Amphibolips zapoteco Nieves-Aldrey & Castillejos-Lemus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 49522F2D-070C-42BF-9C60-6DB9103135C1

Figs 13–15

Type material.

Holotype.

MEXICO • female; Oaxaca state, San Pablo Macuiltianguis; 17°32.296’N, 96°33.483’W; 2172 m a.s.l.; 20 Apr. 2018; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus sp (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insect emerged on 30 Apr. 2018; mounted on a card in MNCN.

Paratypes. MEXICO • 1f 4m; same collection location; ex gall on Quercus crassifolia (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insects emerged on the same date and in 3 May 2018; GenBank: SRX25798212 (individual code Amphibolips _sp_nov3_ Oaxaca_259); 1f 1m mounted on a stub for SEM observation at MNCN, 1m mounted on a card in MNCN, 1m mounted on a card in ENES-Morelia, 1m in alcohol in ENES-Morelia (extracted dead from the gall on 6 Dec. 2024) • 3f; same collection location; 17°32.397’N, 96°31.839’W; 2466 m a.s.l.; 26 Mar. 2017; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus sp (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insects emerged on 4–5 Apr. 2017; 1f mounted on a card in MNCN, 2f in ENES-Morelia, one mounted on a card and the other preserved in alcohol • 1f; Oaxaca state, Santa María Jaltianguis; 17°21.506’N, 96°31.248’W; 2326 m a.s.l.; 26 Mar. 2017; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus scytophylla (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insect emerged on 4 Apr. 2017; GenBank: SRX25798213 (individual code Amphibolips _sp_nov3_Oaxaca_365); mounted on a card in ENES-Morelia • 1f; Oaxaca state, Ixtlán de Juárez; 17°19.316’N, 96°28.197’W; 2230 m a.s.l.; 25 Mar. 2017; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus crassifolia (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insect emerged on 24 Apr. 2017; GenBank: SRX25798219 (individual code Amphibolips _sp_nov3_Oaxaca_353); mounted on a card in MNCN • 2f; Oaxaca state, Santiago Comaltepec; 17°33.116’N, 96°33.923’W; 2145 m a.s.l.; 22 Apr. 2018; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus elliptica (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insect emerged on 30 Apr. 2018; GenBank: SRX25798215 (individual code Amphibolips _ sp_nov3_Oaxaca_294_2); 1f mounted on a card in MNCN and 1f preserved in alcohol in ENES-Morelia • 1f; Oaxaca state, Santiago Comaltepec; 17°33.537’N, 96°33.391’W; 2051 m a.s.l.; 22 Apr. 2018; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus sp (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insect emerged on 30 Apr. 2018; mounted on a card in ENESMorelia (remains of another individual extracted dead from its gall and preserved in alcohol on 9 Dic. 2024) • 1m; Oaxaca state, Santiago Comaltepec; 17°33.502’N, 96°33.199’W; 2077 m a.s.l.; 26 Mar. 2017; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus scytophylla (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insect emerged on 4 Apr. 2017; mounted on a card in ENES-Morelia • 1m; Oaxaca state, Santiago Comaltepec; 17°33.494’N, 96°32.244’W; 2351 m a.s.l.; 22 Apr. 2018; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus sp (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insect emerged on 30 Apr. 2018; mounted on a card in MNCN • 1f; Oaxaca state, San Juan Quiotepec; 17°35.055’N, 96°34.960’W; 2123 m a.s.l.; 26 Mar. 2017; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus crassifolia (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insect emerged on 17 Apr. 2017; GenBank: SRX25798214 (individual code Amphibolips _sp_nov3_Oaxaca_Q3); mounted on a card in ENES-Morelia • 3m; Oaxaca state, Santiago Comaltepec; 17°33.402’N, 96°33.819’W; 2066 m a.s.l.; 22 Apr. 2018; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus x dysophylla (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insects emerged on 30 Apr.–1 May 2018; GenBank: SRX25798191 (individual code Amphibolips _sp_nov3_Oaxaca_293_2); 2m mounted on a card in MNCN and 1m preserved in alcohol in ENES-Morelia • 1f; Oaxaca state, San Juan Quiotepec; 17°35.003’N, 96°34.964’W; 2099 m a.s.l.; 26 Mar. 2017; D. Castillejos-Lemus leg.; ex gall on Quercus scytophylla (Quercus sect. Lobatae), insect emerged on Apr/17/2017; mounted on a card in MNCN.

