Sycoscapter monticola, Chou & Yeh & Su & Tzeng, 2024

Sycoscapter gajimaru ( Ishii, 1934) View in CoL ( Figs. 3 View Fig , 4 View Fig , 5 View Fig )

Goniogaster gajimaru Ishii, 1934: 89 View in CoL , pls. 2(20).

Sycoscapter gajimaru Wiebes, 1964: 83 View in CoL ( Japan); Yokoyama and Iwatsuki, 1998: 43 ( Japan); Chen et al. 1999: 73, fig. 19 (Taiwan); Karube et al. 2022: 51, fig. 43 (Kita-Iwo, Japan; introduced).

Type locality: Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

Material examined: Lectotype: 1ñ, Naha, Okinawa, 22-III-1934, Col. T. Ishii ( NARO), designated here. Others: Japan: 1ñ 1ò, Naha (26.226520, 127.713802), Okinawa, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 3-VI-2023, leg. P. A. Chou ( NCHU); 1ñ, Amami (28.391214, 129.506937), Kagoshima, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 9- Ⅴ -2021, leg. K. Arimoto ( NCHU); 1ñ, Minamidaito (25.836189, 131.237121), Okinawa, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 20- Ⅴ -2022, leg. K. Arimoto ( NCHU). Taiwan: 1ò 1ñ, Fugui Cape (25.292583, 121.538262), New Taipei City, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 13-IX-2020, leg. P. A. Chou ( NCHU); 1ñ, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 6-IX-1991, leg. C. F. Hsu ( TARI); 1ñ, Taichung Park, Taichung City, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 15-IX-1991, leg. K. S. Lin ( TARI); 1ñ, Wanfeng, Taichung City, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 8-Ⅹ-1991, leg. K. S. Lin ( TARI); 1ò 1ñ, Botanical Garden of National Museum of Natural Science (24.158742, 120.667746), Taichung City, ex Ficus benjamina L. var. bracteata Corner , 27- IV-2023, leg. P. A. Chou ( NCHU); 1ñ, Yuanlin Park, Changhua, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 13-IX-1991, leg. K. S. Lin ( TARI); 1ñ, Tsaotun, Nantou, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 8-Ⅹ-1991, leg. K. S. Lin ( TARI); 1ñ, Kenting Forest Recreation Area (21.961888, 120.814306), Pingtung, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 11- VIII-2022, leg. P. A. Chou ( NCHU); 1ò 1ñ, Kenting Forest Recreation Area (21.964254, 120810716), Pingtung, ex Ficus benjamina L. var. bracteata Corner , 11-VIII-2022, leg. P. A. Chou ( NCHU); 1ñ, Tali, Ilan, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 14-IX-1991, leg. T. F. Hsu ( TARI); 1ò 1ñ, Shitiping (23.491086, 121.508953), Hualien, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 29-VIII-2018, leg. P. A. Chou ( NCHU); 1ò 1ñ, Taitung Seashore Park (22.751414, 121.610591), Taitung, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 25-III-2023, leg. P. A. Chou ( NCHU); 1ò 1ñ, Ludao (22.671815, 121.505912), Taitung, ex Ficus microcarpa L. f., 30-VIII-2018, leg. P. A. Chou ( NCHU).

Description: Female: Whole L = 3.82–4.93 mm with body L = 1.08–1.43 mm and ovipositor sheath L = 2.74–3.50 mm. Body metallic green ( Fig. 3C View Fig ). Compound eyes pale red ( Fig. 3A View Fig ). Antenna scape and pedicel yellow, anelli, funicle and clava black ( Fig. 3I View Fig ). Legs yellow ( Fig. 3J, 3L, 3N View Fig ) except for the basal part of hind coxa black in antiaxial view ( Fig. 3N View Fig ).

