Philolestoides Ferrière, 1929: 160

MASNER, LUBOMÍR & GARCÍA R, JOSÉ LUIS, 2002, The Genera Of Diapriinae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) In The New World, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2002 (268), pp. 1-138 : 101-106

Philolestoides Ferrière, 1929: 160 .

DIAGNOSIS (♀): Medium­sized individuals (about 3 mm); body light brown to ferrugineous, partly or predominantly sculptured, tegula smooth; body with scattered yellowish pilosity; foamy structures or hairy cushions not developed; head subangular, entire surface of head irregularly corrugated; frons armed with three projections; antennal shelf relatively large, sharply margined posteriorly; eye orbit often bordered by depression or raised keels; propodeum remarkably short and small, steeply sloping down.

DESCRIPTION (♀): HEAD. Head subangular, hypognathous, frons armed with three projections, entire surface of head irregularly corrugated, face distinctly higher than wide, sometimes with median longitudinal keel; eye rather large, higher than wide, more or less tapering ventrally, orbit often bordered by depression or raised keels; ommatidia usually large; ocelli normal; mandible bidentate, with lower tooth longer; palpal formula 5–2; oral carina developed, gena and postgena glabrous; postgenal cushion not developed; cheek in frontal view nonangular but distinctly bulging; hypostomal bridge moderately developed; occipital flange rather reduced; antennal shelf relatively large sharply margined posteriorly; antenna 12­segmented, clava multisegmented (6 segments), semiabrupt, cylindrical, clavomeres slightly to clearly transverse, subrectangular, noncompact, A12 slightly enlarged; A1 elongate, cylindrical, rounded apically. MESOSOMA. Mesosoma moderately to distinctly higher than wide; pronotum anteromedially with moderate to strong shoulders; epomium moderately to strongly developed; propleuron and anterior sides of pronotum without foamy structures or cushions of hairs; mesoscutum moderately elongate, parapsidal lines sometimes developed, mesoscutum convex in lateral view; scutellum distinctly trapezoidal, anterior scutellar pit rather deep, rarely with longitudinal keels on bottom, shorter than scutellar disc; scutellar disc subcircular, with median longitudinal keel present or absent, with lateral keels more or less developed; axillar depression relatively small; axilla rounded posteriorly; mesopleuron rather flat, moderately concave, submedian oblique line well developed, lower portion of mesopleuron (between fore and medial coxa) with zone of matte granular sculpture, upper part of mesopleuron smooth and shining; dorsellum well developed, with three longitudinal keels; metapleuron almost glabrous, rugulose, with deep depression anterodorsally; propodeum remarkably short and small, steeply sloping down, median keel and plica moderately to strongly developed; wings primarily developed, forewing distinctly longer than body, clear or slightly infuscate, stigmal vein moderately to distinctly elongate; wings may be absent in some individuals (alectomy); legs distinctly strong, femora and tibiae nonclavate, cylindrical, tarsi, especially fore and middle legs, very short, strongly compressed, almost foliaceous; apex of anterior tibia without specialized spine dorsally; METASOMA. Petiole in dorsal view distinctly elongate, without longitudinal keels, in lateral view (2 species) strongly compressed, with strong ventral keel, rarely (1 species) cylindrical; metasoma past petiole in lateral view only moderately convex (1 species) or flat, entire syntergite with scattered semidecumbent bristles, syntergite posteriorly partly sculptured (2 species) or entirely smooth (1 species); specialized spot on S2 distinctly remote from anterior margin of S2.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Philolestoides is distinct among ecitophilic genera because of the rough corrugated surface of head and orbit of eye bordered by depression or raised keels. Two of the three species studied show highly modified petiole, strongly compressed, and with raised keel ventrally. The third species from Banhados ( Brazil) has plain cylindrical petiole. Philolestoides can be compared with Notoxoides , Mimopria , and Ecitovagus primarily because of armed frons and structure of antennal shelf. From Notoxoides it differs by absence of horn on pronotum; from Mimopria by short high propodeum; and from Ecitovagus by structure of propodeum and absence of hump on mesoscutum.

