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Published November 30, 2020 | Version v1
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Orasema Cameron

Description

Orasema Cameron

Orasema Cameron 1884: 104.

Type species: Orasema stramineipes Cameron. Subsequently designated by Kirby 1886: 29. Notes: illustrations accompanying description of O. stramineipes mislabeled as O. flavipes. Kirby 1886: 29 designated O. flavipes as type species with O. stramineipes as lapsus calami. Contrary to remarks by Kirby, the description of O. stramineipes agrees with the figure of O. flavipes. Dalla Torre 1898: 361 reversed the usage of Kirby and treated O. flavipes as a junior synonym of O. stramineipes.

Orasema; Ashmead 1888: 187. In key.

Orasema; Ashmead 1904: 267, 269. In key.

Orasema; Schmiedeknecht 1909: Notes: brief diagnosis, in German.

Semora Cameron 1909: 432–433. Type species: Semora xanthopus Cameron, by original designation. Homonym; discovered by Strand 1942: 393. Notes: preoccupied by Peckham & Peckham 1892. Synonymy by Kerrich 1963: 366.

Eucharomorpha Girault 1913: 62–63. Type species: Orasema worcesteri Girault. Subsequently designated by Gahan and Fagan 1923: 58. Synonym by Bouček 1988: 519.

Orasema; Gemignani 1933: 488–489. Subsequent description.

Parasemora Gemignani 1933: 492–493.

Type species: Parasemora freychei Gemignani, by monotypy. Synonym by Heraty 1994: 54. Notes: location of type unknown and synonym based on original description.

Semora; Gemignani 1933: 491–492. Subsequent description.

Semorata Strand 1942: 393. Replacement name.

Semorella Ghesquière 1946: 368. Replacement name.

Orasema; Kerrich 1963: 366. Subsequent description.

Orasema; Heraty 1994: 54–57. Subsequent description.

Orasema; Heraty 2002: 47–49. Subsequent description.

Diagnosis. Orasema is the only New World genus in the subfamily Oraseminae and can be recognized from other orasemine genera by the following combination of characters: mouthparts present and fully formed, area just below the median ocellus without impression or pit, ocellar-ocular sulcus absent, scrobe without a pair of parallel impressions, male antennae without scape glands, transscutal articulation complete, if lateral aspect of the mesepisternum reticulate then at least weakly sculptured ventrally, if propodeal disc with median channel and smooth lateral areas then face with obvious rugose or reticulate sculpture and labrum with four digits, basal petiolar flange prominent, apex of the first valvula of the ovipositor usually with distinct lateral teeth but never with sinuate ridges. Orasema can be recognized from other New World eucharitid genera by the following combination of characters: anellus present, prepectus distinct and separate from the pronotum, first gastral sternite constricted with a transverse crenulate furrow separating a semicircular anterior region, ovipositor expanded and usually with a lateral line of teeth on the ventral valve and lateral teeth on the dorsal valve.

Key to the species groups of Orasema

1 Male and female antenna with 6 funiculars (Fig. 42D, E); mesoscutum and mesoscutellum rugose-areolate; scutoscutellar sulcus crossed by strong carinae (Fig. 42F); male antennal clava highly reduced (Fig. 42E)............................................................................................... Orasema mutata n. sp. (unplaced to group)

- Antenna with more than 6 funiculars; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with various sculpture; scutoscutellar sulcus usually with weaker carinae (Fig. 6F); male antennal clava not reduced (Fig. 6E)......................................... 2

2 (1) Male and female antenna with 7 funiculars (Fig. 6E: Fu1–Fu7); labrum with 4 digits (except some specimens of O. scaura (Orasema coloradensis group) with up to 9 digits, but this is the only species with 4 tarsomeres)...................... 3

- Male and female antenna with 8 or 9 funiculars (Fig. 18D, E); labrum with 4 or more digits......................... 17

3 (2) Midlobe of mesoscutum evenly reticulate (Fig. 3D).......................................................... 4

- Midlobe of mesoscutum smooth (Fig. 3H) or with coarse irregular sculpture (Fig. 3A, C, E, I), including rugose-reticulate (Fig. 3F)................................................................................................ 10

4 (3) Postgena expanded over labiomaxillary complex (Fig. 31D)..... Orasema simulatrix group; (key: Herreid and Heraty 2017)