Head: Obcordate in front view ( Fig. 3A View Fig ); H = 0.26 mm, W over compound eyes = 0.32 mm, W between compound eyes = 0.22 mm. Compound eye H 1.5× malar space L, and 3× compound eyes W. POL 7.49× OOL. Clypeus margin with a thin projection in the middle ( Fig. 4A View Fig ). Face and antennal scrobes with raised reticulation ( Fig. 3A View Fig ). Mandible bidentate ( Fig. 3G View Fig ). Maxillary palp 3-segmented; length ratio = 3:4:4 ( Fig. 4B View Fig ). Labial palp 2-segmented; length ratio = 3:2 ( Fig. 4B View Fig ). The distance between toruli 0.3× clypeus margin. Antennal formula 11253 and L = 0.49 mm; length ratio of scape, pedicel, anelli, funicle and clava = 14:4:1:20:10 ( Fig. 3I View Fig ). Scape L 3.85× W, with sparse trichoid sensillae ( Fig. 4C View Fig ). Pedicel L 1.3× W, with sparse trichoid sensillae ( Fig. 4C View Fig ). Both anelli equal in length and the second one wider ( Fig. 4C View Fig ). All funicular segments equal in length; the first funicular segment L 0.92× W, with 3 multiporous placoid sensillae and 8 chaetica sensillae in antiaxial view; the chaetica sensilla longer than funicular segment ( Fig. 4C View Fig ). Claval segments slightly wider than funicular segments; the first claval segment L 0.76× W, with 3 multiporous placoid sensillae and 7 chaetica sensillae in antiaxial view.

Mesosoma: Mesosoma L = 0.41 mm, W = 0.29 mm; length ratio of pronotum, scutum, scutellum and propodeum = 2:4:5:1. Pronotum, scutum and scutellum with raised reticulation but propodeum psilate ( Fig. 3B View Fig ) Pronotum with collar in ventral view. Scutum with incomplete notauli ( Fig. 3B View Fig ). Scutellum nearly as wide as long; punctures of reticulation rounded ( Fig. 4D View Fig ). Metanotum strongly compressed and the middle covered by scutellum. Propodeum transverse with two longitudinal keels. Forewing L = 1.01 mm, W = 0.44 mm, with 5–7 setae below the marginal vein; length ratio of submarginal vein, marginal vein, postmarginal vein and stigmal vein = 5:3:4:2 ( Fig. 3P View Fig ). Hind wing L = 0.58 mm, W = 0.12 mm; length ratio of submarginal vein and marginal vein = 2:3. Foreleg L = 0.65 mm; length ratio of coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus = 3:2:5:4:3 ( Fig. 3J View Fig ). Fore tibia with a curve, bidentate spur reaching the apex of first tarsomere; 1 spine beside spur in both axial and antiaxial views ( Fig. 4E, 4F View Fig ). Fore tarsus 5-segmented; length ratio of each segment = 4:3:3:2:7. Mid leg L = 0.67 mm; length ratio of coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus = 1:1:3:4:3 ( Fig. 3L View Fig ). Mid tibia with a straight spur; spur L 0.5× the first tarsomere L; 1 spine beside spur in axial view but no spine in antiaxial view ( Fig. 4G, 4H View Fig ). Mid tarsus 5-segmented; length ratio of each segment = 7:4:3:2:4. Hind leg L = 0.92 mm; length ratio of coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus = 3:1:4:5:3 ( Fig. 3N View Fig ). Hind tibia with a straight spur; spur L 0.5× the first tarsomere L; 19-24 teeth in axial view and 3 spines beside spur in antiaxial view ( Fig. 4I, 4J View Fig ). Hind tarsus 5-segmented; length ratio of each segment = 8:4:3:2:5.

Metasoma: Abdomen without ovipositor sheath L = 0.74 mm.

Male: L = 1.33–1.40 mm. Body brown ( Fig. 3D View Fig ). Eyes black ( Fig. 3E View Fig ). Mandible dark brown ( Fig. 3H View Fig ). Antenna pale yellow ( Fig. 3E View Fig ). Legs brown ( Fig. 3K, 3M, 3O View Fig ).