Additional material (only galls).

MEXICO • 40 galls; same data as the paratype from 2172 m a.s.l.; 3 dissected and 37 complete; in ENESMorelia and CNIN • 8 galls; same data as the paratype from 2466 m a.s.l.; 2 dissected and 6 complete; in ENESMorelia and CNIN • 7 galls; same data as holotype; 3 dissected and 4 complete; in ENES-Morelia and CNIN • 8 galls; same data as the paratype from 2051 m a.s.l.; 2 dissected and 6 complete; in ENES-Morelia and CNIN • 5 galls; same data as the paratype from 2351 m a.s.l.; 2 dissected and 3 complete; in ENES-Morelia and CNIN • 17 galls; same data as the paratype from 2066 m a.s.l.; 3 dissected and 14 complete; in ENES-Morelia and CNIN • 14 galls; same data as the paratype from 2145 m a.s.l.; 2 dissected and 12 complete; in ENES-Morelia and CNIN.

Etymology.

The specific epithet “ zapoteco ” refers to the Zapoteco people, an indigenous group native to the region of Mexico where this species was discovered. The name honors their rich cultural and historical heritage, as well as their deep connection to the natural landscapes of the area.

Diagnosis.

Amphibolips zapoteco will be compared with other species from Oaxaca, following the same approach used for A. idiopteryx (see diagnosis of A. idiopteryx).

Amphibolips zapoteco differs from A. idiopteryx, as follows: clear spot in the third cubital cell, absent (Fig. 15C); proportion of smooth and shining areas on the second metasomal tergum, smaller (1/5); smooth depression below eyes, present (Fig. 13A); pedicel shorter relative to scape (0.25), broader than long (Fig. 13C); malar space relative to the height of an eye, larger; scutellar fovea ovoid and not separated by a carina (Fig. 13B). It differs from A. darioi as follows: vein R 1 in the radial cell, present; clear spot in the third cubital cell, absent; pigmentation of the basal cell, more evident in A. zapoteco; galls with pointed protuberances, evident (Fig. 15E); white spots on gall surface, evident; two longitudinal carinae on face, absent; smooth depression below eyes, present; pedicel shorter relative to scape (0.25), broader than long; malar space relative to the height of an eye, larger; scutellar fovea ovoid and not separated by a carina; mesoscutellar groove, deeper and broader. It differs from A. oaxacae as follows: pigmentation of anal cell, not restricted to the proximal half; galls with pointed protuberances, evident; proportion of smooth and shining areas on the second metasomal tergum, smaller, and coriaceous-alutaceous sculpture, absent in A. oaxacae; smooth depression below eyes, present; pedicel shorter relative to scape (0.25), broader than long; malar space relative to the height of an eye, larger; scutellar fovea ovoid and not separated by a carina. It differs from A. nigrialatus as follows: A. nigrialatus has a generally darker coloration of the fore wing; clear spot in A. zapoteco, absent in the third cubital cell, whereas in A. nigrialatus, this spot extends from the third cubital cell to discoidal cell (Fig. 18B); areolet present, absent in A. nigrialatus; galls with pointed protuberances, evident; white spots on gall surface, evident; proportion of smooth and shining areas on the second metasomal tergum, smaller, 1/ 2 in A. nigrialatus; two longitudinal carinae on face, absent; smooth depression below eyes, present; pedicel shorter relative to scape (0.25), broader than long; scutellar fovea ovoid.

