Notoxoides Ashmead, 1903: 30

MASNER, LUBOMÍR & GARCÍA R, JOSÉ LUIS, 2002, The Genera Of Diapriinae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) In The New World, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2002 (268), pp. 1-138 : 97-101

Notoxoides Ashmead, 1903: 30 .

Notoxopria Kieffer, 1910b: 39 . Synonymized by Masner, 1977: 33–36.

Philolestes Kieffer, 1922: 205 . Synonymized by Masner, 1977: 33–36.

Psilogasteroides Brèthes, 1911: 209–210 . NEW SYNONYMY (described in Chalcidoidea).

DIAGNOSIS (♀ 3): Medium to very largesized individuals (3.5 to 6.5 mm) with sexes considerably dimorphic (note separate descriptions of sexes below); body predominantly light to dark ferrugineous, entirely sculptured and matte (including tegula) or partly sculptured and partly shining; sculpture of males generally finer, with large parts of head and mesosoma smooth; body generally with scattered long semidecumbent bristles; foamy structures or hairy cushions not developed; head in female in lateral view characteristically topped, eye distinctly smaller in relation to large gena; frons armed; female pronotum anterodorsally with hump or horn, in male with sharp margin and epomial carina; metasternum (between mid and hind coxae) usually with strong furca; stigmal vein unusually long and slanted; female tarsi strongly compressed.

DESCRIPTION (♀ 3): HEAD. Head in dorsal view strongly tapered behind eyes, with occiput and temples very long, head hypognathous, frons armed with three projections, middle projection often blade like, head in lateral view characteristically topped, eye, ocelli and antennal shelf located very high on forehead, eyes relatively small and postgena distinctly large; antennal shelf large, with anterior margin sharply projecting, bladelike; torulus located in upper half of eye; eye height distinctly shorter than ½ head height, eye ovoid, posterior orbit usually straight, ommatidia usually large and convex; ocelli large and semiconvex; malar sulcus not developed, malar space usually relatively large; mandible bidentate, with lower tooth longer, sometimes mandible unequal, rarely one mandible subtridentate; palpi always short, palpal formula 3–2 or 4–2; oral carina moderately developed; gena and postgena almost glabrous, rarely with patches of pilosity; postgenal cushion never developed, cheek in frontal view nonangular; hypostomal bridge relatively narrow; occipital flange always present but usually nonabrupt or only moderately steplike; female antenna usually 11­segmented, rarely 12­segmented, clava multisegmented (5–6 segments), semiabrupt, cylindrical, clavomeres usually slightly transverse, noncompact, rarely almost beadlike, apical clavomere slightly more enlarged than preceding clavomere, A1 elongate, cylindri­ cal, rounded apically; male antenna 14­segmented, A4 not modified, A4­A13 with one whorl of verticillate bristles. MESOSOMA. Mesosoma moderately to distinctly higher than wide; pronotum anteromedially produced into hump or cylindrical horn, apex of horn often slightly notched medially, horn often overlapping occiput, or horn not developed but pronotal shoulders approximated and angularly projecting; epomium not developed; propleuron and anterior sides of pronotum without foamy structures or cushions of hairs, rarely anterodorsal part of pronotum with dense pilosity; cervix of prothorax relatively short; mesoscutum distinctly elongate, parapsidal lines or impressions often developed, mesoscutum often with longitudinal impression anteromedially; scutellum distinctly trapezoidal, anterior scutellar pit moderately deep, often with irregular longitudinal keels, pit shorter than scutellar disc; scutellar disc moderately to distinctly convex, subcircular, pillow­shaped, unarmed dorsally, median keel not developed, lateral keels usually delicate, rarely sharp; axillar depression moderately to well developed; mesopleuron rather flat, usually with deep oblique submedial declivity, lower half of mesopleuron rarely with dense horizontal striate; dorsellum well defined, with longitudinal keels, dorsellum separated from propodeum by deep cleft; metapleuron large, rugulose, without fine pilosity, separated dorsally from propodeum by deep horizontal declivity, declivity rarely absent; metasternum (between mid and hind coxae) usually with deeply bifurcate projection, furca closely flanked by middle and hind coxae, rarely furca not developed; propodeum relatively short, highly topped, median keel usually not developed, plica at most rudimentary, propodeum without fine pilosity, posterior margin of propodeum usually sharp, posterolateral corners often projecting; wings primarily developed, distinctly longer than body, clear or slightly infuscate, with arc of infuscations below marginal vein, stigmal vein unusually long, fingerlike, bent obliquely, wings secondarily missing in some individuals; legs long and strong, femora and tibiae nonclavate, subcylindrical, tarsi strongly compressed; apex of anterior tibia without specialized spine dorsally. METASOMA. Peti­ ole distinctly elongate, robust, usually subcylindrical, always convex dorsally, often with transverse knot posteriorly, in lateral view strongly sloping down posteriorly in front of syntergite; metasoma past petiole in lateral view only slightly convex dorsally, moderately to strongly convex ventrally, entire syntergite with sparse semierect bristles, syntergite often partly to entirely sculptured and matte, anterior margin of syntergite tightly attached to base of petiole; anterior margin of S2 moderately to deeply excavate, rim either complete or broadly effaced medially; specialized spot on S2 usually located in wall of anterior margin of S2, rarely remote from anterior margin; apex of metasoma moderately pointed, apical sternite only sparsely hairy.

