Aximopsis pythmenis Gates

Gates, M. W., Metz, M. A. & Schauff, M. E., 2006, The circumscription of the generic concept of Aximopsis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eurytomidae) with the description of seven new species, Zootaxa 1273, pp. 9-54 : 45-46

Aximopsis pythmenis Gates , n. sp.

( Figs. 58 , 68–69 )

Etymology

pythmen (Greek, noun, masculine) = bottom, base; this name is a feminized adjective describing the long petiole of this species.

Diagnosis and identification

Lower face ( Fig. 68 ) is much longer, head 1.25–1.30X as broad as long compared to approximately 1.50X in other species of Aximopsis . The vertex horns are as broad as high (at base, defined by hypothetical continuation of preorbital carinae through base of horn) as opposed to being much broader than high (1.5–2.0X as broad as high) in other Aximopsis .

Female. Length 3.1–4.3 mm. Prepectus with a shallow finely alveolate concavity in middle. Gaster effaced reticulation occurring dorsally on some segments; Gt1 coarsely alveolate anteriorly above petiolar insertion. Antenna dark brown, extreme base of scape light brown. Legs brown, except extreme apices of femora, bases and apices of tibiae, and tarsomeres pale yellow, pretarsus brown.

Head ( Fig. 58 ). 1.3X wider than high; 1.5X wider than width of pronotum; HTE:msp 2.5. Preorbital carina produced into a horn at vertex. POL 2.1X longer than OOL. Width of oral fossa 0.36X width of head. Scape 5X longer than broad. Antennal segment ratios 21:5:1:10:10:10:9:8:. Clava 3X longer than broad.

Mesosoma. Dorsal pronotum 2X wider than long, with paired pronotal processes. Mesoscutum 2X broader than long. Scutellum 1.3X longer than wide at its widest. Dorsellum disc composed of a central ovoid structure with lateral arms broadening laterally into paddle­shapes. Propodeum central depression not obvious, entire dorsal surface with large fovea, lateral ridges obscured ( Fig. 69 ). Postmarginal vein subequal in length to stigma, ratio of mv:pmv 0.86.

Metasoma. Petiole 1.7X longer than wide; dorsal surface lateral carinae higher and thickened in mediolateral plane in middle; ventral surface with strong medial and lateral carinae.

Male. Unknown.

Type material (2 Ψ)

Holotype Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00480014) ( USNM); Brazil; Santa Catarina; Bananal Selva; vi.1961; G.B. Vogt; Vogt coll. #61­1295; reared from Taphrocerus ( Coleoptera : Buprestidae ) ex. Bactris . Paratype 1Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00480008) ( USNM), same data as holotype; Vogt coll. # 61­1296.

Figures

FIGURES 52 – 59. 52. A. vogti, female, mesosoma, dorsal. 53. A. vogti, male, antennae. 54. A. vogti, male, metasoma, lateral. 55. A. hespenheidei, female, propodeum, dorsal. 56. A. hippolytis, female, pronotum, anterior. 56. A. vogti, female, metasoma, lateral. 57. A. lanceolepis, female, head, anterior. 58. A. pythmenis, female, head, dorsolateral. 59. A. anubis, prepectus, lateral.

FIGURES 68 – 69. 68. A. pythmenis, gena, lateral. 69. A. pythmenis, propodeum, dorsolateral.