Forrestopius Gauld & Sithole, 2002

Alvarado, Mabel & Palacio, Edgard, 2021, Forrestopius Gauld & Sithole, 2002 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Metopiinae) in South America, Zootaxa 5040 (2), pp. 265-282 : 266-267

Genus Forrestopius Gauld & Sithole, 2002

Forrestopius Gauld & Sithole 2002: 149 . Type species: Forrestopius judyae Gauld & Sithole , by original designation (MNCR).

Diagnosis. The genus Forrestopius can be distinguished from other metopiines by the combination of the following characters: (1) upper part of face weakly projected between bases of antennae ( Fig. 1A ); (2) frons with a carina surrounding the toruli ( Fig. 1B ) and sculpture, laterally next to toruli, generally striate ( Fig. 1B ); (3) fore wing with areolet open; (4) protibial spur antero-dorsally without a comb and velum, and postero-dorsally with a comb ( Fig. 1C ).

Redescription. Head. Mandibles bidentate (rarely tridentate— Fig. 4E ), weakly tapering towards apex, ventrally straight, without ventral flange; apex not twisted; with upper tooth longer than lower tooth; abductor swelling next to upper corner; condylar ridge straight, not interrupted or turned upwards; surface next to condylar ridge with a concavity along margin, generally reaching to 0.7× of mandible length. Labrum not exposed when mandible closed (rarely broadly exposed, as in F. nasutus sp. nov. — Fig. 4E ). Palp formula 5:4, maxillary palpomeres slen- der. Clypeus transverse, its apical margin straight or weakly convex; without a preapical transverse ridge parallel to margin; without a sulcus upwards from the base of mandible. Face and clypeus moderately convex (tentorial pit rarely located in a raised area, as in F. otavalo sp. nov.); with subocular sulcus ( Fig. 9D ); upper part of face produced upwards into a small, more or less convex projection between bases of antennae (this projection not reaching median ocellus), dorsally forming a weak crest medially. Antenna with third and fourth flagellomeres 0.7–0.9× as long as wide (rarely 1.3× as long as wide, as in F. wankawillka sp. nov.). Frons with a carina surrounding the toruli, laterally striate next to torulus. Occipital carina vestigial or ventrally absent, if ventrally absent not curved inwards. Postgenal bridge not projected.

Mesosoma . Pronotum polished with band of hairs along upper margin, without a longitudinal concavity parallel to anterior margin, upper edge evenly convex; with a ventral pronotal pit in the lower corner, generally with a wrinkle projecting upwards from pocket like structure; epomia absent or with only upper part present. Propleuron not swollen. Mesoscutum weakly convex; notaulus impressed anteriorly; without a concavity next to lateral margin between notauli and tegula. Scutoscutellar groove broad and smooth. Scutellum tapering towards distal end, without lateral longitudinal carinae. Mesopleuron moderately swollen with or without a small and shallow sternaulus; epicnemial carina complete, converging to anterior margin of pleuron near its upper end, where it sharply folds back reaching subalar prominence; subalar prominence convex to weakly flattened; mesopleural suture smooth below speculum; posterior transverse carina present laterally and centrally (absent in front of coxae). Metapleuron almost flat, polished, bare or with few isolated setae; ventrally with a weak submetapleural carina which expands into a lobe anteriorly. Propodeum with lateral longitudinal carina complete and strong, rarely weak; lateromedian longitudinal carinae generally present (absent, in F. wankawillka sp. nov.), strong, more or less parallel to each other, absent between posterior transverse carina and propodeal insertion; anterior transverse carina absent; posterior transverse carina complete, rarely absent; propodeal spiracle elliptical, large, extending most of the way between lateral longitudinal and pleural carinae. Fore and mid trochantellus undifferentiated. Protibial spur antero-dorsally without a comb and without velum, postero-dorsally with a comb ( Fig. 1C ). Foreleg tarsomeres 2–4 wider than long, pretarsal claws simple. Mid tibia with two spurs, outer spur slightly longer than inner spur. Hind tibia without a comb in inner margin; with two spurs, outer spur shorter than inner spur. Hind tarsomere 5 of females, on the inner side, without a hooked lobe. Fore wing with areolet open, cua-a far distal to base of Rs & M; 2 m-cu with one bulla. Hind wing with distal abscissa of Cu 1 joining cu-a closer to 1 A than to M.

Metasoma. Tergite I with lateral and lateromedian longitudinal carinae quite well developed, spiracle 0.3–0.4 of way along tergum; sternum I short, ending anterior to spiracle; laterotergite II 0.1–0.3× as wide as long; laterotergite III 0.3–0.6× as wide as long; laterotergites of metasomal segments III and IV of female and male separated by a crease; metasomal terga VI–VIII without setae on distal margin; metasomal tergite VIII of female entirely flat; female with sterna IV–VI weakly sclerotized with membranous areas; female with sternum VI slightly wider than long and distally more or less straight.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Details of Forrestopius auguratricis, sp. nov. A. Facial view B. Head in dorsal view C. Protibia and protarsomere

FIGURE 4. Details of Forrestopius nasutus, sp. nov. A. Habitus of female, in lateral view (scale bar = 2 mm) B. Head and pronotum, in lateral view C. Facial view D. Head and mesosoma, in dorsal view. E. Mandibles.

FIGURE 9. Details of Forrestopius yungas, sp. nov. A. Habitus of female, in lateral view (scale bar = 1 mm) B. Pronotum, in lateral view C. Facial view D. Head in frontolateral view.