Auxopaedeutes Brues, 1903: 119–128

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 : 67-72

Auxopaedeutes Brues, 1903: 119–128 . Cracinopria Fouts, 1924: 159–166 . Synonymized

by Masner, 1964a: 123–155.

DIAGNOSIS (♀ 3): Small­sized individuals (about 1 mm), body light to dark brown, smooth and highly shining, with fine scattered pubescence, sometimes predominantly glabrous; hairy cushions present, foamy structures absent (Nearctic) or present (Antilles); oral carina absent; palpi extremely short and minute, palpal formula appearing 2–1; female A4–A9 transverse or beadlike; A1 moderately to strongly compressed, usually slightly wider basally than apically; propodeum rather short and broad, deeply Ushaped excavate medially, excavation reaching almost to posterior margin of dorsellum, leaving no median keel, sides of propodeum projecting posteriorly; submarginal vein relatively short, not exceeding basal quarter of wing length; metasoma past petiole relatively large and massive in females, with anterior margin remarkably broad, distinctly wider than petiole; S2 anterolaterally with two hairy depressions.

DESCRIPTION (♀ 3): HEAD. Head in dorsal view globular, frons unarmed, antennal shelf sometimes very large and deep, not margined posteriorly; head in lateral view with antennal shelf moderately projecting, torulus in middle to upper level of eye; eye subcircular, distinctly smaller in females than males, posterior orbit of eye rounded; ommatidia small and flat, not raspberry­like; oral carina absent; postgenal cushion relatively small or absent; occipital flange minute; hypostomal bridge well developed; mandible bidentate; palpi extremely short and minute, palpal formula appearing 2–1; female antenna 12­segmented, generally short and stout, clava semiabrupt to abrupt, 2–4­segmented, A4–A9 transverse or penicillate, A2 subrectangular in dorsal view, A12 without pit ventrally; A1 (♀ 3) moderately to strongly compressed, not armed apically, usually slightly wider basally than apically; male antenna 14­segmented, rather short, A5–A14 beadlike with random long bristles, A3 and A4 large, sexually modified, A4 deeply emarginate with sharp carina; special brushes not developed. MESO­ SOMA. Pronotum in dorsal view moderately to strongly developed; pronotal shoulders prominent in some species; side of pronotum slightly convex, epomium not developed; pronotal cushion strong, moderate or absent; mesoscutum as long as wide, only slightly convex or flat, parapsidal lines, anterior parallel lines and humeral sulci absent; anterior scutellar pit of various shapes, usually shallow, smaller than scutellar disc; scutellar disc pillow­shaped, at most with moderate longitudinal keel, lateral keels moderately developed; posterior margin of axilla almost rounded, axillar depression very small, rarely with foamy structures; mesopleuron rather flat, submedian oblique line very weak or absent; sternaulus not developed; dorsellum weakly developed; metapleuron entirely covered with appressed fine pilosity; propodeum strongly modified, rather short and broad, deeply U­shaped excavate medially, excavation reaching almost to posterior margin of dorsellum leaving no median keel, plica not developed, sides of propodeum usually projecting posteriorly; wings primarily present and clear, basal vein not indicated, submarginal vein relatively short, not exceeding basal quarter of wing length, submarginal vein slightly upcurved; wings sometimes rudimentary or absent (bitten off by ant host); legs relatively short and stout especially in female, foretibia with strong dorsal spine. METASOMA. Petiole broadly transverse, densely hairy, in lateral view not projecting above syntergite; metasoma past petiole relatively large and massive in females, with anterior margin remarkably broad, distinctly wider than petiole, with anterolateral corners subrectangular, syntergite in lateral view only slightly convex, sometimes deeply excavate anteromedially, glabrous or with scattered pilosity; apex of female metasoma rather obtuse; S2 anterolaterally with two hairy depressions.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Auxopaedeutes is interpreted here as a specialized lineage of Trichopria from which it differs principally by highly modified propodeum. Auxopaedeutes differs from Bruesopria by the lack of constriction between the metathorax and the propodeum, also by having the metapleuron entirely covered with dense pilosity and by the two hairy pits anterolaterally on S2.

DISTRIBUTION: Six species were described from the Nearctic region; one undescribed species is known to us from Mexico (Tamaulipas) and one from Antilles (Hispaniola), the latter classified in Auxopaedeutes with doubts.

BIOLOGY: Two Nearctic species were collected from nests of the ant genus Solenopsis . Wings are occasionally clipped off by ants. Curiously enough, we studied an undescribed Nearctic species (USNM) that was reared from a tachinid, a primary parasitoid of diprionine sawflies (Symphyta). Fouts (1924) reported some species found in wheat.

