Three new species of the genus Sycophila (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Eurytomidae) from China

Hui Xiao; Rui Zhang; Mengqing Gao

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1029.60911

Abstract

Three new species of Sycophila Walker (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae), S. hunanensis sp. nov., S. melanoloma sp. nov. and S. melanopoda sp. nov., are reported and described from mainland China. Meanwhile, Plagiotrochus glaucus Melika & Tang, 2011 (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) is reported as a new host record of the genus Sycophila. A key to Chinese Sycophila and illustrations of external features of the species are provided.

Keywords

Chalcid wasp, fig wasp, key, parasitoids, plant galls, taxonomy

Introduction

Sycophila is one of the large genera in the family Eurytomidae. It was described for the first time by Walker in 1871 under the Agaonidae, with two species included (S. megastigmoides Walker, 1871 and S. decatomoides Walker, 1871), both reared from the fruits of Ficus benghalensis L.. Ashmead (1904) selected the latter as the type species of Sycophila and transferred the genus to the subfamily Idarninae in the Torymidae. Bouček (1974) transferred it to Eurytomidae and synonymized several genera with Sycophila (Bouček 1988). Since then, the genus has been extensively studied by several researchers, including Nieves Aldrey (1984), Narendran (1994) and Zerova (1995). The genus can be distinguished from other genera in the family Eurytomidae by the following combination of characters: marginal vein broadened, maculae dark brown and limited at the marginal and stigmal vein (or expanded to the disc), petiole elongate, and gaster often laterally compressed. Most species develop in very hard parts of plant galls or in figs, some species are recorded as parasitoids on gall makers (Bouček 1988; Narendran 1994; Chen et al. 1999; Lotfalizadeh and Gharali 2007). More than 100 different host species are reported for Sycophila (Noyes 2020), including species of Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. Until now, 117 valid species of the genus have been described (Noyes 2020), but specific identification is difficult because the species differences are very small. Lotfalizadeh et al. (2008) used morphometrics and sequence data to distinguish several species based on morphological studies. It provides a new idea and method for the taxonomic study of this genus. Before the present work, only one species, S. fujianensis Özdikmen, was recorded from mainland China (Xu and He 2003; Özdikmen 2011). In this study, three new species, S. hunanensis sp. nov., S. melanoloma sp. nov. and S. melanopoda sp. nov. are reported and described from mainland China, meanwhile two species, S. curta Chen and S. maculafacies Chen, are newly recorded from mainland China.

Materials and methods

All specimens were collected in the laboratory where they were reared from Ficus microcarpa L. and preserved in 75% or 95% ethanol. They were subsequently air-dried, point-mounted, and examined with a Leica MZ APO stereomicroscope. Photographs were taken under the Nikon Multizoom AZ100 system, and the plates were compiled using Adobe Photoshop software. Five species were identified, and all type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (IZCAS).

Morphological terminology follows that of Bouček (1988), Gibson et al. (1997) and Lotfalizadeh et al. (2007). All specimens were examined and identified based on the studies of Balduf (1932), Bouček (1988), Narendran (1994), Zerova (1995), Chen et al. (1999), Lotfalizadeh and Gharali (2007), Lotfalizadeh et al. (2008) and Zerova and Harten (2009). Body length (i.e., the length of body excluding the ovipositor sheaths) is measured in millimeters (mm), other measurements are given as ratios.

Abbreviations of morphological terms used are:

