Polynema aligherini (Girault, 1915)

TRIAPITSYN, SERGUEI V. & BEREZOVSKIY, VLADIMIR V., 2007, Review of the Oriental and Australasian species of Acmopolynema, with taxonomic notes on Palaeoneura and Xenopolynema stat. rev. and description of a new genus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), Zootaxa 1455 (1), pp. 1-68 : 59-60

The aligherini species group of Boccacciomymar (Prosto)

( Figs 114– 121 )

Diagnosis

Vertex, face, and scape smooth; female antenna sometimes with longitudinal sensilla on F4–F6; clava with 7 longitudinal sensilla in B. (P.) nigugu sp. n. (unknown in B. (P.) aligherini ); mesosoma smooth; axillar seta weak or strong; scutellar placoid sensilla at anterior margin of scutellum, scutellum without a row of frenal foveae; metanotum divided or not divided mediolongitudinally; petiole cylindrical, not or slightly swollen; male genitalia elongate ( Figs 117 , 121 ).

This species group in some regards seems to occupy an intermediate position between B. ( Boccacciomymar ) and the victoria species group of B. ( Prosto ). It has a similar forewing venation to the victoria group species but the position of the scutellar placoid sensilla is similar to some of the species of B. ( Boccacciomymar ). It is defined as a separate, informal species group also based on the unique, elongate male genitalia ( Figs 117 , 121 ), shared by both of its species. The two included species, however, have a very different, cylindrical petiole (not or only slightly swollen), and the metanotum is mediolongitudinally divided in B. (P.) aligherini but entire in B. (P.) nigugu sp. n. The significance of the divided metanotum is difficult to assess; however; it is quite possible that placement of these two distinctive and very peculiar taxa in the same species group and even in the same subgenus or genus is artificial.

Distribution Australia.

Figures

FIGURES 114–117. Boccacciomymar (Prosto) aligherini (male, Australia). 114. Head and antennae. 115. Metanotum and propodeum. 116. Forewing. 117. Genitalia.

FIGURES 118–121. Boccacciomymar (Prosto) nigugu. 118. Antenna (female, holotype). 119. Metanotum, propodeum, and petiole (female, holotype). 120. Forewing (female, holotype). 121. Genitalia (male, paratype).