Pteroptrix aegyptica Evans and Abd-Rabou, n. sp.

Abstract

Pteroptrix aegyptica Evans and Abd­Rabou n. sp. Female (Figs. 1–6). Length: 1.0– 1.2 mm. Diagnosis The female of Pteroptrix aegyptica is most similar to Pteroptrix arabica (Ferriére) described from Parlatoria blanchardi (Targioni Tozzetti) from Saudia Arabia, but differs in having the head brown, the midlobe of the mesoscutum brown with a pale, central triangular­shaped area, F 3 and F 4 antennal segments each slightly wider than long, the marginal fringe 0.9 –1.0x as long as fore wing width, and the male F 3 antennal segment quadrate; whereas the female of P. arabica, has the head yellow, the midlobe of the mesoscutum completely brown, F 3 and F 4 each about 1.25 x as long as wide and the marginal fringe 0.8 x as long as fore wing width, and the male F 3 antennal segment transverse. Description Color (Fig. 1) — Body dark brown except pale yellow triangular­shaped area on mid lobe of mesocutum, side lobes, scutellum and metanotum; legs yellow except for fuscous hind femur and basal two­thirds of middle and hind tibiae; fore wing hyaline (clear) with area under marginal vein to the posterior margin of the forewing, and the distal half of submarginal vein narrowly infuscate. Head with length/width measurements (μm) and length/width ratios of antennal segments (Fig. 3) as follows: radicle 52.5 / 20 = 1.5, scape 135 / 35 = 3.9, pedicel 75 / 42.5 = 1.8, F 1 35 / 37.5 = 0.9, F 2 25 / 35 = 0.7, F 3 37.5 / 40 = 0.9, F 4 37.5 / 40 = 0.9, F 5 70 / 37.5 = 1.9, F 6 100 / 27.5 = 3.6. Mandibles (Fig. 6) with 3 teeth, glossa (Fig. 5) with 1 pair of pegs. Mesosoma (Fig. 1) with 5 setae on midlobe of mesoscutum arranged as 2 + 1 + 2; axillae elongate, each with 1 moderately long seta arising about at the center of the axilla; scutellum with placoid sensillae widely separated by a distance of about 14 x the diameter of 1 sensillum; anterior pair of setae (Sc 1) very short, less than 0.33 x as long as the posterior pair (Sc 2). Fore wing (Fig. 4) — narrow, length 780; maximum width of wing 225; disk length 312.5; longest seta of marginal fringe 212.5; forewing width 0.72 x forewing disk; marginal fringe 0.94 x forewing width; submarginal vein with 1 seta, marginal vein with 3 long setae along the anterior margin, costal cell with one short seta located at about half its length and 2 long setae located at the apex near the base of the marginal vein, 2 basal group setae; disk setae sparse. Legs (Fig. 2) with 4 ­ 4 ­ 4 tarsal formula; spur of middle tibia (70) 1.27 x as long as corresponding basitarsus (55). Gaster very elongate, 2.5 x as long as mesosoma and 1.6 x as long as mesosoma and head combined; ovipositor (317.5) arising at level of base of tergite V, 1.3 x longer than middle tibia (245); valvulae III very short (55), about 0.17 x as long as ovipositor. Male (Fig 7). Similar to female in coloration and structure, but can be easily distinguished from the females by the relative lengths of antennal segments, especially that of the first 3 segments of the funicle (F 1 –F 3). These segments are elongate in the male, with F 1 and F 3 each about 2 x as long as wide, and F 2 is quadrate; whereas in the female, the F 1 and F 3 segments are quadrate and F 2 is transverse. Specimens examined and deposition Holotype female (slide mounted). Egypt, El­Arish (Northern Sinai), 11.x. 1997, S.Abd­Rabou, ex Parlatoria blanchardi (Targioni Tozzetti) [Diaspididae] on Phoenix dactylifera L. [Arecaceae]; deposited in USNM. Paratypes: 1 female in PPRI, and 4 males (slide mounted), same collection data as holotype in USNM and PPRI. Discussion Using Prinsloo and Neser’s (1990) key to the world species of Archenomus Howard (a junior synonym of Pteroptrix), this new species would key out to Pteroptrix arabica (Ferriére) described by Ferriére (1970) from Parlatoria blanchardi from Saudia Arabia, and would be placed in the Pteroptrix bicolor group as defined by Prinsloo and Neser (1990). Unlike most species in this group, the forewings of both P. arabica and P. aegyptica are very narrow with a very long marginal fringe, almost as long as the maximum width of the forewing. Pteroptrix aegyptica was collected from El­Arish (Northern Sinai) which has a moderate temperature and high relative humidity. Its host, Parlatoria blanchardi, attacks the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, one of the most important crops in Egypt.Published as part of Evans, Gregory A. & Abd-Rabou, Shaaban, 2005, Two new species, and additional records, of aphelinids from Egypt (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), pp. 1-7 in Zootaxa 838 on pages 2-4, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17069