Zagrammosoma melinum Gordh

Zagrammosoma melinum Gordh

(Fig. 30)

Zagrammosoma melinum Gordh, 1978: 350–352. Holotype ♀ [examined]. Locality: USA, California, Coalinga, viii.1939, coll. F. P. Roullard, host: Bucculatrix sp. (Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae), host plant: Populus sp. (Cottonwood). Depository: USNM type no. 75665.

Diagnosis. This species is characterized by an overall reduction in black color patterns on the body when compared to most other species of Zagrammosoma. The patterns of Z. melinum are most similar to Z. americanum and Z. occidentale, however, the wing patterns are unique to each species (Fig. 30C versus 4C & 36C). In addition, the dark, transverse stripe on the anterior margin of the mesoscutum is absent or does not project posteriorly as it does in Z. americanum (Fig. 4D). The prepectus is all yellow and the second funicular is wider than long in Z. occidentale, whereas in Z. melinum there is a small, dark stripe on the dorsal margin of the prepectus and the second funicular is longer than wide.

Description. Female - body length 1.58–1.97 mm. Metallic luster on body absent. Scape yellow with black stripe dorsally. Lower face with median stripe absent. Vertex with 2 stripes above compound eye. Gena posteriorly with dark stripes below compound eye. Occiput yellow with 2 dark, vertical stripes. Pronotum with median stripe complete or incomplete; laterally with 2 black stripes. Prepectus yellow with dark stripe along dorsal margin. Mesoscutum with median stripe absent, complete, or incomplete. Mesoscutellum all yellow with no black stripes, or yellow with two or three dark stripes. Propodeum yellow with black median carina, anterior and posterior margins, and laterally with spot or stripe. Procoxa and mesocoxa yellow. Metacoxa yellow with black stripe basally. Profemur and mesofemur yellow. Metafemur with uninterrupted or interrupted stripe dorsally. Fore wing: basal and cubital bands absent; parastigmal band present, at junction of parastigmal and marginal veins only, or with perpendicular extension less than or greater than that of stigmal apex; stigmal band present, with perpendicular extension less than or greater than that of stigmal apex; postmarginal band absent or present with perpendicular extension less than or greater than that of stigmal apex; connections from parastigmal band to stigmal band, and from stigmal band to postmarginal band absent. Hind wing hyaline. Gaster yellow or yellow with median stripe and transverse stripes present.

Upper ocular sulcus present but very faint. Pedicel longer than wide. Funiculars symmetrical: first longer than wide (w:l = 0.61–0.68); second longer than wide (w:l = 0.86–0.88).

Pronotum, in dorsal view, more than twice as wide as long (w:l = 2.09–2.42); 4 pairs of setae along posterior margin. Mesoscutum reticulate; small, scattered setae present; intermediate setae absent. Mesoscutellum wider than long (w:l = 1.15–1.34); submedian grooves present. Hind tibial spur distinctly shorter than basitarsus. Hind basitarsus subequal or shorter than second tarsomere (bst:2 nd = 0.9–1.0).

Fore wing l:w = 2.23–3.38. Submarginal vein with 5–8 setae dorsally. Basal fold setae present, but only one to three setae. Cubital fold setose. Admarginal setae present. Uncus originating on stigma by more than own length from stigmal apex.

Male - as female, except: body length 1.4–1.6 mm; vertex with 1–2 stripes above compound eye; mesoscutellum yellow or yellow with three dark stripes; postmarginal band absent or present with perpendicular extension less than that of stigmal apex; gaster all yellow or yellow with faint median and transverse stripes.

Remarks. Zagrammosoma melinum can be difficult to identify, as it shows the most color pattern variation of any species of Zagrammosoma. Gordh (1978) mentions this extreme variation when describing the species, and the molecular analysis supports both monophyly and extensive variation based on the specimens included. Generally, the species lacks a complete, median stripe on the mesosoma, and the mesoscutellum has only two dark stripes (Fig. 30D). The median stripe on the mesoscutellum, if present, extends posteriorly by varying degrees (Fig. 30F, E). The dark patterns on the female gaster appear different at first but are the same with varying degrees of intensity.

Hosts. Reared from lepidopteran leaf miners. See Table 3. Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae, Gelechiidae, Gracillariidae.

Distribution. Nearctic: Canada (AB, BC, NB, SK, YK), USA (AK, AZ, CA, MT, NV, TX, UT) (Fig. 31).

Etymology. Melinus is Latin, describing the honey-yellow body.

Type material examined: Paratypes: USA: California: Fresno Co., Coalinga, 200m, 36°08’35”N, 120°21’5”W, viii.1939, F. P. Roullard, Lot. No. 39 13005, host: Bucculatrix sp., host plant: Populus sp. Cottonwood [6♀ 1?, USNM: UCRCENT471552–58].

