COLOMBIA, Magdalena PNN Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Bella Vista, 10°48'N, 73°39'W, 1500 m, Malaise trap, 1–15 June 2001, leg. J. Cantillo. – Holotype is in good condition: (1) glued on a card point by the right mesopleuron, (2) left antenna missing ultimate or 19th antennomere (17th flagellomere), (3) right pair of wings less visible owing to mounting and to the apically creased fore wing.

The species name stigmalis refers to the large pairs of spiracles on the propodeum and first tergite (Figs 5, 9).

Body 3 mm long. Antenna as long as head, mesosoma and tergites 1–2 combined, with 19 antennomeres. Scape twice as long as broad apically and somewhat belly, first flagellomere 1.2 times as long as second, second flagellomere somewhat thicker than first, first flagellomere 3.7 times and second 2.5 times as long as broad (Fig. 1). Head in dorsal view transverse, almost 1.9 times as broad (between temples) as long (between compound eye and temple), temple slightly swollen, eye almost 1.3 times as long as temple (Fig. 2). Eye in lateral view 1.7 times as high as wide and just wider than gena, gena evenly broad beyond eye. Mandible along its lower margin 1.8 times as long as broad between upper and lower teeth, both teeth rounded (Fig. 3). Tentorial pit fairly large and extending to lower part of eye (Fig. 4). Head polished.

Mesosoma in lateral view stout, somewhat longer than high, polished. Notauli short, restricted to anterior declivous part of mesoscutum and finely crenulate. Pronope missing. Precoxal suture short, crenulate, medially on mesopleuron. Propodeum areolate, spiracles large, otherwise propodeum smooth and shiny, on its upper corner foveolate depressed (Fig. 5). Hind femur 3.8 times as long as broad distally (Fig. 6). Hind tibia slightly longer than hind tarsus.

Fore wing as long as body. Pterostigma linear (Fig. 7), r long, 3.5 times as long as width of pterostigma. Second submarginal cell long, 3–SR 2.3 times as long as 2–SR, r–m as long as r. First discal cell: 1–M 1.9 times as long as 1–SR–M (Fig. 8).

First tergite (Fig. 9) long, twice as long as posteriorly broad, spiracles large and at middle of tergite, pair of basal keels reaching spiracles, hind half of tergite striolate. Tergites 2–3 fully fused (i.e. border between tergites indistinct) and together with further tergites polished. Ovipositor sheath as long as mid tibia.

Scape and pedicel yellow, flagellum darkening brown. Head and mesosoma chestnut dark brown. Mouthparts whitish. First tergite brownish yellow, tergites 2–3 brownish, remaining tergites chestnut dark brown. Legs pale yellow. Tibiae apically and tarsi faintly light brownish. Wings hyaline, pterostigma brown, veins light brown.

unknown.

Colombia.

The new species, Aspilota stigmalis, is nearest to Aspilota phyllotomae Fischer (Fischer 1970: 124) with their common features being the transverse head in dorsal view, first tergite 2.1 times as long as broad posteriorly, dentation of mandible and chestnut brown ground colour of body. The two species are distinguished by the following characters (Aspilota phyllotomae is known only by its original description: Fischer 1970: 125):

COLOMBIA, Valle del Cauca, PNN Farallones de Cali, Anchicaya, 3°26'S, 76°48'W, 900 m, Malaise trap, 1 August – 10 October 2000, leg. S. Sarria. – Holotype is in good condition: (1) glued on a card point by its right mesopleuron, (2) right antenna broken, with 15 antennomeres, (3) right fore wing creased apico-posteriorly.

The new species is named after the type locality, ”Cauca”.

