Thyreodon atriventris (Cresson), 1966

FERNÁNDEZ-TRIANA, JOSÉ L., 2005, The taxonomy and biogeography of Cuban Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Zootaxa 1007 (1), pp. 1-60 : 21

6. Thyreodon atriventris (Cresson)

Ophion atriventris Cresson, 1874: 374 . Holotype ♀, Mexico (PANS).

Athyreodon thoracicus Ashmead, 1900a: 87 . Holotype ♀, Ecuador (USNM).

Thyreodon grenadensis Ashmead, 1900b: 270 . Holotype ♀, Grenada (BMNH).

Macrophion ornatus Szépligeti, 1905: 33 . Holotype ♂, Belize (TM).

Athyreodon atriventris (Cresson) Hooker, 1912: 102 .

[ Macrophion fulvescens (Cresson) Morley, 1912: 14 . Misidentification.]

Macrophion grenadensis (Ashmead) Morley, 1912: 15 .

Thyreodon atriventris (Cresson) Townes & Townes, 1966: 186 .

Because of its variation in colour, this species has received several treatments according different authors. In the Neotropical Catalgue of Ichneumonidae, Townes & Townes (1966) separated T. atriventis Cresson and T. armstrongi Hooker as two different subspecies. Alayo (1973) did the same in the Cuban Catalogue of Hymenoptera , as well as Yu & Horstman (1997) in the World Catalogue, both probably following Townes work. According to Porter (1989), T. atriventis Cresson is related to but not the same specie as T. armstrongi Hooker. Gauld (1988) mentioned the different morphs he was able to study. Finally, Gauld & Janzen (in press) did not mention the reference of Hooker (1912: page 105) neither under their T. atriventis description nor T. rufothorax (missidentified as T. atriventris in Townes & Townes, 1966).

A widely distributed species ranging from tropical Mexico throughout much of tropical South America ( Townes & Townes, 1966; Gauld, 1988). It possibly is the largest Cuban Ophioninae , and that characteristic join to the very large ocelli and color pattern in forewing make specimens easily separated from other species. At the same time it is extremely uncommon with only one record in the all country ( Alayo, 1973).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: EC. GT: Guantánamo, VI­1910, Ramsden (1 ♀, MNHNCu) .