Pseudotiphia ASHMEAD 1903

Boni, M., 2011, Hymenoptera Tiphiidae from Arabian peninsula, Linzer biologische Beiträge 43 (1), pp. 337-361 : 347-348

Genus Pseudotiphia ASHMEAD 1903

The attribution of Tiphia saussurei KROMBEIN 1948 and the unusual male T. mira to Pseudotiphia is determined by the presence of sensorium on mid tibia (somewhat hardly detectable in the latter) and no differentiated bristles on the palette of gonosquama. Nevertheless both of them show two significant characters states well distinct from other members of the genus: the absence of tyloids from all the flagellomeri and the bilobed aedeagus, as far as I know unique occurrences within the entire group of Tiphiini. The presence of a sort of horn on 2 nd and/or 3 rd sterna seems meaningful too. Grouping them apart through recognition of a new subgeneric name seems therefore reasonably acceptable, even though uncertainty about female sex (the supposed female T.mira does not show any difference with other members of the genus, the female of T. saussurei is unknown) and want of ecological data preclude more conclusive action. The following key is effective only for the males. a Tyloids well expressed and prominent on all the flagellomeri: only Pseudotiphia

fulvipennis (SMITH 1855) and P. caucasica (MOCSARY 1883) lacks tyloids on

basal 1 st to 4 th /5 th flagellomeri) b No subapical tooth on mandible

c Well expressed and differentiated sensorium on mid tibia

d Mid and hind basal tarsomerus covered entirely by short dense hair

e Tubercles present on apical sides of the sole 5 th sternum

f Aedeagus pattern like in fig. 45, not deeply bilobed in lateral aspect.

Subgenus Pseudotiphia aa Tyloids completely absent from all flagellomeri

bb Mandible of the male with a subapical small tooth

cc Sensorial area on mid tibia only traced in T. mira

dd Mid and hind basal tarsomerus with dorsal surface with only few long bristles

ee Horns and/or tubercles present on 2 nd /3 rd to 5 th sterna

ff Aedeagus pattern like in fig. 74, deeply bilobed in lateral aspect.