Fusicornia Risbec, 1950

Taekul, Charuwat, Johnson, Norman F., Masner, Lubomír & Shu-Pei, Chen, 2008, Revision of the world species of the genus Fusicornia Risbec (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae, Scelioninae), Zootaxa 1966, pp. 1-52 : 6-10

Fusicornia Risbec

Fusicornia Risbec, 1950: 606 . Original description. Type: Fusicornia bambeyi Risbec , by monotypy. Muesebeck & Walkley, 1956: 354 (citation of type species); Masner, 1976: 42 (description); Mani & Sharma, 1982: 183 (description); Galloway & Austin, 1984: 8, 46 (diagnosis, keyed); Johnson, 1992: 373 (catalog of world species); Austin & Field, 1997: 27, 68 (structure of ovipositor system, discussion of phylogenetic relationships, genus misplaced in Psilanteridini ); Choi & Kozlov, 2001: 100 (description).

Original concept: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3B1039FA-8D2B-4D2C-8EAF-7F6DD153CD26

Current concept: urn:lsid:biosci.ohio-state.edu:osuc:concepts:485

Diagnosis: Masner (1976) and Galloway & Austin (1984) both compared Fusicornia directly with Opisthacantha Ashmead. The two genera are similar in the armed metascutellum, the lack of a margined frontal scrobe, and a well-developed postmarginal vein. Opisthacantha probably is not closely related to Fusicornia : it is easily distinguished by the presence of a skaphion and the well-defined 5-merous antennal clava of the female. The concept of Opisthacantha of Masner (1976) encompasses a number of heterogeneous elements, some of which lack the skaphion. From these, Fusicornia may be distinguished by the elongate and poorly defined female antennal clava ( Figs. 14, 26, 32, 72), and the very elongate marginal vein of the fore wing. Some species of Trimorus Förster are extremely similar to Fusicornia in size, setation, and body shape. The latter may be distinguished by the elongate and narrow clava, the bidentate mandible, the broad netrion, and the presence of a long postmarginal vein in the fore wing.

Description: Small, length 1.3–3.8 mm; slender, female antenna with clava at most slightly wider than funicular segments; body black; macropterous.

Head in dorsal view strongly transverse; vertex smooth, reticulate or reticulate punctuate; hyperoccipital carina absent; occipital carina well-developed, continuous medially; lateral ocellar position variable; compound eye large, appearing glabrous; frons convex; interantennal process well-developed, narrow; submedian carina absent; orbital carina absent; lower frons, including cheek, without fanlike striae; interocular space shorter than eye height dorsally; inner orbits weakly diverging ventrally; clypeus very short, strongly transverse, truncate apically, lateral corner not produced, divided by transverse carina into flat postclypeus and concave anteclypeus; malar sulcus present; gena variably expanded, smooth to reticulate punctate; labrum external, visible below clypeus, transverse; mandible short, apex with two apical, acute, subequal teeth; maxillary palpus 2-segmented, all segments cylindrical; labial palpus 1-segmented; antenna 12-merous in both sexes; radicle inserted apically into A1, nearly parallel to longitudinal axis of A1; A1 more or less cylindrical; A3 distinctly longer than A2; gustatory sensilla on female antenna arranged in longitudinal pairs on apical antennomeres; claval formula A12–A7:1-2-2-2-2-2, A12–A7:1-2-2-2-2-1, A12–A8:1-2-2-2-2; male antenna without visible tyloids.

Mesosoma in dorsal view longer than wide, in lateral view slightly longer than high; pronotum in dorsal view strongly narrowed laterally, anterolateral corner weakly angulate; transverse pronotal carina present laterally, obsolete medially; vertical epomial carina variable; dorsal epomial carina present; anterior face of pronotum strongly constricted laterally, short, visible in dorsal view; lateral face of pronotum concave below dorsal epomial carina; netrion present, wide medially, fusiform, closed ventrally; anterior margin of mesoscutum strongly flexed ventrally to meet pronotum; mesoscutum semicircular in outline, posterolateral corner rounded; parapsidal lines sometimes visible; notauli usually absent, rarely ( F. aulacis ) present, very short; skaphion absent; transscutal articulation well-developed, crenulate; mesoscutellum semicircular in outline, usually evenly, strongly convex, sculpture smooth to reticulate punctate; axilla small, dorsal margin sinuate; metanotum narrow, metascutellum clearly differentiated, produced into three spines, length of spines variable; dorsal surface of propodeum deeply excavate medially, densely setose; keels of propodeum well-developed, propodeal projections not developed; mesopleural depression well-developed; mesopleural carina variably developed; anteroventral portion of mesopleuron smooth or finely sculptured; sternaulus present, short; mesopleural pit present, distinct; anterior margin of ventral portion of mesopleuron straight, not extended forward between fore coxae; mesepimeral sulcus variably developed; dorsal corner of mesepimeron rounded, not produced posteriorly into sharp tooth; mesopleuron below subalar pit broadly convex; anteroventral portion of metapleuron clearly delimited posteriorly by carina, variably setose; metapleural pit present, distinct; posterior margin of metapleuron not lamellate; legs elongate; posterior surface of hind coxa smooth, sparsely setose to glabrous; trochantellus present; tibial spur formula 1-1-1; tarsal formula 5-5-5; tarsomeres cylindrical, tapering in width apically; pretarsal claw simple.