Fu_n funicular 1, 2…

POL posterior ocellar distance

OOL ocellocular distance

Gt_n gastral tergite 1, 2…

Taxonomy

Key to species

1	Antenna slender, each funicular longer than broad, Fu₁ at least 2.0× as long as broad	2
–	Antenna thick, Fu₁ at most 1.5× as long as broad	3
2	Body yellow-brown, except collar of pronotum, median line of propodeum, and median area of Gt_1–3 black; Fu₁ 2.8× as long as broad, longer than pedicel; gastral petiole 4.0× as long as broad, Gt₄ dorsally 1.3× as long as Gt₃	*S. fujianensis*
–	Body yellow-brown except median line of gaster black; Fu₁ 2.0× as long as broad, as long as pedicel; gastral petiole 3× as long as broad, Gt₄ dorsally 1.8× as long as Gt₃	S. melanoloma sp. nov.
3	Body black, shoulder of pronotum and lateral panel of pronotum yellow-brown; fore wing with maculae not extending backward to disc; pedicel and flagellum combined longer than head width	S. hunanensis sp. nov.
–	Body mainly yellow-brown; fore wing with maculae expending backward to disc; pedicel and flagellum combined as long as or shorter than head width	4
4	Pedicel and flagellum combined as long as head width; pronotum yellow-brown, thorax reddish brown, gaster dark brown	S. melanopoda sp. nov.
–	Pedicel and flagellum combined shorter than head width; body yellow-brown	5
5	Fu₁ 1.33× as long as broad, as long as pedicel; pronotum and mesosoma with sparsely umbilicate puncturation, scutellum without umbilicate puncturation	*S. curta*
–	Fu₁ as long as broad, shorter than pedicel; pronotum, mesosoma and scutellum with sparsely umbilicate puncturation	*S. maculafacies*

Sycophila Walker, 1871

Sycophila Walker, 1871: 63. Type species: Sycophila decatomoides Walker, designated by Ashmead 1904; Bouček 1974: 267–268; Bouček 1988: 96–97; Narendran 1994: 156–170.

Tineomyza Rondani, 1872: 205. Type species: Tineomyza pistacina Rondani. Synonymized by Bouček 1974: 267–268.

Pseudisa Walker, 1875: 15. Type species: Pseudisa smicroides Walker. Synonymized by Bouček 1988: 96.

Isanisa Walker, 1875: 16. Type species: Isanisa decatomoides Walker. Synonymized by Bouček 1988: 96.

Decatomidea Ashmead, 1888: 42. Type species: Decatomidea xanthochroa Ashmead. Synonymized by Bouček 1988: 96.

Eudecatoma Ashmead, 1888: 42. Type species: Decatoma batotoides Ashmead, designated by Ashmead 1894. Synonymized by Bouček 1974: 267–268.

Diagnosis

Body yellowish or brownish, occasionally black. Head wider than mesosoma, lower margin of clypeus bilobed. Antennal insertion slightly above or on lower ocular line, antennal formula 11153 in female, 11143 in male. Prothorax with pronotum rectangular, almost as long as mesoscutum; mesothorax dorsally convex, notauli deep and complete, scutellum convex; propodeum with an inverted V-shaped basal submedian carina. Fore wing with marginal vein broadened, mostly with dark brown maculae below marginal vein; postmarginal vein slightly shorter than marginal vein. Hind femur distinctly thickened. Petiole elongated, gaster compressed from side-to-side.

Biology

Most species develop in plant galls or in figs, some extralimital species are recorded as parasitoids. The hosts involved Hymenoptera (Pteromalidae, Eulophidae, Eurytomidae, Tanaostigmatidae, Torymidae, Tenthredinidae, Cynipidae and Cecidomyiidae), Lepidoptera (Cecidosidae, and Gelechiidae), Diptera (Prodoxidae) and Hemiptera (Psyllidae) (Noyes 2020).

Distribution

China (Hainan, Fujian, Hunan, Guangxi, Hongkong, Taiwan) (Luo et al. 1987; Huang et al. 1988; Beardsley 1998; Chen et al. 1999; Xu et al. 2002). The species of Sycophila are reported throughout the world (Narendran 1994; Noyes 2020).

Sycophila fujianensis Özdikmen, 2011

Sycophila fujianensis Özdikmen, 2011: 838. Replacement name for Sycophila flava Xu & He, 2003.

Sycophila flava Xu & He, 2003. Junior secondary homonym of Sycophila flava (Ashmead, 1881).

