Amazopimpla Sääksjärvi, Palacio, Gauld, Jussila & Salo

Sääksjärvi, Ilari E., Palacio, Edgard, Gauld, Ian D., Jussila, Reijo & Salo, Jukka, 2003, A new genus and six new species of the tropical Camptotypus genus­group (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae; Pimplinae) from northern South America, Zootaxa 197, pp. 1-18 : 3-5

Genus Amazopimpla Sääksjärvi, Palacio, Gauld, Jussila & Salo , gen. n. ( Figs. 1­10 )

Type species. Amazopimpla taunoi Sääksjärvi, Palacio, Gauld, Jussila & Salo , sp.n.

DESCRIPTION: Medium sized insects (fore wing length 7.0­12.0 mm) which are predominantly orange or orange and blackish in colour, with yellowish and patterned wings. Mandible proximally rather strongly tapered, with upper tooth slightly longer than lower tooth. Malar space 0.1­0.5 times basal mandibular width. Face polished, with some setiferous punctures, 1.1­1.4 times as wide as medially high. Length­to­thickness ratio of first flagellomere 4.9­6.2. Head, in dorsal view, with gena rounded or even behind eye; posterior ocellus separated from compound eye by 1.2­1.5 times its own maximum diameter; ocelli forming a more or less equilateral triangle; occipital carina present laterally, joining hypostomal carina. Pronotum almost bare, in profile rather short to long and mediodorsally rather short to long. Mesoscutum with some hairs peripherally, centrally almost bare, anteriorly moderately rounded, with distinctly to smoothly impressed notauli. Mesopleuron highly polished, with some setiferous punctures; epicnemial carina low or ventrally high; epicnemium with a distinct secondary carina adjacent to front coxa. Metapleuron very weakly to moderately convex, smooth and polished; submetapleural carina complete, interrupted or entirely absent. Propodeum in profile rather weakly declivous, smooth and laterally with or without setiferous punctures; pleural carina complete, interrupted or entirely absent. Fore wing vein 3rs­m complete, enclosing an obliquely rhombic areolet. Hind wing with abscissa of Cu1 between M and cu­a somewhat or distinctly bowed, 1.8­ 6.7 times as long as cu­a. Length of hind femur 3.3­5.5 its breadth. Metasoma quite stout; tergite 1 1.0­1.3 times as long as posteriorly broad, lateromedian carina present, interrupted or absent; lateral carinae present or interrupted; tergite 1 in profile dorsally evenly convex or somewhat angulate; tergite 2 about 0.5­0.8 times as long as posteriorly broad, with a distinct central area, lateral oblique and posterior transverse grooves with or without punctures; tergites 3­5 with a wide, slightly biconvex smooth central area, the surrounding furrows, in part, punctuate. Ovipositor projecting beyond apex of metasoma by about 1.5­ 4.2 times length of hind tibia; ovipositor subapically subcylindrical; apex of lower valve dorsolaterally expanded to partially enclose the upper valve, bearing 6­11 rather straight or oblique apical teeth, with or without scabrous furrow; apex of upper valve with 3­10 weak or distinct dorsal teeth.

DIAGNOSIS: Amazopimpla is a very distinctive genus. It can be can be easily separated from other genera of the Camptotypus genus­group by the following set of characters: occipital carina present ventrally as a vestige, joining hypostomal carina; epicnemium with a distinct secondary carina near lower corner of pronotum; ovipositor subapically subcylindrical; apex of upper valve of ovipositor with low serrations or clearly discernible teeth.

ETYMOLOGY: The generic name refers to the main distributional area of the genus, the Amazonia.

REMARKS: Nothing is known about the biology of the Amazopimpla . We assume that the species are idiobiont parasitoids of concealed hosts. Biology, biogeography, evolution of host utilisation, identification (with a key and diagnosis to the world genera) and classification of the Camptotypus genus­group have recently been discussed by Sääksjärvi et al. (in press). The distributional area of the Amazopimpla is discussed below.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Amazopimpla taunoi Sääksjärvi, Palacio, Gauld, Jussila & Salo, sp. n. Whole insect and the tip of the ovipositor (Paratype female).

FIGURE 2. Amazopimpla errabunda Sääksjärvi, Gauld & Jussila, sp. n. Mesosoma, anterior part of metasoma and hind leg, showing colour pattern (Holotype female).

FIGURE 3. Amazopimpla farallonensis Palacio, sp. n. Mesosoma, anterior part of metasoma and hind leg, showing colour pattern (Holotype female).

FIGURE 4. Amazopimpla guayanaensis Sääksjärvi, Gauld & Jussila, sp. n. Mesosoma, anterior part of metasoma and hind leg, showing colour pattern (Holotype female).

FIGURE 5. Amazopimpla lutea Palacio, Sääksjärvi, Gauld & Jussila, sp. n. Mesosoma, anterior part of metasoma and hind leg, showing colour pattern (Paratype female).

FIGURE 6. Amazopimpla errabunda Sääksjärvi, Gauld & Jussila, sp. n. The tip of the ovipositor (Holotype female).

FIGURE 7. Amazopimpla farallonensis Palacio, sp. n. The tip of the ovipositor (Holotype female).

FIGURE 8. Amazopimpla guayanaensis Sääksjärvi, Gauld & Jussila, sp. n. The tip of the ovipositor (Holotype female).

FIGURE 9. Amazopimpla lutea Palacio, Sääksjärvi, Gauld & Jussila, sp. n. The tip of the ovipositor (Paratype female).

FIGURE 10. Amazopimpla matogrossoensis Sääksjärvi, Gauld & Jussila, sp. n. The tip of the ovipositor (Holotype female).