MALE: Unknown.

DISTRIBUTION: We studied three species collected in lowland Brazil.

BIOLOGY: Philolestoides wasmanni Ferrière is associated with Neivamyrmex legionis (Smith) ( Loiácono, 1981) . The species from Banhados (CNCI) was collected by light trap. Absence of wings is reported in P. wasmanni ( Ferrière, 1929) .

Platymischus Westwood Figures 90, 91

Platymischus Westwood, 1832: 128 .

Planopriella Kieffer, 1912: 4 , 48. Synonymized by Pschorn­Walcher, 1957: 58–88.

DIAGNOSIS (♀ 3): Small­sized individuals (1–2 mm); body color dark brown to black with lighter appendages, body predominantly smooth, with scattered pilosity including entire syntergite, no distinct cushions of hairs but dense pilosity (especially on propodeum and petiole); foamy structures not developed; head in dorsal and lateral view distinctly elongate, frons and antennal shelf projecting forward; eyes remarkably small; ocelli absent; female clava nonabrupt, 4­segmented; male A1 remarkably swollen subtriangular and concave ventrally, A3 modified as sex segment; wings entirely absent; apex of anterior tibia with strong spine dorsally.

DESCRIPTION (♀ 3): HEAD. Head in dorsal view distinctly elongate, subpentagonal; frons unarmed; antennal shelf strongly projecting forward, not margined posteriorly; eye remarkably small, projecting laterally; ocelli absent; head in lateral view longer than high, frons and antennal shelf projecting forward; oral carina not developed; postgenal cushion absent; occiput rounded, not steplike, occipital flange reduced to rim; head in frontal view with face slightly wider than high; mandible large, bidentate; epistomal sulcus well impressed; malar sulcus and ten­ torial pits absent; hypostomal bridge developed; palpi very short, formula appearing 2: 1; female antenna 12­segmented, A1 long, cylindrical, clava nonabrupt and 4­segment­ ed; male antenna 14­segmented, A1 remarkably swollen, subtriangular and concave ventrally, A3 modified as sex segment, large, with apical projection ventrally, A4–A13 subcircular, with short nonverticillate hairs, A14 moderately elongate. MESOSOMA. Pronotum in dorsal view moderately developed, pronotal shoulders not developed, anterior margin of pronotum and propleuron with fine dense pilosity; sides of pronotum flat, epomium not developed; mesoscutum flattened dorsally, with no sulci or lines; transscutal articulation present but fine; tegula strongly reduced; scutellum subrectangular, flattened, without pits; axilla and axillar depression absent; mesopleuron flat, submedian oblique line shallow, rudimentary; epicnemial pit and sternaulus absent; dorsellum absent; metapleuron entirely covered by dense silvery pilosity; propodeum rather large, flattened dorsally, in lateral view propodeum in same level of mesoscutum, medial keel and plica absent, posterior margin and posterolateral corners of propodeum rounded, not projecting, sides of propodeum with dense pilosity; wings entirely absent; legs short and stout, especially all femora; apex of anterior tibia with strong spine dorsally, male forebasitarsus remarkably expanded distally; tarsi of all legs cylindrical, not compressed. METASOMA. Petiole in dorsal view subquadrate, slightly wider than long, densely hairy, without longitudinal keels, in lateral view petiole slightly higher than anterior margin of syntergite; anterior margin of syntergite wider than petiole; entire syntergite and S2 with dense semierect pilosity; anterior margin of S2 broadly excavate and with dense pilosity; apex of metasoma in female with only short point.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: In the male sex, Platymischus is readily distinguished from Trichopria largely because of the specialized shape of A1 and the position of sex segment on A3; also, the expanded forebasitarsus is unique in Platymischus . However, in female sex, Platymischus is rather difficult to separate from some apterous members of Trichopria ; the elongate and somewhat flattened subpentagonal head with small but projecting eyes in Platymischus is the main distinguishing character between the two genera.

