Parapanteles Ashmead, 1900

Valerio, A. A., Whitfield, J. B. & Janzen, D. H., 2009, Review of world Parapanteles Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), with description of fourteen new Neotropical species and the first description of the final instar larvae, Zootaxa 2084 (1), pp. 1-49 : 3-6

Parapanteles Ashmead

Parapanteles Ashmead 1900: 131 Type species: Apanteles aletiae Riley

Adult description. Head: Basal antennal placodes 2-ranked and with same pattern of arrangement ventrally and dorsally on midapical segments; glossa truncate.

Mesosoma: Propleuron with simple (unflanged) lower outer corner; pronotum with two pronotal lateral grooves; epicnemial carina absent; scutellar lunulae lunate in outline, midposterior band of scutellum nitid; metanotum sublateral setae present as distinct tuft; propodeum with anterodorsal area greatly shortened, medial longitudinal carina usually absent but sometimes represented by two anterior parallel carinae or short anterior carina; areola present and complete, transverse carinae present and well defined; hind leg with coxa extending far beyond first metasomal tergum, and tarsal claw with basal tooth; fore telotarsus varying from unmodified to exhibiting set of organized setae ventrally to exhibiting conspicuous hooklike seta ventrolaterally.

Metasoma: First metasomal tergum with basal excavation and midapical groove both present, variably shaped from almost parallel-sided to abruptly widening posteriorly, junction with second tergum fused; second metasomal tergum normally nitid except one species with longitudinal lineate sculpture present on the second and third tergum, shape from rectangular to triangular; second and third metasomal terga delineated by a fine distinct suture; third metasomal tergum not carapacelike and normally nitid; hypopygium not formed into longitudinal pleats medially, instead sharply folded and evenly sclerotized; female genitalia with eighth tergite 2–4 times taller than long, second valvifer tall, lorate and not expanded apically, ovipositor sheaths attached below midpoint of second valvifer, sheaths normally short but some species more elongate; ovipositor and sheaths mainly hidden by hypopygium, setation mostly only on distal tip of ovipositor sheaths or on distal 2/3 of ovipositor length; ovipositor compressed laterally, short and normally very thick at base, but some species exhibiting more elongate and slender ovipositor.

Male genitalia: Apex of digitus acute and directed dorsally, but its ventral edge strongly convex.

Wings: Forewing vein 3RS straight or weakly curved, vein 1M+1Rs weakly angled between 20° and 60°, veins r-m and 2A absent; hind wing with cells 1R and 2R of approximately same width, vein 2r-m present, vein 2A absent, vein 2Cu mostly straight and not sinuate, vannal lobe separated from remainder of wing by a sharp notch, convex in shape and with setae dense and conspicuous throughout margin.

Larval description. Antenna absent; mandible blade with less than five distal teeth, and apex simple (not divided); larval maxilla with two setae; larval labium with four setae; larval skin densely covered by papulae which bear a central spine.

Quick diagnosis. Basal antennal placodes 2-ranked and with same pattern of arrangement ventrally and dorsally on midapical segments; propodeum with areola present (sometimes not so evident); metasomal terga 1-3 often (not always) coarsely sculptured but neither fused, broad in shape nor carapace like; first metasomal tergum with mid distal depression present; hypopygium sharply folded medially (normally) and ovipositor usually short and thick in lateral view; hind wing with vannal lode evenly convex and forewing areolet open distally.