Melanosomellidae new status, 1848

Burks, Roger, Mitroiu, Mircea-Dan, Fusu, Lucian, Heraty, John M., Jansta, Petr, Heydon, Steve, Papilloud, Natalie Dale-Skey, Peters, Ralph S., Tselikh, Ekaterina V., Woolley, James B., van Noort, Simon, Baur, Hannes, Cruaud, Astrid, Darling, Christopher, Haas, Michael, Hanson, Paul, Krogmann, Lars & Rasplus, Jean-Yves, 2022, From hell's heart I stab at thee! A determined approach towards a monophyletic Pteromalidae and reclassification of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 94, pp. 13-88 : 13

Melanosomellidae new status

Melanosomellini Girault, 1913. Type genus: Melanosomella Girault, 1913.

Diagnosis.

Antenna with 12 flagellomeres, including a small 4th clavomere. Eyes not divergent ventrally (Fig. 35 ). Clypeus without transverse subapical groove. Labrum hidden, flexible. Mandibles with 3 teeth. Subforaminal bridge with postgena separated by lower tentorial bridge, or with a short apparent postgenal bridge immediately dorsal to the hypostoma. Notauli complete. Mesoscutellum with frenum indicated laterally, either without axillular sulcus or carina, or with it greatly reduced and incomplete (Fig. 36 ). Mesopleural area without an expanded acropleuron (Fig. 36 ). All legs with 5 tarsomeres; protibial spur stout and curved; basitarsal comb longitudinal. Metasoma with syntergum, therefore without epipygium, and rigidly convex.

Discussion.

Additionally, Melanosomellidae typically have a linear mesopleural sulcus that is more distinct than in most other Chalcidoidea (Fig. 36 ), although this feature also occurs in various species from other families. There is a strong chance of confusion of Melanosomellidae with Epichrysomallidae and Ormyridae , members of the Gall Clade (Cruaud et al., submitted, van Noort et al., in prep.). Epichrysomallidae are very similar to Melanosomellidae in habitus, but have different fore wing venation, with a nearly straight stigmal vein arising at a right angle from the wing margin. Furthermore, Epichrysomallidae are strictly associated with Ficus ( Moraceae ) as gall-makers either within figs or on leaves and twigs. Ormyridae are also very similar to Melanosomellidae but have an occipital carina. Pteromalidae almost always have a distinct and complete axillular sulcus or carina. In species where this may not be the case, such as Nikolskayana mirabilis Bouček, the notauli are incomplete.

Encyrtocephalus Ashmead is very similar to other genera classified in Melanosomellidae , but molecular data (Cruaud et al., submitted) indicate that it may not belong inside this group. However, the only morphological features that imperfectly separate it from most Melanosomellidae are a large supracoxal flange on the posterior margin of the propodeum (Fig. 37 ) and a distinctly curved stigmal vein. These features are shared with a few other melanosomellid genera such as Alyxiaphagus Riek, with intermediates that would make diagnosis either very difficult or impossible. Therefore, Encyrtocephalus is kept in Melanosomellidae .

The fig associate species Hansonita pertusae Bouček new placement is transferred here because its fore wing venation resembles that of Melanosomellidae (Fig. 38 ) more strongly than that of Epichrysomallidae or other fig associates.

Figures

Figures 31 - 36. 31, 32 Solenura sp. (Lyscicidae, Solenurinae) 31 antenna 32 mesosoma lateral 33 Macromesus sp. (Macromesidae): head frontal view 34 Macromesus amphiretus Walker (Macromesidae), propodeum 35, 36 Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Froggatt) (Melanosomellidae) 35 head frontal 36 mesosoma lateral view.

Figures 37 - 42. 37 Encyrtocephalus sp. (Melanosomellidae): propodeum and supracoxal flange 38 Hansonita pertusae Boucek (Melanosomellidae): venation 39 Moranila californica (Howard) (Moranilidae): antenna 40 Moranila viridivertex (Girault) (Moranilidae): mesosoma lateral view 41 Moranila californica (Howard) (Moranilidae): mesosoma ventral view 42 Neodipara masneri Boucek (Neodiparidae): head lateral view and antenna.