Avoca , new genus Figure 20

DIAGNOSIS (♀ 3): Medium­sized (around 2 mm) individuals; body color dark brown to almost black; body remarkably glabrous, with only scattered short hairs, in contrast with massive hairy cushions or areas of unusually dense pilosity; foamy structures not developed; female antenna 12­segmented, without clava, A4–A11 almost beadlike, uniform, not flattened ventrally, A12 without specialized ventral pit; male antenna 14­segmented, A4 with strong spine, A5­A13 beadlike, only slightly longer than wide, with dense scattered bristles; postgena with hairy cushion; pronotum dorsally and along anterior margin and entire propleuron with massive hairy cushion; scutellar disc distinctly concave, with lateral keels raised; axillar depression large, deep, filled with long dense pilosity; metanotum, especially dorsellum, metapleuron and propodeum with long, dense light­colored pilosity dorsally; anterior margin of syntergite not notched or emarginate medially.

DESCRIPTION (♀ 3): HEAD. Head in dorsal view subglobular with antennal shelf and toruli moderately projecting, antennal shelf between toruli continuous, not emarginate; frons unarmed; temples relatively large, rounded; head in lateral view about as long as high; level of toruli in middle of eye; eye ovoid, relatively large; posterior orbit of eye not sinuate; ommatidia only moderately large, nonconvex; oral carina only moderately projecting anteriorly; postgenal cushion strongly developed; occipital flange, minute, not steplike; head in frontal view with clypeus broad; epistomal sulcus replaced by slight depression; tentorial pits rudimentary; malar sulcus not developed; mandible short, clasped, bidentate, lower tooth distinctly longer; palpal formula 5–2; head in ventral view with hypostomal bridge present; female antenna 12­segmented, without clava, A4–A11 almost beadlike, uniform, not flattened ventrally, A12 without specialized ventral pit; male antenna. MESOSOMA. Pronotum dorsally completely covered by massive hairy cushion; side of pronotum moderately convex, anterior margin with massive hairy cushion; epomium not developed; propleuron with massive hairy cushion; mesoscutum moderately convex with few scattered semierect hairs, with no sulci, lines, or depressions; anterior scutellar pit suboval, deep, without median keel; scutellar disc distinctly concave, with lateral keels raised, slightly sinuate and converging posteriorly, axillar, lateral and posterior scutellar pits not developed; axilla narrowly subrectangular, with sharp posterior margin; axillar depression large, deep, filled with long, dense pilosity; mesopleuron moderately convex, smooth, shining, almost glabrous, with median oblique depression rudimentary; epistomal pit absent; sternaulus not developed; posterior margin of mesopleuron noncrenulate; metanotum, especially dorsellum, with long, dense light­colored pilosity, dorsellar keels obscured by pilosity; metapleuron covered with long, dense light­colored pilosity; propodeum moderately large, with long, dense light­colored pilosity dorsally; median keel moderately developed, not pointed and not cresting anteriorly; plica not developed; posterior margin of propodeum not rimlike, posterolateral corners not projecting; nucha short and glabrous; forewing relatively large, with moderately long marginal cilia; submarginal vein strongly approximated to foremargin of wing; venation not exceeding basal forth of wing length, marginal vein short, stigmal vein as long as marginal vein; no other vein present; submarginal vein in hind wing incomplete; legs generally long and slender; femora strongly, tibiae moderately clavate distally; apex of femora without flaps; dorsal apex of foretibia shortly pointed, not produced in spike; tarsi not compressed. ME­ TASOMA. Petiole moderately elongate, with irregular keels mostly covered by dense pilosity on all sides; anterior margin of syntergite only slightly wider than petiole, distinctly elevated above level of petiole, not notched or emarginate medially; syntergite glabrous, with only few scattered erect hairs laterally; apical tergite small, almost vertical, not pointed; apical sternite short, broadly vomeriform, not conical apically.

TYPE SPECIES: Avoca collaris , new species (described below), by present designation.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Avoca is unique among all members of the Diapriini because of the apomorphic character states of the scutellar disc, pilosity of the axillar depression, metanotum, and propodeum. The nonclavate beadlike female antenna and the absence of a specialized spike on dorsal apex of foretibia will distinguish Avoca from such genera as Diapria and Trichopria .

ETYMOLOGY: Avoca is an euphonic anagram; the gender is feminine.

DISTRIBUTION: Avoca collaris (described below) is recorded from several localities in Florida and one in Georgia; additional specimens representing individuals from marginal populations or closely related species are known to us from Mexico (Chiapas), Antilles ( Jamaica), Central America ( Costa Rica), and South America ( Ecuador).

BIOLOGY: Host unknown.