Head: Rectangular shape in dorsal view ( Fig. 3E View Fig ); L without mandible = 0.45 mm, W = 0.38 mm. Mandible L = 0.25 mm, W = 0.10 mm. Mandible falcate with a fine tooth in the middle ( Fig 3H View Fig ). Clypeus margin concave in the middle. Maxillary palp 4-segmented; length ratio = 3: 3: 1: 3 ( Fig. 5 B View Fig ). Labial palp 2-segmented; length ratio = 3:2 ( Fig. 5B View Fig ). Compound eye L 2.5× W. Malar space L 1.79× compound eye L. Toruli close to clypeus margin. Antennal formula 11153 and L = 0.37 mm; length ratio of scape, pedicel, anellus, funicle and clava = 11:7:1:8:7. Scape L 2.51× W, with sparse trichoid sensillae ( Fig. 5A View Fig ). Pedicel L 3.32× W, with sparse trichoid sensillae ( Fig. 5A View Fig ). The first and third funicular segment swollen, L 0.6× W; other funicular segments L 0.55× W; all funicular segments with trichoid sensillae ( Fig. 5A View Fig ). Claval segments as wide as the swollen funicular segments; the first claval segment L 0.9× W, with trichoid sensillae and multiporus placoid sensillae ( Fig. 5A View Fig ).

Mesosoma: Long pentagon in dorsal view ( Fig. 3F View Fig ); L = 0.54 mm, W = 0.39 mm; length ratio of pronotum and the fused tergum = 4:3. Pronotum with collar in ventral view. Mesonotum, metanotum and propodeum fused in dorsal view ( Fig. 3F View Fig ). Rudimentary wing vestige present, L = 0.39 mm ( Fig. 3F View Fig ). Foreleg L = 0.85 mm; length ratio of coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus = 4:1:3:3:2 ( Fig. 3K View Fig ). Fore tibia with a slightly curve, bidentate spur reaching the last tarsomere; 11–12 spines in axial view and 15–16 spines in antiaxial view ( Fig. 5C, 5D View Fig ). Fore tarsus 5-segmented; length ratio of each segment = 2:1:1:1:10. Mid leg L = 0.67 mm; length ratio of coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus = 2:1:2:2:2 ( Fig. 3M View Fig ). Mid tibia with a straight spur reaching the fourth tarsomere; 13 spines in axial view and 12–13 spines in antiaxial view ( Fig. 5E, 5F View Fig ). Mid tarsus 5-segmented; length ratio of each segment = 2:1:1:1:6. Hind leg L = 0.92 mm; length ratio of coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus = 7:2:5:6:4 ( Fig. 3O View Fig ). Hind tibia with a straight spur reaching the fourth tarsomere; 15–18 spines in axial view and 23 spines in antiaxial view ( Fig. 5G, 5H View Fig ). Hind tarsus 5-segmented; length ratio of each segment = 1:1:1:1:4.

Metasoma: Abdomen L = 0.53 mm.

Host: Ficus microcarpa L. f. and Ficus benjamina L. var. bracteata Corner.

Distubution: Taiwan; Japan: Ryukyu islands and Kita-Iwo (introduced).

Diagnosis: This species is similar to S. benghalansis Pramanik and Dey but can be distinguished by the characters, following the key provided by Pramanik and Dey (2019), in female including the seta number on forewing (5–7 in S. gajimaru vs. 23 in S. benghalensis ), the ratio of ovipositor L to metasoma L (4.03 in S. gajimaru vs. 4.7 in S. benghalensis ); in male including the ratio of malar space L to eye L (1.79 in S. gajimaru vs. 1 in S. benghalensis ). This species is also similar to S. stabilis (Walker) but can be distinguished by the characters in female including the ratio of ovipositor to metasoma (4.03 in S. gajimaru vs. 5.3 in S. stabilis ) and vertex shape (concave in S. gajimaru vs. straight in S. stabilis ); in male including the ratio of mandible L to W (2.3 in S. gajimaru vs. 1.7 in S. stabilis ). Despite the differences above, ambiguous delimitation between males of S. gajimaru and S. stabilis still exists, with males of the latter species reported to have variable characters ( Wiebes 1967).

Remarks: Ishii (1934) published two Sycoscapter species, S. inubiae (= Goniogaster inubiae ) and S. gajimaru (= G. gajimaru ). In that description, the projection on clypeus margin of the former was sharp while that of the latter was thin. However, the figures showed the projection of S. inubiae [ Ishii (1934): Fig. 12 View Fig ] was thinner than that of S. gajimau [ Ishii (1934):