DESCRIPTION (3): Males differ from females in following characters: head usually subglobular, frons with only median process, keel­like, eye generally large, occipital flange well developed, fairly steplike, irregularly rugulose; palpal formula 5–2; postgena usually with dense pilosity; antenna 14­segmented, long and slender, A3 with two whorls of bristles, A4–A13 with one whorl of bristles on distal knot or multiple bristles on knot; mesosoma less compressed; pronotum without distinct hump or horn anterodorsally, but with sharply raised margin or with humped shoulders, sharp epomial carina descending down pronotal sides, anterodorsal corner of pronotal sides with distinct irregular striae or rugulose sculpture; lateral keels of scutellar disc generally better developed; metasternal furca usually less developed or reduced to simple hump; metapleuron and sides of propodeum with fine pilosity, median propodeal keel and plica well developed; legs generally more slender, tarsi only moderately compressed; petiole cylindrical, usually with longitudinal keels or rugosity and rather abundant pilosity; syntergite with scattered bristles only on posterior half; anterior margin of S2 with uninterrupted sharp margin; specialized spot on S2 not visible.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Originally the sexes of this genus were treated un­ der two generic names, males as Notoxoides , females as Notoxopria . Masner (1976) synonymized Notoxopria and Philolestes with Notoxoides . Notoxoides is unique among re­ lated ecitophilic genera, principally in shape of female head, and armature of pronotum and metasternum. Notoxoides shares armed frons with Mimopria , Philolestoides , Ecitovagus , and Myrmecopria ; from Mimopria it differs by long slender stigmal vein and lack of stiff bristles on the body; from Philolestoides principally by head behind eyes with long temples and long occiput. The present diagnosis of Notoxoides includes an extralimital new species from Brazil (Bahia; CNCI), with 12­segmented antenna in female, pronotal horn replaced by approximat­ ed humped pronotal shoulders, median keel of propodeum well developed, etc.

DISTRIBUTION: The present known distribution of the genus is restricted to lowland rainforests of continental South America. Six species were described ( Mann, 1923; Borgmeier, 1939; Loiácono, 1981; Kistner and Davis, 1989); we examined several undescribed species from South America. Loiácono (1981) keyed Neotropical species.

BIOLOGY: Members of Notoxoides display some of the most advanced associations with ants. So far, ants of genus Neivamyrmex and Eciton (Ecitonini) were recorded as hosts ( Loiácono, 1981). Detailed biological study was published by Kistner and Davis (1989). Adult wasps are frequently collected in light traps. Wings may be lost to lytical alectomy as indicated by shrivelled wing rudiments in some specimens.

Omopria , new genus Figure 77

DIAGNOSIS (♀ 3): Small­sized individuals (1.7 mm), short and robust; body chestnut brown, legs and antennae distinctly lighter; body predominantly smooth and shining; head and mesosoma with scattered, straight, strong hairs, hairs truncate apically; hairy cushions and foamy structures not developed; female antenna 12­segmented, clava spindle­shaped, nonabrupt, multisegmented, subcompact, clavomeres transversely rectangular, with very narrow gaps; male antenna 14­segmented, A3–A13 slightly longer than wide, ovoid, with scattered nonwhorled semierect hairs, A4 not modified; pronotum dorsally strongly developed (laterad mesoscutum), with massive shoulders and sharp edges; epomium developed; dorsum of propodeum in lateral view mostly subhorizontal, with median keel strongly projecting, spikelike; coxae remarkably short, subcircular.

