Selitrichodes Girault

Salle, John La, Arakelian, Gevork, Garrison, Rosser W. & Gates, Michael W., 2009, A new species of invasive gall wasp (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae) on blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) in California, Zootaxa 2121, pp. 35-43 : 39

Genus Selitrichodes Girault

Selitrichodes was treated by Kim et al. (2008), who removed it from synonymy with Aprostocetus Westwood , provided a generic diagnosis, recognized 12 valid species, and pointed out that this genus would probably contain many more species. Although exact biology and host plants are unknown for most species, most of them appear to be associated with galls in some manner. Detailed biology is known only for S. kryceri , which was recently described as a parasitoid of the gall inducing Leptocybe invasa (Kim et al. 2008) . Another species of Selitrichodes has recently been found in Florida, where it is a parasitoid of Leptocybe invasa . It is not clear how it arrived in Florida. It is interesting that this group now contains species that are both gall inducers and parasitoids of gall inducers. La Salle (2005) pointed out that, at least within the Chalcidoidea, several groups that display a general relationship with galls can contain species that are parasitoids of gall inducers, inquilines, or gall inducers.

Diagnosis. A key to North American Tetrastichinae genera was provided by La Salle (1994), and keys to all North American Eulophidae genera were supplied by Schauff et al. (1997). In these keys Selitrichodes would key to Baryscapus or Aprostocetus , but can be distinguished by the diagnostic characters given in Kim et al. (2008), and which are repeated below.

SMV usually with 2 or 1 dorsal setae. PMV distinct, usually about 0.4–0.5 the length of STV. Propodeum without a raised lobe of callus which partially overhangs outer rim of spiracle. Cercal setae short and subequal in length. Mesosternum anterior to trochantinal lobe convex and without a precoxal suture. Malar sulcus generally curved, and gena may be somewhat swollen. All funicular segments subquadrate or slightly transverse. Postmarginal vein distinctly developed, although shorter than stigmal vein. Non-metallic (mainly yellow with black markings). Males (of at least some species) with 3 funicular segments.

Selitrichodes species can be distinguished from Baryscapus in that Baryscapus species are all predominantly metallic in coloration, and Selitrichodes species are non-metallic. Selitrichodes can be separated from Aprostocetus in that Selitrichodes species have 1 or 2 setae on the SMV, and the bulk of Aprostocetus species have 3 or more setae on the SMV; the few Aprostocetus species with only 2 setae on the SMV have metallic coloration.

The following characters in combination serve to distinguish S. globulus from other described species of Selitrichodes: Color uniformly dark brown, without extensive areas of yellow markings; POL about 3 times as long as OOL; speculum small and open posteriorly; cubital setal line approaching but not reaching basal line; speculum may have a few small setae on underside of wing; antenna with F1 longer than wide; F3 subquadrate to wider than long.