Additional material examined: CANADA: Alberta: Edmonton, Emily Murphy Park, 630m, 53°32’2”N, 113°32’12”W, 12.viii.1993, BPLM 4, host: Phyllonorycter nipigon [1♀, CNC: CNC508846]. Edmonton, Emily Murphy Park, 630m, 53°32’2”N, 113°32’12”W, 12.viii.1993, BPLM 6, host: Phyllonorycter nipigon [1♀, CNC: CNC508847]. British Columbia: Balfour, 545m, 49°37’28”N, 116°57’50”W, 3.viii.1949, D.B. Waddell, WL, host: leaf miner, host plant: Salix sp. [1♁, CNC: UCRCENT508844]. Cawston, 403m, 49°11’7”N, 119°45’51”W, 17.viii.1998, J. Cossentine, Lowe C-918 [1♀, CNC: CNC508848]. New Brunswick: Gloucester Co., Nepisiguit River, 216m, 47°27’3”N, 65°42’24”W, 16.iii.1955, F.I. Survey 54-1891-01, host: Phyllonorycter salicifoliella [1♀, BMNH: NHMUK10370125]. Northumberland Co., mi. 38 Nepisiguit Motor Rd, 216m, 47°22’51”N, 66°04’25”W, 21.iii.1956, F.I. Survey 55-0898-01, host: Phyllonorycter salicifoliella [2♀, BMNH: NHMUK10370142, CNC: CNC508845]. Saskatchewan: Big River, 53°49’48”N, 107°02’0”W, 2.iv.1967, 67-82, host: Phyllonorycter sp [1♀, CNC: CNC508850]. Yukon: Champagne, 60°47’14”N, 136°26’9”W, 8.vii.2006, Goulet & Boudreault, plants along road, swp, #5 [1♀, CNC: CNC508665 (D5895)]. USA: Alaska: Denali Borough, Anderson, Hwy 3, 235m, 64°17’41”N, 149°05’4”W, 18.vii.2009, Goulet & Boudreault, fallow field on side of road, swp [4♀ 1?, CNC: CNC508670 (D5898), 509022, 509023, 509080, 509081]. Cantwell, Denali Hwy. Rt 8 mi. 85–130, 701– 915m, 63°02’59”N, 145°55’51”W, 24.vii.1984, S. & J. Peck, Car Net [1♀, CNC: CNC508849]. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Sutton on Glen Highway, 188m, 61°42’39”N, 148°54’36”W, 22.vii.2009, Goulet & Boudreault, fallow field, swp [1♁ 1♀, CNC: CNC508666 (D5896), 508667 (D5897)]. Arizona: Cochise Co., Foothills Rd, 1420m, 31°55’1”N, 109°07’41”W, 28.vi.2015, J. Heraty, Chilopsis, swp, H15-062 [1♀, UCRC: UCRCENT499455]. Ghost Town Trail, 1454m, 31°43’30”N, 109°48’42”W, 10.viii.2009, J. Mottern, dry wash, sweep, M09-037 [1♁ 2♀, UCRC: UCRCENT323379, 499460, 499461 (D5932)]. California: Imperial Co., Hwy 98, nr. Sunrise Butte, 103m, 32°40’21”N, 115°50’57”W, 18.iii.2010, J. Mottern, desert scrub, sweep, M10-002 [1♁, UCRC: UCRCENT499459]. Inyo Co., Panamint Valley, 1.5 mi. S. Indian Ranch, 36°07’28”N, 117°12’49”W, 20.v.1991, J. D. Pinto, Prosopis & Aremopsis, swp [1♀, CNC: CNC508671 (D5899)]. west side Eureka Valley 13km se Deep Springs, 1135m, 37°16’49”N, 117°54’10”W, 24.v.1994, S. L. Heydon [3♁ 2♀, UCDC: UCRCENT415803–07]. Riverside Co., Terwilliger Rd. S. of Anza, 1269m, 33°27’32”N, 116°38’10”W, 31.viii–7.ix.2008, G. Pratt, malaise trap [1♀, UCRC: UCRCENT357518]. San Bernardino Co., Running Springs, Snow Valley (San Bernardino Mts.), 2050m, 34°13’23”N, 117°02’34”W, 20.vi.1977, R. Luck, host: Coleotechnites sp., host plant: Pinus jeffreyi [1♁, UCRC: UCRCENT499276]. Montana: Gallatin Co., Bozeman, 1532m, 45°38’7”N, 111°01’56”W, 2–5.viii.2001, R. Wharton, host: leaf miner (Gracillariidae?), host plant: Populus trichocarpa [2♀, TAMU: UCRCENT473171 (D5915), 473172 (D5916)]. Nevada: Clark Co., Valley of Fire State Park, 1 mi. W. West entrance, 36°24’41”N, 114°32’58”W, 30.iii.1989, J. D. Pinto, swp [1♀, CNC: CNC508675]. Texas: Reeves Co., Balmorhea Lake, 970m, 30°58’27”N, 103°43’14”W, 26.vi.2015, J. Heraty, flowers, swp, H15-059 [1♁ 1♀, UCRC: UCRCENT499456 (D5919), 499457 (D5920)]. Utah: Washington Co., Zion National Park, 1344m, 37°16’48”N, 112°56’48”W, vii–viii.1941, Hopk. No. 33608A, host plant: Populus fremontii [1♁ 2♀, USNM: UCRCENT471559, 471560, 471611].