Schlettererius cinctipes (Cresson, 1880)

Vilhelmsen, Lars, Turrisi, Giuseppe Fabrizio & Beutel, Rolf Georg, 2008, Distal leg morphology, subgenual organs and host detection in Stephanidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera), Journal of Natural History 42 (23 - 24), pp. 1649-1663 : 1651-1652

Schlettererius cinctipes

( Figures 1A–D , 2A–C )

Fore leg

The tibia is shorter than the femur; in females, a shallow lateral concavity is present in the proximal half ( Figure 1A ). A small dome is situated anteriorly approximately one-quarter of the total length from the base of the tibia; its microsculpture is less developed than on the surrounding cuticle ( Figure 1B ). The tibia gradually expands distally. The median side is more setose than the lateral side; distally, a small brush of closely placed pointed setae is present. A single modified apical tibial spur, the calcar, is situated distally; a distinct cone-shaped sensillum is present at the apex opposite the calcar. The tarsus is five-segmented and approximately 1.6 times as long as the tibia, the basitarsus comprising less than half the length of the tarsus. Tarsomere 4 is short; it bears an elongate distal flange ( Figure 1C ) covered with pointed setae.

Mid leg

The tibia is approximately as long as the femur; a concavity or dome is not recognizable, the tibia being of approximately equal width throughout except at its basalmost part ( Figure 1D ). Elongate setae are regularly distributed on the surface. Apical spurs are absent; a distinct cone-shaped sensillum is situated posteriorly at the apex. The tarsus is five-segmented and slightly shorter than the tibia. The basitarsus

is slightly shorter than the remaining tarsomeres combined. Tarsomere 4 is short but equipped with an elongate distal flange, which is covered with pointed setae.

Hind leg

The tibia is slightly longer than the hind femur, including the trochantellus ( Figure 2A ), and gradually expands distally. A posterior dome and a small median depression are developed posteriorly approximately one-quarter of the total length from the base; the microsculpture of the dome is less developed than the surrounding cuticle ( Figure 2B ). An external longitudinal carina extends along the anterior part from the base about halfway to the apex. The tibia is more setose mesally than laterally; distally, a brush of densely placed distally swollen setae is present. A pair of short apical spurs is situated on the anterior side. The tarsus is five-segmented and approximately 0.6 the length of the tibia, with the basitarsus comprising less than half of its length. Tarsomere 4 is short but an elongate distal flange is developed; the flange is covered with pointed setae ( Figure 2C ), which are also present distally on tarsomere 3.

Figures

Figure 1. Schlettererius cinctipes, female, foreleg and mid-leg. (A) Fore leg, median view. (B) Basal part of fore tibia, median view, with dome concealing subgenual organ. (C) Fore tarsus, tarsomeres 2–5. (D) Mid leg, lateral view.

Figure 2. Schlettererius cinctipes, female, hind leg. (A) Hind leg, lateral view. (B) Hind tibia proximally at level of subgenual organ with dome in lower right corner, median view. (C) Hind tarsus, tarsomeres 3–5.