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Research Article
A review of the Indonesian species of the family Signiphoridae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea), with description of three new species
expand article infoStefan Schmidt, Hasmiandy Hamid§, Rosichon Ubaidillah|, Samantha Ward, Andrew Polaszek#
‡ Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany
§ Andalas University, Padang, Indonesia
| Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong, Indonesia
¶ The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
# Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Open Access

Abstract

The Indonesian species of the family Signiphoridae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) are revised. Three species of Chartocerus are described as new (Chartocerus kartiniae Polaszek & Schmidt, sp. nov., C. sumatrensis Schmidt & Polaszek, sp. nov., and C. javensis Schmidt & Ubaidillah, sp. nov.) and four species of Signiphora, viz., S. bennetti Woolley & Dal Molin, S. flavella Girault, S. perpauca Girault and S. bifasciata Ashmead, are diagnosed.

Keywords

chalcid wasps, hyperparasitoids, parasitoids, south-east Asia, taxonomy

Introduction

The Signiphoridae are a small family of Chalcidoidea with currently 88 described species in four genera (Noyes 2019). The family has a worldwide distribution, with the majority of species occurring in the tropics. Signiphorids are known primarily as hyperparasitoids of scale insects, mealybugs, and whiteflies (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha) through encyrtid or aphelinid primary parasitoids, while some are obligate primary parasitoids on these sternorrhynchan hosts. Species of Clytina Erdös and most of the Signiphora dipterophaga species group are primary parasitoids of Diptera puparia (Woolley 1988).

Species of the family Signiphoridae are distinguished from other families of chalcid wasps and can readily be recognised by the following combination of characters: (1) propodeum with a characteristic large triangular median area, (2) antenna with 1 to 4 short, often ring-like flagellomeres, and a long, undivided clava, (3) metasoma broadly attached to the mesosoma, and (4) wings only with marginal setae, the disc bare, occasionally with one large discal seta.

The present revision includes seven species of the family Signiphoridae from Indonesia, three of them described here as new to science, in two genera. The specimens were obtained as part of several capacity building and biodiversity research projects in Indonesia, in particular the IndoBiosSys project that aimed, amongst other goals, at creating inventories of the Indonesian entomofauna using DNA barcoding. Here we present the results for a family of chalcid wasps, the Signiphoridae, that was recorded only recently for the first time in Indonesia, with a single species, Signiphora bifasciata Ashmead, in the Bogor Botanic Garden as a parasitoid of the introduced cycad aulacaspis scale (Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera, Diaspididae) (Muniappan et al. 2012).

Materials and methods

The specimens were collected during field training courses at the universities in Padang, Sumatra (Andalas University) and Malang, Java (Brawijaya University), as part of capacity building activities for young Indonesian entomologists, and as part of the Indonesian Biodiversity Discovery Project (Cancian de Araujo et al. 2017). The National Park has been recognised as one of the largest remaining tropical rain-forest ecosystems in Java, being designated as a National Park in 2003 with a present area of about 113,357 hectares. During the IndoBioSys Project, Malaise traps and Yellow Pan traps were employed in the Mount Halimun-Salak National Park in West Java. In addition, chalcid wasps were collected using a screen-sweep net (cf. Noyes 1982).

The descriptions of the three new species are based on specimens that were borrowed from the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences. Data on genetic material contained in this paper and the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) are published for non-commercial use only, according to the agreements with the providing country of the analysed samples. Use by third parties for purposes other than non-commercial scientific research may infringe the conditions under which the genetic resources were originally accessed and should not be undertaken without obtaining consent from the corresponding author of the paper and/or obtaining permission from the original providers of the genetic material.

DNA sequencing

For DNA studies, whole specimens were sent to the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding (CCDB) in Guelph, Canada, for DNA extraction and barcode sequencing, and subsequent recovery of vouchers for preparation and morphological study. DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing were conducted at the CCDB using standardised high-throughput protocols (Ivanova et al. 2006, deWaard et al. 2008, http://www.ibolproject.org/resources.php). The 658bp target region, starting from the 5’ end of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene, includes the DNA barcode region of the animal kingdom (Hebert et al. 2003). All specimen data are accessible on BOLD through the following doi: dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-INDOSIG. The specimen data include collecting locality, geographic coordinates, elevation, collector, one or more digital images, identifier, and voucher depository. Sequence data can be obtained through BOLD and include a detailed LIMS report, primer information, and access to trace files. These data are also available through GenBank (Accession nos MH407234MH407243).

