Aximopsis anubis Gates

Gates, M. W., Metz, M. A. & Schauff, M. E., 2006, The circumscription of the generic concept of Aximopsis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eurytomidae) with the description of seven new species, Zootaxa 1273, pp. 9-54 : 38-40

Aximopsis anubis Gates , n. sp.

( Figs. 59–62 )

Etymology

anubis (Latin, noun, feminine) = a noun in apposition recalling the dark god of the chase or hunt of Egyptian myth.

Diagnosis and identification

Aximopsis anubis is the only known species occurring in the Caribbean islands. This species possesses the diagnostic features of the genus and is most similar to A. vogti in having prominent vertex horns; dense, dirty blonde, vertex setae; a shorter lower face; setae of the lower face filiform, not lanceolate; prominent pronotal processes; and a deeply punctate median channel of the propodeum. It differs from A. vogti by the female having a petiole that is 3X longer than it is wide while the length and width of the female petiole in A. vogti are nearly subequal.

Female. Length 2.9–3.0 mm. Prepectus with a shallow finely alveolate concavity ( Fig. 59 ). Metacoxa posterolateral carina weak ( Fig. 60 ). Gaster with effaced reticulation occurring dorsally on posterior segments; Gt1 coarsely alveolate anteriorly just above petiolar insertion. Antenna dark brown, base of scape yellow. Legs brown, except extreme bases and apices of femora, bases and apices of tibiae, and tarsomeres pale yellow, pretarsus brown.

Head. 1.4X wider than high; 1.4X wider than pronotum; HTE:msp 2.65. POL 2.0X longer than OOL. Width of oral fossa 0.37X width of head. Scape 5X longer than broad. Antennal segment ratios 30:6:1:12:11:11:11:11:23. Clava 3X longer than broad.

Mesosoma. Dorsal pronotum 2.8X wider than long, with paired pronotal processes. Mesoscutum 3X broader than long. Scutellum length subequal to its width at its widest; broadly convex dorsally. Dorsellum disc composed of a central ­shaped structure with lateral arms broadening laterally into paddle­shapes ( Fig. 62 ). Propodeum deeply punctate in central depression with interstices alveolate. Postmarginal vein subequal in length to stigma, ratio of mv:pmv 2.4.

Metasoma. Petiole 3.0X longer than wide; dorsal lateral carinae weak; median carina discontinuous subapically; lateral surface with strong carina; ventral surface with medial and lateral carinae.

Male. Unknown.

Va r i a t i o n

The type series exhibits very little variation.

Type material (3 Ψ)

Holotype Ψ ( USNM ENTO 00481367) ( USNM); West Indies: Tobago: Goldsborough: Ex. neglected citrus orchard bordering on primary forest, 5–12.v.1994, M.J. Sommeijer, Malaise trap. Paratypes 2Ψ ( USNM ENTO 0 0 481327, 0 0 481328, 004800041) ( USNM), same data as holotype.

Figures

FIGURES 52 – 59. 52. A. vogti, female, mesosoma, dorsal. 53. A. vogti, male, antennae. 54. A. vogti, male, metasoma, lateral. 55. A. hespenheidei, female, propodeum, dorsal. 56. A. hippolytis, female, pronotum, anterior. 56. A. vogti, female, metasoma, lateral. 57. A. lanceolepis, female, head, anterior. 58. A. pythmenis, female, head, dorsolateral. 59. A. anubis, prepectus, lateral.

FIGURES 60 – 67. 60. A. anubis, female, metacoxa, lateral. 61. A. anubis, female, petiole + anterior gaster, lateral. 62. A. anubis, female, propodeum, dorsal. 63. A. arietinis, female, propodeum, dorsal. 64. A. arietinis, male, antenna. 65. A. hespenheidei, female, petiole, dorsal. 66. A. hippolytis, female, vertex, anterolateral. 67. A. hippolytis, female, dorsellum, dorsal.