DISTRIBUTION: The only known species, Platymischus dilatatus Westwood , is amphi­ Atlantic in the Northern Hemisphere ( Sweden, England, Germany, Netherlands, France, Canada, USA). In 1978, Dr. S. Marshall (University of Guelph, Canada) discovered this species in wrack beds on shores of New Brunswick (St. Andrews). We also examined specimens from the shores of Maine and New Hampshire ( USA).

BIOLOGY: Specialized inhabitant of wrack beds on rocky shores in the intertidal zone. Hosts in Europe are kelp­eating flies ( Diptera ) of the family Coelopidae (e.g., Coelopa Meigen ) ( Baudoin, 1949, 1952), and Sepsidae ( Orygma luctuosa Meigen ) ( Backlund, 1945; Nixon, 1980).

Psychopria , new genus Figures 92, 93, 94a, 94

DIAGNOSIS (♀ 3): Small to very smallsized (0.7–1.5 mm) gracile individuals with remarkably elongate appendages; body usually dark to light brown, predominantly smooth, remarkably hairy, either with long semidecumbent bristles and/or dense minute appressed pilosity at least on head, sometimes also on meso­ and metasoma, cushions of hairs absent, foamy structures present on propleuron, sometimes on metasternum, axillar depressions, and posterolaterally on petiole; head subglobose, moderately wider than long; antennal shelf not developed, toruli usually wide apart, usually closer to inner orbit than to one another, not connected by carina; hypostomal bridge reduced to narrow septum; wings remarkably long and narrow, almost paddle­shaped, marginal cilia extremely long, subequal to wing width, frenal gutter distinctly angularly projecting; foretibia with distinct specialized spine dorsally; apical tarsomere distinctly enlarged with strong claws, especially in females.

DESCRIPTION (♀ 3): HEAD. Head in dorsal view subglobose, moderately wider than long, frons unarmed, occipital flange narrow, complete; antennal shelf not developed, toruli usually wide apart, usually closer to in­ ner orbit than to one another, not connected by carina; ocelli normal; head in lateral view with torulus distinctly in upper level of eye; eye relatively small, subcircular, ommatidia relatively large; oral carina not developed; postgenal cushion absent; malar space relatively large, subequal to eye height; epistomal sulcus slightly indicated basally; malar sulcus indicated at most as shallow declivity; labrum narrowly exposed; mandible bidentate, not projecting, clasped; hypostomal bridge reduced to narrow septum; palpal formula 5:2; female antenna 11­segmented, long and slender, with all segments distinctly elongate, clava usually weakly defined to almost absent, rarely 1­segmented (A11), A11 largest, with or without pit ventrally; male antenna 14­segmented, remarkably long and slender, with short to long nonverticillate pilosity, A4 at most moderately arcuate, without longitudinal keel. MESOSOMA. Pronotum in dorsal view almost invisible except for well developed cervical part, shoulders entirely absent, sides of pronotum almost flat, with no hairy cushion but sometimes with small clusters of foamy structures along anterior margins; epomium not developed; mesoscutum about as long as wide, moderately to considerably convex; parapsidal lines and anterior parallel lines not developed; humeral and suprahumeral sulci not developed; anterior scutellar pit small and shallow, sometimes reduced to two narrow deep slits located at sides or eventually absent, pit distinctly shorter than scutellar disc; scutellar disc only moderately convex, subrectangular, without median keel, with sides rounded, with no lateral or posterior pits; posterior margin of axilla rounded; axillar depression small; mesopleuron moderately convex, median oblique depression almost inconspicuous; sternaulus absent; longitudinal keels on dorsellum weakly developed or absent; propodeum with median keel usually moderately developed, keel rarely raised in anterior part, plica moderately developed; metapleuron and side of propodeum only sparsely hairy or glabrous; metasternum sometimes with foamy structures; forewing remarkably long and narrow, almost paddle­shaped, largely surpassing tip of metasoma, marginal cilia extremely long, subequal to wing width, frenal gutter distinctly angularly projecting, marginal vein distinctly elongate, wedgeshaped, stigmal vein not developed, basal vein indicated sometimes by nebulous streak; hind wing extremely narrow, lanceolate, with marginal cilia several times longer than wing width; legs generally long and slender, femora medially and tibiae distally clavate; apex of foretibia with distinct specialized spine dorsally; tarsi long, cylindrical, noncompressed, apical tarsomere distinctly enlarged with strong claws, especially in females. META­ SOMA. Petiole moderately to distinctly elongate, cylindrical, with fine rugulosity, rarely with longitudinal keels, partly hairy, and usually with foamy structures posterolaterally; metasoma past petiole remarkably short, only slightly wider than long, subcampanulate; anterior margin of syntergite only slightly wider than width of petiole, not flexed or excised, not notched medially, with dense appressed micropilosity or almost glabrous; S2 anteriorly without hairy depressions, never humplike projecting forward, and without specialized spot; apex of metasoma shortly conical in female.