Data analysis

Sequence divergence statistics were calculated using the Kimura two parameter model of sequence evolution (Kimura 1980), as it is commonly applied in the analysis of DNA barcode sequence data because it evaluates the substitution type (i.e., transitions vs transversions) in addition to the number of nucleotide substitutions between sequences. Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) were assigned by the BOLD system, representing globally unique identifiers for clusters of sequences that correspond closely to biological species (Ratnasingham and Hebert 2013). For BIN assignment, a minimum sequence length of 500 bp is required, and sequences between 300 and 500 bp can join an existing BIN but will not create or split BINs. Sequences were aligned using the BOLD Aligner (amino acid-based hidden Markov models). The analyses are based on sequences with a minimum length of 500 bp and <1% ambiguous bases. Genetic distances and summary statistics were calculated using analytical tools in BOLD and are given as mean and maximum pairwise distances for intraspecific variation and as minimum pairwise distances for interspecific variations.

Morphology and imaging

Morphological terminology and the format for species descriptions follow Hayat (2009). Photographs were made using a Leica Ortholux compound microscope with Nomarski Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) illumination and a Leica DM 5000 B with DIC. Images were processed using the stacking software AutoMontage (Synoptics, Cambridge, UK) and Helicon Focus (version 7.0), and further edited using Adobe Photoshop CC 2019. Plates were compiled with Adobe Illustrator CS6.

Acronyms of depositories

MZB Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB), Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong, Indonesia.

NHMUK Natural History Museum, London, UK

ZSM SNSB – Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany

Taxonomy

Chartocerus Motschulsky, 1859

Diagnosis

Body dark brown or black, often with metallic luster. Fore tibial spur simple, without comb of setae (cf. Fig. 3H). Propodeum posteriorly without lamelliform process (except in C. kartiniae with a suggestion of a lamelliform process on the median sclerite). Female antenna with 4 anelli (except in C. kartiniae with 2 anelli), male with 3 anelli. Seta M6 on fore wing marginal vein present, and with additional seta between M2 and M3 (M2b, Fig. 4E). Occipital margin rounded or acute. Mesofemur with 3 or 4 long spines (cf. Fig. 4D).

Chartocerus javensis Schmidt & Ubaidillah, sp. nov.

Figs 1A–H, 2A–G

Material examined

Holotype. Indonesia • ♀ (on slide); East Java, Jalan Kandangan, Kasembon; 7.808S, 112.313E; 305 m a.s.l.; 14-Jul-2012; S. Schmidt leg.; screen-sweep net; MZB; specimen ID: BC-ZSM-HYM-20770-C04. Paratype. Indonesia • ♂ (on slide); East Java, Jalan Kandangan, Kasembon; 7.808S, 112.313E; 305 m a.s.l.; 14-Jul-2012; S. Schmidt leg.; screen-sweep net; MZB; specimen ID: BC-ZSM-HYM-20770-C11.

Diagnosis

Head and body dark brown (Fig. 1A, B), fore wing behind marginal vein with infuscation except hyaline area near posterior margin (Fig. 1F). Antenna (in female) with 4 anelli (Fig. 1H). Clava elongate, about 6.7 times as long as broad and 1.5 times as long as scape length (Fig. 1E). Fore wing marginal fringe slightly longer than half the length of the wing disc (Fig. 1F). Midtibial spur subequal in length to corresponding basitarsus (Fig. 1C).

Figure 1. 

Chartocerus javensis Schmidt & Ubaidillah, sp. nov., female holotype A body in dorsal view B head in frontal view C middle leg D apex of middle femur E antenna F fore wing G hind wing H pedicel and flagellum base.

