Prosaspicera, Kieffer, 1907

Ros-Farré, P. & Pujade-Villar, J., 2006, Revision of the genus Prosaspicera Kieffer, 1907 (Hym.: Figitidae: Aspicerinae), Zootaxa 1379 (1379), pp. 1-102 : 10-12

Redescription of Prosaspicera

Prosaspicera Kieffer, 1907: 152 .

Type species: Prosaspicera ensifera Kieffer , by subsequent designation ( Rower & Fagan, 1917: 373).

Head densely pubescent on lower half, from glabrous to sparsely pubescent on upper half. Lateral frontal carinae conspicuous ( Fig. 1a), with ( Figs 5e & 6b) or without ( Figs 5a, d) frontal carinae; the lateral frontal carina is extended onto the lateral area of the vertex and is fused with the occipital carina ( Figs 1b & 2). Vertex from much incised ( Figs 6a–c) to weakly incised or slightly concave ( Figs 5a–e). Posterior part of vertex smooth to coriaceous, always with median vertical groove ( Figs 1b & 6d–h), which is very deep when vertex deeply incised; median vertical groove bounded by one ( Fig. 6d) or more ( Fig. 1b) longitudinal carinae on each side. Occipital carina conspicuous. Occiput smooth to coriaceous; transversely carinated ( Fig. 1b) or without carinae ( Fig. 6d). Genae sharply margined, with variable sculpture ( Figs 2a–c), rounded in lateral view ( Fig. 2a) or angled ( Fig. 2c), and expanded ( Figs 2b, c) or not ( Fig. 2a). Frons with variable sculpture ranging from coriaceous to rugose reticulate, although shining in P. costulata ( Fig. 6a). Lateral frontal carinae continued around under eye clear to genal margin ( Figs 2a–c) with lateral facial carina. Transfacial line between 1.8 and 3.0 times the width and between 0.85 and 1.52 times the height of an eye. Malar space between 0.38 and 0.63 times the height of an eye. Antenna long and filiform ( Fig. 3c) or subclavate and shorter ( Fig. 3b), 13 segments in females and 14 in males; males with third antennomere clearly excavated ( Fig. 3d), usually similar in all species, but weakly modified in P. inaudita and P. similis ( Fig. 3e); female of P. pseudoclavata with terminal antennomeres forming a pseudoclub ( Fig. 3a). Mesosoma pubescent to almost glabrous. Lateral surface of pronotum granulate to coriaceous, rarely only alutaceous, sometimes with transverse carinae ( Fig. 10b). Pronotal and subpronotal plates conspicuous ( Figs 4a, b). Mesoscutum reticulate to coriaceous, sometimes with transverse carinae. Antero-admedian lines and notauli present ( Fig. 4a). Parascutal sulcus in anterior part ending just in front of tegula ( Fig. 4b) or continuing to anterior end of notauli ( Fig. 4a); median ridge going from anterior margin of scutum to median mesoscutal furrow ( Fig. 4a), usually very conspicuous. Ocassionally median ridge forks in two branches before median mesoscutal furrow, each branch contacting lateral margin of notauli ( Fig. 11b). The area between notauli and end of median mesoscutal furrow usually raised when mesoscutum seen in profile. Median mesoscutal furrow well developed and usually continuing to first 1/3 of mesoscutum ( Fig. 4a), in P. inaudita both median ridge and median mesoscutal furrow weak to non existent ( Fig. 21b). Mesopleurae smooth or coriaceous on dorsal 2/3, coarsely sculptured with strong transverse carina or with furrow on basal 1/3 ( Fig. 4b). The scutellum usually longer than mesoscutum ( Figs 4a, b), with two big, conspicuous foveae, scutellar spine sharp and long ( Fig. 4a), usually with longitudinal carinae on surface. In lateral view end of scutellar disc in same plane as scutellar spine ( Figs 4b & 22b) or sloping towards apex of scutellar spine ( Fig. 36b). Mesoscutum 1.2 to 2.0 times higher than long, 0.8 to 1.4 times wider than long. Scutellum 0.9 to 3.9 as long as mesoscutum. Propodeum pubescent ( Fig. 3f). Propodeal carinae strong, dorsally parallel, ventrally divided, at least, in two branches, one directed towards the central area and other towards nucha ( Fig. 3f). Forewing with radial cell open ( Fig. 3g), R1 absent or short ( Fig. 3g). Rs long, straight or curved. Rs+M and M veins usually insconspicous or absent. Marginal pubescence of wing absent or short, rarely long and dense ( Fig. 3g). Wing surface pubescence usually reduced. Radial cell 1.70 to 3.22 times longer than wide. Metatibia with strong longitudinal carina on posterior surface and usually with other one on anterior surface. Metasomal petiole ( Figs 3f & 4b) short, wider than long, with conspicuous longitudinal keels. Third abdominal tergum saddle-shaped and smooth ( Fig. 4b). Fourth abdominal tergum with strong punctation. Hypopygium small and short in all species ( Figs 37b, c) except P. spinosa ( Fig. 37a), which has bigger hypopygium.

Diagnosis. Prosaspicera can be differentiated from other Aspicerinae according to Ros-Farré (2006, in press) by the following characters: from Anacharoides , Omalaspis and Callaspidia by the possession of a scutellar spine; from Balna , because in Balna the scutellum only has one deep scutellar fovea and it is ending in a blunt point; from Aspicera and Paraspicera to have, in the vertex, a median vertical groove bounded by parallel ridges, that runs back from between the lateral ocelli to the occiput; and by having the compound eyes bounded by a strong continuous carina (the frontal carinae, the vertex lateral carinae, the occipital carina and the facial impression are part of it). Moreover, in Paraspicera the scutellar spine is blunt and stout, while in Prosaspicera and Aspicera the scutellar spine is slender and pointed.