TYPE SPECIES: Psychopria hoguei , new species (described below), by present designation.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Psychopria is here classified in the tribe Diapriini . We consider it an apomorphic offshoot of Trichopria , s.l., that is highly adapted for aquatic life. The shape of the legs, especially the strong apical tarsus and strong claws, the narrow paddle­shaped wings with angular frenal gutter as well as the specialized body pilosity are interpreted as adaptations to or for aquatic habitats. Psychopria is easily distinguished in the Trichopria complex by the widely spaced toruli, the absence of a sharp antennal ledge between them, and by the strong reduction of the hypostomal bridge. The specialized dense pilosity of the body of Psychopria is also unique in the Diapriini .

ETYMOLOGY: From psycho (reference to Psychodidae ) and pria (‘‘little wasp’’); the gender is feminine.

DISTRIBUTION: To date, we examined about 20 species from southern Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil including three species from the Antilles ( Cuba, Dominica, Hispaniola) (CNCI). Recently an undescribed species was collected in creeks in Arizona.

BIOLOGY: Psychopria hoguei was reared from pupae of Maruina sp. ( Diptera ; Psychodidae ) collected from the lowland rivers in Costa Rica ( Hogue, 1973). Dr. L. Quate (Poway, CA, USA) kindly supplied several species of Psychopria reared from Maruina spp. in Central America. All other species were collected in the closest vicinity of running waters (yellow pan traps in creek beds), both in the lowlands and in higher elevations. It is highly conceivable that all members of Psychopria are associated with Psychodidae .

Psychopria hoguei , new species Figures 92, 93, 94a, 94

DESCRIPTION: Holotype, 3: Length 1.4 mm; body uniformly dark brown, with legs, antennae and especially mandibles slightly lighter; wings uniformly infuscate, forewing with basal vein indicated as nebulous arc. HEAD. Head in dorsal view slightly wider than long (29:25); frons, vertex, and occiput with scattered long semidecumbent bristles; temple behind eye subequal to eye length; space between inner rims of toruli larger than distance between outer rim of torulus and inner orbit of eye (6:4); head in lateral view higher than long (29:25), eye slightly higher than long (13:11); eye height: malar space (13:11); postgena with dense, short, semiappressed pilosity but no cushion of hairs; head in frontal view with frons covered with dense, semiappressed pilosity as on postgena; malar sulcus indicated at most as shallow declivity; antenna longer than body, all segments narrow and slender, covered with dense short semidecumbent hairs, hairs subequal to width of antennomere; A1 slightly compressed and arcuate in basal third; A4 distinctly shorter than A3, only moderately emarginate in proximal two­thirds; antennomeres in relative proportions (26:4), (10: 3.5), (23:2.5), (14:2.5), (14:2.5), (13:2.5), (12:2.5), (12:2.5), (10:2.5), (10:2.5), (9:2.5), (9:2.5), (8:2.5), (10:2.5). MESOSOMA. Mesosoma distinctly longer than wide (61:34), mesoscutum and scutellum with few long semidecumbent bristles but no micropilosity, smooth and highly shining; anterior scutellar pit shallow, slightly transverse and better imprinted in posterolateral corners; axillar depression with small cluster of foamy struc­ tures; anterolateral corner of pronotum (posterad cervix) with short transverse carina and patch of granular microsculpture; propleuron with large cushion of foamy structures; mesopleuron glabrous, except for ventral portion in between coxae; metapleuron smooth in anterior part, rugulose and glabrous in posterior part; metasternum (between meso and metacoxa) with large cluster of foamy structures; propodeum dorsally and laterally, rugulose with fine appressed pilosity, median keel and plica weakly developed; posterior margin of propodeum arcuate; propodeal nucha short, smooth and shining; forewing maximum width larger than longest marginal cilia (30:20); basal vein nebulous, strongly infuscate; foreleg tibial spur unusually wide and strong. METASOMA. Petiole distinctly elongate (15:9), finely rugulose punctate, with scattered, semierect bristles, bristles denser at sides and with two smaller clusters of foamy structures posterolaterally, anterior margin of petiole sharply rimlike; metasoma past petiole only slightly wider than long (45: 34), syntergite with no micropilosity, almost glabrous, with only few semierect bristles, metasoma ventrally with more abundant pilosity.

