Rhabdepyris lobatifrons, , Kieffer, 1910

Stein, P. R. W. & Azevedo, C. O., 2007, Synopsis of lobatifrons species-group (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae, Rhabdepyris) from Neotropical region, with redefinition of the group, Zootaxa 1444 (1), pp. 23-34 : 24

lobatifrons species-group

Evans (1965) defined the species of the lobatifrons species-group as those Chlorepyris with black coloration, with a scutellar groove that is slender throughout and the lower mesopleural fovea that is wholly outlined or with the upper margin obsolescent medially for a short distance. The females have the head slightly produced in front of eyes. In the males the third antennal segment is longer than wide and inconspicuously shorter than the fourth segment, the head is not or barely wider than long, the front is narrow, and WF not or barely exceeding HE.

During this work, we noticed that the males of all species of the lobatifrons species-group have an expansion on the top of the cuspis. This expansion is present just below the apex on the outer side of cuspis and is directed toward the base of genitalia. This condition has never been reported in another species of Bethylidae and we call it the appendicular process ( Fig. 1 ). The cuspis itself is sinuous and is divided in basal, transverse and apical portions.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. 1. Appendicular process. a. base; b. apex. 2–8. Rhabdepyris latissimus sp. nov. holotype. 2. Head and mesosoma in dorsal view; 3. Mandible in frontal view; 4. Antenna in frontal view; 5. Mesopleuron in frontal view; 6–8. Genitalia. 6. Ventral view; 7. Dorsal view; 8. Lateral view. (scale bar = 250µm).