Tamaulipeca Kasparyan, 2001

Tamaulipeca Kasparyan, 2001 View in CoL View at ENA in Kasparyan & Hernandez, 2001: 231. Type species: Tamaulipeca clypeator Kasparyan & Hernandez , by original designation.

Diagnosis Tamaulipeca can be distinguished from all other genera of Ateleutinae by the combination of the following characters. (1) Clypeal margin distinctly pointed medially ( Fig. 6A). (2) Mandible small and slender, MLW around 1.80, MWW 0.6–0.6. (3) Lateral carina of scutellum incomplete, reaching about 0.5 its length. (4) Median longitudinal carina of propodeum absent. (5) Hind tibia of male densely covered with stout bristles. (6) Cross-vein 2r-m short, almost indistinct. (7) Veins 3-Rs and 3-M distinctly divergent ( Fig. 6B). (8) Hind wing vein 2-1A absent or vestigial.

Comments Species of Tamaulipeca are similar to the Neotropical Ateleute , from which they can be readily differentiated by the clypeal margin medially pointed (vs. truncate or emarginate medially in Ateleute ) and veins 3-Rs and 3-M distinctly divergent (vs. parallel); species of Tamaulipeca also have no trace of the cross-vein 3r-m. Tamaulipeca also shows a broader, stouterT1 (see T1WW 2.7–3.0, versus T1LW 2.0– 2.4 in Ateleute ). The anterior transverse carina of the propodeum is absent in all described species of Tamaulipeca , but the species examined herein has a distinct, though weak, anterior carina ( Fig. 6C).