Diachasmimorpha hildagensis (Fischer)
Biosteres (Parasteres) hildagensis: Fischer 1967a: 5 (generic transfer).
Parasteres hildagensis: Fischer (1971): 33 (generic transfer); Fischer 1977: 880-883 (key, redescription).
Diachasmimorpha hildagensis: Wharton et al. (2012): 36-43 (generic transfer).
Both D. hildagensis and D. mexicana were described from single male specimens collected in the state of Mexico and the Distrito Federal, respectively, and unassociated with either hosts or host plants. Both have relatively small eyes, but are readily separated from one another on the basis of head coloration. Associating the name hildagensis with the many dark-headed specimens available for study, however, has been considerably more challenging. Reared material, representing over 50 specimens kindly made available to us by Allen Norrbom, Martin Aluja, and Juan Rull, provides clear evidence of sexual dimorphism in eye size as well as variation in ovipositor length associated with different hosts and host plants. This material has been especially critical for understanding color patterns and associating males with females. Based primarily on eye size and body size, the holotype of D. hildagensis is closest to the series of three specimens listed above under “other specimens examined,” that emerged from puparia of O. latifrons infesting fruits of S. brachycarpum.
Specimens reared from Oedicarena latifrons (Wulp) vary as follows relative to the holotype: clypeus length/height ratio 2.6-2.8; eye/temple ratio, lateral view, 1.3-1.4 (males), 1.55 (female); antenna with 46-48 flagellomeres; 2RS/3RS ratio 0.95-1.0; ovipositor sheath 2.5 times longer than the mesosoma (Fig. 8); mesosoma length 1.85-1.9 mm (male), 2.0 mm (female); one male with T1 dorsal carinae absent over posterior 0.5 and mandible, clypeus, face, and hind coxa more extensively orange; female with outer surface of hind coxa completely pale (dark medially), mandible, clypeus and lower part of face more extensively pale than in holotype.
This species is slightly larger and has a smaller eye than both of the similarly-colored species Diachasmimorpha martinalujai Wharton and D. norrbomi Wharton. Based on the single female reared from O. latifrons, D. hildagensis also has a much longer ovipositor than D. norrbomi. The ovipositors of D. hildagensis and D. martinalujai are similar in length. In D. hildagensis and D. martinalujai, the notaulus consistently extends anteriorly to the margin of the mesoscutum (Fig. 2) whereas in D. norrbomi, the notaulus usually does not (Fig. 10). Color variation in the specimens reared from O. latifrons is similar to that in the paratype series of D. martinalujai and D. norrbomi. Both D. hildagensis and these two more recently described species are similar in having the head mostly dark in contrast to the orange heads of D. mexicana and D. sanguinea, the other two members of this species group. The holotype of D. hildagensis exhibits subsurface discoloration on the metasoma, but the tergites are all entirely orange.
Other specimens examined: 2 females, 1 male, Mexico, Mexico, Rt 890, km 9, 6 km W Lago Zempoala, 2.×.1991, A.L. Norrbom, reared from Oedicarina latifrons infesting fruits of Solanum brachycarpum (91M14B) (TAMU, USNM).
There are no specimens currently determined for this OTU, or those specimens determined for this OTU are not yet mappable.
Hidalgo Natl. Pk.
State of Mex., Mex.
x.12.62 3000 m.
H. & M. Townes
Second label [purple]: Holotype
Third label: Opius hildagensis [male symbol] n. sp. det. Fischer
Fourth label: Type No. 336
We thank David Wahl (AEIC) and Kees van Achterberg (RMNH) for extended loans of holotypes, as well as Dominique Zimmermann and Manuela Vizek (NHMW), Gavin Broad (BMNH), Robert Kula and Paul Marsh (USNM), Jenö Papp (HNHM) and Henri Goulet (CNC) for assistance with loans of types and/or other material in their care. This work could not have been accomplished without the collecting efforts of several people, most notably Martin Aluja and his lab, Juan Rull, Al Norrbom, and Robert Jones. Imaging and plate assembly was considerably facilitated by Trent Hawkins, Karl Roeder, Cheryl Hyde, Patricia Mullins, and Sophia Daniels. Patricia Mullins and Matt Yoder provided assistance with databasing and the HAO. This work was supported in part by NSF DEB 0949027 and NSF/PEET DEB 0328922, with REU supplements 1213790 and 0616851 respectively (all to RAW). The HAO is funded by NSF DBI 0850223 to Andy Deans, formerly at North Carolina State University. RW prepared the descriptions of new species, LW assisted RW with opiine taxonomy and general manuscript preparation, and IM contributed the HAO linkages and a critical review of the morphological terms used throughout the published work.