Quasipalaeoneura, 2024

Huber, John T., Read, Jennifer D. & Triapitsyn, Serguei V., 2024, Illustrated key to the genera and catalogue of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) in the Neotropical region, Zootaxa 5557 (1), pp. 1-263 : 96-97

QUASIPALAEONEURA Triapitsyn & Huber , gen. n.

( Figs 288–298 )

Type species: Polynema mymaripennis Dozier, 1933 .

Diagnosis. While not a single morphological feature clearly defines Quasipalaeoneura , the combination of features is unique among the Polynema group of genera worldwide: face without pit next to each torulus ( Fig. 290 ); propleura abutting anterior to prosternum ( Fig. 291 ); propodeum smooth, without carinae ( Fig. 292 ); fore wing peculiar in shape, at least wider at apex of venation than just beyond venation then widening distally towards wing apex ( Figs 288 , 293 , 295, 297 ); marginal + stigmal vein elongate; and petiole attached to gs 1 ( Fig. 294 ).

Description. FEMALE. Body length 600–1850 µm (dry- and slide-mounted specimens). Body and appendages yellow to light or dark brown. Face without subantennal sulcus ventral to each torulus and without a pit next to each torulus ( Fig. 290 ). Mandible with 3 teeth. Ocelli each sometimes with small, shallow adjacent depression in some undescribed species. Antenna ( Fig. 289 ) with scape usually smooth on both surfaces but with cross-ridges on the inner surface in at least one undescribed species; funicle 6-segmented, with all segments longer than wide and without mps ( Fig. 289 ); clava entire, with 5, 6 or 7 mps. Mesosoma ( Fig. 292 ) smooth or at most with a faint sculpture on mesoscutum; propleura abutting each other anteriorly along midline, the prosternum thus closed ( Fig. 291 ); pronotum either entire or divided mediolongitudinally; mesoscutum with notauli wide ( Fig. 292 ); axilla poorly differentiated and often with a long, blunt seta; scutellum with campaniform sensilla close to each other; frenum short, separated from scutellum by a row of frenal foveae; propodeum smooth, without carinae. Fore wing of peculiar shape, at least slightly narrower just beyond venation than at apex of venation before widening distally ( Figs 293 , 295, 297 ); marginal + stigmal vein with 2 short macrochaetae and 1 or 2 short setae; disc densely setose except behind and often just beyond apex of venation, with or without slightly infuscated areas or distinct dark bands, and usually without modified setae (but with modified setae on dark band(s) in a few undescribed species); fringe setae usually much longer than maximum fore wing width and usually fine, but slightly thickened on anterior margin in a few undescribed species. Hind wing ( Figs 293 , 297 ) narrow and much shorter than fore wing. Tarsi 4- segmented. Metasoma ( Fig. 294 ) with petiole attached to gs 1, much longer than wide; ovipositor not projecting or slightly to distinctly projecting beyond apex of gaster ( Figs 288 , 294 ).

MALE. Body length 630–1320 µm (dry- and slide-mounted specimens). Similar to female except for regular sexually dimorphic features of antenna and genitalia and the following: antenna ( Fig. 303 ) filiform, with flagellum 11-segmented; all flagellar segments much longer than wide and with several mps ( Fig. 298 ). Fore wing ( Fig. 295 ) often a little wider than in conspecific female. Genitalia ( Fig. 296 ) with digiti straight and without hooks.

Etymology. A combination of the Latin “ quasi ” (resembling) and the generic name Palaeoneura , reflecting its superficial similarity to Palaeoneura . Gender: feminine.

Remarks Quasipalaeoneura is a New World genus superficially similar to Palaeoneura , which is native to the Old World and represented in the Western Hemisphere only by two self-introduced species, P. markhoddlei Triapitsyn (in California, USA) and P. saga . Triapitsyn & Aquino (2010) transferred the type species of Quasipalaeoneura , Polynema mymaripennis , to Palaeoneura based on the characteristically shaped fore wing and the prosternum “closed” by the propleura abutting anterior to it. In Polynema the prosternum is “open” because the propleura do not abut anterior to the prosternum. Triapitsyn & Aquino (2010) did not mention the petiole attachment to the gaster in either Palaeoneura mymaripennis or P. durwest Triapitsyn , the second described species included below in Quasipalaeoneura . In both these species, the petiole is attached to gs 1 whereas in all true Palaeoneura species it is attached to gt 1. Because the prosternum is “closed” and the petiole is attached to gs 1 in both P. mymaripennis and P. durwest as well as all the recognized undescribed species of Quasipalaeoneura in the Neotropical region, their placement in either Palaeoneura or Polynema unjustifiable; therefore they are placed in a new genus, Quasipalaeoneura .

Quasipalaeoneura is likely related to Agalmopolynema and Stephanodes based on the petiolar attachment, prothoracic structure and perhaps the presence of shallow depressions next to the ocelli in some undescribed species. Quasipalaeoneura differs from both these genera by the peculiar shape of the fore wing. In Quasipalaeoneura and Agalmopolynema the mesosoma in lateral view is more or less flat whereas in Stephanodes it is distinctly convex, suggesting perhaps that Agalmopolynema is the most closely related genus.

Distribution. New World (Nearctic and Neotropical regions). Both described species listed below occur in both Nearctic ( USA) and Neotropical Regions ( Triapitsyn & Aquino 2010), whereas all the undescribed species (at least 12) are from the Neotropics (specimens from the Dominical Republic, Central and South America in CNC, UCRC and other collections).

Neotropical hosts. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 288, 289. Quasipalaeoneura mymaripennis (Dozier). 288, habitus; 289, antenna.

FIGURES 290–293. Quasipalaeoneura mymaripennis (Dozier). 290, head, anterior; 291, pronotum, especially prosternum and propleura, ventral; 292, mesosoma, dorsal; 293, wings.

FIGURES 294–298. Quasipalaeoneura. 294–296, Q. mymaripennis (Dozier), metasoma, lateral; 295, fore wing; 296, male genitalia; 297–298, Q. sp., wings, undescribed sp.; 298, head + antenna, undescribed male.

FIGURES 302, 303. Schizophragma. 302, mesosoma, dorsal; 303a, metasoma, dorsal; 303b, metasoma, ventral.