Description.

Body length: 5.7 mm average (n = 4; 5.4 mm / 5.8 mm) for females.

Female (Fig. 15A): Body almost entirely black. Basal and distal parts of the antennal scape and pedicel usually have a chestnut region. In some individuals, the last flagellomeres chestnut ventrally and black dorsally. Mandibles chestnut. Mesosoma entirely black. Tarsi dark brown. Metasoma black dorsally and chestnut ventrally. First metasomal tergum and immediate anterior region of the second metasomal tergum, near the first metasomal tergum, yellowish, giving the appearance of a ring alongside first metasomal tergum. Posterior margins of metasomal terga, posterior to the bands of micropunctures, chestnut. Hypopygium and areas near hypopygium and ventral spine, chestnut, lighter on ventral spine, almost yellow. Fore wing (Fig. 15C) with a dark band extending along anterior margin, encompassing the basal cell, first cubital cell, radial cell, half of the costal cell (adjacent to first cubital cell), and anterior margin and junction with the radial cell in the third cubital cell. Entire discoidal cell is colorless, but some darker specimens have slight pigmentation along the margin of vein Cu1 at mid-length. Anal cell, usually colorless across most of its extent but exhibits two more heavily pigmented spots on the posterior margin of wing. The first, basally positioned, before vein cu-a, apparently delimited anteriorly by vein 1A. The second spot, at the posterior margin (posterior to vein cu-a) but does not extend towards the discoidal cell. Almost all veins are chestnut or unpigmented at the center. Darkest veins are the proximal half of R+Sc and veins Rs and M, which delimit basal cell, but in general, veins visible because exhibit some degree of color loss.

Head: in dorsal view, 2.3 × wider than long. POL 0.9 × OOL and 2 × DOL. Head, in anterior view (Fig. 13A), 1.25 × wider than high; gena slightly broadened behind the eye. Vertex, frons, lower face, and gena with strong reticulate-rugose sculpture. Irradiating carinae from clypeus absent. Head moderately pubescent, less pubescent on vertex and frons. Clypeus more or less hexagonal, ventral margin strongly projecting over mandibles and sinuate on anterior margin. Anterior tentorial pits, well visible; epistomal sulcus and clypeo-pleurostomal lines, weakly indicated. Small protuberance present above the epistomal sulcus. Malar space 0.75 × the height of the compound eye. Toruli situated at mid-height of the compound eye. Transfacial line 1.6 × height of an eye. Distance between antennal rim and compound eye, shorter than the width of the torulus including rim. Ocellar plate slightly raised. Below the eye, there is a region with fewer rugosities, which in some specimens appears as a depression extending towards mandibles.

Mouthparts: Mandibles, strong and exposed, with dense setae in base.

Antenna (Fig. 13C): of moderate length, 0.6 × body length; with 13 antennomeres. F10 and F11, distinctly separated. Flagellum not broadening towards apex, with short and erect setae. Pedicel short and small, 1.6 × wider than long, and 0.25 × length of the scape. F1 1.6 × as long as F2. F7–F10 appear approximately as long as wide. F11 1.5 × as long as wide and twice as long as F10. Placodeal sensilla present on F3–F11, arranged in dense rows starting from F4, confined to the ventral half of each flagellomere.

Mesosoma: in lateral view (Fig. 13D), 1.2 × as long as high. Pronotum pubescent; lateral surface of pronotum with strong, irregular, reticulate-rugose sculpture. Pronotum, medially short, though slightly larger than in other species; median pronotal length 0.35 × that of lateral pronotal length. Pronotal plate slightly distinct dorsally. Central region of pronotum, smooth and shiny, quite conspicuous and broad compared to the rest of pronotum, which exhibits rugosities and pubescence; however, pubescence also present along edges within the shiny area.