Diagnosis

Body length 3.0 mm. Body yellow-brown in general except collar of pronotum, median line of propodeum, and median area of Gt_1–3 black. Wings hyaline, marginal vein and the surrounding dark brown. Head in dorsal view 2.3× as wide as long, head in frontal view 1.2× as wide as high. Antennal insertion on lower ocular line, scrobes not reaching anterior ocellus. Antenna slender, each funicular longer than broad respectively; Fu₁ 2.8× as long as broad, longer than the other funiculars; the length of the other funiculars shorter towards the end, the last funicular length 1.9× width. Fore wing 2.7× as long as broad, speculum distinct and closed behind; marginal vein 1.6× as long as stigmal vein; postmarginal vein shorter than marginal vein, 1.1× as long as stigmal vein. A row of long setae on the dorsal edge of hind tibia shorter than tibia width. Gaster cylindrical, 4.0× as long as broad, Gt₄ dorsally 1.3× as long as Gt₃; Length of Gt₄ 1.2× length of Gt₃. Male similar to the female, body length 3.0 mm, antenna with 4 funiculars; gaster short; petiole black dorsally.

Hosts

Gall wasps (cynipids) in bamboo shoots.

Distribution

China (Fujian) (Xu and He 2003).

Sycophila melanoloma Zhang & Xiao, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/B2CEEAEA-EB0A-4652-B314-74AE0A69B1C8

Figs 1–5

Material examined

Holotype. ♀, China: Hainan: Danzhou, 19.31°N, 109.34°E, VI.2006, reared form Ficus microcarpa L., leg. Haoyuan Hu. Paratypes. 4♀, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis

Body slim, length 1.8–2.3 mm, mainly yellowish except eyes dark brown, median line of gaster black; antenna slender with Fu₁ 2.0× as long as broad; fore wing hyaline, marginal vein enlarged and with dark brown maculae; gastral petiole longer than wide, gaster compressed laterally, dorsally arched.

Description

Female (holotype). Body (Fig. 1) length 2.0 mm. Body brownish yellow except eyes red-brown, median line of gaster black; antennae and legs concolorous with body; wings hyaline, venation yellow-brown except marginal vein enlarged with black maculae; head and thorax smooth, umbilicate puncturation sparse and shallow.

Head with white pubescens sparse, head in frontal view 1.5× as wide as high (Fig. 2), eyes separated by 1.5× their height, malar space 0.7× eyes height, malar sulcus space 1.43× malar space. Antennal insertion above lower ocular line; scrobes deep and smooth, not reaching anterior ocellus, interantennal crest absent. Lower face smooth. Lower margin of clypeus with incision separating a single tooth on both sides; mandible three teethed. Head in dorsal view (Fig. 3) 1.67× as broad as long, occipital carina inconspicuous; temple length 0.2× eyes length; POL 2.5× OOL, OOL 2.0× ocellus diameter. Antennal formula 11153 (Figs 1, 2); scape reaching anterior ocellus, equal to eyes height, 5.0× as long as broad, 2.5× pedicel length; pedicel and flagellum combined 1.33× head width; pedicel in lateral view 2.0× as long as broad, equal to Fu₁; anellus 0.5× as long as broad; Fu₁ 2.0× as long as broad, Fu₂-Fu₅ slightly shorter than Fu₁ (1.85× as long as broad); clava length 3.0× width, shorter than the following three funiculars combined; each funicular with single row of sensilla; ventral surface of clava without micropilose area.

Mesosoma 1.45× as long as broad in dorsal view. Pronotum 0.46× as long as broad. Mesoscutum 0.62× as long as broad, notauli deep and complete. Scutellum as long as broad. Propodeum shorter than mesoscutum (0.39×), nucha distinct, median carina and plica absent; median longitudinal furrow distinct, irregular cells formed by irregular ridges on both sides (Fig. 4). Fore wing (Fig. 5) 2.86× as long as broad, with marginal fringe; maculae dark brown, confining on marginal vein and stigmal vein, not extending backward; marginal vein triangular broadened; ratio of marginal vein: postmarginal vein: stigmal vein as 8:3:3. Fore femur stout, fore tibia with a ventral spur at apex; mid femur enlarged, mid tibia thin and outer edge with a single row of setae; hind coxa stout, 2.0× as long as broad; hind femur enlarged, 1.67× as long as broad; hind tibia with 2 ventral spurs at apex.