Body 2.6 mm long. Antenna as long as body and with 21 antennomeres. First flagellomere three times as long as broad apically, further flagellomeres gradually shortening and indistinctly attenuating so that penultimate flagellomere 2.5 times as long as broad. Head in dorsal view less transverse or subcubic (Fig. 10), 1.7 times as broad as long, eye almost 2.9 times as long as temple, temple rounded. Ocelli medium-sized, OOL almost three times as long as POL. Eye in lateral view nearly 1.5 times as high as wide and nearly 1.6 times as wide as temple, temple beyond eye evenly widened (Fig. 11, see arrows). Lower tooth of mandible somewhat small, mandible twice as long as broad between upper and lower teeth (Fig. 12). Paraclypeal pit short, i.e. distance between pit and eye as long as length of paraclypeal pit itself (Fig. 13). Maxillary palp one-sixth longer than height of head.

Mesosoma in lateral view stout, somewhat longer than high, polished. Mesoscutal dimple before prescutellar furrow. Precoxal suture medially on mesopleuron, crenulate. Propodeum with medio-longitudinal carina and with areolation (areola basalis, etc., Fig. 14). Hind femur 4.1 times as long as broad distally (Fig. 15). Hind tibia and tarsus equal in length. Hind basitarsus as long as tarsomeres 2–3 combined.

Fore wing: venation ”Synaldis-form”, i.e. 2–SR missing hence first and second submarginal cells confluent; r + 3–SR as long as SR1, CU1a issuing from middle of outer side of subdiscal cell.

First tergite (Fig. 16) 2.8 times as long as broad posteriorly, moderately broadening posteriorly. Pair of keels merging into fine striation; spiracles close beyond middle of tergite. Tergites 2–3 fused and as long as first tergite, together with further tergites polished. Ovipositor sheath as long as mid tibia.

Scape and pedicel brownish yellow, flagellum darkening brown. Head, mesosoma and first tergite brownish black, rest of metasoma brown. Mandible and mouthparts yellow. Tegula brownish yellow. Legs yellow, hind tarsus greyish fumous. Wings hyaline, pterostigma and veins opaque brownish yellowish.

unknown.

Colombia.

The new species, Synaldis cauca, is near to Synaldis acutidens Fischer as both have a mandible with three spiky teeth, SR1 more than twice as long as r + 3–SR combined and dark bodies; the two species are distinguished as follows (Synaldis acutidens is known by its original description: Fischer 1967: 434):

The single distinctive generic feature of the genus Synaldis Foerster that differentiates it from Aspilota Foerster (the confluent first and second submarginal cells of the fore wing, or absence of vein 2–SR) has been questioned since more than a century. Wharton (1980: 34) points out: ”There are undoubtedly species of Aspilota in which only the Synaldis-type venation occurs. But the grouping of such species at a subgeneric level would be misleading, since it is based on a single character strongly subject to convergence.” Fischer is the first specialist consistently maintaining Synaldis as a valid genus. To confirm and support his taxonomic standpoint he states (Fischer 1993: 453): ”Da diese Gattungen [of the genus-group Aspilota] überwiegend diagnostischen Charakter haben und auch Übergänge aufweisen (und es übrigens auch keine objektiven Kriterien für das Aufstellen von Taxa der Gattungs-Gruppe gibt), erscheint mir das Beibehalten der verhältnismäßig leicht abgrenzbaren Synaldis Foerster gerechtfertigt und für die praktische Arbeit zweckmäßig.” A second expert, Belokobylskij (2002), also considers Synaldis as a valid genus: in his key to the species of the Russian Far East the species are arranged under this genus. I am quite convinced that the species with Synaldis-form fore wing venation is evolving in our present epoch (in geochronological sense). In this conception the missing vein 2–SR is an unambiguous character for the Synaldis species, consequently this feature is a ”true generic” alar formation. The loss of vein 2–SR is a convergent feature within the subfamily Alysiinae and also in the family Braconidae. The other convergent feature of Synaldis species (sensu Fischer) is the ”long” versus ”short” tentorial pit (occurring in several alysiine genera). The species with a ”short” tentorial pit (i.e. pit not reaching compound eye) are in a small majority over the species with a ”long” pit (i.e. pit reaching compound eye). I consider this feature also as an evolutionary process. There are evolving the Synaldis species with common generic feature: missing the vein 2–SR (apomorphic) and forming the tentorial pit in two forms: in ”short” and ”long” pits. This taxonomic standpoint corresponds unambiguously with Fischer’s one: Synaldis is a valid genus. However, several American (and also some European) specialists refute the validity of the genus Synaldis, emphasizing the complexity of these features and giving less evolutionary significance to the presence / absence of vein 2–SR. Currently it seems difficult to decide whether the presence or absence of the ”short” and ”long” tentorial pit is plesiomorphic or apomorphic, respectively. In the case of vein 2–SR it is generally considered that its presence is plesiomorphic and its absence is apomorphic. By the way, there are rarely occurring ”Synaldis” specimens (one versus hundred to thousand specimens) which show transitional status: vein 2–SR is (very) faintly present (considered as atavistic feature) –– confirming the viewpoint that this venational mark is on the course to be stabilized. If we accept the hypothesis that the primary process within Synaldis species is the process of the loss of 2–SR and the formation of the tentorial pit is the secondary process in the evolution of this genus then Synaldis is evidently tenable as a ”good” genus.