Mesonotum: Mesoscutum (Fig. 13B) pubescent, primarily in the anterior region, but setae very short and thin, conspicuous only in anterior area near the pronotum. Sculpture, reticulate-rugose; interspaces, smooth and shining, interrupted only by the setae in the anterior region or by the reduced size of reticulae. Notauli not discernible. Longitudinal median impression barely perceptible, only noticeable next to the transscutal fissure. Anteroadmedian signa obscured by sculpture but still visible, extending backward to just before the midpoint of mesoscutum. Parapsidal signa obscured by sculpture but discernible up to mid-length of mesoscutum. Transscutal fissure narrow, almost straight, slightly sinuate. Mesoscutellum as wide as long, approximately 0.5 × as long as mesoscutum. Strongly and coarsely rugose, slightly pubescent, with a broad median longitudinal impression that makes the mesoscutellum emarginate posteriorly (Fig. 13B); median longitudinal impression extends anteriorly to scutellar foveae and shares the same internal sculpture as foveae, appearing as an extension of foveae. Scutellar foveae (Fig. 13B) 0.4 × as long as mesoscutellum, ovoid, relatively deep, lacking pubescence, and fused, not separated by a carina. With sparse rugae, generally transverse, well-separated, and of variable length; interspaces smooth. Axillula large, pubescent, and rugose, with shining interspaces, not very deep, and with the posterior margin not delimited. In lateral view, posterodorsal extension of the body of the subaxillular strip reaches half the height of mesoscutellum. Mesopleuron reticulate-rugose, pubescent, with rugae similar to those of mesoscutum (Fig. 13D). Mesopleural triangle, slightly shinier than the rest of mesopleuron. Posterior groove of the mesopleural triangle, present below tegula, with very faint rugae, shiny (similar to deeper region of mesopleural triangle that borders the rest of mesopleuron), and anteriorly delimited by a small carina.

Metanotum (Fig. 14F): Metapectal-propodeal complex. Metapleural sulcus reaching the posterior margin of mesopectus at approximately mid-height of metapectal-propodeal complex. Metascutellum rugose and slightly shiny. Metanotal trough pubescent and smooth, relatively shallow. Propodeal area with irregular rugae; pubescence present, primarily on sides. Lateral propodeal carinae, indistinct due to rugae, but the reduced pubescence and a slight depression allow this area to be distinguished.

Legs: Densely pubescent, particularly on tibiae and tarsi; femora and tibiae robust. Metatibia 1.65 × as long as metatarsus; apical margin of metatarsomeres 1–4 with long, strong, erect setae. Metatarsal claws with strong, triangular basal lobes or teeth (Fig. 14B).

Fore wing (Fig. 15C): 1.2 × as long as the body. Radial cell, approximately 3.25 × longer than wide; open along the anterior margin, including the strong reduction in length of vein R1 (primarily visible due to the extension of pigmentation). Areolet present, although vein M in this cell may appear diffuse due to loss of pigmentation. Veins M and Cu1 nearly straight, not reaching wing margin. Rs+M complete, reaching basalis at mid-length, but approximately a quarter of its length lacks pigmentation near its junction with vein M. First abscissa of radius (2r) curved, slightly projected towards the radial cell. Vein Cu1, not branched into two veins, but exhibits a pigmented spot in the hypothetical region of vein Cu1b, which in some specimens extends to the margin of anal cell. Apical margin with very short or obsolete hair fringe. Most densely pigmented regions are the radial cell, first cubital cell, and basal cell.

Metasoma (Fig. 13E): in dorsal view 1.6 × as long as wide; in lateral view, as long as high. Second metasomal tergum covering approximately 0.6 × the length of metasoma; anterior one-fifth smooth and shining, posterior third with a band of micropunctures clearly visible. Punctate sculpture extends onto subsequent terga. Second metasomal tergum, anterior to the area of micropunctures, there is a region with coriaceous-alutaceous sculpture, primarily on the dorsal part and extending laterally to the beginning of pubescence. Ventral area of second metasomal tergum pubescent, obscuring sculpture in this region. The combination of coriaceous-alutaceous sculpture and pubescence restricts the smooth and shining area to a very limited region. Projecting part of hypopygial spine long (Fig. 14A); 7 × as long as high in lateral view; ventrally tapering in width towards apex, laterally with long setae that may exceed the width of ventral spine distally, not forming an apical patch.

