Opius rugicoxis Fischer, 1969: 251-254. Holotype female in AEIC.
Opius (Stomosema) rugicoxis: Fischer 1977: 223, 248-249 (key, redescription); Yu et al. 2005 (electronic catalog).
Opius rugicoxis: Wharton et al. (2012): 71-73 (diagnosis).
Opius rugicoxis Fischer, 1969
Taxonomic History / Nomenclature
Remarks
Regardless of subgeneric assignment, this species falls within Opius in the classifications of Fischer (1977, 1999), van Achterberg and Salvo (1997), and Wharton (1997). The shape and sculpture of the first metasomal segment and the relatively long S1 suggest a relationship to Tubiformopius, but I exlude this species from Tubiformopius for the present time primarily on the basis of wing venation and from Lorenzopius on the basis of the form of the mandible.
Fischer (1977) placed this species in his subgenus Opius (Stomosema), which he earlier (Fischer 1972) characterized on the basis of three features: absence of a mesoscutal midpit, presence of sculpture in the precoxal sulcus, and a concealed labrum. Unfortunately, the holotype has a small, shallow, but distinct midpit (Figs 5, 6) and lacks a precoxal sulcus (Fig. 3). This species would therefore key to Opius (Nosopaeopius) in Fischer (1972) and Fischer (1999). There is some faint wrinkling on the mesopleuron ventrally, but not located within a depression and not quite coincident with the position of the precoxal sulcus if it were present.
Diagnosis and Relationships
Head (Figs 2-3): labrum not exposed; clypeus tall, flat, not protruding, ventral margin truncate; mandible with broad, discrete basal lobe, apical half narrow, nearly parallel-sided; malar space distinct, malar sulcus weak but present; 25 flagellomeres.
Mesosoma (Figs 3-6): Midpit small, round; pronotum not visible dorsally; notaulus weak, present as very short, weakly sculptured groove directed posterior-medially from and along edge of anterior declivity, not extending posteriorly on disc of mesoscutum; weak supra-marginal carina extending laterally from base of notaulus nearly to tegula; scuto-scutellar sulcus narrow (5-6 x wider than long), crenulate throughout; precoxal sulcus absent, thus unsculptured; hind coxa granular-rugose, hence the species name; propodeum completely granular rugose, without trace of carinae.
Wings and legs (Figs 1, 3, 7): Fore wing m-cu distinctly postfurcal; 2CUb arising below middle of first subdiscal cell; second submarginal cell long, distinctly narrowing distally; r shorter than stigma width; stigma folded, shape not readily discernible. Hind femur slender, distinctly bilobed.
Metasoma (Figs 1, 3-6): First metasomal tergite (T1) completely striate, the striae curving medially from basal-lateral area adjacent tendon attachment, obscuring dorsal-lateral and lateral carinae; dorsope absent, laterope not apparent; T1 spiracle indistinct, situated posteriad midlength of T1; T1 nearly parallel-sided, 2.25 x longer than apical width; first metasomal sternite (S1) appears fused to T1; S1 0.3 x length of T1.
Distribution
Known only from the type locality: Troya, Ecuador.
There is a Cerro Troya 5 Km S. Tulcan on the Colombian border (mt top = 11,485 ft)
00degrees 44’N, 77degrees 41’W.
There is a Cerro Troya 5 Km S. Tulcan on the Colombian border (mt top = 11,485 ft)
00degrees 44’N, 77degrees 41’W.
Type locality. Ecuador, Troya, 2900 m.
Distribution
No referenced distribution records have been added to the database for this OTU.
Biology / Hosts
Biology and hosts unknown.
Map
kml (right-click, save as)
Label data
Holotype. Female (AEIC), first label:
Troya, Ecuador
VI. 10-13. 65 2900m.
Luis Pena
Troya, Ecuador
VI. 10-13. 65 2900m.
Luis Pena
Second label [purple]: Holotype
Third label:
Opius [female symbol]
rugicoxis
det Fischer n. sp.
Fourth label:
Type no.
659
Acknowledgements
This page was prepared by Bob Wharton. Images were prepared and processed by Lauren Ward, and we thank David Wahl of the American Entomological Institute (AEIC) for extended loan of the holotype. We used mx (code and documentation available at http://mx.phenomix.org) for all data management issues associated with the assembly of this taxon page. We are grateful to Matt Yoder for his continued support in this regard. The work was supported in part by NSF DEB 0949027.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Numbers DEB 0949027.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
