Diaulinopsis albimaxilla Hansson, 2016

Diaulinopsis albimaxilla Hansson, 2016 View in CoL

Fig. 11

Material examined. 1 ♀,, 2 ♂♂: IRAN, West-Azarbaijan Province , Naqadeh, Solduz Wetland, 37º02′ N, 45º35′ E, 1277 m a.s.l., 21 July 2020, 29 April 2021, M. Razmi leg., ex Calamagrostis epigejos GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis (abstracted from Hansson 2016). The distinctive features of the female ( Fig. 11A) of this species include a slender and elongated body with a dark brown coloration and metallic tints. The mesosoma is dark brown with golden-green shades, and the legs exhibit a gradient of brown and yellowish-white hues. The antenna has a slender scape, which is white with the apical third being dark or completely white, and a thicker flagellum. The female closely resembles the female of Diaulinopsis arenaria (Erdös, 1951) , with the primary distinction being the configuration of sensilla (mps) on the first flagellomere. In D. albimaxilla , the sensilla are organized in a single row with attachment points aligned at the same level, whereas in D. arenaria , the sensilla are arranged more irregularly, not conforming to a single row.

Males ( Fig. 11B) and females of this species exhibit a high degree of similarity in both size and body color ( Fig. 11A,B). Significant distinguishing features between males and females include the antennae and maxillae. The male antenna ( Fig. 11B,F,H) has a strongly swollen scape that is completely dark, and a flagellum with two funiculars and three clavomeres. The maxillae ( Fig. 11C) are significantly enlarged and completely white. Diaulinopsis albimaxilla can be distinguished from D. arenaria by its shorter scape and antennal hair density―flagellomeres of D. albimaxilla possess fewer setae, particularly noticeable on the funicular segments, whereas D. arenaria ’s flagellomeres are densely covered with setae. Furthermore, the maxillae of D. albimaxilla are significantly enlarged and exhibit a white coloration, while those of D. arenaria are of a more typical size, predominantly dark, with only the apical one-third and the palpi being white ( Hansson 2016). While one specimen conformed to Hansson’s description, another exhibited a scape extending beyond the vertex ( Fig. 11F,G).

Remarks. In his noteworthy article, Hansson (2016) described D. albimaxilla as a new species, distinguishing it from D. arenaria . He identified the shorter scape, which does not surpass the vertex, as a key diagnostic character for male D. albimaxilla , contrasting with D. arenaria males where the scape typically extends approximately one-third of its length above the vertex. However, our examination of male D. albimaxilla specimens reared from hosts revealed variability in this trait, with one male conforming to Hansson’s description and another with a scape extending beyond the vertex. Given this observed variation and considering our specimens were obtained through controlled host rearing, this suggests that scape length may not be a definitive diagnostic character. Instead, the markedly enlarged, entirely white maxillae of D. albimaxilla is likely a more reliable distinguishing feature. This contrasts sharply with D. arenaria , which possesses normally proportioned maxillae that are predominantly dark, with only the apical third and palpi appearing white.

Distribution. IRAN: West Azarbaijan Province ( new record). EXTRALIMITAL: Romania ( Type locality) ( UCD Community 2023; Hansson 2016).

Biological association. There are no recorded associates for this species. However, hosts belonging to the families Agromyzidae ( Diptera ) and Gracillariidae ( Lepidoptera ) are listed as the primary hosts for members of this genus in UCD Community (2023) and it is very likely that this species is a parasitoid of Agromyzidae and other flies associated with Calamagrostis .