- Postgena not expanded, labiomaxillary complex visible (Fig. 4A)............................................... 5

5 (4) Anterior margin of prepectus lacking carina, gradually sloping under margin of pronotum (Fig. 13C)................................................................................................... Orasema bakeri group, 23

- Anterior margin of prepectus with carina abutting margin of pronotum (Fig. 18C).................................. 6

6 (5) Body size small (females 1.5–2.1 mm; males 1.5–2.0 mm); body color dark with some iridescence; antennal flagellum of both sexes pedunculate with funiculars broader than long (Fig. 24D, E)..................................................................................... Orasema sixaolae group (in part: Orasema sixaolae Wheeler & Wheeler), 43

- Body size variable but both sexes usually> 2 mm; body color most often strongly green or blue-green iridescent, but if dark then female with antennal flagellum not pedunculate (Fig. 36D) and with funiculars generally longer than broad.............. 7

7 (6) Fore wing with one row of setae along posterior end of the basal area (Fig. 4D; bsa), and disc with dense, long setae; female antennal funiculars usually as long as or longer than wide, and with width consistent from F3 to clava (Fig. 4B).................................................................. Orasema xanthopus group (in part; undescribed species)

- Fore wing without row of setae in posterior basal area or if setae present then disc not densely setose and with minute setae; female antennal funiculars usually broader than long, and with width increasing from F3 to clava (Fig. 36D)............. 8

8 (7) Mesosoma long (ML:MH = 1.3–1.6); female with face elongate (HW:HH = 0.7–1.0) (Fig. 37B).............................................................................. Orasema heacoxi group (in part: O. masonicki n. sp.), 65

- Mesosoma high (ML:MH = 1.0–1.2); female with face subtriangular (HW:HH = 1.0–1.2; Fig. 4E, F)................... 9

9 (8) Nearctic in distribution............................................................ Orasema cockerelli group*

- Neotropical in distribution............................................................ Orasema vianai group* * These two groups cannot be reliably differentiated morphologically, but they represent molecularly distinct lineages (Fig. 1).

10 (3) Male only: body size large (3.8 mm); mandibular formula 2:2; mandibles and labrum reduced in size (Fig. 41B); antenna long (FL:HH = 2.0).................................................... Orasema monstrosa n. sp. (unplaced to group)

- Both sexes: body size variable (males typically <3.8 mm); mandibular formula 3:2; mandibles and labrum of normal size (Fig. 6B); antenna shorter (FL:HH typically <1.5)............................................................... 11

11 (10) Body with face, mesoscutal lateral lobe, axilla, mesoscutellum, and frenum smooth (Fig. 33F); face and eye densely setose (Fig. 33B); body length 2.1–2.9 mm; antenna with 8 funiculars, but with partial fusion between F2 and F3 or F3 and F4 giving appearance of 7 funiculars (Fig. 33D)......................... Orasema johnsoni group (in part: O. johnsoni n. sp.), 61

- Body with at least some of above-mentioned parts with distinct sculpture or if smooth then face and eye sparsely setose (Fig. 25B) and length approximately 1.4 mm; antenna with 7 funiculars (Fig. 25D).................................... 12

12 (11) Midlobe of mesoscutum rugose-reticulate (Fig. 36F); female flagellum progressively wider toward apex (Fig. 36D); male flagellum pedunculate, funiculars with semi-erect, curved setae (Fig. 36E)................................................................................................... Orasema heacoxi group (in part: O. heacoxi n. sp.), 65

- Midlobe of mesoscutum transversely costate (Fig. 3A), imbricate (Fig. 3E), rugose (Fig. 3I), or rugose-areolate (Fig. 3C); female antennal flagellum generally equal in width from F3–F8; male flagellum rarely pedunculate, but if so (Fig. 27E), then setae more closely appressed to funiculars and mostly straight................................................. 13

13 (12) Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum rugose-areolate (Fig. 27F); mesoscutum in dorsal view with curvature of lateral lobe discontinuous with curvature of midlobe (Fig. 28G); antecostal sulcus smooth (Fig. 28E).......... Orasema acuminata group, 50

