Aximopsis morio Ashmead

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 : 44-45

Aximopsis morio Ashmead

( Fig. 33 )

Aximopsis morio Ashmead, 1904: 460 .

Diagnosis and identification

Aximopsis morio is unique among the species of Aximopsis in having the pronotum with distinctly different patch of short, thickened, yellowish brown setae anteromedially on the dorsal surface ( Fig. 33 ) and by having the setae on the disk of the forewing reduced to the apical half.

Redescription of the holotype female

Prepectus with shallow finely alveolate concavities in middle and along ventral border. Metacoxa posterolateral carina irregular. Gaster absent. Scape, pedicel, anellus, and first funicle dark brown. Pro­ and mesolegs brown, except extreme apices of femora, bases and apices of tibiae, and tarsomeres pale yellow, pretarsus brown, hindleg missing.

Head. 1.4X wider than high; 1.7X wider than pronotum; HTE:msp 2.62. Preorbital carina produced into a horn at vertex. POL 1.5X longer than OOL. Width of oral fossa 0.36X width of head. Scape 5X longer than broad. Antennal formula 1:1:1:?:?, only F1 remains on specimen.

Mesosoma. Dorsal pronotum 2.6X wider than long, with paired pronotal processes. Mesoscutum 2.2X broader than long. Scutellum 1.4X longer than wide at its widest. Dorsellum disc composed of a central ovoid structure with lateral arms broadening laterally into paddle­shapes. Propodeum central depression created from reduction of interstices, mostly only alveolate. Postmarginal vein subequal in length to stigma, ratio of mv:pmv 1.75.

Metasoma. Petiole 2X longer than wide; dorsal lateral carinae higher and thickened in mediolateral plane in middle; ventral surface with weak sublateral carina. Gaster absent.

Male. Unknown. There exists in the USNM a series of males, 3 from Trinidad and Tobago (Santa Cruz) and 2 from Ecuador (Cononaco & Tzapino), that share the patch of yellowish brown setae between the pronotal processes. One specimen from Trinidad and Tobago also shares with the type a dorsally continuous preorbital carina that is produced as a low protuberance posterolaterad posterior ocellus near the eye margin. The remaining males from Trinidad and Tobago and Ecuador lack this posterior protuberance and have a distinct, bulging ventral plaque on the scape. This is unlike males of other Aximopsis described herein. It is likely that several more species exist that are similar to Aximopsis morio , but it is impossible to associate females and males until more reared material becomes available.

Notes. The holotype is labeled with four labels: Santarem; Type (handwritten); Type No. 60507 U.S. N.M. (Red label); Aximopsis morio Ψ Type (handwritten). The specimen is incomplete, missing antennae beyond F1, left mesoleg, both hindlegs beyond hind coxa, and gaster.

Figures

FIGURES 28 – 35. 28. M. oecanthi, female, mesosoma, dorsal. 29. Ax. zabriskiei female, pronotum, anterior. 30. A. vogti, female, head + mesosoma, dorsolateral. 31. A. morio, female, mesosoma, dorsoposterior. 32. M. oecanthi, female, mesosoma, lateral. 33. H. opaca, female, mesosoma, lateral. 34. M. oecanthi, female, prepectus, lateral. 35. A. vogti, female, prepectus, lateral.