Abstract
A survey of Trigonalidae from cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) agroforestry systems in southern Bahia, northeastern Brazil, is conducted. A total of 65 specimens were studied, and three species are recognized. Trigonalys melanoleuca Westwood is diagnosed and illustrated. Two new species are described and illustrated. Trigonalys erythrocephala sp. n. has most of head reddish brown; metasomal armature in sternum III conspicuous, Y-shaped; supra-antennal elevation conspicuous; hind coxa with sharp lateral angles, its dorso-mesal portion strigate; legs entirely dark brown; and fore wing lightly infuscate, darker towards anterior margin. Trigonalys gotica sp. n. with body blackish or dark brown and with pale yellow marks; mesopleuron with an oblique mark; female armature absent; frons and vertex punctate-areolate; supra-antennal elevation subtle; propodeal foramen V-shaped; and fore wing vein M arising distinctly basad to 1cu-a.
Highlights
Trigonalidae (Hymenoptera, Trigonaloidea) are a remarkable group of parasitoid wasps, with a unique biology (Carmean 1991) and a persistently elusive phylogenetic placement within Hymenoptera (Sharkey 2007)
Preliminary assessments of the parasitoid fauna in cacao agroforestry systems were performed by Sperber et al (2004) and Nakayama et al (2008), but no specimens of Trigonalidae were collected in those studies
Our observations suggest that the usual capture success for Malaise traps, lies around one specimen for each 1,000–2,000 trap-days
Summary
Trigonalidae (Hymenoptera, Trigonaloidea) are a remarkable group of parasitoid wasps, with a unique biology (Carmean 1991) and a persistently elusive phylogenetic placement within Hymenoptera (Sharkey 2007).
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