Antennal Sockets Research Articles

A remarkable new family of stinging wasps from the Cretaceous of Myanmar and China (Hymenoptera, Aculeata)

Burmese amber provides a unique window to the Cretaceous entomofauna, being the most prolific source of fossil insects for the period. Presently, about 61% of the Hymenoptera described from amber deposits in Myanmar are stinging wasps (Aculeata), including eight families known solely from Burmese amber. In the present work we describe the aculeate family †Trifionychidaefam. nov., as well as three new genera: †Prionaspidiongen. nov., including †Prionaspidion brevidenssp. nov. and †P. nanussp. nov.; †Trifionyxgen. nov., including †Trifionyx pilosussp. nov.; and †Trifionyximusgen. nov., including †Trifionyximus cracenssp. nov. We also reinterpret the fossil genus †Mirabythus, described based on rock impressions from the Yixian formation in China and originally attributed to Scolebythidae. †Mirabythus is moved to the new family, based mainly on the characteristic mandible; the large clypeus with a series of small denticles on the apical margin; the frons protruding over lateral portions of clypeus, directing the antennal sockets downwards below ocular level; and the presence of nine flagellomeres. Based on resemblances with fossil impressions attributed to †Bethylonymidae, we tentatively include the new family within the superfamily †Bethylonymoidea. Discovery of †Trifionychidaefam. nov. adds a novel lineage to the pool of aculeate families from the Cretaceous which did not survive to the present day.

Penetration and Emergence behavior of Hexamermis vishwakarma Dhiman (Nematoda:Mermithidae), a parasitoid of Leptocoris augur.

Leptocoris augur is a pest of Kusum plant, (Schleichera oleosa), which in turn is a host of Lac insect. This bug is a gregarious feeder and by its desapping habit loss the viability of seeds (Dhiman and Gulati, 1986). It is parasitized by a mermithid nematode, Hexamermis vishwakarma Dhiman, which naturally checks rapid built up of bug population. Emergence, of parasitic juveniles occurs through weak body point having thin arthrodial membranes such as tergal joints, pleuron membrane of abdomen, cervical membrane of neck, coxal joint with thorax, wing axiliaries and genitalia. Least preferred points include occular sclerite, antennal socket, scape and pedical joint of antenna, anal segments (post genital segments) and anal aperture (Figure 1). These points are selected randomly by trial-and-error pattern by the parasitic stage. Once parasitic development is completed, then this stage has to come out of the host body to enter into soil for moulting into adult to resume next generation. Key words: Leptocoris augur, Hexamermis vishwakarma, Emergence behaviour, Parasitoid

Rugitermesursulae (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae), a new drywood termite from the Caribbean coast of Colombia.

Rugitermesursulaesp. nov. is described from a sample collected inside a dead branch in a tropical dry forest of Colombia’s Caribbean coast using molecular information and external morphological characters of the imago and soldier castes. Rugitermesursulaesp. nov. soldiers and imagoes are the smallest among all described Rugitermes species. The imago’s head capsule coloration is dark castaneous, while the pronotum is contrastingly pale yellow. Our description includes soldier characters, such as subflangular elevation and shape of the antennal sockets, that can help in identification of samples lacking imagoes.

A new species of cockroach, Periplaneta gajajimana sp. nov., collected in Gajajima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

We described a new species of cockroach, Periplaneta gajajimana sp. nov., which was collected in Gajajima, Kagoshima-gun Toshimamura, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, on November 2012. The new species is characterized by its reddish brown to blackish brown body, smooth surface pronotum, well developed compound eyes, dark brown head apex, dark reddish brown front face and small white ocelli connected to the antennal sockets. In male, the tegmen tip reach the abdomen end or are slightly shorter, while in the female, it does not reach the abdominal end and exposes the abdomen beyond the 7th abdominal plate. We confirmed the validity of this new species by breeding the specimens in our laboratory to demonstrate that the features of the progeny were maintained for several generations. For comparison and easy identification of this new species, the key to species identification of the genus Periplaneta that had been reported in Japan to date are also presented.

Two new species of the genus Erromenus Holmgren, 1857 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tryphoninae) from the Siberia and Russian Far East

Two new species, Erromenus atrator sp. n. (Primorskiy Territory) and E. tereshkini sp. n. (Zabaikalskiy Territory) are described in the tribe Trypho¬nini (Ichneumonidae). Both new species differ from other congeners by almost completely black body color and a very wide dorsal area at the base of the pro-podeum, formed by a fused basal area and areola, and by the distinctly raised upper edge of the antennal sockets. In the last character, in the structure of the clypeal foveae and of the ovipositor, the new species are evolutionarily close to the Holarctic species E. zonarius (Gravenhorst, 1820). A new subgroup of species zonarius in the marginatus species group is proposed. Key to black-colored species of zonarius species-subgroup of the Eastern Palaearctic and related species is given.

