Ctenocalini HEINRICH

A. M, 2009, Illustrated key to the tribes of subfamilia Ichneumoninae and genera of the tribe Platylabini of world fauna (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 41 (2), pp. 1317-1608 : 1347-1348

Tribe Ctenocalini HEINRICH

Ctenocalini HEINRICH 1938 - Mem. Acad. Malg. 25: 40-41.

Ctenocalini HEINRICH 1968 - Ichn. Stenop. of Africa 2: 372, 377.

Type genus: Ctenocalus SZÉPLIGETI.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Africa south of Sahara and Madagascar.

I n t r o d u c t i o n:

For representatives of tribe the specific structure of rather stout head with broad temples and genae with only just expressed structural differentiation of face and clypeus, in addition to sickle-shape mandibles is characteristically. Face, clypeus and genae are similar to Listrodromini and Compsophorini , but do not to such degree completely without of sculptural formations. First of all malar impression is usually recognizable. Clypeus is flat, not convex at base. Mesonotum is usually with short notauli or with notauli that marked only at base (except Ctenocalops HEINRICH of which notauli is unusually developed and very long). Front wings are more often with quadrangular, rarely slightly pentagonal areolet. Propodeum from lateral is short, convex, without teeth and tooth-like projections, with set of carinae, developed in different degree and elongated spiracles. Claws of the tarsi of females are sometimes strongly pectinate. Abdomen of tribes representatives is more often broadly-oval, rarely elongate-oval, blunted apically and without distinctly protruding ovipositor sheath. Front tergites are roughly wrinkled, usually strongly sclerotized and separated by sharply expressed constrictions. Gastrocoeli and thyridia are sharp, with narrow interval between them.

M o r p h o l o g y:

F l a g e l l u m: Of females, bristle-shaped, long and very slender, flattened ventrally beyond middle, but not widened, or only slightly widened, apical part very long and strongly attenuated toward apex. Of males with or without transversal bristle-ridges and nodosity, with or without tyloides.

H e a d: Always quite stout, with broad temples and genae; surface of face flat, but distinctly separated from genae, clypeus also separated from face by distinct clypeal foveae and lateral sutures. Occiput broadly and deeply concave; temples long, slightly and roundly narrowed behind eyes; mandible sickle-shaped, gradually curved, lower tooth moved inside and situated practically in same horizontal plane with upper tooth; sides of clypeus distinctly converged with rounded lateral corners, apical margin thinned and as a rule slightly impressed medially; labrum distinctly protrude from under clypeus; middle field of face practically not elevated above lateral fields; antennal cavities deeply impressed; ocelli small.

T h o r a x: Collar of pronotum sometimes lamelliform, with leaf-shaped broadened front margin; epomiae slightly expressed. Mesonotum not longer or only just longer than width; notauli usually short or marked only at base; area of mesopleural fovea slightly impressed; sternauli atrophied; scutellum always high elevated, to pyramidal, strongly laterally carinated. Hind margin of metanotum smooth, without prominences ( Ctenocalus SZÉPLIGETI ). Propodeum from lateral convex, short, without teeth and tooth-like projec- tions, areae dentiparae more or less deeply curved backwards; set of carinae varies between complete and to almost fully reduced; basal furrow of pronotum very narrow or fully absent; spiracles long, but not slit-shaped.

L e g s: Moderately long; claws of females sometimes strongly pectinate.

W i n g s: Areolet from shortly petiolate to rectangular and slightly pentagonal, narrow in front; nervulus from interstitial to distinctly postfurcal; radius distinctly curved. Membrane of wing hyaline with tendency to darkened spots.

A b d o m e n From above rather short and broadly-oval to longish-oval; of females oxypygous or semiamblypygous, apically blunted; ovipositor not protrude or only just visible protrude behind apex of abdomen. First tergite usually with narrow petiolus; postpetiolus without middle field or with narrow middle field. Gastrocoeli always transverse and deep, with narrow interval between them; thyridia distinct; tergites 2-3rd or 2- 4th strongly sclerotized and roughly sculptured; sternites 2-3rd or 2-4th not sclerotized or sclerotized at lesser part. Hypopygium of males rather short, bluntly triangle.

C o l o r a t i o n: Tribe by color rather various. Thorax, as a rule, red or rusty-red sometimes with limited white pattern; basic color of abdomen can be rusty-red, or black (or metallic blue), often with white anal spots; of some species wings with dark spots.