Tashtego, 2002

Sime, Karen R. & Wahl, David B., 2002, The cladistics and biology of the Callajoppa genus-group (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 134 (1), pp. 1-56 : 45-46

TASHTEGO WAHL & SIME , GEN. N.

Type-species. Tashtego janzeni sp. n.

Description. Flagellum of female lanceolate, with flagellomere 3 3.8¥ as long as wide; flagellum of male with tyloids present. Clypeus narrow, basally with two lateral concavities, median concavity just above apical margin, apicolateral margin forming a rounded angle of approximately 40°, punctures sparse, apical 0.3 not thinned, apical margin concave and without median projection. Mandible short and quadrate, ventral tooth in same plane as dorsal tooth. Supra-antennal area without median ridges or denticles. Vertex with posterior section about as long as ocellar triangle, gently sloping to occipital carina. Gena flat and receding in dorsal view. Juncture of hypostomal and occipital carinae separated from mandible by about basal mandibular width. Occipital carina with ventral region above mandible not produced as a low flange.

Pronotal flange high and with posterior face flat. Epicnemial carina present only on mesothoracic venter. Scutellum strongly convex with planar surfaces and forming a more or less acute angle in lateral view; lateral carinae absent. Central convexity of metanotum not widened and lateral depressions not reduced. Base of propodeum rising steeply and abruptly. Areola not distinguishable, only anterior transverse carina appears to be present. Anterior transverse carina complete or absent, median section not swollen when present; posterior transverse carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent; median longitudinal carinae absent basad anterior transverse carina, present apicad anterior transverse carina. First lateral area without punctures; second lateral area rugosopunctate. Metapleuron with few (<10) punctures. Juxtacoxal carina absent. Propodeal lateral profile steeply sloping. Scopa absent. Cell 1 + 2Rs of fore wing truncate, vein 2/Rs £ 3r-m, vein 2mcu interception at midpoint of posterior margin.

MS 1 in lateral view as in Fig. 62; sclerotized anterior portion of S1 about as long as distance from posterior margin of anterior portion to apex of T1; petiole, basally without dorsal or lateral bulges; postpetiole with basal convexity, median longitudinal carinae present, median field present, impunctate and with four strong longitudinal rugae. Ventral margin of T2 simple (area immediately above margin strongly and coarsely punctate, superficially resembling denticulate condition). T2-4 impunctate with relatively few (c. 20) strong longitudinal rugae over entire surface of each tergite. T2-4 laterally strongly flattened. T2-5 basally constricted, T3-4 with strong dorsolateral ridges. S2-4 divided, S5 entire. Apex of female with T7-8 strongly projecting beyond apex of T6; oxypygous. Autapomorphies. Apical margin of clypeus concave (#4–1); clypeal punctures sparse (#10–1); scutellum strongly convex with planar surfaces and forming a more or less acute angle in lateral view (#20–1); juxtacoxal carina absent (#22–1); anterior transverse carina of propodeum absent (#28–1); punctures of first lateral area absent (#34–1); cell 1 + 2Rs of fore wing anteriorly truncate (#39–0) and with veins 2/Rs and 3r-m of equal length (#40–0); postpetiole of T1 with basal convexity (#45–1); median longitudinal carina of T1 complete and extending to apex (#46–0); postpetiole of T1 impunctate (#48–2) and with four strong longitudinal rugae; T2-4 with dorsolateral ridges (#54–1).

Etymology. The genus is named after one of the harpooners in Melville’s novel Moby Dick.

Species and distribution. T. janzeni is found in Costa Rica.

Biology. Unknown.