Andricus katilmisi Tataroğlu, 2025

Tataroğlu, Musa, 2025, Another brushstroke on the cynipoid painting: a new species of Andricus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) from Türkiye, Zootaxa 5646 (1), pp. 131-143 : 134-140

Andricus katilmisi Tataroğlu , sp. nov.

Type material. HOLOTYPE male (♂): TÜRKİYE, Kütahya, Simav, KuŞu , 38°59'N, 29°00'E, 1000 m a.s.l.; ex Q. cerris ; M. Tataroğlu leg.; collected date: 25.VI.2024; emerging date: 30.VI. 2024 in ERL–PAU . PARATYPES: 7 ♂♂, TÜRKİYE, Kütahya, Simav, KuŞu , 38°59'N, 29°00'E, 1000 m a.s.l.; ex Q. cerris ; M. Tataroğlu leg.; collected date: 25.VI.2024; emerging date: 30.VI. 2024 in the ERL–PAU : 1 ♂, Kütahya, Simav, KuŞu , 38°59'N, 29°00'E, 1000 m a.s.l.; ex Q. cerris ; Y. KatılmıŞ leg.; collected date: 22.VI.2007; emerging date: 23.VI.2007. The holotype and paratypes are deposited in the ERL–PAU.

Etymology. Named after Turkish cynipidologist and my supervisor Prof. Dr. Yusuf KATILMIŞ for his outstanding contribution on gall wasps ( Cynipidae ).

Diagnosis. Andricus katilmisi , sp. nov. is closely related morphologically to Andricus Hartig, 1840 (males of sexual generation). Many morphological characters of the new species are compatible with Andricus species (sexual), including the presence of a transscutal articulation, a lower face with striae radiating from clypeus to inner margin of eye, the absence of a malar sulcus, and lateral propodeal carinae that are parallel or subparallel ( Melika et al. 2010).

Moreover, males of A. katilmisi , sp. nov. most closely resembles males of Andricus lucidus (Hartig, 1843) (sexual generation). The males of both species are characterized by having a strong curved F1, with remaining flagellomeres distinctly broadened apically, and a completely rugose pattern on the mesopleuron ( Melika 2006). However, the new species, differs from A. lucidus in the following characters. In A. katilmisi sp. nov., head, gena and malar space are rugose-rugulose; OOL is 1.1-1.2 times as long as diameter of lateral ocellus; lower face is slightly rugose-rugulose; frons and vertex are rugose-rugulose, and occiput is transversely wrinkled above occipital foramen; the subaxillular bar is nearly equal to the height of the metanotal trough; the upper part of the dorsellum is transversely wrinkled, while the lower part is smooth; the ventral impressed area is smooth with wrinkles; while in A. lucidus , head, gena, malar space and lower face are coriaceous; OOL is 2.4 times as long as diameter of lateral ocellus; frons, vertex and occiput are uniformly delicately coriaceous; the subaxillular bar is distinctly broader than height of metanotal trough; the dorsellum is delicately coriaceous; the ventral impressed area is smooth, shining, without wrinkles ( Melika 2006).

In addition, the sexual galls of A. lucidus develops on the petiole of a catkin of section Cerris oaks ( Q. cerris , etc.), while A. katilmisi sp. nov. is either an inquiline within the galls of D. circinans ( Diptera : Cecidomyiidae ) or forms a cryptic gall inside the galls of D. circinans on the leaves of Q. cerris . In both cases, the new species is directly associated with D. circinans galls throughout its life cycle.

Description.

ADULT MALE (description based on holotype and paratypes) ( Figs. 1–5 ).

Body length. 2.8–3.2 mm (n=9).

Colour. Head and mesosoma are dark brown. The edges of metasomal tergite 2 are yellowish-light brown, while its lateral and dorsal parts are dark brown. The remaining tergites, legs, and antennae are yellowish-light brown. Wing veins distinct, brown. Body with sparse white setae.

Head. Sculpture finely rugose-rugulose; rounded in frontal view; covered with sparse white setae, which are denser on the lower face; 1.8–1.9 times broader than long in dorsal view and nearly equal in width to the mesosoma; 1.2–1.3 times broader than high in anterior view. Gena with finely rugose-rugulose sculpturing; not visible in frontal view behind the eye. Malar space with rugose-rugulose sculpturing; 0.2–0.3 times the height of the eye. It features striae radiating from the clypeus and extending to the eye. POL is 1.7–1.8 times as long as OOL. OOL is 1.1–1.2 times as long as the diameter of the lateral ocellus and 1.2 times as long as LOL. Transfacial distance slightly shorter than height of eye; 1.2–1.3 times as long as height of lower face (distance between the antennal rim and ventral margin of clypeus). Diameter of antennal torulus 1.8–1.9 times as long as distance between toruli; 1.3 times as long as distance between torulus and eye margin. Inner margins of the eyes parallel. Lower face slightly rugose-rugulose with elevated median area; covered with sparse white setae. Clypeus quadrangular and impressed; wider than height; with distinct, deep anterior tentorial pits, well-defined epistomal sulcus, and clypeo-pleurostomal line. Clypeus widely emarginated ventrally; very slightly incised medially. Frons and vertex rugose-rugulose; occiput transversely wrinkled above occipital foramen.