Figures 1–5.

Sycophila melanoloma sp. nov., female holotype 1 body in lateral view 2 head in frontal view 3 head and mesosoma in dorsal view 4 propodeum in dorsal view 5 fore wing in dorsal view.

Metasoma 1.67× as long as mesosoma. Gaster petiolate, 3.0× as long as broad, laterally compressed. Gaster bare and smooth, distinctly compressed and dorsally arched, median line of gaster black; length of Gt₄ as long as Gt₁-Gt₃ combined, 2.0× as Gt₃. Ovipositor exposed, 0.08× as long as gaster.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the Latin ’melanolomus’, referencing the character of the gaster with a median black line.

Remarks

The species is similar to S. petiolata Chen, 1999 from Taiwan (Chen et al. 1999) but noticeably different by the gaster compressed and dorsally arched (gaster oval in S. petiolata), mesonotum and metanotum yellowish (mesonotum and metanotum with dark brown patches in S. petiolata).

Host

Ficus microcarpa L.

Distribution

China (Hainan).

Sycophila hunanensis Xiao & Gao, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/E97CFFFB-03C1-42AD-84FE-FFE09135E9C0

Figs 6–13

Material examined

Holotype. ♀, China: Hunan: Yanling Xian: Shidu, 1.III.2017, ex. galls of Plagiotrochus glaucus Melika & Tang (Cynipini), leg. Gaozhi Zhao. Paratype. 4♀1♂, same data as holotype; 2♂, China: Hainan: Wuzhi Shan, 708-1206M, 9.IV.2010, leg. Tianyang Jiao.

Diagnosis

Body length 1.8–2.0 mm, mainly black except lateral shoulder and lateral panel of pronotum yellow-brown; antenna slightly thick, Fu₁ 1.23× as long as broad, Fu₂-Fu₅ subequal to Fu₁; pedicel and flagellum combined slightly longer than head width (1.1×); marginal vein enlarged, maculae not extending backward to disc of fore wing.

Description

Female (holotype). Body (Fig. 6) length 2.0 mm, body black except eyes red-brown, middle part of lower face yellowish, shoulder of pronotum and lateral panel of pronotum yellow-brown. Antennae brown except scape yellowish and pedicel yellow-brown. Legs yellowish except coax dark brown, femur and tibia brown on middle part. Wings hyaline, venation yellow-brown except marginal vein enlarged with black spot. Head and thorax with densely umbilicate puncturation.

Head hairy, 1.25× as wide as high in frontal view (Fig. 7), eyes separated by 1.52× their height, malar space 0.81× eyes height. Antennal insertion on lower ocular line; scrobes deep and smooth, not reaching anterior ocellus, interantennal crest absent. Umbilicate puncturation shallow on lower face. Lower margin of clypeus with incision separating a single tooth on both sides; mandible three teethed. Head in dorsal view 1.67× as wide as long, occipital carina inconspicuous; temple length 0.3× eyes length; POL 2.16× OOL, OOL 2.0× ocellus diameter. Antennal formula 11153; scape reaching anterior ocellus, equal to or slightly shorter than eyes height, 6.25× as long as broad, 2.36× pedicel length; pedicel and flagellum combined 1.1× head width; pedicel in lateral view 2.0× as long as broad, longer than Fu₁; anellus 0.5× as long as broad; Fu₁ 1.23× as long as broad, Fu₂-Fu₅ as long as Fu₁; clava length 3.0× width, shorter than the following three funiculars combined; each funicular with a single row of sensilla; ventral surface of clava without micropilose area.