FEMALE: Unknown.

TYPE MATERIAL: 21 (3). Holotype, 3 ( LACM), COSTA RICA, Provincia San Jose´, Rio Union at Pan American Highway, 22 km SE S. Isidro (nr. Santa Ana), 530 m, May 22, 1972, C.L. Hogue. Paratypes ( CNCI no. 22461), 203 with same data as holotype ( LACM, CNCI, MIZA, and INBIO).

ETYMOLOGY: The species is named in hon­ or of the late Dr. Charles Hogue, who collected the type series and made original observations on the biology of the species ( Hogue, 1973).

DISTRIBUTION: Costa Rica.

BIOLOGY: The type series was reared from aquatic pupae of Maruina sp. ( Diptera , Psychodidae ). Hogue (1973) observed adult wasps crawling on the surface of emergent boulders, apparently in search of the host.

VARIATION: The only variation in the type series is in the body length, 1.3–1.6 mm.

Szelenyiopria Fabritius

Figure 96

Szelenyiopria Fabritius, 1974: 54 .

Gymnopria Loiácono, 1987: 130 . NEW SYNONYMY. DIAGNOSIS (♀ 3): Medium­sized robust individuals (2–3 mm); body predominantly brown to brownish black, legs and antennae mostly lighter color; body predominantly smooth and shining, sometimes with patches of coriaceous sculpture, rarely with rough rugulose sculpture on entire mesosoma, or rarely head and mesosoma matte with fine microsculpture; entire body including legs with specialized setae, setae either long, straight, sparse, light, distinctly truncate apically, or setae shorter, flattened, and tightly appressed to body; cushions of hairs present, foamy structures absent; female antenna 11­segmented, in one undescribed species 12­segmented, clava strong, 3­ or 4­segmented, spindle­shaped, clavomeres semicompact, subrectangular; propodeum strongly developed, posterolateral corners strongly raised, posterior margin deeply excavate medially, plica indistinct.