- Midlobe of mesoscutum and mesoscutellum usually costate, imbricate, or rugose-reticulate (Fig. 3A, E, F), only rarely rugoseareolate; mesoscutum in dorsal view with curvature of lateral lobes either continuous (Fig. 31G) or discontinuous with curvature of midlobe; antecostal sulcus usually foveate, but if smooth then other characters not matching................... 14

14 (13) Body size small (females 1.4–2.2 mm; males 1.5–2.0 mm); body dark brown to black with some iridescence; midlobe of mesoscutum imbricate (Fig. 22E) or weakly transverse costate (Fig. 25E); head subcircular (Fig. 22B)........................................................................................... Orasema sixaolae group (in part), 43

- Body size average (females 2.3–4.2 mm; males 2.1–3.4 mm); body usually with strong blue or green iridescence; midlobe of mesoscutum strongly costate (Fig. 6F) or rugose-areolate (Fig. 10F); head subtriangular (Fig. 8B) or elongate (Fig. 31B).. 15

15 (14) Face rugose-reticulate (Fig. 39B); funiculars longer than broad (Fig. 39D, E); femora yellow with at most a medial light brown patch (Fig. 39A).............................................. Orasema brasiliensis (Bréthes) (unplaced to group)

- Face usually costate, but if rugose-reticulate then funiculars broader than long (Fig. 8D) and femora mostly dark brown with strong iridescence (Fig. 8A)............................................................................ 16

16 (15) Mesosoma long (ML:MH = 1.5–2.2); head elongate (HW:HH = 0.8–1.1) (Fig. 31B); occiput strongly curved (Fig. 31C).............................................................................. Orasema peraltai group, 56

Mesosoma average (ML:MH = 1.2–1.7); head subtriangular (HW:HH = 1.1–1.3) (Fig. 8B); occiput broadly curved (Fig. 10F) Orasema coloradensis group, 12

17 (2) Postgena expanded over labiomaxillary complex basally (Fig. 31D); fore wing with infuscations at least along cubital fold....................................................... Orasema wayqecha group (key: Herreid and Heraty 2017)

- Postgena not expanded (Fig. 4A); fore wing completely hyaline............................................... 18

18 (17) Face smooth; frons without any vertical costae (Fig. 33B).................................................... 19

- Face sculptured (Fig. 18B), or if appearing mostly smooth then frons with vertical costae (Fig. 4F).................... 20

19 (18) Petiole with complete longitudinal carina on lateral margins (Fig. 4C); labrum with 8–10 digits; fore wing postmarginal vein reaching near apex of wing (Fig. 4D); lateral lobe of mesoscutum, axilla, mesoscutellar disc, and frenum with strong sculpture........................................................... Orasema festiva group (key: Burks et al. 2015)

- Petiole without complete lateral longitudinal carinae; labrum with 4 digits; fore wing postmarginal vein short, not close to apex of wing; lateral lobe of mesoscutum, axilla, scutellar disc, and frenum smooth (Fig. 33F)................................................................................................... Orasema johnsoni group (in part), 61

20 (18) Antenna of both sexes with 9 funiculars; fore wing basal area densely pilose; female femora completely yellow.... Orasema argentina Gemignani (unplaced to group)

- Antenna of female with 8 funiculars and male with 8 or 9 funiculars; fore wing basal area bare to sparsely setose, never pilose; some femora usually dark medially...................................................................... 21

21 (20) Fore wing costal cell with anteriorly expanded bare area (Fig. 20H); face broad (female MSP:EH = 1.0–1.7) and with reticulate sculpture (Fig. 20B); body size large (females 2.8–5.2 mm, but usually> 4 mm); male antenna with 9 funiculars.......................................................................................... Orasema tolteca group, 36

- Fore wing costal cell not anteriorly expanded and with variable setation; face often subtriangular (female MSP:EH = 0.5–1.3, often <1) and sometimes with other sculpture; body size variable (females 1.2–5.8 mm, often <4 mm); male antenna almost always with 8 funiculars............................................................................... 22

22 (21) Labrum with more than 6 digits, or if with 4–6 digits then with the following combination of characters: mesoscutum coarsely rugose-areolate (Fig. 3C); female antenna with funiculars beyond F3 less than twice as long as broad to as broad as long; propodeum lacking median groove; eyes lacking setation (Fig. 4E)................................................ 23

- Labrum usually with 4 digits, but if up to 6 then differing in at least one of the above characters...................... 24

23 (22) Labrum with 4 digits; frons weakly imbricate, lower face weakly reticulate (Fig. 4E).................................

