Brachycistis Fox

Kimsey, Lynn S., 2006, Competing Taxonomies: Reexamination of the female­based genera of Brachycistidinae (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae), Zootaxa 1211, pp. 21-34 : 28-29

Brachycistis Fox

( Figs 6, 12 )

Brachycistis Fox 1893:7 . Type species: Brachycistis petiolatus Fox 1893:8 . Original designation

Glyptometopa Ashmead 1898:251. Type species: Glyptometopa americana Ashmead 1898:251. Monobasic. Synonymized by Wasbauer 1968.*

Glytometopa Fox 1899:289. Misspelling of Glyptometopa Ashmead 1898.

Bruesiella Mann 1914:182. Type species: Bruesiella formicaria Mann 1914:182. Original designation. New synonymy.*

Eurycros Mickel & Krombein 1942:666. Type species: Eurycros furtivus Mickel & Krombein 1942:667. Original designation. Synonymized by Krombein 1967.

Aulacros Mickel & Krombein 1942:664. Type species: Aulacros latior Mickel & Krombein 1942:665. Original designation. New synonymy. *

Female description

Body length 2–12 mm. Head ( Fig. 6 ): mandible broadest subapically, with large tooth at broadest point, tooth obscured by scutate bristles, mandible with outer and ventral carinae, inner margin below tooth irregularly serrate to finely crenulate; maxillary palp long, 6­segmented; occipital carina complete, ventrally rounded, separated from hypostomal carina by less than length of hypostomal fossa; vertex with curved, lateral row of large setose pits. Mesosoma: propleuron somewhat elevated ventrally, with partial transverse carina above coxa; metasternum elevated, Y­shaped; hindcoxa ecarinate; one hindtibial spur apically spatulate or rounded. Metasoma: sternum I with transverse subbasal carina, with two foveae basad; tergum I with well­developed lateral ridge.

Distribution

USA: California: Alameda, San Francisco, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Kings, Contra Costa, Fresno, San Bernardino, Mono, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Benito Counties; Nevada: Nye, Pershing, Clark, Mineral, Esmeralda, Churchill, White Pine and Lincoln Counties; Arizona: Mohave, Pima, Maricopa and Coconino Counties; New Mexico: Luna and Dona Ana Counties; Utah: Kane and Washington Discussion

Brachycistis is the largest genus in the Brachycistidinae , with more than 50 species. The most distinctive features of Brachycistis females are the oddly shaped mandibles. Unfortunately, these modifications are also seen in Colocistis and Stilbopogon females. Both of these genera have apomorphic female features that will immediately distinguish them, however, Brachycistis does not, which leaves the genus paraphyletic with respect to Colocistis and Stilbopogon.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 14. Female brachycistidines. 1. Underside of head. 2. Venter of meso­ and metathorax. 3 – 4. Dorsal view of thorax (head at the top). 5 – 10. Front view of face (figs. 5, 8 with side view of mandible). 11, 12. Antenna. 13, 14. Ventral view of metasomal sternum I base.