Cosmocomoidea, Howard, 1908

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 : 46

COSMOCOMOIDEA Howard, 1908

( Figs 93–97)

Cosmocomoidea Howard, 1908: 68 . Types species: Cosmocomoidea morrilli Howard, 1908 , by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Face with subantennal sulci ventral to torulus and strongly converging to mouth margin ( Fig. 93a); vertex with 2 setae between lateral ocelli; pronotum medially divided, with lateral lobes abutting ( Fig. 96); dorsellum rhomboidal, usually distinctly so, with anterior and posterior margins not parallel ( Fig. 96) but in a few species almost parallel; fore wing with microtrichia posterior to venation usually absent ( Fig. 95) but if microtrichia rarely present then only on dorsal surface or microtrichia less dense than distal to venation; propodeum with 2 submedian carinae ( Fig. 96).

Remarks. Cosmocomoidea belongs to the Gonatocerus group of genera, treated as Gonatocerini by Huber (2015a). Cosmocomoidea is at present the most speciose genus in the Neotropical region. Features such as the relatively large size of individuals, their often colourful bodies, and their abundance as parasitoids of Cicadellidae (particularly of Proconiini , some of which are economically important pests) means that Cosmocomoidea spp. have been relatively more collected and studied compared to members of other genera of Mymaridae in the region. The species are most similar to those of Gonatocerus , but the fore wing is usually wider, usually has few or no microtrichia posterior to the venation, and usually has submedian carinae on the propodeum. Over 100 species of Cosmocomoidea may still be undescribed from the region.

Neotropical hosts. Hemiptera : Cicadellidae .

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