The New World ant parasitoid genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae)
Author
Baker, Austin J.
Author
Heraty, John M.
text
Zootaxa
2020
2020-11-30
4888
1
1
84
journal article
9442
10.11646/zootaxa.4888.1.1
da69a4c8-2962-4d6d-9abf-627b77bb9116
1175-5326
4297699
574A35A5-A551-4A7E-B2BC-481D703B1BE7
Orasema
Cameron
Orasema
Cameron 1884: 104
.
Type
species:
Orasema stramineipes
Cameron. Subsequently
designated by
Kirby 1886: 29
. Notes: illustrations accompanying description of
O. stramineipes
mislabeled as
O. flavipes
.
Kirby 1886: 29
designated
O. flavipes
as
type
species with
O. stramineipes
as
lapsus calami
. Contrary to remarks by Kirby, the description of
O. stramineipes
agrees with the figure of
O. flavipes
.
Dalla Torre 1898: 361
reversed the usage of Kirby and treated
O. flavipes
as a junior synonym of
O. stramineipes
.
Orasema
;
Ashmead 1888: 187
. In key.
Orasema
;
Ashmead 1904: 267
, 269. In key.
Orasema
;
Schmiedeknecht 1909
: Notes: brief diagnosis, in German.
Semora
Cameron 1909: 432–433
.
Type
species:
Semora xanthopus
Cameron
, by original designation. Homonym; discovered by
Strand 1942: 393
. Notes: preoccupied by
Peckham & Peckham 1892
. Synonymy by
Kerrich 1963: 366
.
Eucharomorpha
Girault 1913: 62–63
.
Type
species:
Orasema worcesteri
Girault. Subsequently
designated by
Gahan and Fagan 1923: 58
. Synonym by
Bouček 1988: 519
.
Orasema
;
Gemignani 1933: 488–489
. Subsequent description.
Parasemora
Gemignani 1933: 492–493
.
Type
species:
Parasemora freychei
Gemignani
, by monotypy. Synonym by
Heraty 1994: 54
. Notes: location of
type
unknown and synonym based on original description.
Semora
;
Gemignani 1933: 491–492
. Subsequent description.
Semorata
Strand 1942: 393
. Replacement name.
Semorella
Ghesquière 1946: 368
. Replacement name.
Orasema
;
Kerrich 1963: 366
. Subsequent description.
Orasema
;
Heraty 1994: 54–57
. Subsequent description.
Orasema
;
Heraty 2002: 47–49
. Subsequent description.
Diagnosis
.
Orasema
is the only New World genus in the subfamily
Oraseminae
and can be recognized from other orasemine genera by the following combination of characters: mouthparts present and fully formed, area just below the median ocellus without impression or pit, ocellar-ocular sulcus absent, scrobe without a pair of parallel impressions, male antennae without scape glands, transscutal articulation complete, if lateral aspect of the mesepisternum reticulate then at least weakly sculptured ventrally, if propodeal disc with median channel and smooth lateral areas then face with obvious rugose or reticulate sculpture and labrum with four digits, basal petiolar flange prominent, apex of the first valvula of the ovipositor usually with distinct lateral teeth but never with sinuate ridges.
Orasema
can be recognized from other New World eucharitid genera by the following combination of characters: anellus present, prepectus distinct and separate from the pronotum, first gastral sternite constricted with a transverse crenulate furrow separating a semicircular anterior region, ovipositor expanded and usually with a lateral line of teeth on the ventral valve and lateral teeth on the dorsal valve.
Key to the species groups of
Orasema
1
Male
and female antenna with 6 funiculars (
Fig. 42D, E
); mesoscutum and mesoscutellum rugose-areolate; scutoscutellar sulcus crossed by strong carinae (
Fig. 42F
); male antennal clava highly reduced (
Fig. 42E
)...............................................................................................
Orasema mutata
n. sp.
(unplaced to group)
-
Antenna with more than 6 funiculars; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with various sculpture; scutoscutellar sulcus usually with weaker carinae (
Fig. 6F
); male antennal clava not reduced (
Fig. 6E
).........................................
2
2
(1) Male and female antenna with 7 funiculars (
Fig. 6E
: Fu1–Fu7); labrum with 4 digits (except some specimens of
O. scaura
(
Orasema coloradensis
group) with up to 9 digits, but this is the only species with 4 tarsomeres)......................
3
-
Male and female antenna with 8 or 9 funiculars (
Fig. 18D, E
); labrum with 4 or more digits.........................
