Lissopsius Marsh

Zaldivar-Riveron, Alejandro, Martinez, Juan Jose, Ceccarelli, Fadia Sara & Shaw, Scott R., 2012, Five new species of the genera Heerz Marsh, Lissopsius Marsh and Ondigus Braet, Barbalho and van Achterberg (Braconidae, Doryctinae) from the Chamela-Cuixmala biosphere reserve in Jalisco, Mexico, ZooKeys 164, pp. 1-23 : 10-11

Lissopsius Marsh

Lissopsius Marsh, 2002: 128.

Type species.

Lissopsius flavus Marsh, 2002.

Diagnosis.

This genus distinguishes from other recognised doryctine genera by the following combination of features: (1) body mostly smooth and polished (Figs 4A-E, 5B-F), (2) propodeum with a median longitudinal carina followed by a pentagonal areola (Figs 4B, 5D), (3) vein r-m of fore wing absent (Fig. 4F), (4) vein M+CU of hind wing larger than vein 1M (Fig. 4F), (5) vein cu-a of hind wing curved at apex towards wing tip (Fig. 4F), (6) hind coxa angled at base, without distinct tubercle or tooth, and (7) ovipositor uniformly sclerotised and with a single nodus (Fig. 4G). Lissopsius is closely related to Heerz (see above) and both are morphologically similar, with a body mostly smooth and polished, propodeal areola present and vein M+CU of hind wing slightly shorter to longer than vein 1M. However, Lissopsius differs from Heerz by having the vein r-m of fore wing absent (always present in Heerz ), hind coxa without basoventral tooth (present in Heerz ), and ovipositor uniformly sclerotised (strongly sclerotised at apex in Heerz ).

Description.

Small size, 2.3-4.5 mm; eyes large, emarginated opposite antennal sockets; occipital carina present, ending before reaching hypostomal carina; labrum distinctly concave; hypoclypeal depression small and round; clypeus short; malar suture absent; maxillary palpi 5-segmented, labial palpi 4-segmented; head, mesosoma and metasoma mostly smooth and polished; mesoscutum declivous anteriorly; prepectal carinae present; precoxal sulcus shallow and almost indistinct; surface of propodeum smooth on anterior half, slightly rugose on posterior half, with median longitudinal carina anteriorly and pentagonal areola posteriorly; metapleural flange present; fore tibia with a row of at least 10 spines along anterior edge (Fig. 4H); hind coxa angled at base, without basoventral tooth; vein m-cu of fore wing considerably antefurcal to vein 2RS, vein (RS+M)b present; vein 1cu-a considerably postfurcal to vein 1M; vein r-m of fore wing absent; first subdiscal cell of fore wing open at apex; vein M+CU of hind wing equal to or slightly longer than vein 1M; males without stigma-like enlargement on hind wing; basal sternal plate (acrosternite) of first metasomal tergite about 0.25 length of tergite.

Distribution.

Costa Rica and Mexico.

Remarks.

In their study describing new ovipositor diagnostic features for the subfamily Doryctinae , Quicke et al. (1995) proposed two potential morphological synapomorphies for the group: the presence of a double nodus on the dorsal valve of the ovipositor and a strongly sclerotised apex. These characters, however, despite being present in most doryctines, have apparently been reduced or lost in species of various genera ( Quicke et al. 1995), including the two of the species of Heerz described here (a single or lack of nodus) and the three described known species of Lissopsius (uniformly sclerotized apex). The two new species described below represent the first records of the genus outside Costa Rica, and therefore for the Mexican territory. All the specimens of Lissopsius included in this work were only collected with light traps, and most of them were collected during three nights in June 2009 and belong to Lissopsius pacificus sp. n. The colour of the body in the sequenced specimens of the two species of Lissopsius described here became slightly darker after carrying out their DNA extractions, since we used the whole individuals and a non-destructive DNA extraction technique.

Key to described species of Lissopsius .