Review of Loxopus Townes (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae), with descriptions of six new species

Abstract

The taxonomic limits of Loxopus Townes are reviewed. The genus is characterized by the lateral margin of the clypeus projecting as subtriangular lobe; lateral lobes of fourth tarsomeres distinctly longer than mesal lobes; fore wing vein 3r-m absent; hind wing vein 2-1A absent or vestigial; and first metasomal tergite with a basolateral tooth. It occurs from Mexico to southern Brazil. Nine species are recognized, of which six are described as new: L. dodecius Santos et Aguiar, L. duckei Santos et Aguiar, L. exius Santos et Aguiar, L. ichilus Santos et Aguiar, L. tenuis Santos et Aguiar, and L. venezuelanus Santos et Aguiar. The type species, L. australis Townes, and L. multicolor Kasparyan et Ruíz-Cancino are redescribed, and a diagnosis is provided for L. unicolor Kasparyan et Ruíz-Cancino, not examined. All studied species are illustrated and distribution records are mapped. An identification key for the species of Loxopus is presented.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5B73E8B4-1288-4FD9-AABD-845B5085FFE3

Keywords:

• Goryphina
• Cryptini
• Phygadeuontinae
• parasitoid
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

All of the curators mentioned in Material and Methods provided invaluable loans of Cryptinae specimens. Andrew Bennett (CNCI), Rogério P. Martins (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil) and David Wahl (AEIC) also received one or both authors for scientific visits, and loaned all the relevant specimens. Enrique Ruíz-Cancino (Universidad Autónoma Tamaulipas, Mexico) kindly helped with literature. Berthil B. Longo prepared Figures 1, 2B, 3D, 4C, 5A, 5D and 6C. Yuri L.R. Leite and Celso O. Azevedo (UFES) provided useful comments and suggestions at an early stage of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by FAPES/PPP under Grant 36263290/07; FACITEC under Grant 027/2007; and CNPq under Grant 926.656.810. It also benefited from PNOPG/CNPq under Grant 550885013; further support was provided by PIBIC/Petrobras (UFES) and The Ernst Mayr Grant (MCZ, Harvard University).