Description (female holotype)

Colour. Head and body dark brown (Fig. 1A, B), legs brown with tarsi pale (Fig. 1A), antenna brown (Fig. 1E). Fore wing with brown infuscation behind marginal vein, leaving a hyaline area posteriorly in basal half of the infuscation (Fig. 1F), and a brown longitudinal stripe in basal cell.

Morphology. Head 1.78 times as broad as frontovertex width (Fig. 1B), frontovertex width slightly less than length of clava (0.84), distance from mouth margin to facial ridge 0.61 times head height. Antenna with 4 anelli, F4 longer than each of the preceding segments, clava 6.7 times as long as broad and 1.51 times as long as scape length, pedicel 0.45 times as long as scape length (Fig. 1E). Midlobe of mesoscutum with 4 setae in anterior half and 6 setae in posterior half, scutellum with 7 setae along posterior margin. Fore wing 2.7 times as long as broad (Fig. 1F), longest setae of marginal fringe 0.56 times as long as width of disc, seta M1 absent, M2b present. Mesofemur ventrally with 3 long spines (Fig. 4D). Midtibial spur subequal in length to corresponding basitarsus (Fig. 1C), the latter 0.55 times as long as midtibia. Ovipositor nearly twice as long as midtibia (1.82) and 1.29 times as long as hind tibia.

Male

Colour and structure similar to female (Fig. 2A, B), but antenna (Fig. 2D) with 3 anelli and longer, clava 7.28 times as long as broad and 2.76 times as long as scape (Fig. 2D). Setae of fore wing (Fig. 2E) stouter than in female. Genitalia as in Fig. 2G, phallobase with a pair of setae, digitus about 3 times as long as broad, strongly curved at apex.

Figure 2. 

Chartocerus javensis Schmidt & Ubaidillah, sp. nov., male paratype A body in dorsal view B head in frontal view C middle leg D antenna E fore wing F hind wing G genitalia.

Host

Unknown.

Distribution

Only known from the type locality near Malang, East Java, Indonesia.

Etymology

The species is named after the island of Java.

DNA barcode data

The species exhibits an intraspecific variation of 0.2% and a distance of 12.2% to the nearest neighbour species, C. sumatrensis sp. nov. (Suppl. material 1, Genbank Accession Numbers: MH407241, MH407242).

Remarks

The species is similar to Chartocerus kerrichi (Agarwal) and C. sumatrensis sp. nov. but can be distinguished from the former by the longer clava (6.7 times as long as broad, compared to 4.5 times in kerrichi), the longer fore wing marginal fringe (0.56 times as long as width of disc compared to 0.36–0.40 times in kerrichi), and the longer midtibial spur (subequal in length to corresponding basitarsus whereas distinctly shorter in kerrichi). From C. sumatrensis sp. nov. it can be separated by the shorter ovipositor (less than 2.0 times as long as midtibia, compared to 2.9 times in sumatrensis) and the longer midtibial spur (subequal in length to corresponding basitarsus, compared to 0.7 times in sumatrensis).

Chartocerus kartiniae Polaszek & Schmidt, sp. nov.

Fig. 3A–I

Material examined

Holotype. Indonesia • ♀ (on slide); West Java, Mount Halimun-Salak National Park, waterfall; 6.71250S, 106.52305E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 18-Sept-2015; A. Polaszek leg.; screen-sweep net; MZB; specimens ID: DNA 1317.

Diagnosis

Chartocerus kartiniae sp. nov. is unique among Signiphoridae and is provisionally placed in Chartocerus on a balance of genus-level characters. The female can be quickly diagnosed among all Chartocerus species by the following combination of characters: metanotum pale (Fig. 3A); fore wing with discal seta (Fig. 3C); antennal funicle 2-segmented (Fig. 3I).

Figure 3. 

Chartocerus kartiniae Polaszek & Schmidt, sp. nov., female holotype A body in dorsal view B head in frontal view C fore wing D hind wing E antenna F middle leg G posterior mesosoma and anterior metasoma H apex of fore tibia with tibial spur I flagellum base.