........................................................ Orasema longinoi Heraty & Baker (unplaced to group)

- Labrum usually with more than 6 digits, rarely with 4; frons strongly costate, lower face smooth (Fig. 4F), or entire face strongly reticulate.......................................... Orasema lasallei group; (key: Heraty and Baker 2020)

24 (22) Female: fore and mid femora dark brown with iridescence, hind femur yellow; antennal funiculars same width throughout, slightly shorter apically; propodeum with a median carina within a median longitudinal groove (Fig. 4G); PTL:HCL = 0.6–0.7; head and mesosoma dark green-blue iridescent; eyes bare. Male: only known from one heavily damaged molecular voucher, cannot be diagnosed.............................................. Orasema deltae Gemignani (unplaced to group)

- Characters at least partially disagreeing with above description................................................ 25

25 (24) Eyes with setae longer than width of ommatidium, easily seen with low magnification (Fig. 44B); head relatively narrow (HW: HH = 1.0–1.2); frenum in dorsal view semicircular (Fig. 44F)................. Orasema roppai n. sp. (unplaced to group)

- Eyes bare or with setae at most equal to width of ommatidium, requiring high magnification to see; head usually broader (HW: HH = 1.0–1.5, usually>1.1); frenum in dorsal view crescent-shaped or not visible (Fig. 40F)........................ 26

26 (25) Head broadly triangular with relatively small eyes (female MSP:EH ~1.2)..................................................................................................... Orasema susanae Gemignani (unplaced to group)

- Head subtriangular with relatively larger eyes (female MSP:EH = 0.5–1.0) (Fig. 40B).............................. 27

27 (26) Females only: antenna relatively short (FL:HH = 1.0–1.3); mesosoma relatively high (ML:MH = 1.1–1.3); large-bodied (3.7– 4.6 mm) (Figs 40A, 43A).............................................................................. 28

- Both sexes: antenna usually long (female FL:HH = 1–1.8, usually>1.3); mesosoma usually longer (ML:MH = 1.1–1.6, usually>1.3); body size variable (females 1.2–5.1 mm, usually <4 mm)............................................... 29

28 (27) Legs beyond coxae tawny-orange; hind tibia greatly widened distally, about 3× as wide as metabasitarsus (Fig. 40E); stigmal vein slightly angled toward wing apex (Fig. 40A); PTL:HCL = 0.9–1.2; length 3.7 mm........................................................................................... Orasema cirrhocnemis n. sp. (unplaced to group)

- Legs beyond coxae yellow; hind tibia not greatly widened distally, at most 2× as wide as metabasitarsus (Fig. 43E); stigmal vein slightly angled toward wing base (Fig. 43A); PTL:HCL = 1.4; length 4.2–4.6 mm.................................................................................................... Orasema psarops n. sp. (unplaced to group)

29 (27) Axillular groove usually absent or narrowed anteriorly (see Burks et al. 2018: figs 25, 167, 257); HW:HH = 1.0–1.3; hind femora almost always yellow; first valvula of ovipositor with 4 or 5 teeth (see Burks et al. 2018: fig. 85); male PTL:HCL = 1.4–2.4................................................... Orasema stramineipes group (key: Burks et al. 2018)

- Axillular groove broad and with a complete lateral carina (see Burks et al. 2018: figs 272, 273); HW:HH = 1.3–1.5; hind femora sometimes dark; first valvula of ovipositor with 7–10 teeth (see Burks et al. 2018: fig. 274); male PTL:HCL = 1.0–1.5................................................................. Orasema xanthopus group (key: Heraty et al. 1993)

Notes

Published as part of Baker, Austin J. & Heraty, John M., 2020, The New World ant parasitoid genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), pp. 1-84 in Zootaxa 4888 (1) on pages 9-12, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4888.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4297699

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Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Family
Eucharitidae
Genus
Orasema
Kingdom
Animalia
Order
Hymenoptera
Phylum
Arthropoda
Scientific name authorship
Cameron
Taxon rank
genus