New Species of Extinct Ant Genus Eocenomyrma Dlussky et Radchenko (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from the Baltic Amber

A new species from the extinct ant genus Eocenomyrma, E. groehnisp. nov., is described based on worker from the Baltic amber (Late Eocene, Priabonian stage, 33.9–37.2 Ma). It the most resembles E. orthospina Dlussky et Radchenko, 2006 by shape of the propodeal spines and by the general appearance, but well differs from the latter by structure of the frontal carinae, which merging with the rugae that extend to the occipital margin; in contrary, the frontal carinae in E. orthospina are short, curve outwards and merge with the rugae, which surround antennal sockets. Additionally, entire head dorsum in E. groehni covered by the slightly sinuous longitudinal rugae, but in E. orthospina the only frons is with the not coarse longitudinal, slightly sinuous rugae, but the lateral parts of the head dorsum and occiput are with reticulation.

Discoscapidae fam. nov. (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), a new family of stem lineage bees with associated beetle triungulins in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new family, genus and species of minute, stem lineage, pollen-collecting bee is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The female specimen of Discoscapa apicula gen. et sp. nov. in the new family Discoscapidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) shares with modern bees, plumose hairs, a rounded pronotal lobe, middle and hind leg scopae containing pollen grains and a pair of spurs on the hind tibia. But its narrow hind basitarsi, extremely low placed antennal sockets and some wing vein features are those of apoid wasps. A unique diagnostic character of the new family not found on any extant or extinct lineage of apoid wasps or bees is a bifurcated scape. Pollen grains in scopae on the femur and tibia of the middle and hind legs and on the claw and tarsus of the middle leg show that the bee had recently visited one or more flowers. Further evidence of this action is the presence of 21 beetle triungulins in the amber, five of which are in direct contact with the bee.

The cephalic morphology of the troglobiontic cholevine species Troglocharinus ferreri (Coleoptera, Leiodidae).

Leiodidae are the second largest subterranean radiation of beetles at family rank. To explore morphological trends linked with troglobiontic habits and characters with potential phylogenetic significance, the head of the cave-dwelling species Troglocharinus ferreri (Cholevinae, Leptodirini) was examined in detail. Overall, the general pattern is similar to what is found in Catops ventricosus (Cholevini). Shared apomorphic features include a fully exposed anterolateral concavity containing the antennal socket, a distinct bead above this depression, a bilobed lip-like structure anterad the labrum, a flat elevated portion of the ventral mandibular surface, and a ventral process at the proximomesal edge of this mandibular area. The tentorial structures are well-developed as in C. ventricosus, with a large laminatentorium and somewhat shortened dorsal arms. The mouthparts are largely unmodified, with the exception of unusually well-developed extrinsic maxillary muscles. Features of T. ferreri obviously linked with subterranean habits are the complete lack of compound eyes, circumocular ridges, and optic lobes. A series of characters is similar to conditions found in other genera of Leptodirini: the head capsule completely lacks a protruding ocular region, a distinct neck is missing, the transverse occipital crest is indistinct, and the antennae are elongate and lack a distinct club. Two different trends of cephalic transformations occur in troglobiontic Leptodirini, with some genera like Troglocharinus and Leptodirus having elongated head capsules and antennae, and others having broadened, more transverse heads. In contrast, the modifications are more uniform in the closely related Ptomaphagini, with a pattern distinctly differing from Leptodirini: the head is transverse, with a distinctly protruding ocular region, a distinct transverse occipital crest, and a very narrow neck region.

A second species of Araucariocladus Silveira amp; Mermudes, with notes on the variation in antennomere numbers in this genus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae).

Here, we describe Araucariocladus amfractus sp. nov., and compare it to the previously monotypic type-species, A. hiems. The new species can be distinguished from A. hiems by the following combination: colour pattern overall dark-brown; pedicel three times shorter than antennomere III and slightly wider than long; distance between antennal sockets as wide as 3/5 clypeal width; labial palpomere III with sides divergent towards apex, apical margin longer than dorsal and shorter than ventral margin; pronotum 1.5x wider than long, anterior margin somewhat sinuose, with a shallow angle anteriad, posterior margin almost straight. A. amfractus sp. nov. is, prima facie, endemic to the Itatiaia Massif, part of the Mantiqueira Mountain Range, Southeastern Brazil. We provide illustrations of the diagnostic features, and an occurrence map for the Araucariocladus species. Finally, we report a previously unrecognized intra-specific variation in the antennomere numbers of A. hiems, a feature also present in Araucariocladus amfractus sp. nov., and adjust the generic diagnosis to include species with 17 or 18 antennomeres. [Zoobank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C335B064-FBD4-4256-983D-B17DF06BAA0D].