Description (female holotype)

Colour. Head and body dark brown (Fig. 3A, B), with metanotum distinctly pale in contrast, legs pale brown with fore tibiae and all tarsi pale yellow (Fig. 3F), antenna yellow-brown with radicle and scape paler (Fig. 3E). Fore wing with brown infuscation centrally and on marginal vein (Fig. 3C).

Morphology. Head 1.52 times as broad as frontovertex width (Fig. 3B), frontovertex width 0.87 times length of clava. Antenna with only 5 antennomeres (excluding radicle); antenna with 2 anelli, clava 5.5 times as long as broad and 1.7 times as long as scape length, pedicel about 0.5 times as long as scape length (Fig. 3E). Midlobe of mesoscutum with 7 setae in posterior half, scutellum with 7 setae along posterior margin. Propodeum with a suggestion of a lamelliform process on the median sclerite. Fore wing 2.8 times as long as broad (Fig. 3C), longest setae of marginal fringe 0.78 times as long as width of disc, all marginal vein setae present, stigmal seta long; discal seta present. Foretibial spur bifid, without a comb (Fig. 3I). Midtibial spur 0.9 times as long as corresponding basitarsus (Fig. 3F), the latter 0.57 times as long as mid tibia. Mesofemur with four long spines anteroventrally. Ovipositor 2.0 times as long as mid tibia and 1.5 times as long as hind tibia.

Host

Unknown.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality at Mount Halimun, West Java, Indonesia.

Etymology

The species is named after Raden Adjeng Kartini.

DNA barcode data

No sequence data were available for analysis.

Remarks

This species is unique for the genus, having only two funicle antennomeres, and a prominent discal seta on the fore wing. The pale metanotum is unusual (or possibly unique) among known species of Chartocerus (J.B. Woolley, pers. comm.). The foretibial spur is bifid and without a comb, supporting placement of the species in the genus Chartocerus. A full DNA barcode sequence could not be obtained for the single specimen, but analysis of an available DNA fragment suggests membership of the Chartocerus lineage (distant from Signiphora and Thysanus Walker), and a possible sister-group relationship to remaining Chartocerus for which DNA data are available.

Chartocerus sumatrensis Schmidt & Polaszek, sp. nov.

Fig. 4A–F

Material examined

Holotype. Indonesia • ♀ (on slide); West Sumatra, Padang, Universitas Andalas campus; 0.9043S, 100.4802E; 500 m a.s.l.; 17-Jun-2012; S. Schmidt leg.; screen-sweep net; MZB; specimens ID: BC-ZSM-HYM-05406-H10.

Diagnosis

Head and body dark brown (Fig. 4A, B), fore wing basally with brown infuscation (Fig. 4E). Antenna (in female) with 4 anelli (Fig. 4H). Clava elongate, about 6 times as long as broad and 1.5 times as long as scape length (Fig. 4G). Fore wing 2.9 times as long as broad, anteriorly with 4 setae, posterior margin of hind wing disc slightly rounded.

Figure 4. 

Chartocerus sumatrensis Schmidt & Polaszek, sp. nov., female holotype A body in dorsal view B head in frontal view C middle leg D apex of middle femur E fore wing F hind wing G antenna H pedicel and flagellum base.

Description (female holotype)

Colour. Head dark brown (Fig. 4A, B), legs brown with tarsi pale yellow (Fig. 4C), antenna brown with radicle and basal 3 funicle antennomeres pale yellow (Fig. 4G). Fore wing basally with brown infuscation, and a darker patch behind distal part of submarginal vein and proximal part of marginal vein, and longitudinal dark patch along basal part of hind margin (Fig. 4E).

Morphology. Head 1.69 times as broad as frontovertex width (Fig. 4B), frontovertex width subequal to length of clava, distance from mouth margin to facial ridge 0.66. Antenna with 4 anelli, increasing in size towards apex (Fig. 4H), clava about 6 times as long as broad and 1.5 times as long as scape length, pedicel about 0.5 times as long as scape (Fig. 4G). Midlobe of mesoscutum with 11 setae in posterior half, scutellum with 8 setae along posterior margin. Fore wing 2.9 times as long as broad (Fig. 4E), longest setae of marginal fringe 0.38 times as long as width of disc, seta M1 absent, M2b present (Fig. 4E). Hind margin of hind wing disc slightly rounded and nearly parallel to anterior margin (Fig. 4F). Mesofemur ventrally with 3 long spines (Fig. 4D). Midtibial spur 0.7 times as long as corresponding basitarsus (Fig. 4C), the latter 0.53 times as long as midtibia. Ovipositor 2.9 times as long as midtibia and 2.0 times as long as hind tibia.