Apex of fore wing extending slightly beyond apex of metasoma, hyaline, infuscate, or sometimes distinctly banded; R straight, extending slightly beyond basal half of length of wing, without strong, elongate bristles, gradually approaching costal margin apically, contiguous with costal margin for distance clearly exceeding length of r-rs (i.e., marginal vein elongate); r-rs straight; R 1 continuing along costal margin beyond origin of r-rs (i.e., postmarginal vein long); bulla absent; Rs+M (basal vein) weakly to clearly indicated, nebulous; hind wing with R extending from base of wing to hamuli; three hamuli present.

Metasoma fusiform, weakly convex dorsally and ventrally; female with seven visible terga, six visible sterna, male with eight visible terga, seven visible sterna; second and third segments clearly longest and widest, subequal to each other in size; submarginal ridge well-developed, defined by narrow laterotergites to form deep submarginal rim; no spiracles visible; T1, T2 with deep longitudinal striae, basal rows of crenulae present only on T1 and T2, continuous with striae; base of T1 with deep sublateral pit, extending into longitudinal furrow posteriorly; T6 without median raised field of microsetae or secretion; S1 not laterally compressed; anterior margin of S2 straight; felt field present on S2 as narrow line of short setae.

Comments. Fusicornia has a number of unusual character states. The male antenna has no visible modifications of the basal flagellomeres, i.e., it has no differentiated sex segment. The labrum is strongly sclerotized and clearly visible below the clypeus. The ovipositor system has the ventral membranous plate greatly elongated, a character state found elsewhere only in the genera Leptoteleia Kieffer and Baryconus Förster , neither of which is thought to be particularly closely related to Fusicornia . Finally, the medial apodeme is absent on S6 ( Austin & Field 1997), a state shared with only six other platygastrid genera. The classification of Fusicornia within the Psilanteridini is problematic because the monophyly of that tribe has been questioned ( Austin & Field, 1997). The phylogenetic position of the genus remains uncertain.

The hosts of Fusicornia have not yet been discovered. Specimens of these wasps have been commonly collected in both Malaise traps and yellow pan traps. NFJ recently collected over 200 specimens of F. spinosa in nama karoo in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The collections were made using yellow pan traps placed along the edge of the limited standing, permanent water in the semiarid habitat. Several platygastrid genera, such as Tiphodytes Bradley and Thoron Haliday , do parasitize the eggs of semiaquatic and truly aquatic Hemiptera. We cannot yet assert whether Fusicornia is a member of this guild of parasitoids, or if it is simply attracted to water in a dry environment.

Link to Distribution Map. 22 Fusicornia is primarily a tropical group of Africa, Asia, and Australasia, extending into the temperate zones in southern Africa, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. The genus is most diverse in the Afrotropical region, particularly in West Africa. Some species are quite widespread, e.g., F. bambeyi , F. paradisa . Fusicornia aulacis appears to be endemic to Madagascar; although some other taxa seem to be restricted in distribution, such as the species of New Guinea, the data are insufficient to confidently state that they are endemic to those areas.