A new corydiid cockroach with large holoptic eyes in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Blattodea: Corydiidae: Euthyrrhaphinae)

A new corydiid cockroach, Magniocula apiculata gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on a well-preserved specimen in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber. Magniocula is placed in the extant subfamily Euthyrrhaphinae based on the small pubescent body, large clypeus surpassing the distal border of the antennal sockets, and two spines at apex of the front femur. However, this new genus is unique among Euthyrrhaphinae for its holoptic eyes. This is the second corydiid species found in Cretaceous Burmese amber, which highlights the palaeodiversity of the family Corydiidae in the mid-Cretaceous.

A New Genus and New Species of Hartigiinae (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) from South Korea With a Key to Genera of Korean Cephidae

Koreocephus maculatus Wei & Lee, gen. et sp. nov. is described from South Korea. Koreocephus is similar to Jungicephus Maa but differs from the latter by the inner tooth of the left mandible not shouldered and longer than the outer tooth; the distance between antennal sockets as long as distance between antennal socket and tentorial pit; the maxillary palp with six palpomeres and the 3rd palpomere distinctly enlarged; the labial palp with four palpomeres; malar space shorter than diameter of an ocellus; OOL much shorter than POL; the 2nd antennomere longer than broad; eyes large, the distance between eyes at level of toruli as long as the longest axis of eye; and the basal lobe of the claw obtuse. A key to the eight known genera of Cephidae from Korea is provided.

Inpauema, a new genus of Odiniidae (Diptera) from Brazil, with description of five new species.

A new genus and five new species of odiniids (Odiniidae: Traginopinae) are described from the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado biomes: Inpauema mirador gen. nov. et sp. nov. (type species), I. catarinae sp. nov., I. gaimarii sp. nov., I. raimundoluizi sp. nov., and I. xavieri sp. nov. The genus is being characterized by a unique combination of diagnostic characters: body predominantly dark brown to black, with silvery-gray pruinose spots on inner margin of eyes, longitudinally along middle of lunule and face, on notopleuron and mesopleuron; postcranium concave from dorsal view; one pair of stout proclinate ocellar setae; postocellar setae absent; lunule shorter than frons; gena lacking upturned seta; antennae separated by a maximum distance of 2X the diameter of a single antennal socket and gonocoxal apodemes directed upward, forming an arch. A key to separate Helgreelia Gaimari, 2007 from Inpauema gen. nov. and for the new species is provided.

A new genus of Braconinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from India with remarkable head ornamentation.

A new braconine genus, Stephanobracon Ranjith & Quicke (type-species: Stephanobracon narendrani Ranjith & Quicke sp. nov.) from south India is described and illustrated. It belongs to the tribe Braconini and it displays autapomorphic characters of having two pairs of sharp protuberances near to the antennal sockets and corrugated protuberances on the lateral part of the frons. Its possible relationship to other braconine genera, notably Dolabraulax Quicke, Simra Quicke and Syntomernus Enderlein, is discussed.

Plectoplebeia, a new Neotropical genus of stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

A new stingless bee genus, Plectoplebeia gen. nov., is proposed to accommodate a peculiar Neotropical species currently placed in Plebeia Schwarz, 1938. The brief, but convoluted taxonomic history of its type species, Trigona nigrifacies Friese, 1900, is documented, with Trigona (Plebeia ) intermedia Wille, 1960 being placed as its junior synonym. Plectoplebeia gen. nov. resembles an enlarged species of Plebeia , differing by its larger body size, wider distance between the clypeus and the eye, presence of a shallow depression on the frons above the antennal sockets, coarser punctures on the head and mesosoma, a shorter, convex scutellum, an elongate propodeum and metapostnotum, long wings, with a higher number of hamuli, and by an elongate metasoma, with an unusually long first tergum. The single included species, Plectoplebeia nigrifacies comb. nov., is known only from the Bolivian Yungas, an ecoregion extending from west-central Bolivia to southeastern Peru.