Avoca collaris , new species Figure 20

DESCRIPTION: Holotype, ♀: Length 2 mm; body predominantly dark chestnut brown, legs including coxae, A1 yellowish brown, A2–A12 slightly darker, raised lateral keel of scutellar disc semitransparent, light brown; wings almost clear with slight yellowish tinge in anterior quarter. HEAD. Head in dorsal view slightly wider than long (45:37), slightly narrower than mesosoma (45:49); eye as long as temple (15:15), temple strongly receding; space between toruli subequal to half of torular diameter; antennal shelf between toruli entire, not emarginate; head in lateral view slightly higher than long (40:37); eye ovoid, higher than long (23:17), longer than postgena (17:12), distinctly larger than malar space (23:7); antennomeres in relative proportions (27:7), (9:5.5), (13:5), (10:6), (9: 6), (9:7), (9:7), (9:7), (8:7), (8:7), (8:7), (11: 6); A3–A12 with dense scattered hairs, length of hairs not exceeding width of segments. MESOSOMA. Mesosoma in dorsal view longer than wide (77:49); cervix of pronotum almost glabrous with fine rugulose sculpture; mesoscutum distinctly wider than long (43:30), moderately convex, distinctly declivous posterolaterally (near tegula), almost glabrous with only one pair of bristles in anterior half; scutellar pit slightly shorter than scutellar disc (9:13). METASOMA. Petiole moderately longer than wide (20:14); metasoma past petiole moderately elongate (74:46); syntergite glabrous, with only three or four long bristles situated on sides in anterior half, entire syntergite without micropunctures; S3–S6 with scattered setigerous punctures.

MALE: Unknown.

TYPE MATERIAL: 13♀. Holotype, ♀ ( CNCI no. 22450), USA, FL, Alachua Co., Gainesville (American Entomological Institute), September 15–October 27, 1987, BRC Hymenoptera Team, FIT in regrown oak forest. Paratypes: 2♀, same data as holotype ; 1♀, February 23–June 2, 1988, D.B. Wahl; 2♀, April 1991, D.B. Wahl, MT; 1♀, June–July , 1987, FIT ; 2♀, July 14–24, 1987; 1♀, July 15–August 2, 1987, FIT; 1♀, September 21– November 18, 1987, FIT; 1♀, Jackson Co., Florida Cave State Park , June 9–July 11, 1981, S. & B. Peck, FIT ; 1♀, GA; McIntosh Co., Sapelo Is., June 1987, BRC Hymenoptera team , live oak forest, FIT .

ETYMOLOGY: Collaris (Latin) in reference to the massive hairy collar on pronotum.

MALE: Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION: USA (Florida, Georgia).

BIOLOGY: Host unknown. The flight period in Florida and Georgia is from February to November; obviously the species has several generations per year.

VARIATION: The only variability encountered is in body color; several paratypes are slightly darker than the holotype.

Basalys Westwood

Figures 21, 22

Basalys Westwood, 1832: 342–344 .

Ceratopria Ashmead, 1893: 407 , 42. Synony­

mized by Masner, 1964b: 85.

Acidopria Kieffer, 1913: 442 . Synonymized by

Masner, 1964b: 85.

Loxotropa auct. nec Foerster.

Nesopria Muesebeck and Walkley, 1956: 319–

419. Synonymized in Krombein et al., 1979:

1144.

DIAGNOSIS (♀ 3): Small to medium­sized individuals (1–3.5 mm); body color from yellow to black, predominantly brown, smooth and shining, head and mesosoma with long scattered hairs, hairy cushions developed, foamy structures absent; antennal shelf usually distinctly prominent in both lateral and dorsal views; clypeus generally convex, sometimes almost keel­like; female antennal clava strongly abrupt, 3­ or 4­segmented; forewing with submarginal vein moderately remote from foremargin of wing, venation distinctly surpassing basal third of wing length, stigmal vein often moderately developed, basal vein always present, straight, fully pigmented, perpendicular to but never contiguous with submarginal vein, positioned well before marginal vein.

