Euxiphydria leucopoda Takeuchi

Smith, David R. & Shinohara, Akihiko, 2011, Review of the Asian wood-boring genus Euxiphydria (Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Xiphydriidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 23, pp. 1-22 : 3-4

Euxiphydria leucopoda Takeuchi Figs 1-6

Euxiphydria leucopoda Takeuchi 1938: 183, fig. 2.

Hyperxiphia leucopoda : Maa 1949: 39.

Diagnosis.

Length, 9.0-12.0 mm. Head orange, except medial black stripe on vertex extending anteriorly through ocelli and anterior to ocelli as an inverted V ( Figs 3, 4 ). Antenna dark brown with scape and pedicel reddish; Thorax black with tegula, anteroventral quarter and narrow posterior margin of pronotum white ( Figs 2, 5 ). Abdomen black with white spot laterally on eighth tergite ( Fig. 1 ). Legs entirely white to yellow except apex of apical tarsomeres brownish ( Fig. 2 ). Wings hyaline, veins and stigma black ( Fig. 1 ). Antenna with 13 antennomeres; length of first four antennomeres as 1.0:0.4:0.8:0.5. Frons sculpture reticulate, especially around and anterior to ocelli ( Figs 3, 4 ). Head from above strongly narrowing behind eyes, distance behind eye less than eye length ( Fig. 3 ). Malar space between eye and antennal groove much narrower than groove. Axilla and mesoscutellum with irregular longitudinal carinae; lateral and posterior downturned areas smooth and shiny ( Fig. 5 ). Hind basitarsomere slightly longer than length of remaining tarsomeres combined. Lengths of sheath and basal plate subequal. Male unknown.

Distribution.

Japan: Honshu; Shikoku ( Togashi 1974).

Specimens examined.

Holotype. Female, labeled "19,VII,1920, Daisen, Takeuchi," "Euxiphydria leucopoda Takeu., Holotype" (OPU). Takeuchi (1938) stated July 15 in the original description but it appears to be "19" on the label. "Mt. Haku, 5/VIII.1968" (1 ♀, USNM, identified as Euxiphydria leucopoda by Togashi).

Discussion.

Euxiphydria leucopoda was transferred to Hyperxiphia by Maa (1949) without explanation, but it is actually an Euxiphydria as described by Takeuchi (1938). Euxiphydria leucopoda has three labial palpomeres with the third clavate and four maxillary palpomeres, as well as other characteristics of Euxiphydria except for the head which is short and narrowing behind the eyes in dorsal view. Hyperxiphia has three labial palpomeres of equal width and has five maxillary palpomeres. The holotype is a small specimen, about 9 mm long. The specimen from Mt. Haku is 12 mm long.

Takeuchi (1938) described a variety, Euxiphydria leucopoda var. nakanishii, which he stated to be similar in structure to the typical, but smaller, the hind basitarsomere distinctly shorter than the following tarsomeres together, and differing in color with the head entirely black except for pale yellow below the antennae. This is actually a different species and genus and was correctly placed in Hyperxiphia by Maa (1949). The holotype is at OPU and is labeled "8,VIII,1938, Daisen,Takeuchi," "Euxiphydria leucopoda nakanishii Tak., Holotype." It has not been illustrated; therefore, we provide Figs 7-12 for its recognition and comparison with Euxiphydria leucopoda .

Figures

Figures 1 - 6. Euxiphydria leucopoda, holotype 1 Dorsal view 2 Lateral view 3 Head, dorsal view 4 Head, front view 5 Thorax, dorsal view 6 Thorax, lateral view.

Figures 7 - 12. Hyperxiphia nakanishii, holotype 7 Dorsal view 8 Lateral view 9 Head, dorsal view 10 Head, front view 11 Thorax, dorsal view 12 Thorax, lateral ivew.