Eighteen New Species in the Genus Calicurgus Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Psammocharidae) from Mexico, Central and South America with a Key to All the Species and Photomicrographs of the Male Genitalia and Subgenital Plates

Abstract

Eight new species are described from Mexico and Central America. The status of Calicurgus hyalinatus Fabricius is discussed. Nine new species are described from South America. Keys for all the known species for both sexes are given; a separate key is provided for each region. Photomicrographs of the genitalia and subgenital plates for the males of the new species and for three species previously described. A total of twelve species are treated for Mexico and Central America and twenty-three species from South America. The genus Calicurgus is represented throughout most of world, but apparently the species are more numerous in the Neotropics. The species especially as represented by ithe genitalia and subgenital plate are a homogeneous group without too much variation in the structure. The keys are made up in two groups, one for Mexico and Central America and the Caribbean region and the other for South America. Key construction is simplified and they are easier to use when they are separate for each region. Dr. Henry K. Townes recently made a trip to the British Museum to study the type of Ichneumonidae and while there checked Cameron's types in the Cryptocheilinae. He found that Salius teapensis should be referred to the genus Calicurgus (private communication to the writer). The designations for places of deposit of the type specimens are listed below.' The Genus Calicurgus Lepeletier This genus, one of the subfamily Cryptocheilinae, is diagnosed by the presence of straight sides of the basal abdominal segment and, in the female, teeth and spines on the outside of posterior tibiae. It is separated from the other genera by the following characters: (1) the front of the pronotum is perpendicular to the dorsal surface; (2) the anterior tibia in the female has a very noticeable spine on the dorsal apex (not so noticeable in the male); (3) the male has a 1 Location of types: USNM = U.S. National Museum; MCZ = Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University; MSU = Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; RRD = R. R. Dreisbach, Midland, Michigan; Cal. Acad. = California Academy of Science, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco; Kan. = Entomology Museum, University of Kansas, Lawrence; Cal.= State Dept. of Agriculture, Sacramento 14, California.