The above short essay is but a viewpoint in the taxonomic treatment of the genus Synaldis. My conception is expounded in a traditional form – the morphological data matrix and molecular analysis will, presumably, unambiguously solve this taxonomic problem.

Telmogarbus olivai gen. et sp. n. (monobasic and present designation).

The new genus receives the fantasy name, Telmogarbus.

Body gracile. Antenna filiform, flagellomeres very long. Head in dorsal view transverse, eye distinctly longer than temple (Fig. 36). Mandible with four teeth, fourth tooth between first and second teeth (Fig. 20, see arrow). Maxillary palp very long, about twice as long as height of head. Face and clypeus much wider than high. Paraclypeal pit short, i.e. not reaching compound eye (Fig. 35). Ocelli medium-sized, elliptic. Pronope small, distinct. Notauli evenly deep, meeting behind, finely crenulate; mesoscutal dimple missing. Prescutellar furrow wide, with a few crenulae. Axille with pair of lamelliform excrescences (Fig. 23). Metanotum medially with thin, long spine curving posteriorly (Fig. 24).Propodeum polished, carinate (Fig. 38). Precoxal suture distinct, crenulate. Epicnemial carina present. Legs long and thin. Fore wing as long as body. Pterostigma widening medially, second submarginal cell long: 3–SR clearly longer than 2–SR, m–cu interstitial (Fig. 21). First tergite petiolate, beyond first tergite metasoma narrow, tergites polished, tergites 2–3 fused (Fig. 33). Hypopygium small, ovipositor sheath short. Ground colour of body yellow to (light) brown. Wings hyaline.

The new genus is near to the Palaearctic genus Kritscherysia Fischer (Fischer 1993: 484), to the Neotropic Gnathopleura Fischer (Fischer 1975: 128) and to the Palaearctic / Oriental / Nearctic genus Cratospila Foerster. The generic differentation of the four genera is presented below.

1.) Distinction between Kritscherysia and Telmogarbus: Common features of the two genera are the pair of more or less lamelliform excrescenses laterally from the prescutellar furrow (or on axillae) (Fig. 23; Abb. 54 in Fischer 1993: 485), long second submarginal cell (Fig. 21; Abb. 51 l.c.), long flagellomeres (Figs 26, 34) and ground colour of body yellow to light brown. The two genera are distinguished as follows.

2.) Distinction between Gnathopleura and Telmogarbus: The new genus runs to Gnathopleura Fischer in Wharton’s (1997: 88–98) identification key to the alysiine genera of the Neotropical Region, their common feature is the fourth tooth between teeth 1 and 2 (Figs 20, 29, see arrows); the distinction between them is presented here.

3.) Distinction between Cratospila and Telmogarbus: disregarding the number of mandibular teeth, the new genus will run to Cratospila Foerster (Wharton 1997: 88–98) by virtue of their delicate body shape, very long flagellomeres and long first tergite; the two genera differ from each other by the features in the key below.

