Australosema Heraty & Burks, 2017

Burks, Roger A., Heraty, John M., Mottern, Jason, Dominguez, Chrysalyn & Heacox, Scott, 2017, Biting the bullet: revisionary notes on the Oraseminae of the Old World (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Eucharitidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 55, pp. 139-188 : 144

Australosema Heraty & Burks gen. n. Figs 1-6 , 7-12 , 13-14

Type species.

Eucharis valgius Walker: 412-414. Heraty 1994: 79-81, figs 122, 124, 131, 192, 221, 238, 248, 262-263.

Etymology.

Random combination of letters and referring to the distribution; gender feminine.

Discussion.

Defined by Heraty (1994) as the Orasema valgius group for two species from Australia, and was distinguished from the glabra and koghisiana groups in part by an at least partly reticulate face and a labrum with 4 digits (Heraty, 1994). Australosema politurae and related species expand the definition of the group to include an almost or completely smooth face. Originally recognized to include two species, Australosema synempora (Heraty) and A. valgius (Walker). Herein we add two new species, A. politurae and A. verghetta .

Diagnosis.

Separated from Orasema s.s. by a relatively weak or absent basal petiolar flange, and smooth lateral areas on the propodeal disc in combination with a rugose-areolate or reticulate median channel. Distinguished from other Old World genera by the head subtriangular in frontal view (Fig. 2 ); scrobal depression evenly impressed and lacking parallel channels or dorsal depressions; dorsal occipital margin abrupt and rounded or carinate; funicle 7-segmented; labrum with 4-digits; mesonotum with only minute setae; mesoscutal lateral lobes and frenum sculptured or smooth; transscutal articulation complete and relatively straight; propodeal disc with lateral areas at most weakly sculptured (Fig. 5 ), but usually smooth (Fig. 11 ), and with a broad sculptured median channel; prepectus foveate and tightly articulated with pronotum ventrally (Fig. 12 ); fore wing with basal area bare and specular area either bare or pilose (Figs 1 , 7 ), wing disc with very short setae; postmarginal vein much longer than stigmal vein and reaching about half distance to wing apex; petiole base truncate with weak basal flange (Fig. 5 ); antecostal sulcus present and smooth, at most weakly foveate laterally; first valvula of ovipositor with 3-4 lateral teeth and robust oblique subapical carina. Male scape lacking ventral pores.

Similar genera that have a smooth face and smooth lateral regions on the propodeal disc include Leiosema , Matantas , and Zuparka . Australosema is distinguished from Leiosema and Zuparka by several features, including the absence of a parallel channeled scrobes with dorsal depressions, 3-4 large teeth on the ventral (first) valvula of the ovipositor instead of 9-10 minute teeth, and absence of ventral pores on the male scape. It differs from Matantas primarily by having a 4-digitate rather than 6-8 digitate labrum.

Host association.

Myrmicinae : Pheidole ( Girault 1913 [175], Heraty 2000).

Distribution.

Four species. Australia including Tasmania.

Figures

Figures 1 - 6. Australosema politurae. Paratype female: 1 habitus, lateral 2 head, anterior 3 antennae, ventral 4 mesosoma, dorsal 5 propodeum and petiole, oblique dorsal. Paratype male: 6 antennae, lateral. acl = anteclypeus; acr = acrosternite; acs = antecostal sulcus; apc = anterior petiolar carina; ax = axilla; cal = callus; cly = clypeus; F = flagellomere; fr = frons; Fu = funicular; F 1 / an = anellus; llm = mesoscutal lateral lobe; lpr = lateral propodeal disc; mlm = mesoscutal midlobe; mpr = median propodeal disc; pet = petiole; not = notauli; scd = scutellar disc.

Figures 7 - 12. Australosema verghetta. Paratype female: 7 habitus, lateral 8 head, anterior 9 antennae, dorsal 10 mesosoma, dorsal; 11 propodeum and petiole, dorsal 12 mesosoma, lateral. acs = antecostal sulcus; apc = anterior petiolar carina; axlg = axiullar groove; cal = callus; F = flagellomere; frg = frenal groove; lpr = lateral propodeal disc; not = notaulix; SSS = scutoscutellar sulcus; tsa = transscutal articulation.

Figures 13 - 14. Australosema verghetta. Paratype female: 13 ovipositor, lateral. Paratype male: 14 antenna, ventral. Fu = funicle; dv = dorsal valve; lhs = lateral hypopygial seta; ocv = oblique carina of ventral valvula; vv = ventral valve; vvlt = ventral valve lateral teeth.