Diadasina Moure, 1950

Genus Diadasina Moure View in CoL

Diadasina Moure, 1950: 392 View in CoL . Type species: Melitoma paraensis Ducke, 1912 View in CoL by original designation (= Teleutemnesta distincta Holmberg, 1903 View in CoL ).

DIAGNOSIS: Species of Diadasina are characterized by their short mouthparts, the pale pubescence on the head and mesosoma, and the distinct apical bands of yellow hairs on the metasoma (on T2–T 4 in the female or T2–T 6 in the male). The distinctly yellow-banded metasoma distinguishes Diadasina from species of Alepidosceles Moure and sympatric species of Diadasia Patton , two other emphorine genera with short mouthparts (species of Diadasia with banded terga occur in other areas). Besides their smaller size, they are readily separated from Ptilothrix by the presence of arolia (absent in Ptilothrix ), and the short first flagellomere (as long as its apical width, twice as long in Ptilothrix ). They may be confused with species of Leptometriella , which may have similar size and pubescence pattern. Both sexes of Diadasina are distinguished by the labrum with a rounded preapical margin, which is not carinate and without denticles (as is the case in Leptometriella ), by the metapostnotum entirely covered with hairs (in species of Leptometriella an upper bare area bordering the metanotum is always present), and by the female hind basitarsus being blunt apically, not with the strong apical projection present in females of Leptometriella .

CHARACTERIZATION OF DIADASINA : 5.5–9.0 mm long, with distinct apical bands of hairs on T2–T4 (female) or T2–T6 (male). First flagellomere short, as long as its apical width. Labrum of both sexes with the preapical margin rounded, not carinate and without denticles. Mandible of female with small preapical tooth. Proboscis short, at rest barely reaching anterior coxae; second segment of labial palp at most 0.8 times as long as first, much shorter than eye length (0.30–0.35 ˟). Metapostnotum entirely covered with hairs, at most with a very narrow longitudinal bare band. Hind tibia of female with distinct basitibial plate. Hind basitarsus of female with the apical projection blunt and weak. Arolia present; all claws with pointed apices in both sexes. Gradulus of S2 gently curved. Gradulus of T6 of female incomplete, absent at sides of pygidial plate, present as short lateral apical portion. Pygidial plate funnel-shaped, with basal sides straight, and apical portion narrow, parallel-sided. S6 of male with hairs longer along midline, frequently forming a tuft. S7 with simple, hairy apical lobes; S8 with apical portion profoundly divided by longitudinal slit; gonostylus shorter than gonocoxite (0.75 ˟); dorsoapical lobe of gonocoxite shorter than gonostylus (0.4 ˟), hairy.