Chrysis smaragdula, Lepeletier & Serville, 1825

Chrysis smaragdula species-group

DIAGNOSIS. — Species of the smaragdula group sensu Kimsey & Bohart (1991) are recognised by the combination of following characters: first flagellomere l/w = 1-3 (male), 2-3.5 (female, most often 2.5 or more); face densely punctate, striato-punctate medially, yet not microridged; transverse frontal carina well visible, normally M-like or inverted U-like, with or without posterior branches; anterior ocellus lidded; malar space long (1 MOD) to very long (2-3 MOD); pronotum shorter than scutellum, rarely carinate laterally, and humeral angle not acute; mesopleuron dentate in some species; metanotum sometimes slightly produced; apical margin of third tergum with six teeth or angles, rarely seven for a small median denticle; black spots on second sternum transverse, fused or nearly so, rarely small or medium. Body colour with various shades of green, blue, and bluish purple (in C. jousseaumei all reddish purple).

HOSTS. — Eumenine hosts are known for several species ( Kimsey & Bohart 1991).

REMARKS

The smaragdula group is the most speciose after the ignita group and has a worldwide distribution. This group is anyway heterogeneous in the definition given by Kimsey & Bohart (1991). Linsenmaier (1959, 1994, 1999) split it in several groups, e.g. diehli group, fasciata group, sexdentata group, and the decemdentata group, which was recently confirmed as a distinct group by Rosa & Halada (2021). According to Linsenmaier’s (1994) classification, the Arabian species should be included as follows: C. jousseaumei in the sexdentata group, with the ancillary vein originating from the Radial sector; C. diehli in the diehli group, which is characterized by specimens with sexdendata habitus and first flagellomere shorter than the second in both male and female.