Ptilomymar, Annecke & Doutt, 1961

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 : 95-96

PTILOMYMAR Annecke & Doutt, 1961

( Figs 283–287 )

Ptilomymar Annecke & Doutt, 1961: 24 . Type species: Ptilomymar rete Annecke & Doutt, 1961 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Propodeum and gt 1 each with large vertical, translucent, reticulate lamina ( Figs 286, 287a ); propodeal seta large and branched with its base anterior to level of spiracle ( Fig. 286 ).

Remarks. Ptilomymar belongs to the Camptoptera group of genera. In the Neotropical region, Ptilomymar is unique in having 4-segmented tarsi. Tarsomere 4 is about 2× as long as tarsomere 3, indicating that tarsomere 4 consists of a fusion of tarsomeres 4 and 5. The scutellum with oval, obliquely-oriented campaniform sensilla is also unique. The peculiar translucent structures (“fins”) described above occur elsewhere only in Stephanocampta and some extralimital Camptoptera but in a different orientation, and the propodeal spiracle in those two genera is not branched. Specimens are almost always collected near water. We conjecture that their hosts are aquatic and adult females use their “fins” and branched propodeal spiracle to trap an air bubble before crawling down vegetation, thus giving them a source of air as they search underwater for host eggs. The absence of hind wing membrane at its junction with the venation apex is perhaps unique to the particular (unnamed) species illustrated; in other species there may be only a slight narrowing. Possibly, this narrowing allows for hind wing folding that may make it easier for the female to enter water.

Neotropical hosts. Unknown.

Distribution. No named species in the Neotropical region south of Mexico. Unidentified specimens examined (CNC, UCRC) are from at least 10 countries in Central and South America.

Important reference. Huber et al. (2020).

Figures

FIGURES 283–285. Ptilomymar.S 283a; head, anterior; 283b, head, posterior; 284, antenna; 285, wings.

FIGURES 286, 287. Ptilomymar. 286, mesosoma, dorsal; 287a, metasoma, dorsal; 287b, metasoma, ventral.