Host

Unknown.

Distribution

Only known from the type locality near Padang in West Sumatra.

Etymology

The species is named after the island of Sumatra.

DNA barcode data

A single, full-length barcode sequence of the species is separated from its nearest neighbour species, C. javensis sp. nov., by 12.2% (Suppl. material 1, Genbank Accession Number: MH407238).

Remarks

The species is similar to Chartocerus kerrichi and C. javensis sp. nov., but can be distinguished from the former by the longer ovipositor (2.9 times as long as midtibia, compared to 2 times in kerrichi) and the more slender clava (about 6 times as long as broad, compared to 4.5 times in kerrichi). From C. javensis sp. nov. it can be separated by the longer ovipositor (2.9 times as long as midtibia, compared to less than 2 times in javensis) and the shorter midtibial spur (0.7 times as long as corresponding basitarsus, compared to subequal in javensis).

Signiphora Ashmead, 1880

Diagnosis

Colour variable, pale yellow to completely dark brown or black. Occipital margin acute. Antenna with 3, rarely 1–2 or 4 anelli. Mesoscutum from bare to setose with up to 100 setae. Propodeum posteriorly with lamelliform process. Fore tibial spur with a comb of setae. Fore wing submarginal vein with one or two setae, marginal vein dorsally with (4–)6 setae. Mesofemur with 1 or 2 bristles.

Signiphora bennetti Woolley & Dal Molin

Fig. 5A–F

Signiphora bennetti Woolley & Dal Molin, 2017: 19–23.

Material examined

Indonesia • 4 ♀ (on slide); West Java, Mount Halimun-Salak National Park, waterfall; 6.71250S, 106.52305E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 18-Sept-2015; A. Polaszek leg.; Yellow Pan trap; MZB DNA 1321; ZSM DNA 1318; NHMUK DNA 1319-20.

Diagnosis (female)

Female with pale band from distal mesoscutum to the proximal propodeal triangle. Antenna with 3 anelli (Fig. 5E). Marginal vein dorsally with 3 setae, seta M1 missing (Fig. 5C), usually with minute seta distal to M2.

Figure 5. 

Signiphora bennetti Woolley & Dal Molin, female A body in dorsal view B head in frontal view C fore wing D hind wing E antenna F middle leg.

Description (female). Colour. Head and body dark brown (Fig. 5A, B), with distal half of mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum and anterior part of propodeal triangle distinctly pale in contrast; legs pale with hind femora brown (Fig. 5A), antenna yellow-brown with clava darker, increasingly so distally (Fig. 5E). Fore wing with brown infuscation centrally and on marginal vein (Fig. 5C).

Morphology. Head 1.5 times as broad as frontovertex width (Fig. 5B), frontovertex width 1.04 times length of clava. Antenna with 6 antennomeres and with 3 anelli, clava 4.6 times as long as broad and 1.7 times as long as scape length, pedicel 0.6 times as long as scape length (Fig. 5E). Midlobe of mesoscutum with 2 fine setae in posterior half, scutellum with 4 fine setae along posterior margin. Fore wing 3.5 times as long as broad (Fig. 5C), longest setae of marginal fringe 1.52 times as long as width of disc, marginal vein seta M1 absent, M5 absent in some paratypes; stigmal seta long (Fig. 5C), vestigial seta base/socket present between M5 and M6 on lower edge of marginal vein, discal seta absent (Fig. 5C). Midtibial spur 0.84 times as long as corresponding basitarsus (Fig. 5F), the latter 0.46 times as long as midtibia. Ovipositor 1.8 times as long as midtibia and 1.4 times as long as hind tibia.

