New species of Colpotrochia Holmgren (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Metopiinae) from Brazil, with biological notes

Nova espécie de Colpotrochia Holmgren (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Metopiinae) do Brasil, com notas biológicas

Abstract

A new species of the genus Colpotrochia Holmgren (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) is described from Brazilian fauna and biological notes are presented. The specimen was obtained as a parasitoid that emerged from a pupa of Opisthoxia farantes (Schaus, 1901) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae).

Keywords:
neotropical; taxonomy; Opisthoxia; Geometridae; Primulaceae

Resumo

Uma nova espécie do gênero Colpotrochia Holmgren (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) é descrita para a fauna brasileira e notas biológicas são apresentadas. O espécime foi obtido como parasitoide de uma pupa de Opisthoxia farantes (Schaus, 1901) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae).

Palavras-chave:
neotropical; taxonomia; Opisthoxia; Geometridae; Primulaceae

1. Introduction

Colpotrochia Holmgren, 1856 is a genus of moderate to large sized solitary parasitoids, usually aposematic, with little knowledge of its biology. The genus belongs to the subfamily Metopiinae, which are larval/pupal endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera (Gauld et al., 2002). The genus Colpotrochia makes part of a group with three genera: Cubus Townes & Townes, 1959; Triclistus Foerster, 1868 and Ojuelos Khalaim, 2012, all of them sharing a high lamella located between the antennal sockets (Khalaim et al., 2012). Species of Colpotrochia can be distinguished from other Metopiinae by having the combination of the first metasomal segment anteriorly petiolate, long sternite I and mandible with subequal teeth (Khalaim et al., 2012).

Colpotrochia is distributed in all zoogeographical regions, except for the Afrotropics, with 24 neotropical species known out of more than 60 species worldwide (Gauld et al., 2002; Martinez, 2008; Yu et al. 2016). In Brazil, species of Colpotrochia such as C. diabella Gauld and Sithole, 2002, C. lineolata (Brullé, 1846), C. mexicana (Cresson, 1868), C. neblina Gauld and Sithole, 2002, C. mesoxantha (Brullé, 1846) and C. texana (Cresson, 1872) are distributed throughout the South, Southeast and Midwest regions of Brazil, occurring in the states of Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Goiás (Fernandes et al., 2024).

Species from the Lepidoptera families like Noctuidae, Erebidae and Notodontidae are known to be hosts to species of Colpotrochia, with no previous records of hosts belonging to Geometridae; the families of plants Rosaceae, Solanaceae and Fagaceae are host plants of the lepidopterans associated with this genus (Yu et al., 2016).

In the present study, a new species of Colpotrochia from Brazil is described. This parasitoid was reared from a larva of Opisthoxia farantes (Schaus, 1901) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) feeding on Myrsine umbellata Mart. (Primulaceae). Opisthoxia Hübner, [1825] 1816 is a genus of neotropical moths from the tribe Palyadini (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Ennominae) that comprises about 90 species widely distributed from Mexico and Central to South America, and is easily distinguished from other Palyadini due to a non-marginal eyespot on the hindwing between veins $R_s$ and $M_1$(Pitkin, 2002; Scoble, 1995). Immature stages of Palyadini species are poorly studied and this is the first record of parasitism of Colpotrochia on Opisthoxia farantes.

2. Material and methods

Larvae of Lepidoptera (N = 215) feeding on Myrsine species were collected using the active method of entomological umbrella, from March to August 2024, in an Atlantic semi-deciduous forest area at Reserva Biológica da Serra do Japi, Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil. Leaves of the host plant were used in the laboratory to feed the larvae. Daily observations were taken on the emergence of parasitoids, which were collected and preserved in 92% alcohol. Identification of the host species was carried out by comparisons of its head capsules with non-parasitized larvae of Opisthoxia farantes.

Generic identification of Metopiinae was carried out following the key of Gauld et al. (2002). The comparison of the new species of Colpotrochia was based on the available literature (Brullé, 1846; Spinola, 1851; Cresson, 1865, 1868, 1872; Dewitz, 1881, Brèthes, 1909; Gauld et al., 2002; Khalaim and Ruíz-Cancino, 2011; Khalaim et al. 2012). Terminology follows Harris (1979) and Gauld et al. (2002). Images of the specimen were obtained using a Leica DFC295 camera attached to a Leica M205C stereomicroscope and stacked with the Helicon focus software. Pictures were later processed using Adobe Photoshop.

The specimen is deposited at the Coleção Taxonômica do Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Brazil (DCBU).

