The Wharton Lab

Tubiformopius Fischer, 1998: 26. Type species: Opius tubigaster Fischer, 1968. Original designation.
Tubiformopius: Fischer 1999: (as synonym of Lorenzopius); Wharton et al. (2012): 32-34, 73-77 (as valid genus, included species).

Type locality of tubigaster: Ecuador (holotype male in AEI).

Valid genus (Wharton et al. 2012)

Fischer’s (1998) original description of Tubiformopius was very brief since it was only included in a key to the eight genera he treated in the Opius genus group. Although two species are indicated in the relevant couplet, only one, designated as the type species, is specifically named. Subsequently, Fischer (1999), without discussion, treated Tubiformopius as a synonym of Lorenzopius. Aside from the original descriptions and Fischer’s (1999) subsequent synonymy, neither Tubiformopius nor Lorenzopius has been further treated until Wharton et al. (2012). A figure in original description of Opius tubigaster shows the basal tooth on mandible (Fischer 1968).

Mandible (Figs 5, 6) very weakly narrowing, nearly parallel-sided over distal 0.5, more abruptly widening basally, with weak to distinct basal lobe. Labrum narrowly exposed to concealed (Figs 5, 7). Clypeus relatively weakly but distinctly protruding in profile; ventral margin truncate. Malar sulcus absent or represented only by a short, weak indentation adjacent eye; malar space distinct, at least as long as basal width of mandible. Occipital carina broadly absent dorsally, present laterally, distinctly separate from hypostomal carina ventrally. First flagellomere much longer than second. Propleuron ventral-laterally without oblique carina. Notauli (Fig. 3) short, shallow, narrow, confined to anterior declivity, not extending onto disc posteriorly; distinct midpit absent. Precoxal sulcus (Fig. 2) broad, very weakly impressed, unsculptured. Propodeum granular rugose, without areola. Fore wing (Figs 1, 2) stigma long, narrow, curled in holotypes of both species treated below, but not as discrete distally as in Lorenzopius and Stigmatopoea; r arising distinctly basad midpoint of stigma but not from extreme base; m-cu entering first submarginal cell, widely separated from second submarginal cell; second submarginal cell with 2RS much shorter than 3RSb; 2CUb arising near middle of hind margin of first subdiscal cell, the posterior distal corner of the latter broadly open. Dorsope and laterope of T1 absent (Fig. 8); S1 about 0.5-0.6 x length of T1, apparently fused to T1; T1 long and narrow throughout; T2 and following terga unsculptured. Ovipositor not tapering evenly to a fine point.

We retain Tubiformopius as a valid genus distinct from Lorenzopius primarily on the basis of strong differences in the shape of the mandible (Fig. 6), fore wing venation (Figs 1, 2), and the notauli (Fig. 3). In Lorenzopius, the mandible lacks a basal tooth or lobe, fore wing m-cu is not widely antefurcal and the first subdiscal cell is closed, and the notauli are longer, extending onto the disc of the mesoscutum.

There are two included species, Tubiformopius tubibasis and Tubiformopius tubigaster. Fischer (1978) originally placed tubibasis in Opius s.s. Differences in venation and the first metasomal segment (especially the long and apparently fused S1) separate Tubiformopius from Opius s.s. Fischer (1977) placed tubigaster in the subgenus Allophlebus Fischer, 1972 but the type species of Allophlebus has T1 distinctly broadening apically with a very short, clearly separated S1, a distinct laterope, and the fore wing m-cu is postfurcal.

Known only from two species, both known only from the holotypes collected in Ecuador.

Unknown.

Images were taken by Lauren Ward; page assembled largely by Bob Wharton and based on Wharton et al. (2012). We are grateful to David Wahl of the American Entomological Institute (AEIC) for loan of the holotypes. Matt Yoder provided considerable assistance with databasing issues, and our use of PURLs (http://purl.oclc.org) in this regard follows the example of their use in publications by Norm Johnson. This work was conducted at Texas A&M University and supported by the National Science Foundation Grant No. DEB 0949027. Page last significantly updated February, 2013. The material on this page is freely available, but should be acknowledged if used elsewhere.

This material is based upon work at Texas A&M University supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number 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.