodeum almost smooth with a complete median longitudinal carina bifurcate posteriorly, median carina of propodeum absent behind level of costulae, posterior part clearly differentiated from dorsal part of propodeum; mesopleuron and metapleuron smooth.

Wings: Pterostigma with a long slender, apical expansion, 2.2 × longer than wide; vein r very prominent and 0.2 × as long as the height of pterostigma, vein 1-M 1.5 × longer than vein m-cu; vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.7 × as long as vein 2-CU1.

Legs: Hind coxa smooth, lengths of hind femur, tibia, and basitarsus of hind leg 3.0, 7.0, and 4.0 × their maximum widths, respectively; length of hind tibial spurs 0.23 × and 0.32 × as long as hind basitarsus.

Metasoma: Ca. 2.0 × as long as wide; first tergite, smooth, widening medially, distinctly narrowing basally and apically, 4.0 × as long as its maximum width; T2 subtriangular, smooth, laterally membranous, and longitudinally striated; T3 longitudinally striated; ovipositor sheaths 0.15 × as long as forewing; hypopygium smooth, medially folded, truncate apically, weakly sclerotized, and setose.

Color: Yellowish brown except for the following: head and legs yellowish; antennae, mesosoma, and metasoma dark brown to blackish brown; laterotergites yellowish; wings slightly infuscate.

Figures 11–13. 

Centistidea tihamica sp. nov. 11 mesosoma, dorsal view 12 metasomal T1 and T2 13 forewing.

Male

Unknown.

Host

Unknown.

Distribution

Saudi Arabia: Abha.

Etymology

The new species is named after its locality.

Discussion

In this study, Centistidea tihamica sp. nov. is described from the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia, thus increasing the distributional range of the genus Centistidea to the Afrotropical region. The genus Centistidea is very well represented in almost all zoogeographical regions except for Northwestern Palearctic and the Afrotropical region (van Achterberg and Mehernejad 2002; Yu et al. 2016; Ranjith et al. 2018). Southwest Saudi Arabia is divided by steep rocky mountains into two main subdivisions, a lowland coastal plain at the west, known as “Tihama”, and a mountainous area with an elevation of 3,000 m highlands at its peak at the east, known as “Asir Mountains range (Alahmed et al. 2010; Ibrahim and Abdoon 2005). Although the geographical location of the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia is debatable, many workers have considered it to belong to the Afrotropical region (Sclater 1858; Wallace 1876 and Hölzel 1998). Studies of several taxonomic groups of insects have revealed that this region has a clear faunal similarity with the Afrotropical region (Cowie 1989; Mahnert et al. 2014; Sharaf et al. 2014; El-Hawagry and Al Dhafer 2015; Abdel-Dayem et al. 2018). In the present study two species, Centistidea acrocercopsi sp. nov. and Centistidea cosmopteryxi sp. nov., also extended the distribution of Centistidea to the northern part of India, as it was previously reported only from the southern part of the Indian Peninsula (Ranjith et al. 2018).

Acknowledgements

The first two authors (HAG and ZA) extend their appreciation to the Research Center of Advanced Material, King Khalid University, Abha, KSA. The second author (ZA) extends his gratitude to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding through research program (RGP1)-194/39. We also thank the editor, associate editor, and anonymous reviewers for their valuable and helpful comments to improve the quality of the manuscript.

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