Calolelaps Timberlake

Desjardins, Christopher A., 2007, Phylogenetics and classification of the world genera of Diparinae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Zootaxa 1647 (1), pp. 1-88 : 78-79

Calolelaps Timberlake

Calolelaps Timberlake 1925: 184–186 . Type species: Calolelaps basalis Timberlake (orig. desig.).

Discussion: The three Hawaiin genera Calolelaps , Neolelaps , and Stictolelaps (and to a lesser extent Mesolelaps ) possess no characters that would suggest their inclusion within Diparinae . For the most part they lack the cercal brush, dorsal bristles, hind coxal striations, expanded GT1, and single anellus, in addition to having a convex dorsellum, any of which may hint at inclusion within Diparinae . Mesolelaps does possess an expanded GT1 and single anellus, although it lacks both diparine synapomorphies: presence of a cercal brush and absence of a convex dorsellum. These genera were likely initially placed within Diparinae because they share a median clypeal tooth with Lelaps . The removal of Mesolelaps from Diparinae and subsequent placement in the Pteromalinae + Miscogasterinae clade would make Mesolelaps the only genus in that group with a single anellus.

Yoshimoto (1967) discussed the phylogenetic placement of the Hawaiin genera, which he treated as members of Miscogasterinae . However, he made no formal declaration of their transfer from Diparinae to Miscogasterinae . An examination of the original descriptions ( Ashmead 1904, 1901; Timberlake 1925) shows that both authors originally placed these genera in “Lelapinae”. Bouček (1988) treated Mesolelaps as an extralimital genus of Diparinae , and made no statement about the remaining genera or the placement of any of the genera in Miscogasterinae . Additionally, Yoshimoto (1967) stated that “ Calolelaps Timberlake (= Stictolelaps Timberlake )”. However, he made no actual declaration of synonymy.

Yoshimoto, in an unpublished manuscript dated later than his 1967 paper, treated Calolelaps and Stictolelaps as separate genera, and described a new species of Stictolelaps . In this manuscript Yoshimoto planned to remove these four genera and place them in their own tribe, Neolelapini. He also stated that these genera were associated with the tribes Miscogasterini and Trigonoderini. Paul Hanson (pers. comm.) also suggested that these specimens share a similar habitus with Trigonoderini, although they lack characters to place them in either of the trigonoderine clades as defined by Heydon (1997). Steven Heydon (pers. comm.) suggested that these genera are most similar to the Chilean trigonoderine Eutelisca . However, due to Eutelisca ’s own tenta- tive placement in Trigonoderini, insufficient confidence exists to currently place Calolelaps specifically within Trigonoderini. Calolelaps is herein removed from Diparinae and placed in Miscogasterinae , without tribal affiliation.

The holotype female of Calolelaps basalis is heavily damaged, with only two legs remaining on the point mount and the rest of the specimen lost. However, the allotype male remains entirely intact, and the taxonomic decisions made here are based on that specimen. The holotype of Calolelaps coeruleus appears to be lost. Although it was recorded to be housed in the Bishop Museum, there is no unit tray there to mark its presence now or in the past. No record has been found of it at any other museum.