Key to species of Fusicornia

22. http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu/HymOnline/map-large.html?id=485&view=all

1. Frons entirely and evenly sculptured ( Figs. 23, 29, 35, 47); sculpture of gena behind lower half of eye with reticulate to coriaceous microsculpture ( Fig. 5)...................................................................................2

- Frons at least partly smooth or sculpture considerably effaced medially ( Figs. 41, 53, 71, 149); sculpture of gena behind lower half of eyes smooth, rarely with reticulate to coriaceous microsculpture ( Figs. 6, 54, 138).............................................................................................................................................................13

2. Medial metanotal spine very elongate, distinctly longer than distance between medial and lateral spines ( Figs. 7, 8), usually significantly longer than lateral spines.........................................................................3

- Medial metanotal spine short to moderately long, at most as long as distance between medial and lateral spines ( Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12)............................................................................................................................8

3. Upper gena flat to weakly concave, therefore in lateral view compound eye appearing to reach posterior margin of head ( Figs. 16, 45, 46); female fore wing with distinct infuscation at level of marginal vein ( Figs. 13, 43); mesepimeral sulcus usually absent, rarely abbreviated ventrally ( Figs. 16, 46)..................4

- Upper gena expanded, convex, therefore in lateral view compound eye separated from posterior margin by gena ( Figs. 82, 100); female fore wing hyaline or with slight infuscation below marginal vein (as in Figs. 19, 25, 115); mesepimeral sulcus usually complete, sometimes abbreviated ventrally ( Figs. 58, 102)......................................................................................................................................................................6

4. Mesoscutal humeral sulcus smooth ( Figs. 15, 18); central frons moderately setose throughout, reticulate punctate ( Fig. 17); length of T1 ≥ 1.4 times width; inner orbits in female strongly diverging ventrally ( Figs. 16, 18); West Africa, Kenya, Tanzania............................. Fusicornia ardis Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

- Mesoscutal humeral sulcus foveolate ( Figs. 45, 123); central frons glabrous, with transversely arcuate striae ( Figs. 47, 125); length of T1 ≤ 1 times width; inner orbits parallel or weakly diverging ventrally ( Figs. 47, 125)...............................................................................................................................................5

5. Scutellum bilobate ( Fig. 48); posterior half of mesoscutum longitudinally striate ( Figs. 45, 48); inner orbits in frontal view more or less parallel ( Fig. 47); scutellum reticulate punctate laterally ( Fig. 45); Somalia, Tanzania..................................................................... Fusicornia crista Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

- Scutellum evenly rounded ( Fig. 123); longitudinal sculpture in posterior half of mesoscutum absent ( Fig. 123, 126); inner orbits in frontal view diverging ventrally ( Fig. 125); scutellum almost entirely smooth ( Fig. 123); Somalia................................................................. Fusicornia sabrina Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

6. Coxae yellow ( Fig. 100); mesepimeral sulcus complete, foveate throughout ( Fig. 100, 102); propodeum anterior to spiracle densely setose (>10 setae) ( Fig. 102) China, Japan, Korea, Philippines......................... ................................................................................................................ Fusicornia koreica Choi & Kozlov

- Coxae brown to black ( Figs. 82, 86, 92); mesepimeral sulcus abbreviated ( Figs. 86, 130); propodeum anterior to spiracle sparsely setose (<10 setae) to glabrous ( Figs. 82, 90)..................................................7

7. A 1 in female yellow to orange-brown ( Figs. 80, 88, 96); lateral metanotal spine moderately elongate, length distinctly greater than width ( Figs. 8, 87; 93); propodeal nucha smooth to weakly sculptured ( Figs. 89); mesoscutal humeral sulcus foveolate ( Figs. 81, 87, 93); India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand......... ................................................................................................................ Fusicornia indica Mani & Sharma

- A 1 in female dark brown to black ( Figs. 128, 130); lateral metanotal spine very short, only slightly longer than wide ( Figs. 129); propodeal nucha strongly foveolate to longitudinally striate; mesoscutal humeral sulcus coarsely crenulate ( Figs. 129, 132); Madagascar...... Fusicornia skopelos Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

8. Mesoscutum densely coriaceous throughout ( Figs. 10, 57, 58); T1 densely setose laterally (>20 setae/side) ( Fig. 58); gena behind compound eye densely setose ( Figs. 5, 58); female A5 bright yellow ( Fig. 60); Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Tanzania, Yemen............................. Fusicornia eos Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

- Mesoscutum varying from smooth to reticulate, sometimes with superimposed punctures ( Figs. 21, 117); T1 sparsely to moderately setose laterally (6–15 setae/side) ( Figs. 7, 8, 9); setation of gena behind compound eye variable; female A5 dark brown to black (Figs, 20, 26)............................................................9 9. Notaulus present, indicated by short groove on posterior mesonotum ( Figs. 12, 24); female A1 dark brown to black ( Fig. 20); Madagascar............................................... Fusicornia aulacis Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

