Pholetesor Mason, 1981

Liu, Zhen, He, Jun-Hua & Chen, Xue-Xin, 2016, The genus Pholetesor Mason, 1981 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from China, with descriptions of eleven new species, Zootaxa 4150 (4), pp. 351-387 : 352

Genus Pholetesor Mason, 1981

Pholetesor Mason, 1981: 37 ; Austin, 1992:52; Whitfield, 1991: 738; Whitfield, 2006: 1 –94; Kotenko, 2007: 170 –175. Typespecies: Apanteles ornigis Weed , original designation.

Diagnosis. Mesoscutum usually with weak and ill-defined punctures, and with more or less satin-like sheen (excluding bucculatricis -group). Anterior margin of metanotum with a pair of sublateral setiferous projections, weakly to strongly retracted from scutellum, often exposing portions of mesonotal postphragma. Propodeum typically with two fields of irregular aciculations diverging forwards from nucha, the remainder of surface variously sculptured, with or without areola and costulae.

T1 usually parallel-sided or narrowing towards apex and longer than wide (excluding bucculatricis -group which has T1 wider at apex and little longer than wide). T2 wider than long, the sides either diverging apically or parallel. T1 and T2 polished to strongly rugose. T3 often smooth, but sometimes basally or completely rugose. Ovipositor sheath setaceous throughout and arising about or beyond the middle of the apical tapered valvifers, not longer than hind tibia, usually as long as hind basitarsus. Hypopygium moderately short, evenly sclerotized to medial fold or submedially weakly creased, never multiply creased and membranous medially. Inner spur of hind tibia subequal to remarkably longer than outer spur. Spines on outside of hind tibia usually smaller and fewer than those of most microgastrines.

Metacarp various in length, usually longer than pterostigma. Vannal lobe of hind wing convex with setae beyond its widest part.

This genus may be difficult to distinguish from the closest genus Dolichogenidea Viereck , but features below can be helpful: mesoscutum usually with weak and ill-defined punctures, and with more or less satin-like sheen; ovipositor usually short, as long as hind basitarsus; body usually smaller; T1 often narrowed apically; hypopygium short, medially folded but without striae.