Tessaloridon Kasparyan, 2024

Tessaloridon Kasparyan , gen.n.

Type species: Tessaloridon quadrilineatus ( Kasparyan et Ruíz-Cancino, 2005) , comb.n.

COMPARISON AND DISCUSSION. Tessaloridon gen.n. is similar to Diapetimorpha Viereck, 1913 but differs from this genus in having slenderer body, longer antennae (about 1.3 times as long as fore wing), first and second flagellomeres combined 1.7–1.8 times as long as maximum eye diameter (shorter in Diapetimorpha ), apical flagellomeres slenderer than subapical ones, lateral carinae of scutellum longer, dorsolateral carina of first tergite distinct (absent in Diapetimorpha ), apical ventral lobes of fourth hind tarsomere shorter, ovipositor sheath shorter and ovipositor slenderer with reduced nodus (see Table 2).

The genus is remarkable by its unusual color pattern of the mesoscutum ( Fig. 17 View Figs 17–19 ). In the Mexican fauna of Cryptini , such color pattern of mesoscutum is rather stable being known only in about ten species: e.g. Baltazaria servilis (Cresson, 1874) (Goryphina) , two small genera Camera Townes, 1962 (Ischnina) and Epicnemion Kasparyan et Ruíz-Cancino, 2008 ( Lymeonina ), some species of Pachysomoides Strand, 1917 and Polycyrtidea Viereck, 1913 ( Lymeonina ), and Ischnus mesonotator Kasparyan, 2022 (Ischnina).

DESCRIPTION. Fore wing 6.0– 8.5 mm long. Antenna with 30–32 flagellomeres; first and second flagellomeres long, combined about 1.8 times as long as maximum diameter of eye in female and about 1.4 times in male; tip of antenna with remarkable thickened sensillae ( Fig. 12 View Figs 11–16 ). Frons mat, with small punctures, polished just above antennal sockets; with short and low vertical carina medially. Clypeus strongly convex, pyramidal in profile, with maximum height at lower 0.35 ( Fig. 13 View Figs 11–16 ); its lower edge broadly truncated and flattened, with neither tooth nor a pair of tubercles centrally ( Fig. 14 View Figs 11–16 ). Occipital carina joining hypostomal carina at acute angle; oral carina 0.6 times as long as basal mandibular width, raised into translucent lobe ( Fig. 13 View Figs 11–16 ). Lower tooth of mandible slightly shorter than the upper.

Collar of pronotum dorsally in central part separated from transverse pronotal groove by weak carina (sometimes carina absent). Epomia long and strong. Sternaulus strong, extending to base of mid coxa ( Fig. 11 View Figs 11–16 ). Basal propodeal groove with two pairs of teeth on its anterior slope ( Fig. 17 View Figs 17–19 , arrows). Scutellum with lateral carina strong at least in basal 0.65. Basal carina of propodeum complete ( Fig. 17 View Figs 17–19 ). Propodeum in both sexes with long, flattened dorso-ventrally apophyses ( Fig. 17 View Figs 17–19 ). Propodeal spiracle subcircular.

Female with apical lobes of tarsomeres 4 equal by length, short (about 0.2 times as long as ventral length of tarsomeres). Fore wing with areolet small ( Figs 11, 15 View Figs 11–16 ), 0.65 times as long as portion of second recurrent vein above bulla. Distal rm weak. Second recurrent vein subvertical, slightly arched. Postnervulus intercepted in its upper 0.4. Basal half of mediella weakly arched, apical half distinctly arched. Hind wing with nervellus intercepted near its lower 0.4. Brachiella short, reaching 0.2–0.37 distance to wing margin.

First tergite with strong lateral tooth basally ( Fig. 18 View Figs 17–19 , arrow); median dorsal longitudinal carinae absent; dorsolateral and ventrolateral carinae weak (ventrolateral carina partly obliterated). Ovipositor sheath about 0.65 times as long as hind tibia (usually about 0.9 times in Diapetimorpha spp. ). Ovipositor rather slender with nodus hardly discernible ( Fig. 19 View Figs 17–19 , arrow); upper valve behind nodus about 12 times as long as its height at level of nodus.

ETYMOLOGY. The genus name is a masculine noun composed of the Greek “tessáron lorídon” (four stripes), referring to the mesonotum color pattern.

COMPOSITION. The genus comprises one species, T. quadrilineata ( Kasparyan et Ruíz-Cancino, 2005) , comb.n.