Genus Spilopteron Townes, 1960

Spilopteron Townes, 1960 in Townes & Townes 1960: 568 . Original designation. Type-species: Spilopteron franclemonti Townes, 1960 .

Diagnosis

Head 0.6–0.7 times as long as wide in dorsal view. Face strongly punctate and weakly convex (Fig. 2). Clypeus with a transverse median ridge (Figs 2–3). Frons punctate, with a median longitudinal carina (Fig. 2). Subocular groove present (Fig. 2). Mandible striate except apex (Figs 2–3). Lower tooth of mandible longer than upper tooth. Vertex and gena weakly and sparsely punctate. Occiput smooth. Occipital carina complete. Scutellum roundly convex in lateral view. Propodeum roundly convex in lateral view (Fig. 5). Propodeal spiracle elongate (Fig. 5). Fore wing with areolet open (Fig. 4). Hind wing with vein Cu&cu-a intercepted near middle (Fig. 4). Hind tarsus claws without an accessory tooth. Basal convexity of S1 covered with some erect setae. Ovipositor tip without transverse ridges.

Distribution

Palearctic, Oriental and Nearctic regions.

Systematic position

The genus used to belong to the tribe Acaenitini sensu Townes (1971), but Wahl & Gauld (1998) proposed the discontinuance of the use of tribes within the subfamily Acaenitinae; we follow their opinion here. This genus closely resembles Siphimedia Cameron, 1902, known from the Oriental region, and Metachorischizus Uchida, 1928 from the Palearctic and Oriental regions, but it can be distinguished from them by the maxillary palpus with short hairs (vs long hairs in Siphimedia), the propodeal spiracle not enclosed by an elliptical carina (vs enclosed in Siphimedia), the propodeum with distinct regular carinae (vs irregular carinae in Metachorischizus), and the bullae in 2m-cu a little distant from each other (vs very close in Metachorischizus).