DESCRIPTION (♀ 3): HEAD. Head in dorsal view subglobular; frons unarmed; antennal shelf developed, carinate anteriorly; head in lateral view with torulus in lower half of eye; eye relatively small, short oval, subequal to malar space, ommatidia moderately large; oral carina not projecting anteriorly; postgenal cushion not developed; occipital flange not developed; head in frontal view subcircular; mandible short, subtridentate; head in ventral view with hypostomal bridge extremely narrow, reduced almost to point; palpi extremely short, palpal formula 2–1; female antenna short, stout, 12­segmented with nonabrupt spindle­shaped 6­segmented clava; clavomeres subcompact, moderately flattened ventrally, A12 longest, with no ventral pit; male antenna threadlike, 14­segmented, A3–A14 with scattered long, nonwhorled, semierect hairs; A4 not modified. MESOSOMA. Mesosoma relatively short, stout; pronotum dorsally strongly developed (laterad mesoscutum), with massive subangular shoulders and sharp edges distinctly raised above adjacent margins of mesoscutum; epomium developed; side of pronotum with no hairy cushion along anterior margin; propleuron with fine pilosity; mesoscutum distinctly wider than long, remarkably flattened, admedian and paraspidal lines not developed, humeral and suprahumeral sulci moderately developed; anterior scutellar pit shallow, transversely oval, subequal in size to axilla, distinctly shorter than scutellar disc; scutellar disc flattened dorsally, subrectangular, with no lateral keels, lateral or posterior pits absent; posterior margin of axilla sharp; axillar depression large, smooth, with only scattered pilosity; mesopleuron almost flat, median oblique line rudimentary; sternaulus not developed; posterior margin of mesopleuron noncrenulate; metanotum relatively broad, smooth, and glabrous; dorsellum with three irregular keels; metapleuron not distinctly excavate anteriorly, rugose, with fine pilosity; propodeum relatively short and broad, dorsum of propodeum in lateral view mostly subhorizontal, with median keel strongly projecting, spikelike, posterolateral corners bluntly projecting, posterior margin of propodeum excavate, semicircular; nucha short, smooth and glabrous; forewing relatively short, almost spoonlike, with long stiff bristles between tegula and marginal vein, with moderate marginal cilia; wing venation not exceeding basal third of wing length, submarginal vein not upcurved, marginal vein wedgelike, stigmal vein shortly oblique, no other vein present; hind wing with submarginal vein incomplete; legs relatively short and stout, coxae remarkably short, subcircular; hind femur shortly clavate, hind tibia moderately clubbed; tarsi not distinctly compressed; apex of foretibia without specialized spine dorsally. METASOMA. Metasoma short and robust; petiole short and stalky, wider than long; metasoma past petiole distinctly flattened dorsally; anterior margin of syntergite only slightly wider than petiole, not notched medially; apex of female metasoma short and triangular; base of S2 without specialized pit.

TYPE SPECIES: Omopria brevipalpis , new species (described below), by present designation.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Omopria is unique among all genera of the Diapriinae for highly apomorphic structure of pronotal shoulders. It could be compared with Acanthopria , from which it differs primarily by absence of foamy structures and strongly reduced palpi, in males also by nonwhorled flagellum with A3 and A4 clearly separated. Omopria shares some similarity with Szelenyiopria particularly in structure of propodeum and presence of stiff, truncate setae on head and mesosoma.

ETYMOLOGY: From omos (Greek) meaning ‘‘shoulder’’, and pria (Latin) meaning ‘‘little wasp’’; the gender is feminine.

DISTRIBUTION: At present we recognize the single species, Omopria brevipalpis , new species, from Brazil and Argentina.

BIOLOGY: The host is unknown; however, judging by general habitus and color of the body, specialized pilosity, and reduced palpi, we presume a possible association with ants.