Mesosoma 1.58× as long as broad. Pronotum 0.51× as long as broad. Mesoscutum 0.67× as long as broad, notauli shallow and complete. Scutellum slightly longer than broad (1.11×). Propodeum rugosity (Fig. 8), shorter than mesoscutum (0.73×); basal sculpture of median furrow with one row of areoles; median carina and plica absent. Fore wing (Fig. 9) 2.3× as long as broad, with marginal fringe, speculum and basal hairline; maculae dark brown, confining on marginal vein and stigmal vein, not extending backward; marginal vein triangular broadened; ratio of marginal vein: postmarginal vein: stigmal vein as 12:2:10. Hind coxa stout, 2.0× as long as broad; hind femur enlarged in middle part, 3.33× as long as broad; hind tibia with 2 ventral spurs.

Metasoma 1.22× as long as mesosoma. Gaster with petiole longer than broad, reticulate; gaster 2.0× as long as broad, laterally compressed. Gaster arched in lateral view, gastral tergum smooth; Gt₄ longest, 1.36× as long as Gt₃. Ovipositor not exposed.

Male. Length 2.0 mm, body (Figs 10, 11) black except tegula, anterior corner of pronotum yellowish, apex of femur, apex of tibia and tarsus yellowish. Head and thorax with densely umbilicate puncturation. Antenna dark brown, formula 11143 (Fig. 12), Fu₁ 1.83× as long as broad, Fu₂-Fu₄ equal to Fu₁. Petiole (Fig. 13) 4.0× as long as broad, shorter than gaster; gaster 1.55× as long as petioles, Gt₄ longer than other tergites.

Figures 6–13.

Sycophila hunanensis sp. nov. 6–9 female holotype 6 body in lateral view 7 head in frontal view 8 propodeum in dorsal view 9 fore wing in dorsal view 10–13 male 10 body in dorsal view 11 body in lateral view 12 antenna 13 propodeum, petiole and gaster in dorsal view.

Etymology

Named after the location of the type material.

Remarks

The species is similar to S. biguttata (Swederus, 1795) from Sweden (Lotfalizadeh and Gharali 2007), but different by the maculae on fore wing not extending backward to disc, hind tibia pale yellowish except mid part brown.

Host

The wasps were reared from the galls of Plagiotrochus glaucus Tang & Melika, 2011 (Hym., Cynipidae) (Tang and Melika 2011) in China.

Distribution

China (Hunan, Hainan).

Sycophila melanopoda Zhang & Xiao, sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/7BDF6F62-524C-4103-9CBC-58B1527A5162

Figs 14–18

Material examined

Holotype. ♀, China: Hainan: Danzhou, 19.31°N, 109.34°E, VI.2006, reared form Ficus microcarpa L., leg. Haoyuan Hu. Paratypes. ♀, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis

Body length 1.6–1.8 mm, head and mesonotum brownish black, pronotum yellow, gaster dark brown; antenna with pedicel and flagellum combined as long as head width, Fu₁ 1.6× as long as broad. Fore wing with maculae expending backward to disc, marginal vein 2.5× as long as postmarginal vein, postmarginal vein shorter than stigmal vein. Hind femur enlarged, 1.5× as long as broad, gaster compressed.

Description

Female (holotype). Body length 1.8 mm (Figs 14, 15). Head and mesonotum brownish black, pronotum yellow, gaster dark brown; forehead black, gena yellow, eyes red-black; antennal yellow except clava dark brown; legs yellow except hind tibia concolorous with gaster; wings hyaline, venation yellow-brown; marginal vein enlarged, maculae expanded backward. Head and thorax with sparsely shallower umbilicate puncturation.