Taxonomic remark. The three genera related to the new genus Telmogarbus are known to me by the following material: 1.) Cratospila by females and males of Cratospila circe Haliday; 2.) Gnathopleura by a few Neotopical species; 3.) Kritscherysia by two male paratypes of Kritscherysia longimembrum Fischerand the original description.

COLOMBIA, Nariño R. N., La Planada Parcela Olga, 1°15'N, 78°15'W, Malaise trap, holotype: 16 June – 2 July 2000 and paratype: 16 March – 2 April 2001, leg. G. Oliva. Holotype is in fairly good condition: (1) glued on a card point by lower part of mesopleuron, ;(2) right flagellum broken, antenna with 19 antennomeres; (3) missing: right middle leg, right fore leg (except coxa) and tarsomeres 2–4 of left hind leg; (4) left fore wing apically missing beyond pterostigma. Paratype is also in fairly good condition: (1) glued on card point by meso- and metapleura; (2) left flagellum apically broken, antenna with 22 antennomeres; (3) missing tarsi of right fore and hind legs.

The new species is dedicated to its collector, Mr. G. Oliva.

Female: Body 3.6 mm long. Antenna long, twice as long as body, with 33 antennomeres. Flagellomeres very long, flagellomeres 1–2 equal in length and ten times as long as broad apically (Fig. 34), subsequent flagellomeres slightly shortening so that penultimate flagellomere four times as long as broad. Head in dorsal view transverse (Fig. 36), 1.8 times as broad as long, eye 4.5 times as long as temple, temple rounded, occiput weakly excavate. OOL somewhat more than twice as long as POL. Eye in lateral view 1.25 times as high as wide and 2.4 times as wide as temple, temple beyond eye evenly wide (Fig. 37). Mandible 1.8 times as long below as broad between upper and lower teeth, fourth tooth between upper and middle teeth, every tooth pointed (Fig. 20). Paraclypeal pit as long as distance between pit and compound eye (Fig. 35). Segments of maxillary palp long, palp about 1.5 times as long as height of head. Head polished.

Mesosoma in lateral view stout, 1.2 times as long as high, polished. Pronope present. Crenulate notauli turning down to crenulated margin of mesoscutum, i.e. notauli not extending onto declivous anterior part of mesoscutum (Fig. 22, see arrow). Notauli meeting posteriorly (before prescutellar furrow) and here dimple missing. Prescutellar furrow subcrenulate, laterally from furrow (or on axillae) with pair of lamelliform excrescenses (Fig. 23). Metanotum medially with fairly long and somewhat posteriorly curved spine (Fig. 24). Propodeum areolate, areolae polished, spiracles before middle of propodeum, carination strong (Fig. 38). Precoxal suture distinct, restricted to middle of mesopleuron, crenulate, hind margin of mesopleuron almost smooth to subcrenulate; epicnemial carina present. Legs long. Hind femur 5.5 times as long as broad distally (Fig. 39). Hind tibia almost 1.3 times as long as hind tarsus.

Pterostigma (Fig. 21) 6.6 times as long as wide and r issuing from its middle, r short, shorter than width of pterostigma. Second submarginal cell long, 3–SR 1.6 times as long as 2–SR, n. rec. interstitial, SR1 1.6 times as long as 3–SR and reaching tip of wing. First subdiscal cell narrowing distally and closed (Fig. 40, see horizontal arrow), CU1a interstitial (Fig. 40, see vertical arrow).

First tergite (Fig. 33) 1.8 times as long as broad behind, weakly broadening posteriorly, spiracles before middle of tergite; pair of basal keels meeting at spiracle and posteriorly diverging, reaching hind end of tergite. Hind half of tergite medially between keels longitudinally substriate, otherwise polished. Tergites 2–3 fused and as long as first tergite, together with further tergites polished (Fig. 33). Ovipositor sheath as long as first tergite or hind basitarsus + half of second tarsomere.