17
3
(2) Midlobe of mesoscutum evenly reticulate (
Fig. 3D
)..........................................................
4
-
Midlobe of mesoscutum smooth (
Fig. 3H
) or with coarse irregular sculpture (
Fig. 3A, C, E, I
), including rugose-reticulate (
Fig. 3F
)................................................................................................
10
4
(3) Postgena expanded over labiomaxillary complex (
Fig. 31D
).....
Orasema simulatrix
group; (key:
Herreid and Heraty 2017
)
-
Postgena not expanded, labiomaxillary complex visible (
Fig. 4A
)...............................................
5
5
(4) Anterior margin of prepectus lacking carina, gradually sloping under margin of pronotum (
Fig. 13C
)...................................................................................................
Orasema bakeri
group,
23
-
Anterior margin of prepectus with carina abutting margin of pronotum (
Fig. 18C
)..................................
6
6
(5) Body size small (females
1.5–2.1 mm
; males 1.5–2.0 mm); body color dark with some iridescence; antennal flagellum of both sexes pedunculate with funiculars broader than long (
Fig. 24D, E
).....................................................................................
Orasema sixaolae
group (in part:
Orasema sixaolae
Wheeler & Wheeler
),
43
-
Body size variable but both sexes usually>
2 mm
; body color most often strongly green or blue-green iridescent, but if dark then female with antennal flagellum not pedunculate (
Fig. 36D
) and with funiculars generally longer than broad..............
7
7
(6) Fore wing with one row of setae along posterior end of the basal area (
Fig. 4D
; bsa), and disc with dense, long setae; female antennal funiculars usually as long as or longer than wide, and with width consistent from F3 to clava (
Fig. 4B
)..................................................................
Orasema xanthopus
group (in part; undescribed species)
-
Fore wing without row of setae in posterior basal area or if setae present then disc not densely setose and with minute setae; female antennal funiculars usually broader than long, and with width increasing from F3 to clava (
Fig. 36D
).............
8
8
(7) Mesosoma long (ML:MH = 1.3–1.6); female with face elongate (HW:HH = 0.7–1.0) (
Fig. 37B
)..............................................................................
Orasema heacoxi
group (in part:
O. masonicki
n. sp.
),
65
-
Mesosoma high (ML:MH = 1.0–1.2); female with face subtriangular (HW:HH = 1.0–1.2;
Fig. 4E, F
)...................
9
9
(8) Nearctic in distribution............................................................
Orasema cockerelli
group*
-
Neotropical in distribution............................................................
Orasema vianai
group* * These two groups cannot be reliably differentiated morphologically, but they represent molecularly distinct lineages (
Fig. 1
).
10
(3) Male only: body size large (
3.8 mm
); mandibular formula 2:2; mandibles and labrum reduced in size (
Fig. 41B
); antenna long (FL:HH = 2.0)....................................................
Orasema monstrosa
n. sp.
(unplaced to group)
-
Both sexes: body size variable (males typically <
3.8 mm
); mandibular formula 3:2; mandibles and labrum of normal size (
Fig. 6B
); antenna shorter (FL:HH typically <1.5)...............................................................
11
11
(10) Body with face, mesoscutal lateral lobe, axilla, mesoscutellum, and frenum smooth (
Fig. 33F
); face and eye densely setose (
Fig. 33B
); body length
2.1–2.9 mm
; antenna with 8 funiculars, but with partial fusion between F2 and F3 or F3 and F4 giving appearance of 7 funiculars (
Fig. 33D
).........................
Orasema johnsoni
group (in part:
O. johnsoni
n. sp.
),
61
-
Body with at least some of above-mentioned parts with distinct sculpture or if smooth then face and eye sparsely setose (
Fig. 25B
) and length approximately
1.4 mm
; antenna with 7 funiculars (
Fig. 25D
)....................................
12
12
(11) Midlobe of mesoscutum rugose-reticulate (
Fig. 36F
); female flagellum progressively wider toward apex (
Fig. 36D
); male flagellum pedunculate, funiculars with semi-erect, curved setae (
Fig. 36E
)...................................................................................................
Orasema heacoxi
group (in part:
O. heacoxi
n. sp.
),
65
-
Midlobe of mesoscutum transversely costate (
Fig. 3A
), imbricate (
Fig. 3E
), rugose (
Fig. 3I
), or rugose-areolate (
Fig. 3C
); female antennal flagellum generally equal in width from F3–F8; male flagellum rarely pedunculate, but if so (
Fig. 27E
), then setae more closely appressed to funiculars and mostly straight.................................................