DESCRIPTION (♀ 3): HEAD. Head in dorsal view subglobular; frons unarmed; antennal shelf not margined posteriorly; temple behind eye relatively long, gradually rounded; head in lateral view with torulus in upper half of eye; eye small, ovoid, higher than half head height, posterior margin rounded; ommatidia relatively small, not convex; ocellus distinctly larger than ommatidium; oral carina moderate; postgenal cushion strongly developed, rarely rudimentary; occipital flange rudimentary; head in frontal view with mandible bidentate, lower tooth slightly longer; head in ventral view with hypostomal bridge very narrow; palpal formula 5–2; female antenna 11­segmented, in one undescribed species 12­segmented, clava strong, 3­ or 4­segmented, spindle­shaped, clavomeres semicompact subrectangular, with three or four clavomeres flattened ventrally; apical segment (A11 or A12) subconical, longer than preceding clavomere; A1 long, cylindrical, unarmed apically; male antenna 14­ segmented, relatively short and strong; A3 and A4 distinctly separated, A4 not sexually modified, A4–A13 distally knotted with one row of verticillate bristles, antennomeres relatively short and robust; A7–A12 without specialized brushes. MESOSOMA. Mesosoma robust, about as wide as high; pronotum in dorsal view moderately developed, pronotal shoulders not developed; sides of pron­ otum without epomium, generally with massive hairy cushion anterodorsally, cushion rarely rudimentary; propleuron with cushion or scattered hairs; mesoscutum as long as wide, parapsidal and anterior parallel, lines at most rudimentary, rarely anterior parallel lines strongly developed; anterior scutellar pit large, rather deep, slightly transverse, sometimes with fine longitudinal keels on bottom, only slightly smaller than scutellar disc; scutellar disc moderately convex, at most with moderate longitudinal keel, lateral keels at most moderately developed; axilla smaller than scutellar pit; posterior margin of axilla moderately rounded; axillar depression relatively large but shallow, glabrous or with dense fine hairs; mesopleuron moderately convex, oblique horizontal line rudimentary; dorsellum well developed, with three keels; metapleuron coarsely rugulose, often densely hairy; propodeum strongly developed, rather long, roughly rugulose, median keel only moderately produced anteriorly, rarely keel more raised but not pointed or curved backward, posterolateral corners of propodeum strongly raised, posterior margin deeply excavate medially, plica indistinct; forewing moderately long, slightly glassy, stigmal vein moderately developed; legs with long, straight, sparse, light setae, setae distinctly truncate apically; tarsi moderately compressed. METASOMA. Petiole robust, slightly elongate, almost quadrate, cylindrical, with longitudinal rugulosity, entire surface with abundant appressed pilosity; metasoma past petiole in dorsal view broadly spindlelike, pointed apically in female, with sparse specialized setae; metasoma in lateral view only slightly convex, more convex ventrally; specialized spot on S2 not visible, anterior margin of S2 with narrow transparent rim.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Members of Szelenyiopria share the following character states: female antenna with massive, nonabrupt, spindlelike 3­ to 4­segment­ ed clava, clavomeres distinctly flattened ventrally and the rough rugulose propodeum with strongly projecting posterolateral corners. The most important apomorphic feature of Szelenyiopria is the presence on entire body of specialized straight setae, truncate apically; similar setae occur in members of ecitophilic genus Mimopria . Szelenyiopria belongs to Acanthopria complex, as exemplified by structure of derived female antenna, however, the latter two genera differ in male antenna, A3 fused with A 4 in Acanthopria and separated in Szelenyiopria . Females of Szelenyiopria share habitus of metasoma with Leucopria , but lack the specialized leucose spot at apex. Gymnopria is presently considered junior synonym of Szelenyiopria ; we compared specimens identified by Loiácono (CNCI) with the holotype of Szelenyiopria reichenspergeri (Ferrière) (MNHG) . Loiácono and Margaría (2000) described seven new species from Brazil; they prefer to recognize Gymnopria as an independent genus.

DISTRIBUTION: Wide distribution from Argentina to Guatemala (specimens in CNCI).

BIOLOGY: Szelenyiopria lucens (Loiácono) , new combination, is the first member of the tribe Diapriini in the New World positively reared from ants. Loiácono (1987) reports up to three wasps per mature larva of Acromyrmex ambiguus (Emery) ( Formicidae : Attini). Members of Szelenyiopria show no specialized structures known among other myrmecophilic Diapriini ; we assume that the specialized setae with truncate apices are the outlet of chemical substances.

Szelenyisca Masner Figure 95

Figures

Figs. 89–97. 89, Psilus sp. female habitus, lateral view; 90, Platymischus dilatatus, lateral view; 92, Psychopria hoguei n. sp. male metasoma, dorsal view; 93, P. hoguei male head, frontal view; 94, P. hoguei male habitus, lateral; 94a, P. hoguei male, A4–A5; 95, Szelenyisca sp. female head, lateral view; 96, Szelenyiopria sp. female habitus, lateral view; 97, Spilomicrus atriclavus Ashmead, female habitus, lateral view.