Neanoplius Banks, 1947

Pitts, James P. & Sadler, Emily A., 2019, Redescription of Neanoplius Banks (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), Zootaxa 4568 (3), pp. 571-580 : 572

Neanoplius Banks, 1947

Neanoplius Banks, 1947 , Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 99: 420. Type species: Neanoplius coeruleosomus Banks, 1947 , Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 99: 420-422.

Generic Diagnosis. This genus is set apart from other New World Pompilinae genera by a unique combination of characters: the lack of a distinct comb on the fore tarsus (two moderate spines the on basitarsus, none at the middle of the second joint) ( Fig. 1a ); having the claws dentate in both sexes ( Figs 1a,e ); having a median longitudinal row of three setae on the underside of the apical tarsomere in the female ( Fig. 1e ); having only fine, curved setae at the tip of the metasoma ( Fig. 1d ); having slender antennae ( Fig. 1a ); having the basal vein ending just before the transverse vein in both sexes; having a moderately long marginal cell ( Fig. 1c ); having the anal vein ending near the fork of the cubitus in the hind wing; lacking a ventral metasomal brush in the male ( Fig. 2a ); having a single pair of hooklets on the genitalia ( Fig. 2c ); and apparently having the subgenital plate modified. This last character could not be observed because the subgenital plate had been destroyed in the process of extracting the genitalia by someone in the past.

Generic Description. Mandibles with two teeth on inner margin. Labrum without median slit, only slightly protruding from beneath clypeus ( Fig. 1b , 2b ); clypeus with apical margin truncate ( Fig. 1b , 2b ), smoothly and broadly curved. Malar space very short ( Fig. 1b , 2b ). Antennae elongate, segment three in both male and female at least 6 as long as wide ( Fig. 1a , 2a ). Pronotum rather short, without median impression ( Fig. 1a , 2a ). Postnotum as transverse band of variable width, not expanded on each side of the median line. Propodeum short with smooth contours laterally and with well-defined, slightly concave posterior declivity ( Fig. 1a , 2a ). Front tarsus of female without well-developed comb, internal face of front basitarsus with row of two thickened conical spines with apical spine 0.66 length of second tarsomere, and with second more posterior row of three shorter spines; apical tarsal segments spined beneath with median row of three spines in female; spines absent in male. Claws of female dentate ( Fig. 1e ); claws of male dentate, except inner claw of front tarsus strongly curved and deeply cleft, apical segment of front tarsus of male weakly modified with inner lobe at apical sixth, only slightly veering from parallel. Pulvillus weakly developed, one-fifth length of claw, pulvillar comb moderately developed, of ~12 subparallel thickened rays ( Fig. 1e ). Fore wing with three SMCs ( Figs 1a,c , 2a ); hind wing with anal vein arching up to meet median vein slightly before the cubital fork; anal lobe about 0.5 times length of submedian cell. Apical tergum of female with several backward-directed thin long setae, not differing from previous terga or apical sterna ( Fig. 1d ). Male venter bare without secondary sexual characters such as tufts of setae; genitalia with basal hooklets single, aedeagus simple without spines or setae ( Fig. 2c ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Neanoplius coeruleosomus female, holotype. A. habitus; B. head, frontal view; C. fore wing; D. metasoma; and E. apical tarsomere of hind leg.

FIGURE 2. Neanoplius coeruleosomus male, allotype. A. habitus; B. head, frontal view; and C. genitalia, dorsal view.