Melanocryptus (Aguiar and Santos, 2010)

Aguiar, Alexandre P. & Santos, Bernardo F., 2015, Revision of Melanocryptus Cameron (Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae), with description of seven new species, American Museum Novitates 2015 (3836), pp. 1-56 : 8-9

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF MELANOCRYPTUS Females:

1. Propodeal apophysis projected as distinct thorn (figs. 45, 55–56); anterior transverse carina of propodeum centrally distinctly interrupted (figs. 55–56); supraclypeal area densely covered with silvery pilosity (figs. 82–83)............................................ 2

– Propodeal apophysis low, from scale shaped to linear (figs. 44, 46–54); anterior transverse carina of propodeum complete (figs. 52–54, 57–60); supraclypeal area sparsely pilose (figs. 73, 76, 89–90, 93), or if moderately abundant, pilosity is yellowish................... 3

2 (1). Body bluish, with moderate to distinct metallic luster (figs. 33, 45, 55, 82–86); midbasitarsus basally or entirely dark brown, rarely orange brown; forewing bearing two dark stripes, one central, another apical or subapical (fig. 16); T2 and T7 with apical whitish stripe or spots....................................... M. cyaneus (Schmiedeknecht)

– Body blackish, without or with weak metallic luster (figs. 38, 43, 56, 97); midbasitarsus basal half or more whitish to pale yellow, apex dark brown or black; forewing without stripes (fig. 10), or at most with small spots (fig. 11); T2 and T7 entirely black or dark brown (fig. 97).......................................................... M. niger (Szépligeti)

3 (1). T2 and T7 with apical whitish stripe or spots; forewing mostly clear hyaline, with central or apical stripes or spots (figs. 17–19)............................................ 4

– T2 and T7 entirely black or dark brown; forewing mostly or entirely infuscate, with or without stripes (figs. 12–14, 20–21).................................................. 7

4 (3). Ovipositor and legs with distinct reddish tinge (fig. 101); posterior transverse carina of propodeum complete (Fig, 105); forewing with a small brownish spot on its midlength and an infuscate apical area...................................... M. rufigladius , sp. nov.

– Ovipositor and legs blackish or brownish, without reddish tinge; posterior transverse carina of propodeum incomplete, represented by three distinct apophyses (figs. 52, 54); forewing with two distinct brownish stripes on its midlength and subapically (figs. 17–19)...... 5

5 (4). Posterior half of mesosoma laterally covered with short, regular or sometimes sparse pilosity (fig. 46); forewing apical infuscation covering entire wing tip and areolet (figs. 2, 18); maxillary palpus with most articles patterned in whitish and dark brown; pleural carina fragmented or indistinct (fig. 49); orbital band on dorsal half of head narrow and widely interrupted above, or absent (fig. 2).................... M. delos Aguiar , sp. nov.

– Posterior half of mesosoma seen laterally covered with conspicuous, dense silvery pilosity (as in figs. 45, 47); forewing apical infuscation not reaching the tip, which remains hyaline, and covering or not the areolet (figs. 17, 19); maxillary palpus articles uniformly colored, not patterned; pleural carina distinct (figs. 48, 50); orbital band on dorsal half of head wide and continuous at least above (figs. 72–73)........................................ 6

6 (5). Pleural carina linear (fig. 48); subalar ridge concolorous with mesepisternum (fig. 70); propodeum posteriad anterior transverse carina mostly rugulose, matte (fig. 52); S1 ending basad petiolar spiracle, even if very near to it.............. M. tesselatus Aguiar , sp. nov.

– Pleural carina widely crenulate (fig. 49); subalar ridge light colored, contrasting with blackish mesepisternum (fig. 42); propodeum posteriad anterior transverse carina mostly smooth, shiny (fig. 50); S1 ending opposite petiolar spiracle...... M. hadroglyptus Aguiar , sp. nov.

7 (3). Mesosoma, including fore- and midlegs and hind coxa, orange (figs. 75–81). Wing infuscation weak and uniform or nearly so, at most narrowly darker on wing tip (fig. 14). Pleural carina distinct (fig. 44)....................................... M. aurantius , sp. nov.

– Mesosoma, including all legs, black or dark brown. Wing infuscation intense or distinctly heterogeneous, wing darker apically, or centrally, or both (figs. 12, 20, 21). Pleural carina distinct or indistinct........................................................... 8

8 (7). Forewing more or less uniformly amber infuscate, except apex with diffuse darkened area which is often C-shaped (fig. 12); foretibia with two distinct longitudinal yellowish stripes (dorsolateral and ventromesal); body pilosity distinctly whitish or silvery. Southern and southeastern Brazil............................................. M. tupan , sp. nov.

– Forewing dark amber infuscate, with wide central and basal light amber areas at least partially discernible (figs. 20–21); foretibia entirely black or at most with ventromesal stripe only; body pilosity distinctly yellowish. Amazonia...................................... 9

9 (8). Petiolar sternite (S1) ending distinctly apicad petiolar spiracle (fig. 96); forewing 1cu-a opposite 1M+Rs, at 90° with M+Cu, its apex straight (fig. 20); light/dark areas of forewing distinct, infuscation therefore distinctly patterned (fig. 20); epicnemial carina straight, except basally angled; tergite of petiole mostly matte, shiny only at apex (fig. 95).................................................................. M. dnopheros , sp. nov.

– Petiolar sternite (S1) ending distinctly basad petiolar spiracle (fig. 114); forewing 1cu-a distinctly basad 1M+Rs, at slightly obtuse angle with M+Cu, its apex curved toward wing base (figs. 21, 110); light/dark areas of forewing weakly contrasting, infuscation more uniform (figs. 21, 110); epicnemial carina intensely sinusoidal; tergite of petiole nearly entirely shiny (fig. 113).............................................. M. violaceipennis Cameron