Tricyphus, KRIECHBAUMER, 1898

Sime, Karen R. & Wahl, David B., 2002, The cladistics and biology of the Callajoppa genus-group (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 134 (1), pp. 1-56 : 36-37

TRICYPHUS KRIECHBAUMER, 1898

Tricyphus Kriechbaumer, 1898: 30 . Type-species:

Tricyphus cuspidiger Kriechbaumer. Designated by

Viereck 1913).

Description. Flagellum of female lanceolate, with flagellomere 3 2.0–2.2¥ as long as wide; flagellum of male with tyloids present. Clypeus flat and wide, apicolateral margin forming an angle of approximately 40°, punctures evenly distributed, apical 0.3 not thinned, apical margin straight and without median projection. Mandible long and evenly tapered to apex, ventral tooth in same plane as dorsal tooth. Supra-antennal area without median paired ridges or denticles. Vertex with posterior section about as long as ocellar triangle, gently sloping to occipital carina. Gena flat and sharply receding in dorsal view. Juncture of hypostomal and occipital carinae separated from mandible by about 0.5¥ basal mandibular width. Occipital carina with ventral region above mandible not produced as a low flange.

Pronotal flange low and with posterior face concave. Epicnemial carina dorsally complete. Scutellum strongly convex, sometimes with planar surfaces and forming a more or less acute angle in lateral view; lateral carinae absent. Central convexity of metanotum not widened and lateral depressions not reduced. Base of propodeum rising steeply and abruptly. Basal area and areola separated by anterior transverse carina. Areola reduced and completely filled-in, appearing as polished boss. Anterior transverse carina absent; posterior transverse carina complete; lateral longitudinal carinae present or absent; median longitudinal carinae absent basad anterior transverse carina, present or absent apicad anterior transverse carina. First lateral area with regularly distributed punctures; second lateral area rugosopunctate. Metapleuron regularly punctate. Juxtacoxal carina present. Propodeal lateral profile steeply sloping. Scopa absent. Cell 1 + 2Rs of fore wing petiolate, vein 2/Rs <3r-m, vein 2m-cu interception apicad midpoint of posterior margin (vein 2/M 2.2–4.2¥ as long as vein 3/M).

MS 1 in lateral view evenly curved with highest point at middle ( Fig. 23), petiole cylindrical; sclerotized anterior portion of S1 0.5 –0.6¥ as long as distance from posterior margin of anterior portion to apex of T1; petiole basally without dorsal or lateral bulges; postpetiole without basal convexity, median longitudinal carinae absent, median field absent, punctures fine and dense and without rugae. Ventral margin of T2 simple. T2-4 without longitudinal rugae. T2-4 evenly convex, with fine punctures separated by about 0.3¥ their diameter to contiguous. T2-5 not basally constricted and without dorsolateral ridges. S2 divided, S3-5 entire. Apex of female metasoma with T7-8 projecting well beyond apex of T6; amblypygous. Autapomorphies. Juxtacoxal carina present (#22–0); MS 1 in profile evenly curved with highest point at middle, petiole cylindrical (#42–2); sclerotized anterior portion of S1 0.5 –0.6¥ as long as distance from posterior margin of anterior portion to apex of T1 (#43–1). Species and distribution. There are three described species ( apicalis Kriechbaumer , cuspidiger Kriechbaumer , and nigriventris Kriechbaumer ) and two undescribed species [NHML]. They are found in Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru.

Comments. As interpreted by Townes ( Townes & Townes 1966: 324) and Ward & Gauld (1987), the limits of Tricyphus were extremely vague and it was, in essence, a wastebasket group for New World sphingid parasitoids. The present study has radically redefined the genus and a new description is provided above. The North American species are placed in a new genus, Saranaca , and Tricyphus respinozai is moved to the new genus Mokajoppa .

The holotype of cuspidiger could not be located in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien and is presumed lost. Morley (1915: 86) discussed a specimen in the Natural History Museum that he considered to be cuspidiger , although it is unlikely that he compared it with the type. It was collected by H.W. Bates ‘on the Amazon and received in 1862’ (Morley, ibid.). That specimen has been located and it is in the same genus as apicalis and nigriventris . In the interest of nomenclatural stability, it is here designated as the neotype of cuspidiger . The label data are as follows: ‘62.56’ [handwritten, round label]; ‘Amaz.’ [handwritten, rectangular label]. T. cuspidiger may be distinguished from other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: juxtacoxal carina distinct and complete; median longitudinal carinae of the propodeum obsolete posteriad anterior transverse carina; black mesoscutum (except for brownish-yellow of notaular areas) and scutellum; brownish-yellow hind coxa.

Vagaries of preservation have lead to some specimens appearing to have an undivided S2. Careful examination will show the sternite to be divided into two sections.

Biology. Unknown.