13
13
(12) Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum rugose-areolate (
Fig. 27F
); mesoscutum in dorsal view with curvature of lateral lobe discontinuous with curvature of midlobe (
Fig. 28G
); antecostal sulcus smooth (
Fig. 28E
)..........
Orasema acuminata
group,
50
-
Midlobe of mesoscutum and mesoscutellum usually costate, imbricate, or rugose-reticulate (
Fig. 3A, E, F
), only rarely rugoseareolate; mesoscutum in dorsal view with curvature of lateral lobes either continuous (
Fig. 31G
) or discontinuous with curvature of midlobe; antecostal sulcus usually foveate, but if smooth then other characters not matching...................
14
14
(13) Body size small (females
1.4–2.2 mm
; males 1.5–2.0 mm); body dark brown to black with some iridescence; midlobe of mesoscutum imbricate (
Fig. 22E
) or weakly transverse costate (
Fig. 25E
); head subcircular (
Fig. 22B
)...........................................................................................
Orasema sixaolae
group (in part),
43
-
Body size average (females
2.3–4.2 mm
; males
2.1–3.4 mm
); body usually with strong blue or green iridescence; midlobe of mesoscutum strongly costate (
Fig. 6F
) or rugose-areolate (
Fig. 10F
); head subtriangular (
Fig. 8B
) or elongate (
Fig. 31B
)..
15
15
(14) Face rugose-reticulate (
Fig. 39B
); funiculars longer than broad (
Fig. 39D, E
); femora yellow with at most a medial light brown patch (
Fig. 39A
)..............................................
Orasema brasiliensis
(Bréthes)
(unplaced to group)
-
Face usually costate, but if rugose-reticulate then funiculars broader than long (
Fig. 8D
) and femora mostly dark brown with strong iridescence (
Fig. 8A
)............................................................................
16
16
(15) Mesosoma long (ML:MH = 1.5–2.2); head elongate (HW:HH = 0.8–1.1) (
Fig. 31B
); occiput strongly curved (
Fig. 31C
)..............................................................................
Orasema peraltai
group,
56
Mesosoma average (ML:MH = 1.2–1.7); head subtriangular (HW:HH = 1.1–1.3) (
Fig. 8B
); occiput broadly curved (
Fig. 10F
)
Orasema coloradensis
group,
12
17
(2) Postgena expanded over labiomaxillary complex basally (
Fig. 31D
); fore wing with infuscations at least along cubital fold.......................................................
Orasema wayqecha
group (key:
Herreid and Heraty 2017
)
-
Postgena not expanded (
Fig. 4A
); fore wing completely hyaline...............................................
18
18
(17) Face smooth; frons without any vertical costae (
Fig. 33B
)....................................................
19
-
Face sculptured (
Fig. 18B
), or if appearing mostly smooth then frons with vertical costae (
Fig. 4F
)....................
20
19
(18) Petiole with complete longitudinal carina on lateral margins (
Fig. 4C
); labrum with 8–10 digits; fore wing postmarginal vein reaching near apex of wing (
Fig. 4D
); lateral lobe of mesoscutum, axilla, mesoscutellar disc, and frenum with strong sculpture...........................................................
Orasema festiva
group (key:
Burks
et al
. 2015
)
-
Petiole without complete lateral longitudinal carinae; labrum with 4 digits; fore wing postmarginal vein short, not close to apex of wing; lateral lobe of mesoscutum, axilla, scutellar disc, and frenum smooth (
Fig. 33F
)...................................................................................................
Orasema johnsoni
group (in part),
61
20
(18) Antenna of both sexes with 9 funiculars; fore wing basal area densely pilose; female femora completely yellow....
Orasema argentina
Gemignani
(unplaced to group)
-
Antenna of female with 8 funiculars and male with 8 or 9 funiculars; fore wing basal area bare to sparsely setose, never pilose; some femora usually dark medially......................................................................
21
21
(20) Fore wing costal cell with anteriorly expanded bare area (
Fig. 20H
); face broad (female MSP:EH = 1.0–1.7) and with reticulate sculpture (
Fig. 20B
); body size large (females
2.8–5.2 mm
, but usually>
4 mm
); male antenna with 9 funiculars..........................................................................................
Orasema tolteca
group,
36
-
Fore wing costal cell not anteriorly expanded and with variable setation; face often subtriangular (female MSP:EH = 0.5–1.3, often <1) and sometimes with other sculpture; body size variable (females
1.2–5.8 mm
, often <
4 mm
); male antenna almost always with 8 funiculars...............................................................................
