Litus, Haliday, 1833

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 : 79-80

LITUS Haliday, 1833

( Figs 176–180 )

Litus Haliday 1833a: 269 ; 1833b: 345. Type species: Litus cynipseus Haliday, 1833 , by monotypy.

Congolia Ghesquière, 1942: 320 . Type species: Congolia sycophila Ghesquière, 1942 , by monotypy. Synonymy by Debauche, 1949: 17. This genus and its type species were accidentally omitted from the list of generic synonyms in Huber et al. (2021).

Diagnosis. Funicle 6-segmented ( Fig. 177 ); mandibles crossing or barely meeting when closed, each with 2 subequal teeth ( Fig. 176a ); ocelli forming an obtuse triangle with the lateral ocellus at posterolateral angle of vertex; head posteriorly without evident sulci, the occiput separated from gena/postgena by slight change in sculpture lateral to dorsal margin of foramen ( Fig. 176b ); fore wing narrow, only slightly widening towards apex ( Fig. 178 ); mesophragma projecting into gaster; propodeum posteriorly with a short but wide ring-like nucha (neck) separated from rest of propodeum by a distinct narrowing ( Fig. 180a ); petiole (not visible unless metasoma detached) short and narrow; metasoma smooth, laterally compressed, cynipoid-like, with gt 1 the largest tergum ( Fig. 180a ).

Remarks. Huber et al. (2020) had placed Litus in the Alaptus group but this is incorrect. Litus apparently belongs to the Camptoptera group of genera because of its narrow petiole (usually completely hidden so removal of the metasoma is needed to see it). The most similar genus is probably Ptilomymar . The strongly sculptured head and mesosoma contrasting with the smooth and shiny metasoma helps separate the species of Litus from other genera in the group.

Neotropical hosts. Unknown.

Important reference. Ogloblin (1935).

Figures

FIGURES 176–178. Litus. 176a, head, anterior; 176b, head, posterior; 177, antenna; 178, wings.

FIGURES 179, 180. Litus. 179a, mesosoma, dorsal; 179b, mesosoma, ventral; 180a, metasoma, dorsal; 180b, metasoma, ventral.