Ground colour of body yellow to brownish yellow. Scape and pedicel brownish yellow. Flagellum brown to dark brown, flagellomeres 19–25 white. Head brownish yellow, vertex brown. Mandible, mouthparts, palps pale yellow. Prothorax browish yellow, mesoscutum, scutellum and mesosternum brown. Mesopleuron and propodeum blackish brown. Tergites brown, sternites yellow. Legs yellow, coxae and trochanters lemon yellow. Wings hyaline, pterostigma and veins yellowish.

Male paratype. Similar to female holotype. Body 3.5 mm long. Antenna with 31 antennomeres. Head in dorsal view 1.8 times as broad as long. Ptero-stigma wide, 5.7 times as long as wide. Dark colour somewhat more extensive.

Unknown.

Colombia.

COLOMBIA, Amazonas, PNN Amacayacu San Martin, 150 m, 3°23'S, 70°6'W, Malaise trap, leg. B. Amado. Holotype is in good condition: (1) glued on a card point by the right metapleuron, (2) right femur + tibia in glue, hardely visible, (3) left hind leg on the right side owing to the mounting.

The name latestigma refers to the wide pterostigma.

Body 2.5 mm long. Antenna somewhat longer than body and with 25 antennomeres. First flagellomere six times as long as broad apically and 1.5 times as long as second flagellomere, subsequent flagellomeres shortening so that penultimate flagellomere twice as long as broad. Head in dorsal view (Fig. 41) distinctly twice as broad as long, eye almost four times as long as temple, temple receding. Occiput carinate. Ocelli elliptic, OOL twice as long as POL. Malar suture present. Maxillary palp somewhat longer than height of head. Eye in lateral view 1.3 times as high as wide. Head polished.

Mesosoma in lateral view 1.4 times as long as high. Notauli distinct, smooth. Precoxal suture short with weak crenulae. Lateral carina of scutellum missing. Propodeum rugose (like Fig. 101 in van Achterberg 1976: 64). Hind femur five times as long as broad distally (Fig. 11). Claw simple, basal lobe distinct (Fig. 43).

Fore wing almost as long as body. Pterostigma wide (Fig. 44), 2.6 times as long as wide, r issuing somewhat distal to middle, r 0.8 times as long as width of pterostigma. 2–SR nearly 1.6 times as long as r, 3–SR + SR1 slightly bent and reaching tip of wing, 2–M short. First subdiscal cell open distally (Fig. 45, see arrow). Hind wing: cu–a slightly proximal to middle of vein M+CU + 1–M (Fig. 46, see arrow).

First tergite long and hardly broadening posteriorly (Fig. 47), 2.2 times as long as broad posteriorly, pair of keels distinct, finely striate. Second tergite almost 1.9 times as broad posteriorly as long, anteriorly strio-rugulose. Further tergites polished. Hypopygium fairly large, ovipositor sheath downcurved, somewhat longer than hind tibia.

Scape, pedicel and flagellomeres 1–2 straw yellow, rest of flagellum brown. Head brownish yellow, occiput brown, mouthparts whitish. Mesosoma blackish brown, tegula brown. Legs yellow, coxae and trochanters straw yellow. First tergite blackish brown, further tergites brown, anterior sternites whitish. Wings hyaline, pterostigma brown, parastigma whitish, veins opaque brown.

unknown.

Colombia.

The new species, Blacus (Tarpheion) latestigma, runs to Blacus (Tarpheion) erugatus van Achterberg with the help of van Achterberg’s keys (1976: 186, 1988: 140–141); the two species differ from each other by a few features.

Taxonomic remark. Blacus (Tarpheion) erugatus is known to the author by a pair of female specimens, their data: (a) Costa Rica, Puntar, Golfo Dulce, 24 km W Piedras-Blancas, 200 m, June–August 1989, leg. Hanson; (b) Costa Rica, Carthago Pr., La Cangreja, 1950 m, October 1991, leg. Hanson. Both females identified by S.R. Shaw in 1999 and in the Hungarian Natural History Museum (Budapest) by exchange of material. The species is new to the fauna of Costa Rica.