22
22
(21) Labrum with more than 6 digits, or if with 4–6 digits then with the following combination of characters: mesoscutum coarsely rugose-areolate (
Fig. 3C
); female antenna with funiculars beyond F3 less than twice as long as broad to as broad as long; propodeum lacking median groove; eyes lacking setation (
Fig. 4E
)................................................
23
-
Labrum usually with 4 digits, but if up to 6 then differing in at least one of the above characters......................
24
23
(22) Labrum with 4 digits; frons weakly imbricate, lower face weakly reticulate (
Fig. 4E
).................................
........................................................
Orasema longinoi
Heraty & Baker
(unplaced to group)
-
Labrum usually with more than 6 digits, rarely with 4; frons strongly costate, lower face smooth (
Fig. 4F
), or entire face strongly reticulate..........................................
Orasema lasallei
group; (key:
Heraty and Baker 2020
)
24
(22) Female: fore and mid femora dark brown with iridescence, hind femur yellow; antennal funiculars same width throughout, slightly shorter apically; propodeum with a median carina within a median longitudinal groove (
Fig. 4G
); PTL:HCL = 0.6–0.7; head and mesosoma dark green-blue iridescent; eyes bare. Male: only known from one heavily damaged molecular voucher, cannot be diagnosed..............................................
Orasema deltae
Gemignani
(unplaced to group)
-
Characters at least partially disagreeing with above description................................................
25
25
(24) Eyes with setae longer than width of ommatidium, easily seen with low magnification (
Fig. 44B
); head relatively narrow (HW: HH = 1.0–1.2); frenum in dorsal view semicircular (
Fig. 44F
).................
Orasema roppai
n. sp.
(unplaced to group)
-
Eyes bare or with setae at most equal to width of ommatidium, requiring high magnification to see; head usually broader (HW: HH = 1.0–1.5, usually>1.1); frenum in dorsal view crescent-shaped or not visible (
Fig. 40F
)........................
26
26
(25) Head broadly triangular with relatively small eyes (female MSP:EH ~1.2).....................................................................................................
Orasema susanae
Gemignani
(unplaced to group)
-
Head subtriangular with relatively larger eyes (female MSP:EH = 0.5–1.0) (
Fig. 40B
)..............................
27
27
(26) Females only: antenna relatively short (FL:HH = 1.0–1.3); mesosoma relatively high (ML:MH = 1.1–1.3); large-bodied (
3.7– 4.6 mm
) (
Figs 40A
,
43A
)..............................................................................
28
-
Both sexes: antenna usually long (female FL:HH = 1–1.8, usually>1.3); mesosoma usually longer (ML:MH = 1.1–1.6, usually>1.3); body size variable (females
1.2–5.1 mm
, usually <
4 mm
)...............................................
29
28
(27) Legs beyond coxae tawny-orange; hind tibia greatly widened distally, about 3× as wide as metabasitarsus (
Fig. 40E
); stigmal vein slightly angled toward wing apex (
Fig. 40A
); PTL:HCL = 0.9–1.2; length
3.7 mm
...........................................................................................
Orasema cirrhocnemis
n. sp.
(unplaced to group)
-
Legs beyond coxae yellow; hind tibia not greatly widened distally, at most 2× as wide as metabasitarsus (
Fig. 43E
); stigmal vein slightly angled toward wing base (
Fig. 43A
); PTL:HCL = 1.4; length
4.2–4.6 mm
....................................................................................................
Orasema psarops
n. sp.
(unplaced to group)
29
(27) Axillular groove usually absent or narrowed anteriorly (see
Burks
et al
. 2018
: figs 25, 167, 257); HW:HH = 1.0–1.3; hind femora almost always yellow; first valvula of ovipositor with 4 or 5 teeth (see
Burks
et al
. 2018
: fig. 85); male PTL:HCL = 1.4–2.4...................................................
Orasema stramineipes
group (key:
Burks
et al
. 2018
)
-
Axillular groove broad and with a complete lateral carina (see
Burks
et al
. 2018
: figs 272, 273); HW:HH = 1.3–1.5; hind femora sometimes dark; first valvula of ovipositor with 7–10 teeth (see
Burks
et al
. 2018
: fig. 274); male PTL:HCL = 1.0–1.5.................................................................
Orasema xanthopus
group (key:
Heraty
et al
. 1993
)