Semimesoleius Ozols, 1963

Taxonomic History / Nomenclature
Semimesoleius Ozols, 1963: 59. Type species: Semimesoleius exophthalmicus Ozols. Original designation.
Remarks
This genus contains a single species, Semimesoleius exophthalmicus Ozols, 1963. Prior to the publication of a record of two female specimens from Britain (Shaw and Kasparyan 2003), Semimesoleius was only from the female holotype collected in Latvia. The genus was fairly recently treated by Kasparyan and Khalaim (2007: 511, 513, 551).
Diagnosis and Relationships
Semimesoleius is largely defined by the exceptionally large ocelli, with lateral ocellus separated from eye by only about 0.2-0.25 times maximum diameter of lateral ocellus (Kasparyan and Khalaim (2007: 513, Figs 4-6). Additionally, the clypeus is relatively narrow, sharply margined, and bilobed (narrowly concave medially); the ventral tooth of the mandible is slightly smaller than the dorsal tooth; propodeal carinae are weak, but generally as in Mesoleius; posterior hind tibial spur at least 0.35 times length of hind basitarsis; fore wing areolet present; hind wing with first abscissa of CU1 about 4 times longer than 1cu-a; T1 about 1.8 times longer than apical width, with dorsal carinae well developed and extending a little posteriorad level of spiracles; glymma present; T2 thyridium present; ovipositor sheath straight, bluntly rounded at apex, projecting posteriorly; ovipositor with subapical, dorsal notch.

According to Townes (1970), Semimesoleius is quite similar to Mesoleius, Campodorus, and Alexeter. In his key to mesoleiine genera, Townes (1970: 105-109) characterizes Mesoleius and Campodorus by the absence of a fore wing areolet relative to Semimesoleius. Alexeter and Semimesoleius are differentiated by the size of the ocelli, though it should be noted that some species of Alexeter have fairly large ocelli. Semimesoleius could also easily key to Lamachus in Townes’ couplet 19.

The above information is based almost exclusively on descriptions, keys, and figures in Townes (1970) and Kasparyan and Khalaim (2007) since I have not seen any material of this genus.

Distribution
No referenced distribution records have been added to the database for this OTU.
Map

There are no specimens currently determined for this OTU, or those specimens determined for this OTU are not yet mappable.

Acknowledgements
This page was assembled by Bob Wharton as part of a larger collaborative effort on the genera of Ctenopelmatinae. Page last updated April, 2015.

This work would not have been possible without the groundwork provided by Ian Gauld’s study of the Australian and Costa Rican faunas, and we are particularly grateful for his assistance in many aspects of this study. We also thank David Wahl for useful feedback throughout our study. 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. Heather Cummins and Caitlin Nessner graciously assisted with formatting, and literature retrieval. This study was supported by the National Science Foundation’s PEET program under Grant No. DEB 0328922 and associated REU supplement nos DEB 0723663 and 0923134.

This material is based upon work at Texas A&M University supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number DEB 0328922 with REU supplements DEB 0723663 and 0923134. 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.