Cleruchoides, Lin & Huber, 2007

Huber, John T., Read, Jennifer D. & Triapitsyn, Serguei V., 2021, Illustrated key to the genera and catalogue of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) in the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 5036 (1), pp. 1-166 : 24

CLERUCHOIDES Lin & Huber, 2007

( Figs 87–93 )

Cleruchoides Lin & Huber in Lin et al., 2007: 53 . Type species: Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber, 2007 , by original designation.

Diagnosis. Face light coloured (yellowish), with distinct black bar extending obliquely from each torulus to mandible ( Fig. 87 ); mandibles short, not crossing when closed, with teeth small ( Fig. 87 ); female antenna with funicle segments longer than wide and clava 1-segmented ( Fig. 88 ); fore wing widening distally and with a distinct lobe behind venation ( Fig. 90 ); gaster with wrinkled terga ( Fig. 92 ). Male with antenna 11-segmented ( Fig. 89 ), gaster with terga apically crenellated ( Fig. 93a ), and digitus with 2 (3?) strong teeth ( Fig. 93b ).

Discussion. Cleruchoides belongs to the Cleruchus group of genera. In the Afrotropical region this group also includes Cleruchus , Platystethynium , and Eubroncus based on its strongly triangular head in lateral view. Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber was introduced from Australia for biological control and has spread widely in South Africa (Bernard Slippers, personal communication).

Afrotropical hosts. Hemiptera .

Important reference. Lin et al. (2007).

Figures

FIGURES 87–89. Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber. 87, male head, anterior; 88, antenna; 89, male antenna. Scale bars = 100 μm.

FIGURES 90, 91. Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber. 90, wings; 91, mesosoma, dorsal. Scale bars = 100 μm.

FIGURES 92, 93. Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber. 92, metasoma, lateral; 93a, male metasoma, dorsal; 93b, genitalia seen through gaster. Scale bars = 100 μm.