Ormocerinae, Walker, 1833

Burks, Roger, Mitroiu, Mircea-Dan, Fusu, Lucian, Heraty, John M., Jansta, Petr, Heydon, Steve, Papilloud, Natalie Dale-Skey, Peters, Ralph S., Tselikh, Ekaterina V., Woolley, James B., van Noort, Simon, Baur, Hannes, Cruaud, Astrid, Darling, Christopher, Haas, Michael, Hanson, Paul, Krogmann, Lars & Rasplus, Jean-Yves, 2022, From hell's heart I stab at thee! A determined approach towards a monophyletic Pteromalidae and reclassification of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 94, pp. 13-88 : 13

Ormocerinae

Ormoceridae Walker, 1833. Type genus: Ormocerus Walker, 1834. Treated as Ormocerinae by Bouček (1988).

Diagnosis.

Antenna with 12 flagellomeres. Clypeal margin symmetrical, truncate or uniformly slightly convex (Fig. 98 ). Mandibles not enlarged. Scapula not anteriorly exposed by pronotum. Notauli complete. Axilla not strongly advanced. Axillula not enlarged. Propodeum without plicae. Petiole transverse, without anterolateral carina.

Discussion.

The previous concept of Ormocerinae contained three additional tribes that are now recognized as separate groups in diverse lineages: Melanosomellidae , Systasidae , and the incertae sedis tribe Keryini ( Bouček 1988; Gauthier et al. 2000). While there was some morphological resemblance between these groups, especially in the position of the toruli and in general gestalt, it became clear that they differed in many ways morphologically, as described in their given sections. Molecular data have suggested that the differences between these groups outweigh their similarities, and indeed Melanosomellidae is morphologically (see discussion of Melanosomellidae in its section above) and molecularly more similar to other members of the Gall Clade (including Cynipencyrtidae , Epichrysomallidae , Ormyridae , and Tanaostigmatidae ) than to other former Ormocerinae . Additionally, Ormocerus Walker is much more similar to Pteromalinae than to the aforementioned tribes. This resemblance is strongest with relatively generalized taxa such as Nodisoplata Graham new placement that is transferred here from Miscogastrini . The features comprising this resemblance are largely those of gestalt, including enlarged but flat axillula and the nearly equal lengths of fore wing marginal and stigmal veins. The other former members of Ormocerinae , Systasidae and Keryini , are more enigmatic in placement, but differ from the new concept of Ormocerini in features covered in their sections.

Cecidoxenus Ashmead new placement is transferred here from its former position in what is now Melanosomellidae , because of its strong morphological resemblance to Ormocerus although with a slightly longer marginal vein. Additionally, Blascoa Askew new placement and Monazosa Dzhanokmen new placement are transferred here based on morphology.

Ormocerinae strongly resemble some genera of Pteromalini ( Pteromalinae ) that are retained with some doubt in their current classification because they have not been analyzed molecularly, such as Fijita Bouček and Huberina Bouček. They differ from Ormocerinae as characterized here by either having features that are conspicuously different from those of ormocerines, such as a median clypeal tooth or pair of teeth, a propodeum with plicae, or an elongate petiole. Other Pteromalinae with complete notauli are fig associates ( Otitesellini ) that have very different fore wing venation from Ormocerinae .

Figures

Figures 97 - 102. 97 Halticoptera sp. (Sphegigastrini): petiole 98 Ormocerus latus Walker (Pteromalidae, Ormocerinae): head frontal view 99 Acroclisoides sinicus (Huang & Liao) (Pteromalidae, Pachyneurinae): head frontal and mandibles 100, 101 Pachycrepoideus sp. (Pachyneurinae) 100 venation 101 propodeum and petiole dorsal view 102 Chlorocytus scandolensis Rasplus (Pteromalidae, Pteromalinae): mesosoma dorsal view.