Myrmicolelaps Hedqvist, 1969

Desjardins, Christopher A., 2007, Phylogenetics and classification of the world genera of Diparinae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Zootaxa 1647 (1), pp. 1-88 : 62-63

Myrmicolelaps Hedqvist

( Figs. 25–35 , 66, 67 )

Myrmicolelaps Hedqvist 1969: 182 . Type species: Myrmicolelaps paradoxus Hedqvist (orig. desig. and by monotypy). Dolichodipara Hedqvist 1969: 180–181 . Type species: Dolichodipara scutellata Hedqvist (orig. desig. and by mono-

typy). New synonymy. [Type specimen of genus examined]

Diagnosis: Myrmicolelaps belongs to a clade with Conophorisca . This entire clade can be diagnosed with 2 characters: 1) propodeal foramen hinge-like, open both dorsally and ventrally ( Fig. 31 ). All remaining diparines have a propodeal foramen that is circular and open only in 1 plane. 2) Petiole constricted antero-ventrally ( Fig. 34 ). All other diparines have a cylindrical petiole, or in the case of Conodipara , an L-shaped petiole. Myrmicolelaps can be distinguished from Conophorisca by the following characters. First, in Myrmicolelaps the axillary wing sclerite is expanded and visible ( Fig. 30 , aws), while it is neither expanded nor visible in Conophorisca . Second, Conophorisca has its toruli located on a shelf, where the upper face is separated from the lower face by a sharp angle of ~90° ( Fig. 8 ), while the upper and lower face of Myrmicolelaps are separated by an angle of no greater than 50°.

Discussion: Hedqvist (1969) separated Myrmicolelaps from Dolichopdiara based on scutellum shape. Dolichodipara has a moderately tooth-like scutellum, while Myrmicolelaps has a flat scutellum. However, Myrmicolelaps aurantius has the posterior portion of its scutellum slightly raised, and this character shows a grade of variability throughout both described and undescribed species. The Myrmicolelaps + Dolichodipara clade is supported as monophyletic in the phylogenetic analysis by 2 synapomorphies: the presence of an expanded axillary wing sclerite and presence of a grooved, setose posterior scutal margin. Based on the strong synapomorphies uniting this clade, and the variability that exists within characters traditionally used to divide it, Dolichodipara Hedqvist is herein synonymized with Myrmicolelaps Hedqvist. As both genera are described in the same paper, the name Myrmicolelaps is chosen for 2 reasons. First, the name itself provides more information about the taxon, hinting at the genus’ ant-like appearance. Second, Myrmicolelaps is more commonly recognized by chalcidologists, and is present in many more collections than Dolichodipara . Additionally, while Myrmicolelaps is resolved as monophyletic in the phylogenetic analysis, it generally forms an unresolved polytomy with three species of Conophorisca . See the Conophorisca generic entry as to why these genera are maintained as separate.

Very few host records exist for the diparines in general. However, a single specimen of Myrmicolelaps from Zimbabwe (S. Rhodesia), representing an undescribed species ( Dolichodipara Hedqvist clade), was found in the USNM collection pinned above a tsetse fly ( Glossinidae : Glossina ) puparium with an exit hole and host tissue inside. The specimen label reads “S. Rhodesia, Kariba, 4/X/1965, R. J. Phelps”, and a smaller label beneath reads only “745.” Previously, within Chalcidoidea only eupelmids ( Eupelminus tarsatus , Anastus viridiceps , Anastatus sp. ) and chalcidids ( Dirhinus inflexus , Chalcis amenocles ) were known to parasitize tsetse puparia ( Leak 1999). Another undescribed species ( Myrmicolelaps Hedqvist clade) from South Africa ( Orange Free State) was reared from mantid egg cases (Prinsloo pers. comm.).

Species/Distribution: 6– 7 sp. (3 described) South Africa, Western Cape ; 2– 3 sp. (1 described), Namibia ; 1 undescribed sp. South Africa, Mpumalanga ; 1 undescribed sp. Zimbabwe.

Hosts: An undescribed species from Zimbabwe was reared from a tsetse fly ( Glossinidae : Glossina ) puparium, and another undescribed species was reared from a mantid egg case.

Key to species: Given below.

Figures

FIGURES 23–28. Moranila sp.: 23, metacoxa (lateral view); 24, cercus. Myrmicolelaps aurantius: 25, antenna; 26, anellus; 27, head (frontal view); 28, mesosoma (lateral view).

FIGURES 29–34. Myrmicolelaps aurantius: 29, scutum + scutellum (dorsal view); 30, scutellum (dorso-lateral view), teg = tegula, aws = axillary wing sclerite; 31, propodeal foramen + metasternum (posterior view); 32, metaleg; 33, metatibial spur; 34, metasoma (lateral view).

FIGURES 35–40. Myrmicolelaps aurantius: 35, cercus. Neapterolelaps sp.: 36, head (frontal view); 37, mesosoma (lateral view); 38, mesosoma (dorso-posterior view); 39, metacoxa (lateral view); 40, metatibial spur.

FIGURES 65–70. Lateral habitus views: 65, Dozodipara insularis; 66, Myrmicolelaps iridius 67, M. aurantius; 68, Lelaps noorti; 69, Nosodipara ferrana; 70, Pseudoceraphron regieri.

FIGURES 5–10. Conophorisca grisselli: 5, antenna; 6, clava; 7, head (frontal view); 8, head (ventro-latero-frontal view); 9, mesosoma (dorso-lateral view); 10, mesosoma - pronotum (dorso-lateral view).