Abstract
A morphologically unusual Cryptini, Cryptoxenodon gen. nov. Supeleto, Santos & Aguiar, is described and illustrated, with a single species, C. metamorphus sp. nov. Supeleto, Santos & Aguiar, apparently occurring in two disjunct populations in northern and southeastern South America. The highly dimorphic female and male are described and illustrated. The phylogenetic relationships of the new genus are investigated using a matrix with 308 other species of Cryptini in 182 genera, based on 109 morphological characters and molecular data from seven loci. The analyses clearly support Cryptoxenodon gen. nov. as a distinct genus, closest to Debilos Townes and Diapetimorpha Viereck. Species limits and definition are investigated, but despite much morphological variation the analyses at the specimen level do not warrant the division of the studied populations into separate species. The considerable morphological variation is explored with principal component analyses of mixed features, and a new procedure is proposed for objective analysis of colors. The relationship of color and structural variation with altitude and latitude is demonstrated and discussed, representing an important case study for Ichneumonidae. Externally, Cryptoxenodon gen. nov. can be recognized mainly by its unusually large mandibles, but other diagnostic features include clypeus wide; sternaulus complete, distinct and crenulate throughout; areolet closed, about as long as pterostigma width; petiole anteriorly with distinct triangular projection on each side, spiracle near posterior 0.25; propodeum without posterior transverse carina; and propodeal apophyses conspicuously projected.
Highlights
Ichneumonidae are one of the most diverse and ubiquitous groups of insects, with over 100 thousand estimated species [1]
Contrary to the expectation for most major animal lineages, many groups of ichneumonids seem to be more diverse in temperate regions than in the tropics [2,3,4]; but see Saaksjarvi [5] and Quicke [6] and references therein
The group is diverse in the Neotropics, with 1150 species
Summary
Ichneumonidae are one of the most diverse and ubiquitous groups of insects, with over 100 thousand estimated species [1]. Contrary to the expectation for most major animal lineages, many groups of ichneumonids seem to be more diverse in temperate regions than in the tropics [2,3,4]; but see Saaksjarvi [5] and Quicke [6] and references therein. The extremely diverse tribe Cryptini, thrives in tropical regions, where they are “the most conspicuous of all ichneumonids” [7]. The group is diverse in the Neotropics, with 1150 species. Environmental cline and phylogeny for a new genus of Cryptinae
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