Figites Latreille, 1802

van Noort, Simon, Buffington, Matthew L. & Forshage, Mattias, 2014, Review of Afrotropical Figitinae (Figitidae, Cynipoidea, Hymenoptera) with the first records of Neralsia and Lonchidia for the region, ZooKeys 453, pp. 37-69 : 41

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Figitidae

Figites Latreille, 1802

Figites Latreille, 1802: 307. Type species: Cynips scutellaris Rossi, 1794, by subsequent designation.

Psilogaster Hartig, 1840: 187 & 202. Type species: Figites anthomyiarium Bouché, 1834, by original designation.

Pycnotrichia Förster, 1869: 363 & 366. Type species: Pycnotrichia erythropa Förster, 1869 by monotypy and original designation.

Omalaspoides Hedicke, 1913: 146. Type species: Omalaspoides letzneri Hedicke, 1913 by original designation.

Diagnosis.

Large figitines with reduced pubescence on wings (often completely hairless) and more or less striate mesosomal sides. Easily separated from Xyalophora and Neralsia by the rounded scutellum (no indication of a spine in outline in dorsal view), although the posterior scutellar rim appears as a tooth in lateral view. Stiff, stout hairs present across most of body, distally bifurcate.

Distribution.

Probably worldwide, but to date no records from the Oriental and Oceanic regions have been published. Afrotropical records: Democratic Republic of Congo ( Benoit 1956), Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Yemen (new records).

Biology.

Parasitoids of calyptrate Brachycera larvae in decomposing substrates ( Hennig 1976; James 1928; Thomas and Morgan 1972).

Comments.

This is a rare genus in the region. On a global scale, it is poorly circumscribed versus several smaller genera, and many of its nominal species are of doubtful identity.