Key to genera and species of World Pycnostigminae

(Life: Kingdom: Metazoa (animals); Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Hexapoda; Order: Hymenoptera; Superfamily: Cynipoidea; Family: FigitidaeSubfamily: Pycnostigminae)

Notaulices complete from anterior margin of mesoscutum (at junction with pronotum) to posterior margin (at junction with scutellum) (fig a); parascutal impression present (fig a); female with more than 10 flagellomeres (fig b)

Notaulices incomplete, not reaching the pronotum, but present midway across mesoscutum and continuing to junction with scutellum (fig. a); parascutal impression absent (fig. a); female with 10 flagellomeres (fig. b)

One species in Algeria, two species in South Africa

Tylosema 7

Scutellum in lateral view evenly rounded (figs. a & b)

Five species in South Africa

Pycnostigmus 3

Scutellum in lateral view with a distinct angle, resulting in a postero-dorsal flattened area (figs. a & b)

One species from Armenia; one species from United Arab Emirates.

Trjapitziniola 9

Head, mesosoma and coxae metallic green-gold (fig a)

Pycnostigmus mastersonae

Head, mesosoma and coxae non-metallic (fig a)

Pronotum foveolate and rugulose (fig a)

Pycnostigmus rostratus

Pronotum weakly to strongly carinate, not foveolate (fig a)

Disk of scutellum smooth and polished in center (fig a)

Pycnostigmus fossilensis

Disk of scutellum partially to entirely rugose (fig a)

Mesopleuron with numerous strigae; pronotum strongly carinate; disk of scutellum variously carinate posteriorly

Pycnostigmus hoerikwaggoensis

Mesopleuron smooth with few strigae; pronotum smooth with a few weak carinae (fig a); disk of scutellum with a single dominant carina present around the perimeter of the disk (fig b)

Pycnostigmus incognito

Disk of scutellum entirely smooth; posterior margin of scutellum lacking a distinct carina (fig a)

Tylosema dayae

Disk of scutellum smooth in center, rugose on lateral and posterior edges; posterior margin of disk of scutellum with a distinct carina (fig a)

Lateral aspect of pronotum smooth (fig a); mesoscutum smooth and lacking setae (fig b)

Tylosema ronquisti

Lateral aspect of pronotum rugulose/areolate (fig a); mesoscutum distinctly shagreen with scattered setae (fig b)

Tylosema nigerrimum

(click on image for enlargement)

Mesopleuron striate anteriorly, gradually becoming smooth posteriorly (fig a, arrow 1); ventral portion of metapleuron crenulate (fig a, arrow 2); ventro-posterior aspects of propodeum glabrous (fig. a, arrow 3)

Trjapitziniola popovi

(click on image for enlargement)

Mesopleuron entirely striate (fig a, arrow 1); ventral portion of metapleuron smooth (fig a, arrow 2); ventro-posterior aspects of propodeum setose (fig. a, arrow 3)

Trjapitziniola vanharteni

Reference

Buffington, M.L. & van Noort, S. 2007. A world revision of Pycnostigminae (Cynipoidea: Figitidae) with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa 1392: 1-30

Credits

Photographs © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums of Cape Town) or © Matt Buffington (Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA/ARS)

Matt Buffington (Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA/ARS) played an integral role in the development of the Cynipoidea pages