Synergus castanopsidis (Beutenmüller, 1918)

Periclistus castanopsidis Beutenmüller, 1918 . Entomol. News 29: 251. Type material: USNM [examined by the second author in Pujade-Villar & Melika (2005)].

Synergus castanopsidis: Weld (1926) . Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 68 (10): 112.

Diagnosis. This species differs from the rest of species mentioned in this study by the following combination of traits: frontal carinae present, mesoscutum with weak transversal elements, notauli complete, scutellar foveae large and subquadrate, metasoma dorsodistally incised and with some posterodorosal punctures forming a patch.

Brief redescription. Female antenna 14-segmented, males unknown; F1 1.2 times as long as F2; malar space almost 0.6 times as long as height of compound eye; frons and vertex coriaceous, without punctures; frontal carinae weak, narrow and short; mesoscutum coriaceous with weak, discontinuous transversal elements; notauli complete, narrower and less impressed anteriorly; scutellum wrinkled; scutellar foveae large, subquadrate, weakly sculptured, shallow, separated by a narrow carina; circumscutellar carina weak; inferior half of mesopleurae regularly striate, superior half smooth; metasoma dorsodistally incised, not pointed and with some posterodorsal micropunctures forming a patch; radial cell closed, 2.4 times as long as wide; tarsal claws with a small basal tooth; body mainly black and reddish brown. For more details on the morphology of this species, see Pujade-Villar & Melika (2005).

Distribution. USA. State of California (Beutenmüller 1918).

Biology. Reared from galls of Dryocosmus castanopsidis (Beutenmüller, 1917) on Chrysolepis chrysophylla (Douglas ex Hook.) Hjelmq. (Beutenmüller 1918).

Remarks. Synergus castanopsidis was examined and redescribed by Pujade-Villar & Melika (2005).