Methocha, Kimsey, 2011

Kimsey, Lynn S., 2011, Tiphiidae wasps of Madagascar (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 22, pp. 45-68 : 54

Genus Methocha Latreille Figs 9 30

Discussion.

Members of the genus Methocha are distinctive wasps. Females are wingless and ant-like. Males are slender and elongate with exserted parameres that protrude as far as the uncus. There are 16 species of Methocha in continental Africa, and ten Malagassy species, nine based on males and one species, Methocha cambonini Saussure, based on females. These wasps are known to be parasites of cicindellid beetles.

Key to species of Methocha (males)

1	Pronotal disk strongly depressed posterior to anterior margin (as in Figs 19, 20 )	2
-	Pronotal disk not depressed posterior to anterior margin	3
2	Pronotal disk depressed on either side of medial longitudinal elevation ( Fig. 20 ); frons produced into medial angular projection just above suprantennal projections ( Fig. 18 )	Methocha depressa sp. n.
-	Pronotal disk without medial longitudinal elevation ( Fig. 19 ); frons not produced into medial projection or medial projection rounded	Methocha robusta sp. n.
3	Clypeal deeply apicomedially emarginate; suprantennal projections broadly rounded separated by broadly obtuse, shallow medial depression; parategula yellow; legs usually yellow to reddish	Methocha lambertoni Krombein
-	Clypeal apex truncate or slightly concave; suprantennal projections strongly convex separated by narrow, acute medial depression; parategula entirely black, brown or bicolored; legs brown to black or yellow	4
4	Clypeus with acute to digitate medial projection (as in Figs 11, 13, 15 )	5
-	Clypeus broadly convex, without acute or digitate medial projection (as in Figs 9, 10, 12 )	7
5	Parategula yellowish brown to brown with transparent margin; clypeal apical margin emarginate; mandible yellow; legs yellow to yellowish brown	Methocha flavipalpus sp. n.
-	Parategula opaque, evenly black to dark brown; clypeal apical margin linear or shallowly emarginate, mandible dark reddish brown to black; legs dark brown to black	6
6	Propodeum covered with coarse contiguous punctures	Methocha nasiformis sp. n.
-	Propodeum covered with fine transverse parallel ridges (similar to Fig. 25 )	Methocha strigosa sp. n.
7	Flagellomere I twice as long as broad, flagellomere II 3 × as long as broad; antennal lobes strongly produced, medially forming parallel-sided or apically narrowed notch	Methocha arnoldi Krombein
-	Flagellomere I less than twice as long as broad, flagellomere II twice as long as broad; antennal lobes weakly or strongly produced, forming obtuse medial notch	8
8	Propodeum covered with dense, fine ridges, dorsally and ventrally arcuate ( Fig. 25 )	Methocha arcuata sp. n.
-	Propodeum polished, nearly impunctate, without more than traces of ridges	Methocha impunctata sp. n.

Figures

Figures 7 - 15. Front view of face. 8 Lateral view genital capsule 9 - 15 Lateral view of head and pronotum.

Figures 16 - 30. Methocha species. 16, 17 Front view of face 18, 21 Dorsal view of head 19, 20 Dorsal view of pronotum 22, 23, 26 - 30 Lateral view of genital capsule 24, 25 Posterior view of propodeum.