Thyreodon erythrocera, Cameron. I, 1886

Gauld, Ian D. & Janzen, Daniel H., 2004, The systematics and biology of the Costa Rican species of parasitic wasps in the Thyreodon genus-group (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 141 (3), pp. 297-351 : 301-302

– Mesoscutum with a weak longitudinal swelling along inner periphery of notaulus, without a transverse crest anteriorly ( Fig. 49 ); lower face punctate centrally; pronotum with posterior margin swollen, with an anteriorly directed ridge overhanging transverse furrow ( Fig. 49 ).................................................................... 11. erythrocera transverse, posteriorly slightly concave, with a small median tooth.

Remarks: Rhynchophion is a small genus restricted to the southern part of the USA and the Neotropical region south to southern Brazil. Three species have been described, R. flammipennis Ashmead ( USA to Ecuador), R. ligulifer (Morley) ( Brazil) , R. odontandroplax Enderlein ( Brazil) . All are structurally very similar and it has been suggested ( Townes, 1971; Gauld, 1985) that all may be colour variants of a single variable species. However, as more becomes known about their biology there is a distinct possibility that they will be found to comprise a complex of sibling species. Two species are present in Costa Rica, the wide-ranging R. flammipennis and a chromatically distinctive new species known only from ACG dry forest. Species of Rhynchophion appear to be specialists on the larvae of Manduca species (Sphingidae) .

Figures

Figures 47–52. 47–50, mesoscutum and pronotum, lateral; 47, T. papei; 48, T. deansi; 49, T. erythrocera; 50, T. sharkeyi. 51–52, apex of metasoma and male genital capsule, lateral; 51. Rhynchophion flammipennis; 52, R. woodi.