Labidopria Wasmann, 1925: 194

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 : 83-87

Labidopria Wasmann, 1925: 194 .

DIAGNOSIS (♀): Small to medium­sized individuals (1 to 2.5 mm); head, mesosoma, and metasoma subglobular, mesosoma highly convex, metasoma dorsally strongly convex; two distinct constrictions occur on body, one in cervical region between head and mesosoma, and another between propodeum and metasoma past petiole; body predominantly light­brown­colored, rarely yellow, body mostly smooth and shining, in some species entirely matte with coarse sculpture; body including entire metasoma hairy, usually with two types of pilosity, fine, dense and appressed hairs and sparse semierect long bristles; foamy structures at most reduced to metasternum, rarely rudimentary on upper propleuron, heavy hairy cushions very rarely developed; hypostomal bridge unusually wide; occipital flange remarkably wide around entire circumference, collarlike; cervix of prothorax distinctly elongate, never with foamy structures or heavy cushions; axillar depression rudimentary; mesopleuron remarkably convex; posterior margin of propodeum dorsally deeply excavate, nucha of propodeum often flanked dorsally and laterally by sharp, semitransparent lamina overlapping anterior border of petiole; hind femur usually moderately to strongly compressed and curved basally (dorsal view); petiole without longitudinal keels, with no foamy structures; syntergite highly convex, entirely hairy, with anterior margin overlapping posterior border of petiole.

DESCRIPTION (♀): HEAD. Head perfectly globular, rarely subpentagonal, hypognathous, with frons unarmed, antennal shelf moderate; face in lateral view convex; eye usually normal, sometimes large with large and convex ommatidia, posterior orbit straight or sinuate; malar sulcus not developed; mandible subequal and bidentate; papal formula 4– 3 or 3–2, rarely 5–2; oral carina usually absent, rarely moderately developed; upper postgena rarely sharply angular; postgenal cushion not developed, postgena at most with scattered pilosity; hypostomal bridge unusually wide; occipital flange remarkably wide around entire circumference, collarlike; female antenna 12­segmented, generally with nonabrupt clava, with six to eight clavomeres, clavomeres rectangular or quadrate, with distinct gaps, clava rarely abrupt, with five to six segments, A1 usually compressed in basal half, A12 not enlarged. MESOSOMA. Mesosoma relatively short, subglobular, highly convex, both dorsally and ventrally, pronotum with long cervix, sides of pronotum strongly convex, generally densely hairy, rarely with only scattered bristles, in some species with coriaceous or rugulose sculpture, without epomium, never with foamy structures or heavy cushions; pronotal shoulders generally absent, if developed, pointlike and anterior margin of pronotum rarely with heavy collar of pegs; mesoscutum semicircular, strongly convex dorsally; anterior scutellar pit very shallow to almost rudimentary, or indicated as shallow depression; axillar depression rudimentary, usually without foamy structures; posterior margin of axilla as well as sides of scutellar disc sloping down roundly; scutellar disc only slightly convex, lateral and medial keels indistinct or absent, rarely disc balllike convex; mesopleuron usually remarkably convex, rarely only moderately convex, partly hairy; medi­ an oblique line well developed, rarely even sulcate; sternaulus absent; dorsellum with three keels only rudimentary or keels absent; propodeum smooth, coriaceous or rugulose, rather short, rounded to conical, median keel absent or at most indicated only anteriorly, posterior margin of propodeum dorsally deeply excavate, margin dorsally and laterally produced into sharp semitransparent lamina, very rarely lamina dorsally absent, laminae often overlapping anterior border of petiole; wings primarily developed, almost clear, remarkably long, submarginal vein relatively short, submarginal vein moderately curved up toward marginal vein and running strongly approximated to anterior margin of wing, stigmal vein relatively well developed; legs very long and strong, sometimes even incrassate, coxa, especially hind, very large and densely hairy; hind femur moderately to strongly compressed and curved basally (dorsal view); hind tibia compressed basally; tarsi moderately to strongly compressed. METASOMA. Petiole elongate, without longitudinal keels, finely sculptured, densely pubescent, with short hairs and scattered long bristles, with no foamy structures, often conical, wider anteriorly and tapering posteriorly, sometimes compressed posteriorly, in some species with transverse globular knot; metasoma past petiole usually globular, highly convex dorsally, rarely only moderately convex and slightly elongate, anterior margin of syntergite in lateral view generally distinctly overlapping posterior border of petiole, entire syntergite hairy, with long sparse bristles or dense decumbent hairs; S2 with dense pilosity, anteriorly without specialized spot; apex of metasoma with only small point.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Among related genera of Diapriini , members of Labidopria can be distinguished by the followings character states: body strongly constrict­ ed in cervical and petiolar regions, with head mesosoma and metasoma past petiole strongly globular; posterior margin of propodeum usually with semitransparent laminae; petiole without longitudinal keels; syntergite entirely hairy. Unlike in Acanthopria , foamy structures are rudimentary or absent in Labidopria . Mimopriella differs from Labidopria principally in formation and shape of propodeum. Corresponding males could not be associated with females in species studied by us; this could be explained by males undistinguished generally from, e.g., Acanthopria , or males being very rare, or all Labidopria species being parthenogenetic.

