Ricasia, Askew & Nieves-Aldrey, 2005

Askew, R. R. & Nieves-Aldrey, J. L., 2005, A new genus and species of Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) from Spain, parasitic in cynipid galls on Fumaria, Journal of Natural History 39 (25), pp. 2331-2338 : 2332

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222930500089271

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3C4A87B1-FFB0-935D-FDE8-FF62FBE6D8C0

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Ricasia
status

gen. nov.

Ricasia gen. nov.

Description

Head and thorax with very fine, engraved reticulate sculpture and numerous quite conspicuous hair-pits. Head with occiput not margined; foramen magnum relatively high ( Figure 1D View Figure 1 ); head in dorsal view with frons flat, not produced between eyes and scrobal depression not visible; antenna inserted distinctly below middle of face; clypeus marked off by a groove ( Figure 1C View Figure 1 ), its anterior margin straight; anterior tentorial pits distinct; labrum in about same plane as clypeus. Mandibles ( Figure 1C View Figure 1 ) bidentate. Antenna ( Figure 1A View Figure 1 ) similar in both sexes, 12-segmented, formula 11163 (verified by both light microscope and SEM examination).

Pronotum long ( Figure 1E View Figure 1 ), about as long as mesoscutum, without an offset collar. Mesoscutum with complete, deep notauli ( Figure 1E View Figure 1 ). Scutellum with frenal area marked off by a shallow groove. Metapleuron not reaching hind wing cavity ( Figure 1F View Figure 1 ). Propodeum ( Figure 1E View Figure 1 ) medially shorter than half the length of scutellum; spiracles distant from anterior border. Metacoxa dorsally pilose; metatibia with two apical spurs.

Fore wing ( Figure 2C View Figure 2 ) with postmarginal vein much longer than marginal vein; stigmal vein only a little shorter than marginal vein; stigma not enlarged.

Petiole of gaster short and transverse, smooth; gaster with posterior margins of tergites almost straight; hypopygium of female short, its tip at about one-third of gaster length ( Figure 2A View Figure 2 ).

Type species

Riυasia fumariae sp. n. The genus is named after the locality where host galls were collected, the species after the host plant.

Comment

The correct placement of Riυasia within Pteromalidae proved difficult to determine. Applying Graham’s (1969) keys it runs to Miscogasterinae , but in the key to tribes of this subfamily, progress beyond the second couplet is baulked by the combination of a relatively long postmarginal vein and bidentate mandibles, on the one hand (as in Micradelini), and metallic coloration and small but developed fore wing speculum on the other. In Micradelini there is no metallic coloration, notably dense pilosity on the eyes and dorsal surface of the thorax, clavate antennae with two or three anelli and transverse funicle segments. Relationship to Micradelini seems distant and Riυasia has more the appearance of Ormocerini (upgraded to Ormocerinae by Bouček 1988). However, none of the European genera included in this taxon by Graham (1969), nor any of the genera placed in Ormocerinae by Bouček (1988), have an antenna with just a single anellus followed by six funicle segments and a three-segmented clava, nor a large, campaniform pronotum.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Pteromalidae

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