Host

A primary parasitoid, commonly associated with Melanaspis smilacis (Comstock) (Hemiptera, Diaspididae) in the New World, a species also widely distributed in SE Asia. Also recorded from Hemiberlesia oxycoccus (Woglum); Melanaspis obscura (Comstock); Pseudaulacaspis pentagona Targioni Tozzetti; Comstockaspis perniciosa (Comstock) and Aspidiella sacchari (Comstock) (Woolley and Dal Molin 2017).

Distribution

Very widespread in the New World (Woolley and Dal Molin 2017).

DNA barcode data

The species exhibits an intraspecific variation of 0.2% and a distance of 12.5% to the nearest neighbour species, S. flavella (Suppl. material 1, Genbank Accession Numbers: MN520843, MN520844).

Remarks

The species belongs to the Signiphora flavopalliata Ashmead species group and can be separated from other species in the group by the central dorsal pale band extending from the distal mesoscutum to the proximal propodeal triangle (female), absence of M1 from the marginal vein, and the presence of a minute anterior seta on the marginal vein distal to M2 (fig. 38 in Woolley and Dal Molin 2017), though this seta is not present in every specimen.

Signiphora flavella Girault

Fig. 6A–F

Signiphora flavella Girault, 1913: 214. Female. For a full list of synonyms see Woolley and Dal Molin (2017).

Material examined

Indonesia: • 4 ♀ (on slide); East Java, Malang, Selorejo, Junrejo; 7.940S, 112.529E; 1015 m a.s.l.; 1-Jul-2012; S. Schmidt leg.; screen-sweep net; MZB BC-ZSM-HYM-20770-G02, BC-ZSM-HYM-20770-E12, BC-ZSM-HYM-20770-G04 (slide with right fore wing only), BC-ZSM-HYM-20770-F12 • 2 ♀; same data as preceding; ZSM BC-ZSM-HYM-20770-F05, BC-ZSM-HYM-20770-F09 • 1 ♀; same data as preceding; NHMUK BC-ZSM-HYM-20770-F10 • 2 ♀; same locality; 8-Jul-2012; S. Schmidt leg.; screen-sweep net; MZB • 1 ♀; East Java, Jalan Kandangan, Kasembon; 7.808S, 112.313E; 305 m a.s.l.; 14-Jul-2012; S. Schmidt leg.; screen-sweep net; NHMUK.

Diagnosis (female)

Colour of body yellow (Fig. 6A) with variable extent of brown markings, clava only apically or completely dusky brown (Fig. 6D). Discal seta on fore wing missing, seta M1 on marginal vein present (rarely absent) (Fig. 6E). Mt8 in female transverse, without a medial emargination.

Figure 6. 

Signiphora flavella Girault, female A body in dorsal view B head in frontal view C middle leg D antenna E fore wing F hind wing.

Description (female)

Colour. Body yellow (Fig. 6A), head yellow except occiput with curved brown band along occipital carina (Fig. 6B). Antenna with scape yellow and flagellum brown, apical half of clava darker brown (Fig. 6D). Fore wing with dark band behind marginal vein that is proximally and distally diffusely delimited (Fig. 6E). Third valvula brown.

Morphology. Head 1.76 times as broad as frontovertex width (Fig. 6B), frontovertex width 0.77 times length of clava, distance from mouth margin to facial ridge 0.57. Antenna with 3 anelli, F1 0.4 times as long as broad, F2 0.8 times as long as broad, F3 subquadrate, clava about 6 times as long as broad and 1.7 times as long as scape length (Fig. 6D), pedicel 0.77 times as long as scape length. Midlobe of mesoscutum with 2 setae on disc and anteriorly with 6 setae, scutellum with 6 setae along posterior margin. Fore wing 2.9 times as long as broad (Fig. 6E), longest setae of marginal fringe 1.4 times as long as width of disc, seta M1 present, M2b absent. Midtibial spur subequal in length to corresponding basitarsus (Fig. 6C), the latter 0.56 times as long as midtibia. Ovipositor 2.1 times as long as midtibia and 1.4 times as long as hind tibia.

