Astromesitius, Barbosa & Azevedo, 2019

Barbosa, Diego N. & Azevedo, Celso O., 2019, Astromesitius, a new genus of Mesitiinae (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from the Old World, European Journal of Taxonomy 587, pp. 1-20 : 2-4

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2019.587
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:980C8BF7-A2EB-4D20-B429-CF5C4101B45B
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3664873
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/AC77A4BF-FC3A-481F-BD18-8175DC3CEE5B
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:AC77A4BF-FC3A-481F-BD18-8175DC3CEE5B
treatment provided by	Plazi (2020-02-08 17:16:02, last updated by Valdenar 2024-12-12 17:16:51)
scientific name	Astromesitius
status	gen. nov.

Treatment

Astromesitius gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AC77A4BF-FC3A-481F-BD18-8175DC3CEE5B

Figs 1–7 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig

Type species

Sulcomesitius quatei Móczár, 1977 .

Etymology

The name Astromesitius is composed from the Greek (and Latin) ‘ aster ’, which means ‘star’, and Mesitius , the type genus of Mesitiinae . The name refers to the star-shaped hypopygium of the new genus.

Description

Male

Body sparsely foveolate ( Fig. 1E View Fig ). Head longer than wide, malar space convergent anteriorly and as long as VOL. Clypeus with median lobe quadrate. Antenna with distinct sparse setae, pedicel caliciform, flagellomeres longer than wide and caliciform. Eye setose, circular and small, HE usually about one third of LH. Ocelli small. Dorsal pronotal area with longitudinal sulcus hardly distinct or absent. Anteromesoscutum without longitudinal sulcus. Metapectal-propodeal complex with posterior projection hardly distinct or absent. Macropterous. Hypopygium with posterior margin with short and acute branches, with lateral corner projecting and well defined, general shape resembling a star. Genitalia with ventral arm of paramere longer and wider than dorsal arm, aedeagus slender, fusiform.

Female

Not available for description.

Remarks

The main characteristic to recognize Astromesitius gen. nov. is the hypopygium shape. The star-shaped hypopygium is a unique shape within Mesitiinae . Additionally, the sparsely foveolate integument surface, the sparse pubescence of the antenna, which is of medium length to long, and the hardly distinct or absent longitudinal pronotal sulcus are also important in recognizing the genus. These characteristics are further discussed in the Discussion.

Distribution

Afrotropical: United Arab Emirates and South Africa. Oriental: Thailand and Vietnam. Palaearctic: Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Russia and Slovakia.

Included species

Astromesitius carbonarius (Móczár, 1970) gen. et comb. nov. from Metrionotus

Astromesitius indistintus ( Barbosa & Azevedo, 2011) gen. et comb. nov. from Metrionotus Astromesitius minutissimus ( Móczár, 1971) gen. et comb. nov. from Metrionotus

Astromesitius mutilloides ( Costa, 1864) gen. et comb. nov. from Clytrovorus

Astromesitius olavoi gen. et sp. nov.

Astromesitius quatei ( Móczár, 1977) gen. et comb. nov. from Sulcomesitius

Astromesitius thionyi gen. et sp. nov.

Key to the males of Astromesitius gen. nov.

1. Metapectal-propodeal complex projection absent ( Fig. 1 View Fig B–C, E); posterior hypopygeal branches slender ( Fig. 2B, D View Fig ) .......................................................................................................................... 2

– Metapectal-propodeal complex projection present ( Fig. 1A, D, F View Fig ); posterior hypopygeal branches wide ( Fig. 2A, C, E View Fig ) .......................................................................................................................... 4

2. Longitudinal ridge between metapostnotal median carina and metapostnotal-propodeal carina present ( Fig. 1C View Fig ) ................................................. A. carbonarius (Móczár, 1970) gen. et comb. nov.

– Longitudinal ridge between metapostnotal median carina and metapostnotal-propodeal carina absent ( Fig. 1B, E View Fig ) ....................................................................................................................................... 3

3. Metapostnotal surface polished; metapostnotal median carina incomplete; propodeal declivity coriaceous and without lateral carina ( Fig. 1B View Fig ) ......................................... A. thionyi gen. et sp. nov.

– Metapostnotal surface areolate; metapostnotal median carina complete; propodeal declivity areolate and with lateral carina ( Fig. 1E View Fig ) ....................... A. minutissimus ( Móczár, 1971) gen. et comb. nov.

4. Body surface distinctly foveolate; dorsal pronotal area with longitudinal sulcus ( Fig. 1F View Fig ) ............. 5

– Body surface distinctly foveolate; dorsal pronotal area without longitudinal sulcus ( Fig. 1A, D View Fig ) .... ........................................................................................................................................................... 6

5. Hypopygium longer than wide ( Fig. 2E View Fig ); cuspis ventral arm wide; aedeagus without outer distal projection ( Fig. 3F View Fig ) ....................................................... A. quatei ( Móczár, 1977) gen. et comb. nov.

