The circumscription of the generic concept of Aximopsis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eurytomidae) with the description of seven new species
Author
Gates, M. W.
Author
Metz, M. A.
Author
Schauff, M. E.
text
Zootaxa
2006
1273
9
54
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.173289
cd17a22b-6fa2-4646-b0c5-2c19244725a8
11755326
173289
Aximopsis morio
Ashmead
(
Fig. 33
)
Aximopsis morio
Ashmead, 1904
: 460
.
Diagnosis and identification
Aximopsis morio
is unique among the species of
Aximopsis
in having the pronotum with distinctly different patch of short, thickened, yellowish brown setae anteromedially on the dorsal surface (
Fig. 33
) and by having the setae on the disk of the forewing reduced to the apical half.
Redescription of the
holotype
female
Prepectus with shallow finely alveolate concavities in middle and along ventral border. Metacoxa posterolateral carina irregular. Gaster absent. Scape, pedicel, anellus, and first funicle dark brown. Pro and mesolegs brown, except extreme apices of femora, bases and apices of tibiae, and tarsomeres pale yellow, pretarsus brown, hindleg missing.
Head
. 1.4X wider than high; 1.7X wider than pronotum; HTE:msp 2.62. Preorbital carina produced into a horn at vertex. POL 1.5X longer than OOL. Width of oral fossa 0.36X width of head. Scape
5X
longer than broad. Antennal formula 1:1:1:?:?, only F1 remains on specimen.
Mesosoma.
Dorsal pronotum 2.6X wider than long, with paired pronotal processes. Mesoscutum 2.2X broader than long. Scutellum 1.4X longer than wide at its widest. Dorsellum disc composed of a central ovoid structure with lateral arms broadening laterally into paddleshapes. Propodeum central depression created from reduction of interstices, mostly only alveolate. Postmarginal vein subequal in length to stigma, ratio of mv:pmv 1.75.
Metasoma.
Petiole
2X
longer than wide; dorsal lateral carinae higher and thickened in mediolateral plane in middle; ventral surface with weak sublateral carina. Gaster absent.
Male.
Unknown. There exists in the USNM a series of males, 3 from
Trinidad and Tobago
(Santa Cruz) and 2 from
Ecuador
(Cononaco & Tzapino), that share the patch of yellowish brown setae between the pronotal processes. One specimen from
Trinidad and Tobago
also shares with the
type
a dorsally continuous preorbital carina that is produced as a low protuberance posterolaterad posterior ocellus near the eye margin. The remaining males from
Trinidad and Tobago
and
Ecuador
lack this posterior protuberance and have a distinct, bulging ventral plaque on the scape. This is unlike males of other
Aximopsis
described herein. It is likely that several more species exist that are similar to
Aximopsis morio
, but it is impossible to associate females and males until more reared material becomes available.
Notes
. The
holotype
is labeled with four labels: Santarem;
Type
(handwritten);
Type
No. 60507
U.S.
N.M. (Red label);
Aximopsis morio
Ψ
Type
(handwritten). The specimen is incomplete, missing antennae beyond F1, left mesoleg, both hindlegs beyond hind coxa, and gaster.