Taxonomic Review Of The Genus Yunnantettix (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae) From The Oriental Region

Abstract Taxonomic review of the genus Yunnantettix Zheng, 1995 is given. It is similar to Aspiditettix Liang, 2009, Pseudepitettix Zheng, 1995, and Epitettix Hancock, 1907. Yunnantettix is the most similar to Aspiditettix in the general appearance, the rugose disc of the pronotum, and the bisinuate lateral lobe of the pronotum, and diff erent from it by the completely reduced hind wing and the position of the antennal socket. Yunnantettix is similar to Pseudepitettix and Epitettix in the moderately widened frontal ridge and low median carina of pronotum, but diff erent from the latter by the presence of the narrow tegmen and a shallow yet distinct tegminal (upper) sinus on the pronotal lateral lobe. Originally, Yunnantettix is a monotypic genus (type species: Yunnantettix bannaensis Zheng, 1995 from South China). Two species are additionally included to this genus: Yunnantettix elytratus (Günther, 1939), comb. n. (= Epitettix elytratus Günther, 1939) from India and Yunnantettix thaicus, sp. n. from Th ailand. Th e new species diff ers from all other species of this genus by the shallow excision on apex of the posterior pronotal process and by the external lateral pronotal carina, arch-like and strongly curved upward above the tegmen. A key to the species and redescription of the genus Yunnantettix are provided.

A New Genus of Pygmy Locusts (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae: Metrodorinae) from Vietnam

The monotypiC genus Gorochovitettix Storozhenko et Pushkar, gen. nov. (type species Gorochovitettix kannackiensis Storozhenko et Pushkar, sp. nov. from Vietnam) is described in the subfamily Metrodorinae. The new genus is similar to the genus Orthotettix Hancock, 1909 from Malaysia, differing from the latter by the fore and mid femora considerably compressed laterally with the leaf-like upper and lower carinae. The new genus is similar to the genera Vaotettix Podgornaja, 1986 from Vietnam and Paramphinotus Zheng in Zheng and Ou, 2004 from South China by the distinctly widened frontal ridge, differing from them by the antennal socket placed distinctly below the lower margin of eye.

Three new species of the subfamily Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Vietnam

Three new species of the subfamily Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Vietnam

Taxonomic revision of Parasarus (Hymenoptera: Apidae s.l.: Protandrenini), a South American genus of bees

Parasarus Ruz, 1993 comprises small black bees (3-5 mm long) endemic to xeric regions of South America, mainly along of the Andean Cordillera. Prior to this study, the genus included only the type-species P. atacamensis Ruz, 1993 (from northern Chile) which has mesoscutum strongly reticulated and inner hind tibial spur curved apically. In this paper, a taxonomic revision of Parasarus is presented and two new species are described: P. specularis sp. nov. (from central to northwest Argentina) diagnosed mainly by pygidial plate of female extremely acute apically and labral plate yellow in male; and P. spiniventris sp. nov. (only recorded from central portion of Chile) diagnosed by antennal socket below middle of face, subantennal area as long as broad, metapostnotum smooth, and sternum 3 of male with a tuft of stiff hairs. The morphological variation related to the type-species was studied and not considered sufficiently to recognized distinct species into P. atacamensis. Distribution maps, floral associations, key to species of the genus, and illustrations of general external morphology and genitalia are also provided.

A new genus of the subfamily Metrodorinae (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from Vietnam.

The monotypic genus Cleostratoides gen. nov. (type species Cleostratoides exoticus sp. nov. from Vietnam) is described in the subfamily Metrodorinae. New genus is closely related to the genera Mazarredia Bolívar, 1887, Xistrella Bolívar, 1909, Pseudoxistrella Liang, 1991, Orthotettixoides Zheng, 1998 and Bermania Storozhenko, 2012, but easily distinguished from all of them by the lateral ocelli situated just under fastigium of vertex and by the antennal sockets placed distinctly above the lower margin of eyes.

Memoan ciceroi gen. et sp. nov., a remarkable new firefly genus and species from the Atlantic Rainforest (Coleoptera: Lampyridae).

A species of firefly discovered in a fragile and rapidly disappearing Atlantic Rainforest biome in Brazil does not fit into any of the existing subfamilies nor described generic categories in the Lampyridae and is described here as Memoan ciceroi gen. et sp. nov. and classed as Lampyridae Incertae sedis, as it exhibits features of both the Amydetinae and Lampyrinae. An overview of subfamily arrangements and relevant generic characters is given to support this action. Memoan gen. nov. can be distinguished by its alveolate pronotum and elytra; subserrate antennae, antenommeres II-IX compressed, antennal sockets obliquely inserted on tubercles; labial palp one-segmented and obconic, and by its conspicuous pleuroventral suture.