Head in frontal view 1.17× as wide as high. Face with white pubescens sparse; eyes separated by 0.94× their height; malar space 0.35× eyes height; malar sulcus space 1.33× malar space. Antennal insertion slightly above lower ocular line, at 3/4 of head height. Lower margin of clypeus emarginated and with a small tooth on both sides; mandible three teethed. Head in dorsal view 2.15× as wide as high, occipital carina inconspicuous; temple length 0.33× eyes length; POL 2.25× OOL, OOL 4.0× ocellus diameter. Antennal formula 11153 (Fig. 16); scape not reaching anterior ocellus, 5.5× as long as broad, 0.65× eyes height, 3.67× pedicel length; length of pedicel and flagellum combined as long as head width; pedicel in lateral view 2.0× as long as broad, as long as Fu₁; anellus 0.5× as long as broad; Fu₁ 1.6× as long as broad, following funiculars sincrease gradually on length and width; clava length 1.75× width, shorter than the following three funiculars combined; each funicular with a single row of sensilla; ventral surface of clava without micropilose area.

Mesosoma 1.62× as long as broad, with reticulation and sparsely umbilicate puncturation in dorsal view. Pronotum near rectangle, 0.42× as long as broad. Mesoscutum 0.58× as long as broad; notauli deep and complete. Scutellum as long as broad, medially protuberate. Propodeum (Fig. 17) 0.47× as long as mesoscutum, with small and dense sculpture; with an inverted V-shaped carina and a V-shaped carina, plica distinct, median carina absent. Fore wing (Fig. 18) 2.34× as long as broad, maculae expending backward to disc, marginal vein subparallel; ratio of marginal vein: postmarginal vein: stigmal vein as 5:2:3. Fore tibia with a ventral split spur at apex; mid tibia slim, with a ventral spur at apex. Hind coxa enlarged, 2.5× as long as broad; hind femur enlarged, 1.5× as long as broad; hind tibia ventrally with single apical spur.

Figures 14–18.

Sycophila melanopoda sp. nov., female holotype 14 body in dorsal view 15 body in lateral view 16 head in frontal view 17 mesosoma and metasoma in dorsal view 18 fore wing in dorsal view.

Metasoma 1.19× as long as mesosoma. Gaster petiolate; gaster near rhombus, 2.33× as long as broad; gastral tergum smooth; Gt₄ longest, 1.25× as long as Gt₃. Ovipositor exposed, 0.17× as long as gaster.

Male. Unknown.

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the Latin ‘melano’ (black) and ’podus’ (foot), referencing the character of hind tibia black.

Remarks

The species is similar to S. maculafacies Chen, 1999 from Taiwan (Chen et al. 1999) but noticeably different by pedicel and flagellum combined as long as head width (shorter than head width in S. maculafacies), hind tibia black (yellow-brown in S. maculafacies), gaster dark brown (yellow-brown in S. maculafacies).

Host

Ficus microcarpa L.

Distribution

China (Hainan).

Sycophila curta Chen, 1999

Figs 19–22

Sycophila curta Chen, 1999, in Chen et al. 1999: 45.

Material examined

3♀, China: Hainan: Danzhou, VI.2006, leg. Haoyuan Hu. 5♀, China: Hainan: Danzhou, VIII.2006, leg. Haoyuan Hu. 4♀, China: Hainan: Lingshui, IV.2005, leg. Yanzhou Zhang, Tongxin Zhang. ♀, China: Guangxi: Wuzhou, X.2005, leg. Yanzhou Zhang, Wei Li.

Diagnosis

Body (Figs 19, 20) length 1.38–1.8 mm. Body yellow-brown, eyes reddish, antennal yellow, wings venation yellow-brown except marginal vein enlarged and with dark brown maculae. Head in frontal view 1.4× as wide as high, eyes separated by 1.5× their height; malar space 0.6× eyes height. Lower margin of clypeus emarginated and with a small tooth on both sides, mandible three teethed. Head in dorsal view 2.14× as broad as long, POL 3.33× OOL, OOL 3× ocellus diameter. Antennal insertion on lower ocular line; scape 4.5× as long as broad, not reaching anterior ocellus (Fig. 21); scape length shorter than eyes height; pedicel as long as Fu₁; length of pedicel and flagellum combined shorter than head width (0.83×); Fu₁ 1.33× as long as broad. Pronotum and mesosoma with sparsely umbilicate puncturation, scutellum sub-rectangular, without umbilicate puncturation. Fore wing (Fig. 22) with maculae around marginal, postmarginal and stigmal vein, and expending backward to disc. Marginal vein broaden, stigma elongate; marginal vein 1.5× as long as postmarginal vein, 3.0× as long as stigmal vein. Legs covered with soft small setae. Gaster blob-shape. Ovipositor unexposed.