References

  • Cameron, P. (1884) Hymenoptera (Families Tenthridinidae-Chrysididae). In: Goodman, F. D. & Salvin, D. (Eds.), Biologia centrali-americana. Insecta Hymenoptera. Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 1 - 487.
  • Kirby, W. F. (1886) A synopsis of genera of the Chalcididae, subfamily Eucharinae, with descriptions of several new general and species of Chalcididae and Tenthredinidae. Journal of the Linnean Society, 20, 28 - 37. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.1886. tb 01433. x
  • Dalla Torre, K. W. (1898) Catalogus Hymenopterorum hucusque descriptorum systematicus et synonymicus. V. Chalcididae et. Proctotrupidae, Leipzig, 598 pp.
  • Ashmead, W. H. (1888) Descriptions of three new eucharids from Florida, with generic table of the Eucharinae. Entomologica Americana, 3, 186 - 188.
  • Ashmead, W. H. (1904) Classification of the chalcid flies or the superfamily Chalcidoidea, with descriptions of new species in the Carnegie Museum, collected in South America by Herbert H. Smith. Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum, 1, 225 - 533. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 10341
  • Schmiedeknecht, O. (1909) Hymenoptera fur Chalcididae. Wytsman Genera Insectorum, 97, 1 - 550.
  • Cameron, P. (1909) A contribution to the knowledge of the parasitic Hymenoptera of Argentina. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 35, 419 - 450.
  • Strand, E. (1942) Miscellanea nomenclatoria zoologica et palaeontologica X-XII. Folia Zoologica und Hydrobiologica, 11, 386 - 402.
  • Peckham, G. W. & Peckham, E. G. (1892) Ant-like spiders of the Family Attidae. Occasional Papers of the Natural History Society of Wisconsin, 2, 1 - 84.
  • Kerrich, G. J. (1963) Descriptions of two species of Eucharitidae damaging tea, with comparative notes on other species (Hym., Chalcidoidea). Bulletin of Entomological Research, 54, 365 - 371. https: // doi. org / 10.1017 / S 0007485300048872
  • Girault, A. A. (1913) More new genera and species of chalcidoid Hymenoptera from Paraguay. Archiv fur Naturges, 79, 60 - 63.
  • Gahan, A. B. & Fagan, M. M. (1923) The type species of the genera of Chalcidoidea or chalcid-flies. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, 124, 1 - 173. https: // doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 03629236.124. i
  • Boucek, Z. (1988) Australasian Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). A biosystematic revision of genera of fourteen families, with a reclassification of species. CAB International, Wallingford, 832 pp.
  • Gemignani, E. V. (1933) La familia " Eucharidae " (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) en la Republica Argentina. Anales del Museo Nacional de Buenos Aires, 37, 277 - 294.
  • Heraty, J. M. (1994) Classification and evolution of the Oraseminae in the Old World, including revisions of two closely related genera of Eucharitinae (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae). Life Sciences Contributions, 157, 1 - 174. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 53489
  • Ghesquiere, J. (1946) Contribution a l'etude de microhymenopteres du Congo Belge. X. Nouvelles denominations pour quelques genres de Chalcidoidea et Mymaroidea. Revue de zoologie et de botanique africaines, 39, 367 - 371.
  • Heraty, J. M. (2002) A revision of the genera of Eucharitidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the world. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 68, 1 - 359.
  • Herreid, J. S. & Heraty, J. M. (2017) Hitchhikers at the dinner table: a revisionary study of a group of ant parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) specializing in the use of extrafloral nectaries for host access. Systematic Entomology, 42, 204 - 229. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / syen. 12206
  • Burks, R. A., Mottern, J. & Heraty, J. M. (2015) Revision of the Orasema festiva species group (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eucharitidae). Zootaxa, 3972 (4), 521 - 534. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 3972.4.4
  • Heraty, J. M. & Baker, A. J. (2020) New species of Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) from Central and South America. Journal of Natural History, 54 (9 - 12), 735 - 754. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222933.2020.1747651
  • Burks, R. A., Heraty, J. M., Dominguez, C. & Mottern, J. L. (2018) Complex diversity in a mainly tropical group of ant parasitoids: revision of the Orasema stramineipes species group (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eucharitidae). Zootaxa, 4401 (1), 1 - 107. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4401.1.1
  • Heraty, J. M., Wojcik, D. P. & Jouvenaz, D. P. (1993) Species of Orasema parasitic on the Solenopsis saevissima - complex in South America (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae, Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 2, 169 - 182.