Aethioplitina 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 : 1381-1382

Subtribe Aethioplitina HEINRICH

Aethioplitina : HEINRICH 1968 - Ichn. Stenop. of Africa 4: 697-698.

Type genus: Aethioplites HEINRICH.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Ethiopian Region.

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

For representatives of subtribe long and slender flagellum is character. Head is with long genae, narrowed toward mandibles base, with vertex slanting almost vertically from ocelli and narrowed, sometimes bent inwards temples and narrowed mandibles with slight apical teeth. Mesonotum is considerably elongated with elevated and sometimes divided on lobes middle field. Scutellum is extremely sharply elevated above postscutellum and carinated by high, often lamellate carinae, sometimes developed along hind border. Legs are slender, long. Wings are with areolet from quadrangular to petiolate. Propodeum is elongate, with apophysises, sometimes long. Abdomen is slender with projecting ovipositor.

Habitually they are similar to Hoplismenus . These are form of a head, morphology of the mandibles, high elevated scutellum, strong apophysises of propodeum and morphology of abdomen. Main visible differences are flat clypeus, petiolate quadrangular areolet, strongly carinated scutellum and elongated propodeum.

M o r p h o l o g y:

F l a g e l l u m: Of females bristle-shaped, very long and slender, not widened or only slightly widened beyond middle, with very long, gradually attenuated and very sharply pointed apical part. Flagellum of males usually with short row of small, oval or bacilliform tyloides, in some genera without distinct tyloides.

H e a d: Head contour from front with big, swollen eyes, narrowed downwards; genae from front long. Vertex from lateral abrupt just after the eyes and ocelli; head from above behind eyes sharply and straightly narrowed behind eyes (at some genera temples quite broad and distinctly convex); abscissula and lower part of hypostomal carina often lamelliform, or anomalous in a different way; malar space usually longer, often considerably longer than mandible base width; mandibles usually very slender, with weak apical teeth; clypeus often slightly convex and with small medio-apical impression.

T h o r a x: Mesonotum usually considerably longer than width, from moderately to strongly convex, middle lobe from slightly elevated ( Aethioplites HEINRICH ) to often projected or bipartite; scutellum from considerably, to very strongly elevated above postscutellum, carinated laterally or laterally and along hind border. Propodeum not shortened, from distinctly to very long, usually with apophysises of different length; areas and carinae of propodeum often reduced, not distinct, or absent; area superomedia distinctly longer than width, hexagonal, with costulae far before middle, often of horseshoe arch; coxal carinae usually absent.

L e g s: Very long and thin. Claws smooth.

W i n g s: Areolet quadrangular, pointed in front, sometimes shortly petiolate; nervulus often postfurcal, sometimes interstitial.

A b d o m e n Form approximately as of Holarctic genus Hoplismenus , at females always oxypygous, with more or less strongly projecting ovipositor. Petiolus gradually broadened to postpetiolus; postpetiolus densely punctured or delicate wrinkled, sometimes almost smooth, nothing striated. Gastrocoeli from slightly marked to atrophied; thyridia usually distinct, of some genera transverse, very large, with narrow interval between them; lunulae present; sculpture of front tergites, usually densely and delicate wrinkled, or striated, nothing roughly wrinkled.

C o l o r a t i o n: Combinations of red, rusty-red and black coloration with whitelyyellow pattern common.