– Hypopygium as long as wide; cuspis arms slender; aedeagus with outer distal projection ................................................................. A. mutilloides ( Costa, 1864) gen. et comb. nov.

6. Head and mesosoma dark castaneous nearly black ( Fig. 4A View Fig ); lateral hypopygeal projection long ( Fig. 2A View Fig ); aedeagus with outer projection at apex ( Fig. 3A View Fig ) ....................... A. olavoi gen. et sp. nov.

– Head and mesosoma orange ( Fig. 4D View Fig ); lateral hypopygeal projection short ( Fig. 2C View Fig ); aedeagus without outer projection at apex ( Fig. 3D View Fig ) ..... A. indistintus ( Barbosa & Azevedo, 2011) gen. et comb. nov.

References

Barbosa D. N. & Azevedo C. O. 2011 Order Hymenoptera, family Bethylidae, subfamily Mesitiinae. In: Harten A. van (ed.) Arthropod Fauna of UAE. Vol. 4: 375 - 404. Dar Al Ummah Printing, Publishing, Distribution & Advertising, Abu Dhabi.

Costa A. C. H. 1864. Anno II - 1862 con quattro tavole. Parte prima et seconda. Annuario del Museo Zoologico della R. Universita di Napoli 2: 1 - 176.

Moczar L. 1971. Mestinae of world, genera Mesitius spinola , Pilomesitius Moczar, Parvoculus Moczar, Pycnomesitius Moczar and Heterocoelia Dahlbom. III. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae). Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 17: 295 - 332.

Moczar L. 1977. A review of the genus Sulcomesitius Moczar (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae, Mesitiinae). Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarium Hungaricae 23: 139 - 170.

Figures

Fig. 1. Mesosoma of Astromesitius gen. nov., dorsal view. A. A. olavoi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, QBG) B. A. thionyi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, UFES 118956) C. A. carbonarius (Móczár, 1970) gen. et comb. nov. (UFES 56168) D. A. indistintus (Barbosa & Azevedo, 2011) gen. et comb. nov. (paratype, UFES) E. A. minutissimus (Móczár, 1971) gen. et comb. nov. (holotype, UFES 56528) F. A. quatei (Móczár, 1977) gen. et comb. nov. (holotype, BPBM).

Fig. 2. Hypopygium of Astromesitius gen. nov. A. A. olavoi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, QBG) B. A. thionyi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, UFES 118956) C. A. indistintus (Barbosa & Azevedo, 2011) gen. et comb. nov. (paratype, UFES) D. A. minutissimus (Móczár, 1971) gen. et comb. nov. (holotype, UFES 56528) E. A. quatei (Móczár, 1977) gen. et comb. nov. (holotype, BPBM).

Fig. 3. Genitalia of Astromesitius gen. nov., left ventral and right dorsal view. A. A. olavoi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, QBG) B. A. thionyi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, UFES 118956) C. A. carbonarius (Móczár, 1970) gen. et comb. nov. (UFES 56168) D. A. indistintus (Barbosa & Azevedo, 2011) gen. et comb. nov. (paratype, UFES) E. A. minutissimus (Móczár, 1971) gen. et comb. nov. (holotype, UFES 56528) F. A. quatei (Móczár, 1977) gen. et comb. nov. (holotype, BPBM).

Fig. 4. Head of Astromesitius gen. nov., dorsal view. A. A. olavoi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, QBG) B. A. thionyi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, UFES 118956) C. A. carbonarius (Móczár, 1970) gen. et comb. nov. (UFES 56168) D. A. indistintus (Barbosa & Azevedo, 2011) gen. et comb. nov. (paratype, UFES) E. A. minutissimus (Móczár, 1971) gen. et comb. nov. (holotype, UFES 56528) F. A. quatei (Móczár, 1977) gen. et comb. nov. (holotype, BPBM).

Fig. 5. Habitus of Astromesitius gen. nov. A. A. olavoi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, QBG) B. A. thionyi gen. et sp. nov. (holotype, UFES 118956).

Fig. 6. Habitus of Astromesitius gen. nov. A. A. carbonarius (Móczár, 1970) gen. et comb. nov. (UFES 56168) B. A. indistintus (Barbosa & Azevedo, 2011) gen. et comb. nov. (paratype, UFES).

Fig. 7. Habitus of Astromesitius gen. nov. A. A. minutissimus (Móczár, 1971) gen. et comb. nov. (holotype, UFES 56528) B. A. quatei (Móczár, 1977) gen. et comb. nov. (holotype, BPBM).