Stentorceps Quinlan, 1984

Noort, Simon van, Buffington, Matthew L. & Forshage, Mattias, 2015, Afrotropical Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera), ZooKeys 493, pp. 1-176 : 110-112

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Figitidae

Stentorceps Quinlan, 1984

Remarks.

Rare. Possibly an apomorphic group in Trichoplasta .

Diagnosis.

Unmistakable head morphology, with distinct trumpet-shaped protrution (corniculum) present between toruli. Superficially similar to Nanocthulhu , since both have extensive projections from the head region. However, Stentorceps has a corniculum protruding from the frons, and Nanocthulhu has a three-pronged extension (fuscina) atop a protruding clypeus. The rest of the body is similar to a Trichoplasta , thus with a posterior protrusion on the scutellum, which is another character that separates them from Nanocthulhu . Some species of Rhoptromeris and Hexacola have protrusions from the malar space and clypeus, but they also lack the corniculum of Stentorceps .

Distribution.

Endemic to the Afrotropical region and mainly occurring in East Africa. Afrotropical records: Kenya ( Quinlan 1984), Botswana, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Uganda ( Nielsen and Buffington 2011), Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Yemen (here).

Biology.

Hosts unknown.

Species richness.

Stentorceps abbotti Nielsen & Buffington, 2011 (Kenya)

Stentorceps heimdalli Nielsen & Buffington, 2011 (Kenya, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Uganda)

Stentorceps tubicen Quinlan, 1984 (Kenya, Zimbabwe)

Stentorceps vuvuzela Nielsen & Buffington, 2011 (Kenya)

Stentorceps weedlei Nielsen & Buffington, 2011 (Botswana, Madagascar)

Stentorceps zuparkoi Nielsen & Buffington, 2011 (Madagascar, South Africa)