Male

The species reproduces primarily parthenogenetically; males are very rare (Woolley and Dal Molin 2017) and were not recorded in the study area.

Host

Polyphagous on many species of Diaspididae (Hemiptera). For a full list of host records see Woolley and Dal Molin (2017).

Distribution

Cosmopolitan and, apart from Indonesia, occurring in the following countries (after Woolley and Dal Molin 2017): Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Honduras, Honduras, Greece, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Peru, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Venezuela.

DNA barcode data

The sequence data did not reveal any intraspecific variation and a distance of 9.7% to the nearest neighbour species, S. perpauca (Suppl. material 1, Genbank Accession Numbers: MH407235, MH407237, MH407239, MH407240, MH407243).

Remarks

The species exhibits variation in colour patterns and several similar looking species that had been described mainly based on colour differences were synonymised with S. flavella by Woolley and Dal Molin (2017). It resembles S. perpauca (see below) but lacks the discal seta in the fore wing.

Signiphora perpauca Girault

Fig. 7A–F

Signiphora perpauca Girault, 1915: 71. Female.

Signiphora woolleyi Hayat: Woolley and Dal Molin (2017).

Material examined

Indonesia • 1 ♀ (on slide); West Java, Mount Halimun-Salak National Park, Sukamantri; 6.682S, 106.751E; 1007 m a.s.l.; 30-Sep-2015; MZB INDOBIOSYS-CCDB25943-H05.

Description (female)

Colour. Body yellow (Fig. 7A), head yellow except occiput with curved brown band along occipital carina (Fig. 7B). Antenna with scape yellow and flagellum brown, apical half of clava distinctly darker (Fig. 7D). Fore wing with dark band behind marginal vein that is proximally and distally diffusely delimited (Fig. 7E), discal seta present. Mt8 in female transverse, without a medial incision.

Figure 7. 

Signiphora perpauca Girault, female A body in dorsal view B head in frontal view C middle leg D antenna E fore wing F hind wing.

Morphology. Head 1.76 times as broad as frontovertex width (Fig. 7B), frontovertex width 0.77 times length of clava, distance from mouth margin to facial ridge 0.57 times head height. Antenna with 3 anelli (Fig. 4D), F1 0.4 times as long as broad, F2 0.8 times as long as broad, F3 subquadrate, clava about 6 times as long as broad and 1.7 times as long as scape length (Fig. 7D), pedicel 0.77 times as long as scape length. Midlobe of mesoscutum with 2 setae on disc and anteriorly with 6 setae, scutellum with 6 setae along posterior margin. Fore wing 2.9 times as long as broad (Fig. 4E), longest setae of marginal fringe 1.4 times as long as width of disc, seta M1 present, M2b absent. Midtibial spur subequal in length to corresponding basitarsus (Fig. 4C), the latter 0.56 times as long as midtibia. Ovipositor 2.1 times as long as midtibia and 1.4 times as long as hind tibia.

Host

Diaspididae (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha).

Distribution

Widely distributed in the tropics and, apart from Indonesia, recorded from the following countries (after Woolley and Dal Molin 2017): Argentina, Cuba, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, French Polynesia, Haiti, India, Mexico, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, USA.

DNA barcode data

The sequence of the single examined specimen is separated by 9.7% from the nearest neighbour species, S. flavella (Suppl. material 1, Genbank Accession Number: MH407234).

Remarks

The species belongs to the Signiphora flavopalliata species group and can be separated from other species in the group, among other characters, by its light colour (female) and the presence of a discal seta in the fore wing (fig. 306 in Woolley and Dal Molin 2017).

Signiphora bifasciata Ashmead

Signiphora bifasciata Ashmead, 1900: 411. Female.

Signiphora platensis Bréthes: Woolley (1988).

