Gonatocerus, Nees, 1834

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 : 74-75

GONATOCERUS Nees, 1834

( Figs 147–151 )

Gonatocerus Nees, 1834: 192 . Type species: Gonatocerus longicornis Nees, 1834 , by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Gonatocerus is distinguished by the following combination: vertex with 2 setae between lateral ocelli ( Fig. 147b ); mandibles of normal length, with 3 distinct, equal teeth and crossing when closed; pronotum divided medially by longitudinal suture and the lobes abutting medially ( Fig. 150 ) except sometimes slightly separated dorsally; fore wing relatively narrow, with apex evenly rounded, and with microtrichia usually as dense posterior to venation as distal to venation ( Fig. 149 ); stigmal vein with apex usually slightly oblique; dorsellum diamond-shaped ( Fig. 150 ); propodeum with faint, converging sublateral lines, or lines absent ( Fig. 150 ); pronotal spiracle about same size as propodeal spiracle ( Fig. 150 ); ovipositor not produced anteriorly under mesosoma.

Remarks. Gonatocerus belongs to the Gonatocerus group of genera, treated formally as Gonatocerini by Huber (2015a). Gonatocerus appears to be most similar to Cosmocomoidea . Useful features that help distinguish Gonatocerus species are: fu 2 and fu 3 usually slightly the longest funicle segments and apex of fu 2 often oblique. The dorsellum margins are sometimes lighter in colour than the rest of the dorsellum. Otherwise, Gonatocerus is more difficult to characterize than the other genera in Gonatocerini .

Neotropical hosts. Hemiptera .

Important references. Triapitsyn et al. (2010), Huber (2015a).

Figures

FIGURES 147–149. Gonatocerus. 147a, head, anterior; 147b, head, posterior; 148, antenna; 149, wings.

FIGURES 150, 151. Gonatocerus. 150, mesosoma, dorsal; 151a, metasoma, dorsal, 151b, metasoma, ventral.