Figures 19–22.

Sycophila curta Chen, female 19 body in dorsal view 20 body in lateral view 21 head in lateral view 22 fore wing in dorsal view.

Male. No male species was found in this study. According to Chen et al. (1999), body length 1.14–1.62 mm. Body yellowish, eyes dark red, 2 brown black spots at the end of gaster. Body covered with small umbilicate puncturation. Head as wide as high. Antennal formula 11143. Petiole shorter than gaster.

Host

Ficus microcarpa L.

Distribution

China (Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan).

Sycophila maculafacies Chen, 1999

Figs 23–26

Sycophila maculafacies Chen, 1999, in Chen et al. 1999: 51.

Material examined

5♀, China: Hainan: Zhanzhou, V. 2006, leg. Haoyuan Hu. 6♀, China: Hainan: Zhanzhou, VI. 2006, leg. Haoyuan Hu. 5♀, China: Hainan: Zhanzhou, VIII.2006, leg. Haoyuan Hu. 5♀, China: Hainan: Zhanzhou, IX.2006, leg. Haoyuan Hu. 4♀, China: Hainan: Lingshui, IV.2005, leg. Yanzhou Zhang, Tongxin Zhang. ♀, China: Guangxi: Wuzhou, X.2005, leg. Yanzhou Zhang, Wei Li.

Diagnosis

Female. Body (Fig. 23) length 1.5–1.62 mm. Body yellow-brown (or head, thorax, and gaster dark brown except pronotum yellowish); eyes dark red; antennal yellow or yellow-brown; wings hyaline, venation yellow-brown except marginal vein enlarged and with dark brown maculae; head and thorax with sparsely shallower umbilicate puncturation. Head in frontal view 1.25× as wide as high (Fig. 24), eyes separated by 1.6× their height; malar space 0.8× eyes height. Head in dorsal view 2.0× as broad as long, POL 5× OOL, OOL 3.0× ocellus diameter. Antennal insertion on lower ocular line. Antenna stout, formula 11153 (11143 in male) (Figs 24, 25), scape 5.0× as long as broad, not reaching anterior ocellus; scape length equal to eyes height, 3.33× as long as pedicel; pedicel slightly longer than Fu₁; each funicular square or shorter than its broad, (Fu₁ square, Fu₂ 0.78× as long as broad); pedicel and flagellum combined shorter than head width (0.88×). Mandible three teethed. Mesosoma (Fig. 25) 1.4× as long as broad, pronotum and mesosoma with sparsely umbilicate puncturation, notauli deep and complete, scutellum as long as broad. Fore wing (Fig. 26) marginal vein broaden, stigma elongate; marginal vein as long as stigmal vein, 1.43× as long as postmarginal vein. Gaster diamond-shape in dorsal view.

Figures 23–26.

Sycophila maculafacies Chen, female 23 body in lateral view 24 head and antenna in frontal view 25 head and thorax in dorsal view 26 fore wing in dorsal view.

Male. According to Chen et al. (1999), body length 0.96–1.20 mm. Frons black, gena yellow, eyes dark red, body black except pronotum yellowish. Body covered with small umbilicate puncturation. Head as wide as high, antennal formula 11143. Petiole shorter than gaster.

Host

Ficus microcarpa L.

Distribution

China (Guangxi, Hainan, Taiwan).

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due especially to Dr Danqing Xiao (Department of STEM, Regis College, USA) for the help in editing the text. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant numbers 316723288 and 31750002.

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