Aximopsis hippolytis 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 : 42-43

Aximopsis hippolytis Gates , n. sp.

( Figs. 27 , 56 , 66–67 )

Etymology

hippolyta (Greek, noun, feminine) = the Amazon queen of Greek myth; a feminized adjective attributing the exotic, fantastical Brazilian locality.

Diagnosis and identification

Aximopsis hippolytis lacks distinct preorbital horns on the vertex, being represented by only a slight angulation of the preorbital carina ( Fig. 27 , 66 ). It is unique among the known species in lacking distinct paired spinelike processes anteromedially on the dorsal pronotum, which are present as low alveolate bosses ( Fig. 56 ).

Female. Length 2.9–3.3 mm. Prepectus with only a shallow weakly striate concavity in middle, alveolate ventrally. Metacoxa posterolateral carina weak. Gaster effaced reticulation occurring dorsally on some segments; Gt1 lacking sculpture anteriorly. Antenna dark brown. Legs brown, except extreme apices of femora, bases and apices of tibiae, and tarsomeres pale yellow, apical tarsomere and pretarsus brown.

Head. 1.2X wider than high; 1.1X width of pronotum; HTE:msp 2.14. Preorbital carina horn at vertex greatly reduced. POL 0.83X longer than OOL. Width of oral fossa 0.36X width of head. Scape 4X longer than broad. Antennal segment ratios 20:5:1:11:10:10:9:9:17. Clava 3X longer than broad.

Mesosoma. Dorsal pronotum 2X wider than long, paired pronotal processes absent. Mesoscutum 2X broader than long. Scutellum 1.3X longer than wide at its widest. Dorsellum disc composed sublateral shaped structures with lateral arms descending into space between scutellum and propodeum ( Fig. 67 ). Propodeum ( Fig. 67 ) central depression scarcely recognizable. Postmarginal vein subequal in length to stigma, ratio of mv:pmv 0.83.

Metasoma. Petiole 1.9X longer than wide; dorsal lateral carinae formed by discontinuous anterior and posterior portions; ventral surface with weak sublateral carinae.

Male. Unknown

Va r i a t i o n

One female (USNM ENT 00480026) has slightly more distinct paired, differential sculpturing on the dorsal pronotum that correlate with the spinelike pronotal processes of other species.

Type material (2 Ψ)

Holotype Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00480028) ( USNM); Brazil; Rio Grande do Sul; Ilha do Pavao; ii.1962; G.B. Vogt; Vogt coll. #62­269; reared from Taphrocerus ( Coleoptera : Buprestidae ) ex. Cyperus (giant flatsedge). Paratype 1Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00480026) ( USNM) same locality as holotype; ii.22 ­23.1962; Vogt coll. # 62­229; reared from Taphrocerus ( Coleoptera : Buprestidae ) ex. Scirpus (bullrush).

Figures

FIGURES 20 – 27. 20. A. vogti, female, head, posterior. 21. M. oecanthi, female, head, lateral. 22. A. vogti, female, head, lateral. 23. Philolema carinigena (type), female, head + mesosoma, dorsolateral. 24. Conoaxima affinis, female, lateral vertex, anterior. 25. C. affinis, female, vertex, lateral. 26. M. oecanthi, female, head, dorsal. 27. A. hippolytis, female, vertex, dorsolateral.

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 60 – 67. 60. A. anubis, female, metacoxa, lateral. 61. A. anubis, female, petiole + anterior gaster, lateral. 62. A. anubis, female, propodeum, dorsal. 63. A. arietinis, female, propodeum, dorsal. 64. A. arietinis, male, antenna. 65. A. hespenheidei, female, petiole, dorsal. 66. A. hippolytis, female, vertex, anterolateral. 67. A. hippolytis, female, dorsellum, dorsal.