Diagnosis and remarks

The Neotropical species was recorded as a parasitoid of the cycad aulacaspis scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera, Diaspididae) in the Bogor Botanic Gardens in 2011 (Muniappan et al. 2012). This represents the first record of the family Signiphoridae from Indonesia. The species can be separated from other Signiphora species by the following characters (see Muniappan et al. 2012 and figures therein): discal seta present on both fore wing and hind wing, fore wing infuscate from the wing base to the distal end of the stigmal vein, submarginal vein with 2 setae, marginal vein of the hind wing with 1 seta, female antenna with 2–3 annelli, marginal fringe of fore wing very long, nearly half as long as width of disc, mesosoma brown except scutellum and metanotum which are pale tan, yellow or white, mesoscutum with about 16 setae, scutellum with 6 setae.

Acknowledgments

The specimens used for the present study were collected in the Mount Halimun-Salak National Park (West Java) as part of the “Indonesian Biodiversity Discovery System” (IndoBioSys) and during field courses at the Andalas University in Padang (West Sumatra) and Brawijaya University in Malang (East Java). The course aimed at implementing the project module “DNA Barcoding of Arthropods” as part of the “Indonesian-German Network – Training of Trainers and Research Cooperation” (IGN-TTRC), with special thanks to Ari Jamsari (Andalas University, Padang) and Fatchiyah Fatah (Brawijaya University, Malang) for course organisation and management, and Hagus Tarno and his colleagues from the Department of Plant Pests and Diseases (Brawijaya University, Malang) for their help. The IGN-TTRC project was initiated by Wolfgang Nellen (University of Kassel, Germany, now Brawijaya University, Malang) and funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Tri Siswo Rahardjo is thanked for granting permission to conduct research in the Mount Halimun-Salak National Park. The authors are grateful to Witjaksono and Hari Sutrisno (LIPI Biology/MZB, Cibinong, Indonesia) for permission to work at the Research Center for Biology. Giyanto, Sarino, Darmawan, Rina and Fatimah assisted with technical help during field work and in the lab. We would like to thank the Ministry of Research and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia (RISTEKDIKTI) for providing the necessary research permits for this study (permit number 28/TKPIPA/ES/Dit.KL/II/2016). The project was supported by the German Ministry of Education and research BMBF (IndoBioSys, MfN, Berlin, 16GW0111K and ZSM, Munich, 16GW0112) and by DIPA PUSLIT Biologi LIPI 2015-2017. The sequence analyses for this study were supported, in part, by Genome Canada through the Ontario Genomics Institute, while informatics support was provided through a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation. Last but not least we would like to like to thank the reviewers, Jim Woolley and Ana Dal Molin, for their constructive comments to the manuscript.

References

  • Cancian de Araujo B, Schmidt S, von Rintelen T, Sutrisno H, von Rintelen K, Ubaidillah R, Häuser C, Peggie D, Narakusumo RP, Balke M (2017) IndoBioSys – DNA barcoding as a tool for the rapid assessment of hyperdiverse insect taxa in Indonesia: a status report. Treubia 44: 67–76. https://doi.org/10.14203/treubia.v44i0.3381
  • Cancian de Araujo B, Schmidt S, Schmidt O, von Rintelen T, Ubaidillah R, Balke M (2018) The Mt Halimun-Salak Malaise Trap project - releasing the most species rich DNA Barcode library for Indonesia. Biodiversity Data Journal 6: e29927. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.6.e29927
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  • Hayat M (2009) A review of the Indian Signiphoridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Biosystematica 3: 5–27.
  • Hebert PDN, Cywinska A, Ball SL, deWaard JR (2003) Biological identifications through DNA barcodes. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London (B) 270: 313–321. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2218
  • Kimura M (1980) A simple method for estimating evolutionary rate of base substitutions through comparative studies of nucleotide sequences. Journal of Molecular Evolution 16: 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01731581
  • Muniappan R, Watson GW, Evans GA, Rauf A, Von Ellenrieder N (2012) Cycad Aulacaspis Scale, a Newly Introduced Insect Pest in Indonesia. HAYATI Journal of Biosciences 19: 110–114. https://doi.org/10.4308/hjb.19.3.110

Supplementary material

Supplementary material 1 

BOLD TaxonID Tree

Stefan Schmidt, Hasmiandy Hamid, Rosichon Ubaidillah, Samantha Ward, Andrew Polaszek

Data type: species data

This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited.
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