Antenna. 14-segmented; F1 longest flagellomere; F1 1.3-1.4 times as long as F2, F2 1.2 times as long as F3 and longer than the pedicel. Terminal flagellomeres distinctly thinner than F1 and F2. Placodeal sensilla weakly distinct on F1–F12.

Mesosoma convex; distinctly longer than high in lateral view; uniformly covered with white setae. Ventrolateral part of pronotum longitudinally rugose-rugulose with dense white setae; dorso-lateral edge of pronotum rugose-rugulose with white setae. Scutum rugose-rugulose; longer than broad (measured across the base of tegulae). Notauli complete, well-impressed throughout, broadened posteriorly with some wrinkles. Median mesoscutal line absent; parapsidal lines extending well above base of tegulae. Anterior parallel lines reaching nearly half length of scutum. Scutellum 2.3 times shorter than scutum; dull rugose; overhanging metanotum. Scutellar foveae transversely ovate, deep, smooth; posteriorly delimited by sculpture; without setae; medially separated by rugose central carina. Mesopleuron entirely rugose-rugulose with dense setae, except central and posterior parts. Upper part of mesopleuron with broad sulcus bearing setae; mesopleural triangle above sulcus wrinkled with dense setae. Metapleural sulcus reaching mesopleuron in upper 1/3 of its height; area delimited by the inferior and superior parts of metapleural sulcus rugose with dense white setae.Axillar carina longitudinally and slightly wrinkled; axillula with dense white setae; subaxillular bar smooth, shining, nearly equal to height of metanotal trough. Propodeal spiracle slightly elevated, ovate. Upper part of dorsellum transversely wrinkled; lower part is smooth; dorsellum equal in height to ventral impressed area. Metanotal trough with dense setae, ventral impressed area smooth with wrinkles. Lateral propodeal carinae slightly curved outwards in the most posterior part, without setae. Central propodeal area smooth, shining, without setae; with weak irregular wrinkles extending posteriorly from lateral propodeal carinae. Lateral propodeal area smooth with setae. Nucha with rugose-rugulose sculpture.

Fore wing. Longer than the body; veins distinct, brown; margin with long cilia. Radial cell 3.4-3.6 times as long as broad; areolet well-defined. Rs+M vein extending to 2/3 of distance between areolet and basalis; projecting into lower half of vein.

Legs. Tibia with short, strong, sparsely applied setae. Tarsal claws with basal lobe.

Metasoma. Slightly longer than high in lateral view. First metasomal tergite (T1) smooth, shining; reduced to dorsal, crescent-shaped projecting scale. Metasomal tergite 2 (T2) with sparse white setae antero-laterally; without micropunctures. Subsequent tergites weakly micropunctate.

Biology. Andricus katilmisi sp. nov. was exclusively reared from the galls of Dryomyia circinans ( Diptera : Cecidomyiidae ) on Q. cerris . The female gall midge ( D. circinans ) oviposits on the undersurface of host plant leaves in late summer or early autumn (I). Following oviposition, larval activity induces the formation of rounded, hairy galls. These developing galls likely attract A. katilmisi sp. nov., whose females presumably lay eggs within the galls, thereby initiating their own developmental process (II). The following year, D. circinans adults emerge from their galls in April, whereas adults of the new species emerge later, in June (III). Upon emergence, individuals of A. katilmisi sp. nov. likely engage in mating (pending confirmation of the presence of females) thereby completing their life cycle ( Fig. 6 ).

Distribution. Currently known only from Türkiye.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Andricus katilmisi sp. nov., male: a, head in anterior view; b, head in dorsal view; c, head in posterior view; d-f, antenna.

FIGURE 2. Andricus katilmisi sp. nov., male: a, pronotum in lateral view; b, mesosoma in lateral view; c, mesopleuron; d, mesosoma in dorsal view; e, scutum in dorsal view; f, scutellum in dorsal view.

FIGURE 3. Andricus katilmisi sp. nov., male: a, mesosoma in posterior view; b, leg; c, tarsal claw; d, propleura; e, propleura and first legs; f, fore wing.

FIGURE 4. Andricus katilmisi sp. nov., male: a, metasoma in lateral view; b, metasomal tergites (T) in lateral view; c, metasoma in dorsal view; d, T2–T3 in dorsal view.

FIGURE 5. Andricus katilmisi sp. nov., male: general view of the male.

FIGURE 6. Life cycle of Andricus katilmisi sp. nov.