Omopria brevipalpis , new species Figure 77

DESCRIPTION: Holotype ♀: Length 1.7 mm; body dark chestnut brown; metasoma includ­

ing petiole light brown, tegula, antenna, and legs including coxae yellowish brown; forewing with very slight infuscation; head, most of mesosoma and metasoma past petiole smooth and shining. HEAD. Head in dorsal view transverse, wider than long (41:34); eye longer than temple (14:10); head in lateral view slightly higher than long (39:34); eye as large as malar space (12:12); antennal segments in relative proportions (25:7), (10:5), (7:5), (7:5.5), (6:6), (6:7), (6:8.5), (7:10), (7: 10), (7:10), (7:10), (13:9). MESOSOMA. Mesosoma in relative proportions length: width:height (70:45:41); cervix with irregular longitudinal rugulosity; shoulders of pronotum with several stiff bristles and few shorter appressed hairs: mesoscutum broadly transverse, wider than long (37:26), with two pairs of stiff setae; axilla with two pairs of stiff bristles in extreme corners; scutellar disc with two pairs of stiff bristles at sides; propodeum dorsally and at sides with fine rugulose sculpture and with dense pilosity especially at sides; apex of marginal vein with two long tapered bristles; venation in forewing not exceeding basal third of wing length (40:120). METASOMA. Petiole short, cylindrical, wider than long (13:10), with short dense pilosity dorsally and with pair of long bristles laterally; syntergite smooth, shining, glabrous, without micropunctures; S2 with long, dense, semiappressed hairs.

MALE: Differs from female principally in antennal structure; antennal segments in relative proportions (25:7), (9:6), (12:5.5), (13: 5.5), (11:6), (11:6), (10:5.5), (10:5.5), (10: 5.5), (10:6), (10:6), (10:6), (10:6), (14:5).

TYPE MATERIAL: 11 ♀ 3. Holotype, ♀ ( CNCI no. 22458), BRAZIL, Guanabara, Represa Rio Grande , March 1972, F.H. Oliveira . Allotype, 3, same data as holotype (A3 and A4 of right antenna partly fused dorsally) . Paratypes, 1♀, same data as holotype, January 1968, M. Alvarenga ; 13, same as holotype, December 1967; 1♀ 13, Mato Grosso, Sinop , December 1975, M. Alvarenga, MT ; 1♀, Districto Federal, Brasilia, R. L. Vianna, IBGE, Res. April 14–20, 1983 ; 1♀ 13, Londrina, Mata dos Godoy , January 28–31, 1990, S.A. Marshall, PT ; 23, AR­ GENTINA, Rio Ceballos , January 24, 1974, I. Redolfi .

ETYMOLOGY: The species epithet refers to its unusually short palpi.

DISTRIBUTION: Argentina, Brazil.

BIOLOGY: Unknown.

VARIATION: In spite of considerable distribution, very little variation was encountered; some males were slightly smaller than the allotype; some individuals (♀ 3) have indication of fine horizontal striae on the side of pronotum, better developed than in the holotype.

Philolestoides Ferrière Figure 84

Figures

Figs. 70–79. 70, Myrmecopria mellea (Ashmead) female habitus, dorsal view; 71, M. mellea female, tarsomeres; 72, M. mellea female habitus, lateral view; 73, Neivapria penicillata Borgmeier, female habitus, lateral view; 74, Notoxoides sp. female head&ndash̍onotum, dorsal view; 75, Notoxoides sp. female mesosoma, dorsal view; 76, Notoxoides sp. female habitus, lateral view; 77, Omopria brevipalpis n. sp. female habitus, dorsal view; 78, Ortona hansoni n. sp. female habitus, dorsal view; 79, O. hansoni female habitus, lateral view.

Figs. 80–88. 80, Paramesius sp. female habitus, dorsal view; 81, Paramesius sp. female habitus, lateral view; 82, Peckidium enigmaticum n. sp. female habitus, dorsal view; 83, P. enigmaticum female habitus, lateral view; 84, Philolestoides sp. female habitus, lateral view; 85, Pentapria sp. female habitus, lateral view; 86, Pentapria sp. female habitus, dorsal view; 87, Poecilopsilus sp. female habitus, lateral view; 88, Poecilopsilus sp. female habitus, dorsal view.