DISTRIBUTION: This genus is known to us from lowland tropical forests of South and Central America, with species extending to Mexico and one to USA (South Arizona). No individuals were examined from the Antilles. Only 3 species were described so far, but we examined and recognized some 20 species (CNCI).

MALE: Unknown (see note in Recognition and Relationships).

BIOLOGY: The published data indicate close association with the ecitonine ant genus Labidus ( Ferrière, 1929; Borgmeier, 1939; Loiácono, 1981); unpublished data in CNCI also confirm association with genus Labidus , especially L. predator (Smith) . Character states typifying Labidopria in our opinion reflect high degree of adaptive morphology for life with ants, such as strongly developed legs, compressed base of femora, compressed tarsi, etc. Numerous specimens examined by us were collected by light trap (CDC light trap) in Brazil. Many females in the collection are wingless or have little wing stumps. We are considering true lytic alectomy for species with no rudiments; the presence of wing stumps may be explained by the spontaneous breaking of wing in basal area or by cutting off the wings by the host ants.

Leucopria , new genus Figure 61

DIAGNOSIS (♀ 3): Medium to large­size individuals (2 to 3.5 mm); body in most spe­

cies light brown, rarely yellowish or dark brown, smooth and shining, very rarely with coriaceous or rugulose sculpture; body generally with heavy pale dense semierect hairs, mesopleuron partly hairy, legs densely hairy, apex of syntergite and following tergites and all sternites, especially on apical sternite, densely hairy with dense decumbent pilosity; foamy structures present on propleuron, metasternum, axillar depression, and often on pronotum and petiole; anterior scutellar pit large, deep, subequal in length to scutellar disc; scutellar disc boxlike, sharply subquadrate, unarmed dorsally, sides of disc with sharply carinate rim, rim often crenulate inward; axillar depression large, deeply excavate, posterior margin of axilla sharp bladelike; median propodeal keel strongly produced, fingerlike bent, obtuse apically, usually directed obliquely backward; apex of metasoma in female sharply pointed or almost conical, with several apical tergites contrastingly whitish­yellow and densely hairy; S2 anteriorly with distinctly specialized spot; apical sternite sharply triangular, with dense pale pilosity.