DESCRIPTION (♀ 3): HEAD. Head in dorsal view generally subangular to globose, sometimes elongate or slightly transverse; frons usually unarmed, sometimes with median sharp point or with two points anterolaterally, or rarely with ledges and rugulose sculpture; antennal shelf usually prominent anteriorly, not margined posteriorly, in lateral view usually distinctly prominent; toruli usually in level of lower eye; eye generally subcircular; posterior orbit of eye not sinuate; ommatidia moderately sized, not highly convex; oral carina well developed; postgenal cushion usually strongly developed; occipital flange moderate; mandible generally bidentate, normally clasped, sometimes strongly projecting, beaklike or almost opisthognathous; clypeus generally convex, sometimes almost keel­like; epistomal sulcus sometimes well developed; malar sulcus not developed; mandibular condyle often convex; hypostomal bridge well developed; palpal formula 5–2; female antenna 12­segmented, clava strongly abrupt, 3­ or 4­segmented, clavomeres distinctly flattened ventrally, A12 subequal to A11, A12 never with special pit ventrally; articulation between A9, A10, and A 11 in extreme dorsal part; A 1 in both sexes cylindrical, usually unarmed apically, rarely with sharp apical rim; male antenna 14­segmented, A2 subspherical, A5–A14 usually elongate, with dense scattered hairs, A4 distinctly sexually modified, usually emarginate, with longitudinal keel, A3 usually subequal to or shorter than A4; specialized brushes rarely present on A8–A10. MESO­ SOMA. Pronotum in dorsal view moderately developed; pronotal shoulders not developed, epomium absent; pronotal cushion strongly developed; propleuron densely hairy; mesoscutum as long as wide, only slightly convex or flat, often with shallow (nonimpressed) declivities in anterior notaular region, sulci and lines not developed; anterior scutellar pit generally transverse­subrectangular or subcircular, rarely almost bifoveate, or pit not developed; scutellar disc subquadrate, predominantly flat, rarely with fine median keel, lateral keels of disc sometimes strongly developed, lateral scutellar pits rarely devel­ oped; posterior margin of axilla finely round­ ed, axillar depression large, usually hairy; mesopleuron almost flat, oblique median line weak or absent; epicnemial pit not developed; sternaulus absent; dorsellum usually densely hairy, with three keels; metapleuron rugulose, generally hairy; propodeum relatively short, with strong median keel and well defined plica, area between plica and keel predominantly glabrous and smooth; forewing with submarginal vein remote from foremargin of wing by at least its width, venation distinctly surpassing basal third of wing length, stigmal vein often moderately developed, basal vein always present, straight, fully pigmented, perpendicular to but never contiguous with submarginal vein, positioned before marginal vein; hind wing with submarginal vein incomplete; wings often shortened in both sexes; legs slender, with femora and tibia clavate, tarsi not compressed, foretibia without dorsal spine apically. METASOMA. Petiole cylindrical, relatively short, usually densely hairy, rarely with specialized dense pilosity, or petiole dorsally partly glabrous, with longitudinal keels; metasoma past petiole moderately elongate, syntergite only slightly convex to almost flattened dorsally, generally glabrous but often with narrow strip of fine pilosity on anterior margin of syntergite, anterior margin of syntergite straight, not excised medially; S2 with two hairy depressions and generally dense pilosity anteriorly; female metasoma moderately pointed apically but not conical.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Basalys , as presently interpreted, comprises several former genera (see synonymies above). We recognize Basalys primarily on the unique venation of the forewing, especially the position and the shape of the basal vein. Antennal clava in the female is also diagnostic for the genus, 3­ or 4­segmented and strongly abrupt. Basalys is closest to Doliopria ; the two genera can be conveniently distinguished by the presence ( Basalys ) or absence ( Doliopria ) of the basal vein in the forewing, as well as by the form of antennal clava in the female.

DISTRIBUTION: Basalys is well represented in both North and South America (rarely in Chile); the vast majority of species remain undescribed.

BIOLOGY: Several species were reared from various dipterous hosts ( Notton, 1991; Simmonds, 1953) and some were collected in ant nests.

Bruesopria Wing Figures 25, 26

Figures

Figs. 10–20. 10, Asolenopsia gibba n. sp. female, lateral view; 11, Asolenopsia sp. female, lateral view;12, Asolenopsia gibba n. sp., female habitus, dorsal view; 13, Asolenopsia sp. female habitus, lateral view; 14, Asolenopsia sp., female forewing; 15, Auxopaedeutes lyriformis Brues, male antenna; 16, A. lyrifornis female, dorsal view; 17, A. lyriformis female head, dorsal view; 18, A. lyriformis female metasoma, ventral view; 19, A. lyriformis female habitus, lateral view; 20, Avoca collaris n. sp. female habitus, dorsal view.

Figs. 21–33. 21, Basalys sp. female head, dorsal view; 22, Basalys sp. female habitus, lateral view; 23, Bruchopria sp. female pronotum, lateral view; 24, Bruchopria sp. female habitus, dorsal view; 25, Bruesopria sp. female, lateral view; 26, Bruesopria sp. female, dorsal view; 27, Caecopria sp. male head, frontal view; 28, Caecopria sp. female habitus, dorsal view; 29, Caecopria sp. female habitus, lateral view; 30, Caecopria sp. male, dorsal view; 31, Caecopria sp. male habitus, lateral view; 32, Chilomicrus pecki n. sp. male habitus, lateral view; 33, C. pecki male habitus, dorsal view.