COLOMBIA, Amazonas, PNN Amacayacu Mata-Mata, Malaise trap, 150 m, 2–15 October 2001, leg. D. Chota. M 2239. Holotype is in good condition: (1) glued on a card point by its right meso- and metapleura, (2) left antenna broken, flagellum with 20 flagellomeres. Paratype is in fairly good condition: (1) glued on a card point by its right mesopleuron, (2) both antennae broken, right antenna with 16 and left antenna with 13 antennomeres, (3) right fore wing somewhat creased distally. Holotype in Boyacá, Colombia; one female paratype in Museum Budapest, Hym. Typ. No. 12021.

The species name inaequalis refers to the unequal lengths of 3–SR and 2–M of the fore wing (Fig. 55).

Body 3.3 mm long. Antenna (right one) somewhat longer than body and with 30 antennomeres. First flagellomere a little longer than second, first flagellomere 3.5 times as long as broad apically, subsequent flagellomeres shortening and attenuating so that penultimate flagellomere 3.6 times as long as broad. Head in dorsal view transverse (Fig. 51), almost 1.7 times as broad as long, eye fairly large: 7.5 times as long as temple, temple receding. Ocelli small, elliptic, OOL twice as long as POL. Eye in lateral view 1.3 times as high as wide and 5.4 times as wide as temple, beyond eye evenly wide (Fig. 52). Horizontal diameter of oral opening twice as long as shortest distance between opening and eye. Maxillary palp as long as height of head. Occipital carina completely removed from hypostomal carina. Face and gena smooth and shiny, vertex subgranulose, subshiny to matt.

Mesosoma in lateral view nearly twice as long as high. Mesoscutum, scutellum and propodeum granulose, otherwise mesosoma smooth and shiny. Pronope absent. Notauli complete, deep, smooth. Prescutellar furrow crenulate. Precoxal suture weakly distinct, smooth. Propodeum granulose, with a medio-longitudinal carina dividing posteriorly, polished anterior to and around spiracles (Fig. 53). Hind femur 3.8 times as long as broad medially (Fig. 54). Inner apex of hind tibia with comb-like dense bristles (cf. Fig. 15 in Scatolini et al. 2002: 126). Pair of spines of hind tibia shorter than half length of basitarsus.

Fore wing as long as body. Pterostigma (Fig. 55) four times as long as wide and r issuing from its middle, somewhat longer than width of pterostigma (12:10). Second submarginal cell long, 3–SR twice as long as 2–SR; SR1 faintly bent, slightly more than twice as long as 3–SR and reaching tip of wing. Vein r, 2–SR and m–cu equal in length. First subdiscal cell long, distally closed (Fig. 56, see arrow).

First tergite (Fig. 57) 1.5 times as long as broad posteriorly, weakly broadening posteriorly, dorsope distinct, pair of basal keels ending before middle of tergite, domed median part of tergite granulose. Second tergite quadrate, a little broader behind than long medially; tergites 2–4 largely weakly sclerotized or membranous (Fig. 57). Ovipositor sheath long, as long as mid tibia.

Scape and pedicel ochre, flagellum brown. Ground colour of head and mesosoma ochre; scutellum, propodeum and tergites brown. Mouthparts yellow, palps straw yellow. First tergite dark brown. Legs yellow, coxae and trochanters 1–2 straw yellow. Wings hyaline, pterostigma brownish, basally and apically yellow, veins yellowish to brownish.

Similar to the female holotype. Body 3.3 mm long. Head somewhat dark ochre.

unknown.

Colombia.

The new species, Pseudorhysipolis inaequalis, runs to Pseudorhysipolis notaulicus van Achterberg & Penteado-Dias in Scatolini et al.’s key (2002: 111–113) and belongs to the subgenus Pararhysipolis; the two species differ from each other by the features in the key (Pseudorhysipolis notaulicus is known to me by its original description: Scatolini et al. 2002: 111–113):