- Notaulus absent ( Figs. 7–11); female A1 yellow to orange brown ( Figs. 26, 104, 106, 111)...................10

10. Scutellum almost entirely covered by microsculpture ( Fig. 117); medial metanotal spine short to moderately long, as long as distance between medial and lateral spines ( Fig. 120); gena densely setose ( Fig. 118); Sri Lanka....................................................................... Fusicornia plicata Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

- Scutellum almost entirely smooth or with broad smooth area medially, reticulate punctate laterally ( Figs. 9, 11); medial metanotal spine short to moderately long, shorter than distance between medial and lateral spines ( Figs. 9, 11, 63); gena moderately to sparsely setose ( Figs. 28, 34)................................................11

11. Scutellum with broad smooth area medially, reticulate punctate laterally ( Figs. 9, 27, 33); lateral metanotal spine moderately elongate, length distinctly greater than width ( Figs. 9, 30, 33); sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, Yemen............................................................................................ Fusicornia bambeyi Risbec

- Scutellum almost entirely smooth ( Figs. 11, 112, 114); lateral metanotal spine very short, only slightly longer than wide ( Fig. 11)..........................................................................................................................12

12. Mesepimeral sulcus absent ( Figs. 106, 109, 111); mesopleural carina present dorsally, interrupted or absent ventrally ( Figs. 109, 111, 113); propodeal nucha smooth to weakly sculptured ( Fig. 114); sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar........................................................ Fusicornia paradisa Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

- Mesepimeral sulcus complete, foveate throughout ( Fig. 64, 66); mesopleural carina absent ( Fig. 66); propodeal nucha strongly foveolate to longitudinally striate; Thailand........................................................ ............................................................................................ Fusicornia episcopus Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

13. All coxae brown to black ( Figs. 40, 140)..................................................................................................14

- Mid and hind coxa yellow, fore coxa color variable ( Figs. 52, 148)..........................................................16

14. Female antennal clava yellow; radicle yellow ( Figs. 68, 72); lower pronotum longitudinally striate ( Figs. 70); Papua New Guinea............................................................... Fusicornia fax Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

- Female antennal clava dark brown to black ( Figs. 38, 140); radicle color variable; lower pronotum reticulate to weakly rugulose ( Figs. 4, 142)........................................................................................................15

15. Pronotal cervical sulcus present ( Fig. 42); propodeal nucha strongly foveolate to longitudinally striate; mesopleural carina complete ( Fig. 40); mesoscutal humeral sulcus coarsely foveolate ( Fig. 39); Papua New Guinea............................................................................ Fusicornia collaris Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

- Pronotal cervical sulcus absent ( Fig. 141); propodeal nucha smooth to weakly sculptured; mesopleural carina present dorsally, interrupted or absent ventrally ( Figs. 142, 144); mesoscutal humeral sulcus foveolate ( Fig. 141); sub-Saharan Africa, Arabian Peninsula ................................... Fusicornia spinosa (Risbec)

16. Mesepimeral sulcus complete or briefly interrupted medially, foveate above, appearing as fold ventrally ( Figs. 52, 148); propodeal nucha strongly foveolate to longitudinally striate; area 4 of metapleuron setose ventrally, area 2 polygonal, setose..............................................................................................................17

- Mesepimeral sulcus absent or indicated only in dorsal extreme ( Figs. 76, 136); propodeal nucha smooth to weakly sculptured; area 4 of metapleuron glabrous, area 2 linear, glabrous ( Fig. 136)............................18

17. Fore coxa brown, mid and hind coxae yellow ( Fig. 52); scutellum with broad smooth area medially, reticulate punctate laterally ( Fig. 54); lateral metanotal spine moderately elongate, length distinctly greater than width ( Fig. 51); Vanuatu.................................................. Fusicornia dissita Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

- All coxae yellow ( Fig. 148); scutellum almost entirely smooth ( Fig. 150); lateral metanotal spine very short, only slightly longer than wide ( Fig. 150); Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand............................................ Fusicornia tehrii Mukerjee

18. Mesepimeral sulcus present dorsally, abbreviated ventrally ( Figs. 76, 78); gena behind lower half of eye with reticulate to coriaceous microsculpture ( Fig. 76); Madagascar, Yemen................................................. ................................................................................................ Fusicornia fortuna Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.

- Mesepimeral sulcus absent ( Figs. 136, 138); gena behind lower half of eye smooth ( Fig. 138); Central African Republic, Madagascar, Nigeria, Uganda............... Fusicornia speculum Taekul & Johnson , n. sp.