4. Results

From the 215 Lepidoptera larvae collected, 13 larvae were identified as Opisthoxia farantes. Of these, only one individual, collected on Myrsine umbellata, was parasitized by Colpotrochia japi sp. nov. The host larva became a pupa on 3.VII.2024 and the wasp emerged on the 2.VIII.2024, totalizing about 31 days.

Hymenoptera Linnaeus, 1758

Ichneumonidae Latreille, 1802

Metopiinae Förster,1869

Colpotrochia Holmgren, 1856

Colpotrochia japi Barbosa, Dias & Penteado-Dias sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EA710CEB-170F-4649-8DB2-4E921A2232B2

Body length, 8 mm; fore wing length, 6 mm.

Material examined: Holotype female, BRAZIL: São Paulo, Reserva Biológica da Serra do Japi, Jundiaí, 23°13'56.6”S - 46°56'29.5”W, 1,187m, A.H.S. Barbosa col. (DCBU 496.012) (Figures 1a, 1b).

Color. Scape and pedicel light yellow; flagellomeres yellow brownish to the apex. Head black, with two anterior yellow patches on face, below the base of the antennae and extended downwards (Figure 1c). Mandibles yellow, black at apex; palps light yellow; clypeus and labrum yellow. Mesosoma predominantly yellow, but most portion of mesopleuron black, with three longitudinal black bands on the mesoscutum (Figures 1d). Legs yellow; coxa and trochanter of fore and mid legs light yellow; brown areas on the dorsal surfaces of mid and hind femur; hind leg with coxa dark brown laterally, femur and tibia brownish. Tegula brown and subalar prominence light yellow (Figure 1e). Wings uniformly infumate, pterostigma yellow, veins brownish (Figure 1f). Anterior of metapleuron and anterocentral portion of propodeum black (Figure 2a). Metasoma with tergite I yellow, black and yellow banded, tergite II black with a yellow band at apex; tergites III+ black (Figure 2b-2f).

Figure 1
Colpotrochia japi sp. nov. Barbosa, Dias & Penteado-Dias. Holotype female: (a) habitus lateral; (b) habitus dorsal; (c) head, frontal view showing a median carina; (d) head and mesoscutum, dorsal view; (e) mesoscutum and anterior part of mesopleuron, lateral view showing a raised subalar prominence; (f) fore wing.

Figure 2
Colpotrochia japi sp. nov. Barbosa, Dias & Penteado-Dias. Holotype female: (a) propodeum, dorsal view; (b) tergite I, lateral view; (c) sternite I, ventral view; (d) metasoma, ventral view; (e) tergite III+ lateral view; (f) tergite III+ ventral view.

Head. Antenna with 51 flagellomeres. Scapus 1.0× as long as maximally wide; first flagellomere 3.0× as long as wide, 2.0× as long as the second one. Subapical flagellomere 1.0x as long as wide, 0.5× as long as apical flagellomere. Eye laterally measured 2.0× as high as wide. Head closely punctate, coriaceous between punctures. Clypeus with apical margin truncate, its surface moderately punctate. Labrum large and apically pointed, 0.5 times as long as basally broad; malar space 0.3× length of base of mandible. Face with an anterior median ridge (Figure 1c), interantennal lamella subquadrate in profile; interocellar distance about 0.7× orbital-ocellar-distance (Figure 1d). Temple not swollen in the dorsal view.

Mesosoma. Closely punctate, propleuron, posterior of mesopleuron, metanotum and anterior of propodeum smooth. Mesopleuron with a sharp and raised subalar ridge below tegula (Figure 1e). Notauli absent. Scutellar sulcus without transversal carinae. Fore wing with stigma 2.5× as long as wide; 3rs-m present enclosing a petiolate areolet, petiole 1.0× total height of areolet (Figure 1f). Posterior wing vein r-m present, with a bulla. Vein cu-a postfurcal. Legs: Hind femur 3.5× as long as wide. Hind tibia 6.0× as long as wide, 4.0× as long as the hind basitarsomere. Hind basitarsomere 5.0× as long as wide, 0.8× as long as tarsomeres 2-5. Propodeum (Figure 2a) with lateral longitudinal carinae vestigial posteriorly.

Metasoma. Smooth and pubescent. First tergite posteriorly pubescent, 2.0× as long as posteriorly broad, with lateromedian longitudinal carina distinct (Figure 2b); sternite I smooth posteriorly (Figure 2c); tergite II with laterotergites narrow, more than 5.0 times as long as wide; laterotergites III and IV broad, both narrower anteriorly than posteriorly (Figure 2d); median length of second tergite 1.1x its basal width, 0.8× as long as first tergite and as long as the tergite III; subgenital plate pointed at apex (Figure 2f).

