Phaenocarpa Foerster, 1863

Zhu, Jiachen, Achterberg, Cornelis Van & Chen, Xue-Xin, 2017, A new genus and subgenus of Alysiini from China, with the description of two new species (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae), Zootaxa 4272 (3), pp. 360-370 : 365

Phaenocarpa Foerster, 1863

Figs 4–5

Synonymy. Mesothesis Foerster, 1863; Sathra Foerster, 1863; Homophyla Foerster, 1863 (as subgenus); Idiolexis Foerster, 1863 (as subgenus stat. nov.) Asynaphes Provancher, 1886; Kahlia Ashmead, 1900 (as subgenus stat. nov.); Stiralysia Cameron, 1910 ; Rhopaloneura Stelfox, 1941; Discphaenocarpa Belokobylskij, 1998 (as subgenus); Neophaenocarpa Belokobylskij, 1998 (id.); Sibphaenocarpa Belokobylskij, 1998 (id.); Uncphaenocarpa Belokobylskij, 1998 (id.); Ussurphaenocarpa Belokobylskij, 1998 (id.).

Diagnosis. Vein 3-SR of fore wing longer than vein 2-SR ( Fig. 5 A), if subequal then vein M+CU of hind wing shorter than vein 1-M ( Fig. 5 A); third antennal segment shorter than fourth segment ( Fig. 5 M); vein CU1b of fore wing longer than vein 3-CU1 ( Fig. 5 A); apex of ovipositor sheath nearly always without spine and often blunt ( Fig. 4 B).

Taxonomy. The large genus Phaenocarpa contains some aberrant groups, which for the moment are recognised as subgenera ( Belokobylskij, 1998). Two former genera are re-instated as subgenus, because their type species possess also aberrant character-states: Kahlia Ashmead, 1900 (Nearctic) , and Idiolexis Foerster, 1863 (Palaearctic) , both because of aberrant venation of the hind wing. Idiolexis was synonymized with Phaenocarpa by Szépligeti (1904) and again by Wharton (2002). The type species has a different hind wing venation (vein M+CU about as long as vein 1-M and vein r faintly developed) and the first subdiscal cell of the fore wing is small. Kahlia was also synonymized with Phaenocarpa by Szépligeti (1904) and usually treated as such (e.g. Marsh, 1979; Braet, 2006). It was treated as subgenus by Papp (1967) but with a different diagnosis (antenna very long and with more than 50 segments) that may not fit the type species (the antenna are broken in the holotype). The type species has vein cu-a of the hind wing absent or largely so, and a short vein M+CU; it is only known from the male holotype and the future discovery of the female may change the status of the subgenus. In this paper we describe a new Oriental subgenus: Clistalysia nov., because of its highly aberrant morphology of the ovipositor, the different hind wing venation (vein M+CU about as long as vein 1-M) and the widened third antennal segment.

Biology. Large genus, containing koinobiont endoparasitoids of larvae of cyclorrhaphous Diptera in many niches ( Wharton, 1984).

Distribution. Cosmopolitan.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Phaenocarpa (Clistalysia) platychora subgen. nov. et sp. nov., ♀, holotype. A, habitus, lateral aspect; B, hind leg, lateral aspect.

FIGURE 5. Phaenocarpa (Clistalysia) platychora subgen. nov. et sp. nov., ♀, holotype. A, fore wing; B, hind wing; C, head and mesosoma, lateral aspect; D, mesosoma, dorsal aspect; E, propodeum, first and second metasomal tergites, dorsal aspect; F, apex of ovipositor, lateral aspect; G, apex of ovipositor, dorsal aspect; H, head, anterior aspect; I, head, dorsal aspect; J, mandible, full view of second tooth; K, mandible, full view of third tooth; L, mandible, full view of first tooth; M, basal segments of antenna, lateral aspect; N, outer hind tarsal claw, lateral aspect.