Male: Differs from female as follows: 5 mm (n = 2; 4.7 mm / 5.2 mm). Head (Fig. 14D), in dorsal view, 2.15 × wider than long. POL 1.6 × the DOL. Transfacial line 1.4 × height of an eye. Clypeus shinier and less rugose. Antennae with 15 antennomeres (Fig. 14C); F1 slightly modified, flattened on ventral side; elongate placodeal sensillae visible on all flagellomeres. Antennae and legs longer relative to the body (Fig. 15B). Mesoscutellum more widely and deeply emarginated on posterior margin (Fig. 14E). Posterodorsal extension of the body of the subaxillular strip, shorter, not reaching half height of mesoscutellum. Metasoma smaller than thorax (contrary to females, Fig. 15B). Metasoma (Fig. 14G) with less ventral pubescence and less extensive coriaceous-alutaceous sculpture; smooth and shining sculpture covering one-third of second metasomal tergum. Metatibia 1.5 × as long as metatarsus. Metafemur more slender. Fore wings (Fig. 15D) more heavily infuscate across their entire surface; darker anterior band remains visible and follows the same pattern as in female (Fig. 15C). Vein R 1 in the radial cell more evident and longer. Vein 2r less projected into radial cell.

Gall (Fig. 15E, F): The morphology of galls of this species is relatively variable due to their geographical distribution and number of host species within their range. Galls follow the general pattern for the genus, being regularly spherical with a spongy inner consistency. When fresh, the surface is rarely completely smooth and usually has a moist texture. In some cases, galls may be almost entirely smooth on the surface and feature a nipple at apex, slightly rugose across the entire surface without visible protuberances, or with small pointed protuberances scattered randomly (including the nipple at the apex of gall). Occasionally, the nipple at the apex is large. Typically, smooth galls correspond to those in growth phase or nearing full maturity, while rugose galls usually correspond to those that have stopped growing and begin to acquire coloration and characteristics of dry galls. They are monothalamic. Normally, light green in color with irregular white (or lighter green) spots scattered across the surface of gall. In some cases, coloration of the spots is difficult to discern but still present. When dry, turn light brown, although some may acquire a reddish hue. Even when dry, white spots on the surface are generally still visible. Galls of this species become fragile to the touch when dry. Epidermis is thin and firmly attached to the internal spongy tissue. Internally, a dense layer of pith surrounds the larval chamber, with looser fibrous tissue between this layer and the epidermis. Average longitudinal diameter is 5.66 cm, and average transversal diameter is 5.27 cm (longitudinal diameter ranging from 38 to 86 mm and transversal diameter ranging from 37 to 80 mm; n = 71).

Distribution.

Amphibolips zapoteco was found in the Sierra de Juárez, in northern Oaxaca State, between 2051 and 2466 m a.s.l.

Biology.

Only the sexual generation is known. Galls are known to occur on three species of Quercus: Q. scytophylla, Q. crassifolia, and Q. elliptica. They have also been recorded on a recognized hybrid of Quercus: Q. x dysophylla. Additionally, many galls have been collected from species of Quercus in the section Lobatae, where it is not possible to determine exact host species. Galls were collected in March and April, and insects emerged in April and May. Smaller galls often fail to yield adult Amphibolips due to parasitoid attacks or presence of inquilines; thus, the average measurements of galls are influenced by these factors.

Remarks.

Amphibolips zapoteco belongs to the same lineage as A. idiopteryx and A. darioi within the Oaxacan lineage (sensu Castillejos-Lemus et al., 2025).