• Diagnosis. Colpotrochia japi sp. nov. is distinguished from other species in the genus by having labrum apically acutely pointed, face presents a median carina and yellow patches extended downwards; a raised subalar ridge, wings uniformly infumate, forewing with areolet; metasoma with tergite I yellow, black and yellow banded; tergite II black with a yellow band at apex; tergites III+ black and subgenital plate apically acutely pointed.

• Differential diagnosis. Considering the previous keys of neotropical Colpotrochia (Gauld et al., 2002; Khalaim and Ruíz-Cancino, 2011), this new species is mostly similar in morphology and coloration to C. catania Gauld and Sithole, 2002; C. diabella and C. feroza Gauld and Sithole, 2002, all of which have the areolet present. With C. catania, C. japi sp. nov. shares a raised subalar ridge; the metasomal segment II with laterotergites narrow, not overlapping medioventrally on the midline; sternite I without corrugations and subgenital plate apically acutely pointed. C. japi sp. nov. shares with C. feroza a raised subalar prominence and the sternite I smooth posteriorly. C. japi can be distinguished from C. catania and C. feroza by having labrum apically pointed, tergite I with lateromedian longitudinal carina complete and tergites III+ black (in C. catania, labrum apically rounded, metasoma mainly yellow with black bands on basal 0.5 of tergites II to V, and tergite I lacks a lateromedian longitudinal carina; in C. feroza, labrum apically rounded, tergites IV+ brownish black and lateromedian longitudinal carina vestigial on tergite I). Additionally, C. japi sp. nov. differs from C. diabella by the presence of a raised subalar ridge in the mesopleuron and sternite I smooth posteriorly (in C. diabella, mesopleuron below tegula is flat, without a raised subalar ridge, and sternite I is corrugated posteriorly).

• Male. Unknown.

• Distribution. Brazil: São Paulo, Jundiaí.

• Etymology. The name of this species refers to its type locality: Reserva Biológica da Serra do Japi.

5. Discussion

Colpotrochia japi sp. nov. was reared from a larva of Opisthoxia farantes feeding on Myrsine umbellata (Figures 3a, 3b), collected in an area of Atlantic semi-deciduous forest, at 1,187m of elevation. In Costa Rica, Colpotrochia species such as C. diabella, C. feroza, C. neblina and C. zembla Gauld and Sithole, 2002 are known to occur in high altitudinal sites between 1,110m and 1,750m of elevation (Gauld et al. 2002), showing that the genus is associated with high altitudes.

Figure 3
Opisthoxia farantes: (a) dorsal view of O. farantes last instar; (b) head of O. farantes last instar; (c) anterior part of the host’s pupal exuvia detached by the parasitoid; (d) ventral view of the host’s pupal exuvia.

The parasitoid emerged from the O. farantes pupa, leaving a detached part from the host’s pupal exuviae (Figures 3c, 3d). Because of this trait, the type of emergence in Colpotrochia japi sp. nov. is classified as larval-pupal (Godfray, 1994) and it is the same as other Metopiinae species, since their cocoons are fragile and the parasitoid stays within the host’s pupa for extra protection until emergence (Quicke, 2015).

Many Metopiinae wasps have aposematic colors (mostly the “yellow-jacket” pattern) (Araujo and Penteado-Dias, 2011) and some Colpotrochia species also share this aspect (Gauld et al., 2002). Since the “wasp mimicry” mainly consists of prey exhibiting yellow-black patterns, resembling vespid wasps, and consequently causing predator avoidance (Boppré et al., 2017), it is possible that the color pattern in Colpotrochia japi sp. nov. may serve this purpose as well.

Parasitism records of the genus comprise mostly Noctuidae species (Gauld et al., 2002; Ahmed et al., 2020), including pest species such as Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797) (Silva et al., 2012). Thus, this work enhances the knowledge on the geographical distribution and the hosts (Opisthoxia farantes, Geometridae) of Colpotrochia, as well as the host plant associated (Myrsine umbellata, Primulaceae), reinforcing the importance of studies with immature stages of Lepidoptera to access the diversity of parasitoid wasps and their biological aspects.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) and the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia dos Hymenoptera Parasitoides (INCT-HYMPAR). We are thankful to Maria de Fatima Freitas for the identification of the host plants; to Airton Santo Soares for his help in the field samplings and to Luciana Bueno dos Reis Fernandes for the photographs taken and for preparing the figures. We also appreciate all the contributions provided by the reviewers of this manuscript.

Data Availability Statement

The entire data set that supports the results of this study was published in the article itself.

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Edited by

• Editor:
  Takako Matsumura Tundisi

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  20 Oct 2025
• Date of issue
  2025

History

• Received
  05 Feb 2025
• Accepted
  15 Aug 2025