Synergus rufinotaulis Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero, sp. nov.

Synergus rufinotaulis Nieves-Aldrey & Medianero sp. nov.

(Figs. 2 D, 4G, 4H, 5K, 6K, 8D, 11D, 13C, 17F, 19E–F)

Type material. Holotype ̩ (Fig. 19 E) (in Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain (MNCN), cardmounted. Cat. nº 2098). PANAMA, Chiriquí, Volcán Barú, 8º 46' 36 08” N, 82º 31' 39 03” W, 3079 m; ex gall Cynips sp. on twigs of Quercus bumelioides (Fagaceae), gall collected 23.x.2008, E. Medianero leg. Paratypes: 13, same data as holotype, but gall collected 22.vii.2008; 1̩, same data as holotype, reared from an unidentified gall (Cynips sp.?) 27.ii.2009. One paratype in the MNCN, another paratype in Maestría en Entomología, Universidad de Panamá (MEUP).

Etymology. Named after the reddish coloration of the notauli contrasting with the black mesoscutum.

Diagnosis and comments. This pretty, distinctive species differs from other Panamanian species by its long filiform antennae and long radial cell; the scutellum being subpentagonal, strongly reticulate-rugose dorsally, the large, quadrangular or irregularly rounded scutellar foveae, the wide well impressed notauli, reddish posteriorly in females, the mesopleuron with mixed striate and coriarious-rugose sculpture and the metasomal T2+3 with punctures extended about 1/3 of metasoma length. With respect to its general aspect, the micropunctate metasoma, the shape of mesoscutal sculpture and the long radial cell resembles S. colombianus, but these two species are well distinguished by many other characters, such as the antennal F1 of males, which is more strongly expanded in S. colombianus, the wider notauli of S. rufinotaulis, the different mesoscutal coloration, the shape of the scutellar foveae and other features.

Description. Body length 3.36 mm (range 3.16–3.56; N = 2) for females; 2.77 (N = 1) for males. Female. Head black excepting a narrow band along internal margin of eyes, the entire genae, the sides of the face and the bases of the mandibles which are yellowish-red or orange. Antenae brown, last flagellar segments lighter. Mesosoma black, with dorsolateral margins of pronotum, posterior one third of notauli, tegulae and dorsal margin of metascutellum orange. Metasoma black dorsally and yellowish ventrally. Legs yellow, with basal half of metacoxae black; distal half of posterior tibiae and tarsi of all legs more or less brown. Forewing hyaline, veins brown. Male differs in having the orange coloration much reduced or absent; the mesosoma being entirely black, and the metasoma almost entirely black.

Female. (Fig. 19 E). Head in dorsal view (Fig. 4 H) 2.2 times as wide as long. Gena not expanded behind compound eye. POL 1.2 times longer than OOL, posterior ocellus separated from inner orbit of eye by 1.5 times its diameter. Head in anterior view (Fig. 2 D) trapezoid, 1.3 times wider than high, genae not expanded. Face weakly pubescent, with marked, high, strong irradiating carinae from clypeus, reaching ventral margin of eye and ventral margin of toruli; the carinae widely spaced, especially medially, the interspaces smooth. Ventral margin of clypeus straight not projected over mandibles. Malar space 0.6 as long as height of compound eye. Toruli situated at midheight of compound eye; distance between toruli short, shorter than diameter of a torulus; distance between mesal margin of compound eye and lateral margin of a torulus shorter than diameter of a torulus, including rim. Frons with reticulate rugae, frontal carinae narrow, branched near lateral ocelli (Fig 2 D). Vertex and occiput reticulate rugose, with piliferous punctures (Figs. 4 G, 4H).

Female antenna with 14 segments (Fig. 5 K); flagellum slender. Relative lengths of antennal segments: 18:8:27:27:25:24:20:15:14:12:11:10:9:15; pedicel slightly longer than wide; F1 as long as F2. Male antenna with 15 segments; F1 excaved medially and slightly expanded apically (Fig. 6 K).

Mesosoma. Pronotum without lateral pronotal carina (Fig. 7 B). Lateral surface of pronotum with reticulaterugose sculpture. Mesoscutum (Fig. 8 D) with, undulate transverse rugae, the interspaces with coriarious sculpture. Notauli percurrent, deep and wide thorough, crossed regularly by transversal mesoscutal sculpture; notauli moderately converging posteriorly. Median mesoscutal impression visible but shallowly impressed. Anteroadmedian signa visible. Scutellar foveae rounded, smooth, anterior margins straight and not quite diverging abruptly from the fissure transscutal, posterior margins distinct. Scutellum subpentagonal, not margined, with reticulate rugose sculpture (Fig. 8 D). Mesopleuron (Fig. 11 D) with the horizontal striae obscured by reticulate rugae, the interspaces with coriarious sculpture.

Lateral propodeal carinae distinct, broad, slightly convergent posteriorly. Median propodeal area pubescent, not sculptured. Nucha sulcate.

Legs. Tarsal claw with secondary acute tooth measuring about 1/2 of length of apical tooth.

Forewing (Fig. 17 F). As long as body. Radial cell long, 3 times longer than wide. All the veins well pigmented, R1 well visible along margin of radial cell although narrowed and less pigmented, radial cell closed (Fig. 17 F; areolet indistinct; vein Rs+M visible. Basal cell with sparse spaced setae. Apical margin of wing with a moderately long fringe of setae.

Metasoma (Fig. 13 C). As long as head plus mesosoma. First metasomal tergum longitudinally sulcate dorsally. Metasomal tergum T2+3 fused, covering almost the entire metasoma, smooth and shining, with well visible micropunctures, extended in posterior one third of tergite. Projecting part of hypopygial spine slightly extended beyond attachment of lateral flap; apical setae not projected beyond apex spine.

Distribution. Confined to the type locality Volcán Barú (Chiriqui, Panama).

Biology. Synergus rufinotaulis is present as inquiline in galls of an undescribed Cynips species (Fig. 22 D), as well as in other detachable galls induced by an unknown cynipid species, presumably a Cynips species as well (Fig. 22 F). In both cases, the host galls are spherical in shape, detachable and fall to the ground when mature. They grow on Quercus bumelioides (Quercus, Quercus section).