Leptolamina Yoshimoto, 1962

Noort, Simon van, Buffington, Matthew L. & Forshage, Mattias, 2015, Afrotropical Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera), ZooKeys 493, pp. 1-176 : 114-116

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Figitidae

Leptolamina Yoshimoto, 1962

Leptolamina (synonym Sirenes Quinlan, 1988, syn. n.)

Remarks.

Leptolamina was originally described from the Pacific region ( Yoshimoto 1962). Quinlan (1988), in his treatment of the Afrotropical fauna, cites Nordlander (1982) recognising Leptolamina as a member of the Chrestosema group of genera, but does not consider the taxon with regards to the African fauna. The Glauraspidia described by Quinlan in the same work ( 1988) are in fact Leptolamina (new combinations below). Also in the same work ( 1988), he described the genus Sirenes to accommodate species of eucoilines that lacked a mesopleural line, but whose surface sculpture was matte, and otherwise conformed to his concept of Glauraspidia . After examining many specimens collected throughout the Afrotropical region, we have determined that Sirenes is at best one end of a morphological spectrum, which also includes Leptolamina . On the Sirenes end, forms are typically larger, slightly more matte, heads slightly more elongate, and lateral depressions of the mesoscutum slightly more developed. Altogether, we have found many intermediate forms, without any distinct morphological features to suggest monophyly of each genus; we hypothesize that the features mentioned above are the result of allometry related to overall body size. Hence, we hereby make Sirenes a junior synonym of Leptolamina (see below). This decision finds further motivation in the phylogenetic analysis of Buffington et al. (2007) which found that Sirenes rendered Leptolamina paraphyletic.

Diagnosis.

Entire wasp lightly to heavily matte over entire body, but particularly on head and mesoscutum. Mesopleural line entirely absent. Pronotal plate distinctly directed anteriorly, anterior half (just behind head) wider than posterior half. Pronotal fovea indistinct in most cases; when visible, closed laterally (lateral bridge present). Hind coxae often entirely without hairpatch. Setae on wings ranging from normal to a particular form with dark, broad sockets; setae along anterior aspect of marginal cell very stout in larger forms. Face elongate to round, mandibles ranging from blocky, subquadrate to smaller and triangular; malar space with very slight striations running from the ventral margin of the compound eye to the mandibular base. Scutellar plate typically narrow, elongate; occasionally wider, tear-drop shaped. Longitudinal lateral depressions of mesoscutum present in larger specimens, absent in smaller ones. Shares several of its characteristics (matte finish, longidutinal lateral depressions of mesoscutum, very elongate coxae etc) with Chrestosema , but the latter taxon always has a mesopleural line and an elongate hairline along metacoxae. Very small specimens of Leptolamina will approach the appearance of Micreriodes , but the latter is far less “foamy”.

Distribution.

Mainly Old World tropics, but also in eastern Palaearctic. Afrotropical records: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Seychelles, Zambia, Zimbabwe ( Quinlan 1986), Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda (here).

Biology.

Reared from Drosophilidae in Japan (label data).

Species richness.

Leptolamina casca (Quinlan, 1988), comb. n. ( Glauraspidia ) Type in BMNH studied by MF (Seychelles)

Leptolamina floccus (Quinlan, 1988), comb. n. ( Sirenes ) Type in RMCA studied by MB (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Leptolamina orbilus (Quinlan, 1988), comb. n. ( Sirenes ) Type in RMCA studied

by MB (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Leptolamina scyphus (Quinlan, 1988), comb. n. ( Glauraspidia ) Type in BMNH studied by MF (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Zambia, Zimbabwe)

Leptolamina seychellensis (Kieffer, 1911a) ( Eucoila ) (Seychelles)

Leptolamina silenus (Quinlan, 1988), comb. n. ( Sirenes ) Type in BMNH studied by MF (Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya)

Leptolamina sinis (Quinlan, 1988), comb. n. ( Sirenes ) type in BMNH studied by MF (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Leptolamina spio (Quinlan, 1988), comb. n. ( Sirenes ) Type in RMCA studied by MB (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Leptolamina steropes (Quinlan, 1988), comb. n. ( Sirenes ) Type in BMNH studied by MF (Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa)

Leptolamina syrinx (Quinlan, 1988), comb. n. ( Sirenes ) Type in RMCA studied by MB (Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa)

Leptolamina syrtes (Quinlan, 1988), comb. n. ( Sirenes ) Type in RMCA studied by MB (Democratic Republic of Congo)