DESCRIPTION (♀ 3): HEAD. Head globular, hypognathous, with frons unarmed; antennal shelf moderate; torulus located in middle or upper middle of eye; face quadrate or elongate, distinctly hairy; eye relatively large, eye height larger than half of head height or subequal to half of head height, eye ovoid, higher than wide, posterior orbit rounded or sometimes slightly sinuate, ommatidia often large and convex; malar sulcus never developed; mandible bidentate, sometimes unequal, with right mandible subtridentate and left mandible bidentate; hypostomal bridge very narrow; palpal formula 5–2; oral carina strongly developed, very rarely absent; postgenal cushion rarely developed, postgena usually with long dense hairs; gena in frontal view often projecting angularly; occipital flange usually narrow, moderately developed, not steplike; female antenna either 11­ or 12­ segmented, clava nonabrupt, multisegmented (6­segmented) or clava nondistinctly developed; A1 often strongly elongate, cylindrical and rounded apically, antennomeres elongate rectangular, cylindrical and subcompact; male antenna 14­segmented, with A4 not distinctly sexually modified, antennomeres elongate, more or less cylindrical, sometimes slightly constricted medially, with two slight knots and bristles of long erect hairs more or less arranged in whorls, or antennomeres subrectangular with hairs scattered randomly. MESOSOMA. Mesosoma about as high as wide; pronotal shoulders not developed but sides of pronotum moderately convex; epomium absent, foamy structures always on propleuron and often on anterior sides of pronotum; mesoscutum usually semicircular and highly convex in lateral view, very rarely with parapsidal keels or sulci; scutellum distinctly trapezoidal, anterior scutellar pit always present, large, deep, subequal in length to disc, quadrate or transversely subrectangular; scutellar disc usually boxlike, sharply subquadrate, unarmed dorsally, median keel usually not developed, very rarely rudimentary, disc in one species highly convex and with rugulose sculpture, sides of disc with sharply carinate rims, rims often crenulate inwardly; axillar depression large, deeply excavate, always with abundant foamy structures; posterior margin of axilla sharp, bladelike; mesopleuron moderately convex, higher than wide, lower anterior half often with sparse long hairs; metapleuron and sides of propodeum with scattered long semierect hairs, with coarse sculpture well visible; propodeum relatively long, median propodeal keel always strongly produced anteriorly, bent fingerlike, obtuse apically, usually directed backward, plica distinctly developed; wings always present, normal size, hyaline, very rarely bronze infuscate; submarginal vein moderately to distinctly curved up toward marginal vein and running strongly approximated to anterior margin of wing; stigmal vein relatively well developed; basal vein not developed; legs relatively slender, rarely incrassate, apices of femora often with flaps, tarsi moderately to strongly compressed laterally; apex of foretibia without specialized spine dorsally. METASOMA. Metasoma widely overlapped by wings; petiole always elongate, often very slender, cylindrical, with longitudinal keels, with long scattered hairs and always with foamy structures; metasoma past petiole moderately elongate, in dorsal view broadly spindlelike, in lateral view only slightly convex or almost flat dorsally, strongly convex ventrally; pos­ terior part of syntergite and subsequent tergites with rows of dense semierect yellowish hairs; apex of metasoma in female sharply pointed or almost conical, with several apical tergites contrasty whitish­yellow and densely hairy; S2 anteriorly with distinct specialized spot, spot sometimes rudimentary in males; female apical sternite sharply triangular with dense pale pilosity.

TYPE SPECIES: Leucopria cylindricornis , new species (described below), by present designation.

RECOGNITION AND RELATIONSHIPS: Females of Leucopria share large whitish­yellow spot on apex of metasoma, with those of Hansona ; this structure is interpreted here as an internal gland with appeasement or repugnatory function. Leucopria can be easily distinguished from Hansona by structure of scutellum, by presence of foamy structures on propleuron and in axillar depression, as well as by smooth mesoscutum. We basically recognize two species groups within Leucopria : one with female antenna with slender clava and the other with female antenna strong, gradually incrassate toward apex. The males of Leucopria also represent two distinct species groups: one with characteristic doublewhorled antennomeres and other with antennomeres with only scattered erect hairs. Leucopria appears close to Acanthopria , from which it can be distinguished principally by the different structure of scutellum (anterior pit, sides of scutellar disc), furthermore by the presence of a specialized spot on S2, and especially by whitish­yellow apex of female metasoma. In the male sex Leucopria differs from Acanthopria principally by the arrangement of bristles on antennomeres. Finally, members of Leucopria are generally more pubescent that those of Acanthopria , especially on ventral side of metasoma.

ETYMOLOGY: The Latin prefix leuco refers to whitish (leucose)­yellow apex of female metasoma, the place of the presumed gland, the word pria meaning ‘‘little wasp’’; the gender is feminine.

DISTRIBUTION: This new genus appears to be centered in lowland tropical rainforests of Central and South America (including Mexico), with no members recorded from the Antilles. We examined a single female specimen from Southern California (CNCI). At present we recognize some 30 species in the material studied (CNCI).

BIOLOGY: The hosts are unknown; some special morphological adaptations in the female sex (special spot on S2, whitish­yellow apex of female metasoma, pale dense pilosity of body, etc.) indicate possible association with various groups of ants. Two document­ ed cases (CNCI) support the view; one species was found deep in the nest (fungus garden) of Apterostigma auriculatum Wheeler (Attini) in Costa Rica. Also in Costa Rica a series of an undescribed species of Leucopria was observed flying close above a raiding column of Eciton burcheli (Westwood) (Ecitonini) . Species of Leucopria are probably nocturnal, especially in dispersal habits, as documented by numerous individuals of both sexes caught in light traps in lowland rainforests of Panama and Brazil. Allectomy was not observed among individuals caught in light traps.

Leucopria cylindricornis , new species Figure 61

DESCRIPTION: Holotype, ♀: Length 3.5 mm; body light brown, legs uniformly lighter, wings clear, with pale yellowish tint especially in proximal half. HEAD: Head in dorsal view as long as wide (58:58), generally with long scattered hairs; temple behind eye slightly wider than length of eye (24:22); occipital flange wide, as wide as width of ocellus; head in lateral view slightly higher than long (64:58), vertex highly topped; eye distinctly higher than long (35:22), posterior orbit almost straight; malar space distinctly shorter than eye height (10:35); postgena without cushion but with dense long semierect hairs, oral carina strongly developed; cheek sharply angular, almost pointlike; low­ er margin of clypeus distinctly flexed; antenna slightly longer than entire body, all segments distinctly elongate, cylindrical, clava indistinctly 6­segmented, clavomeres subcompact, antennomeres in relative proportions (90:11), (14:9.5), (13.5:9), (28:9.5), (26:10), (24:10.5), (24:11.5), (24:12), (20: 12), (20:13) (19:13), (26:12); A1 with long scattered hairs and fine dense granular microsculpture; A2 to A6 with median long scattered hairs and microsculpture similar to A1; A6 to A12 with dense short pilosity and special appressed whitish setae. MESOSO­ MA. Mesosoma in proportions length:width: height (121:73:82); upper anterior corner of pronotum (below cervix) with distinct patch of foamy structures, adjacent to similar patch of foamy structures on upper propleuron; median lobe of mesoscutum highly convex; anterior scutellar pit as long as wide, distinctly shorter than scutellar disc (15:20); scutellar disc with lateral rims sharp, distinctly crenulate inwardly, sides of disc distinctly divergent posteriorly, scutellar disc only slight­ er convex, without keel; axillar depression well developed, with abundant foamy structures; mesopleuron in lower half with scattered semierect hairs, few scattered hairs on both sides of suture between pronotum and mesopleuron; median propodeal keel strongly fingerlike, facing backward, propodeal plica sharply defined, enclosing two elongate fields on propodeal dorsum, propodeum in lateral view relatively long, only gradually sloping toward posterior margin; legs long and slender, femora progressively incrassat­ ed; tarsi generally compressed, hind basitarsus higher than wide (8.5:5); hind tarsomere 5 twice as high as wide (6:3). METASOMA. Metasoma with petiole cylindrical, strongly elongate (50:17), with several strong longitudinal keels, with two patches of foamy structures at sides posteromedially and with scattered long semierect pale hairs; metasoma past petiole broadly spindlelike, longer than wide (125:67); syntergite predominantly glabrous and smooth, in posterior third with scattered pale hairs; whitish­yellow spot occupying apical two tergites; spot on S2 large, as long as width of petiole; S2 with long semierect hairs in median part, arranged in two longitudinal rows.

MALE: Unknown; we examined several males from the type localities but we cannot associate the sexes properly.

TYPE MATERIAL: 16♀. Holotype, ♀ ( CNCI no. 22457), ECUADOR, Pichincha, Santo Domingo , 47 km S Rio Palenque, 200 m, May 18–30, 1975, S.B. Peck, FIT . Paratypes, 3♀, same data as holotype ; 3♀, same data as holotype, but caught February 17–25, 1979, L. Ling ; 1♀, ECUADOR, Pichincha, 16 km SE Santo Domingo, Tinalandia , 680 m, June 15–30, 1975, S. & J. Peck, FIT ; 1♀, as above, but 500 m, June 4–14, 1975; 1♀, PANAMA, Canal Zone, Barro Colorado Is. , May 14–20, 1977, H. Wolda, light trap ; 3♀, Canal Zone, but caught May 10, and August 18, 1956, C.W. and M.E. Rettenmeyer ; 1♀, COSTA RICA, Puntarenas, road to Rincon , 24 km W of Pan Am Highway, February– March 1989, 200 m, P. Hanson and I. Gauld ; 1♀, Heredia, Puerto Viejo , 50 m, rainforest, February 1980, W. Mason ; 1♀, Limon, 16 km W Guapiles , 400 m, January–March 1990, P. Hanson, MT .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet refers to the distinctly elongate shape of female antenna.

DISTRIBUTION: Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica; the actual distribution is probably much wider.

BIOLOGY: Host unknown; several females caught in light trap.

VARIATION: Slight variation in body size exists in the type series.

Megaplastopria Ashmead Figure 62

Figures

Figs. 61–69. 61, Leucopria cylindricornis n. sp. female habitus, lateral view; 62, Megalastopria sp. female habitus, lateral view; 63, Mimopriella sp. female petiole, dorsal view; 64, Mimopriella sp. female habitus, lateral view; 65, Mimopria comes Borgmeier female head, dorsal view; 66, M. comes female habitus, lateral view; 67, Mitropria sp. female head, lateral view; 68, Monelata sp. female habitus, dorsal view; 69, Monelata sp. female habitus, dorsal view.