Amazoboea Broad & Sääksjärvi, 2025

Genus Amazoboea Broad & Sääksjärvi gen. nov.

Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4

Type species.

Amazoboea selva Broad & Sääksjärvi .

Diagnosis.

Amazoboea is one of the most morphologically distinctive genera of the Darwin wasp subfamily Banchinae . It can easily be separated from all other banchine genera by the set of following characters: 1) body form elongated (apparently adapted to emerge from woody substrate); 2) gena wide (wider ventrally than at mid-height of eye); 3) first metasomal tergite strongly convex and rugose; 4) second metasomal tergite rugose on coriaceous background; and 5) second metasomal tergite with large and transverse thyridia near anterior margin.

Description.

Thorax slightly elongate and dorso-ventrally compressed, with fairly short, sinuous ovipositor. Head. Clypeus convex with pronounced median transverse ridge, apically thin, straight, with fairly dense, long setae basally and apically. Mandible evenly tapered, ventral tooth very slightly longer than dorsal, with wide flange proximally; mandible base strongly diagonal, ~ 45 ° from vertical axis of face, i. e. dorsal mandibular condyle close to edge of clypeus and ventral condyle far lateral of clypeus, giving rise to a “ jowly ” appearance. Face transverse with slight central swelling (Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ), inter-antennal carina absent. Frons flat, punctate, slightly depressed near anterior border of fore ocellus. Vertex long and flat, occipital carina far distant from hind ocellus. Temples linearly narrowed in dorsal view. Eyes normal, ocelli small. Gena much wider ventrally than at mid-height of eye. Occipital carina complete, joining hypostomal carina distinctly dorsal to mandibular base, this area flattened, occipital carina meeting hypostomal carina at a fairly sharp angle relative to dorsal course of occipital carina. Flagellum slim, not white-banded. Flagellomeres with placoid sensilla mostly missing ventrally from distal flagellomeres. Mesosoma. Pronotum with rather long anterior, dorsal surface, lacking distinct horizontal groove, medioventrally flared outwards so that pronotum has large, conspicuous “ shoulders ” in dorsal view. Epomia absent. Postero-dorsal corner of pronotum slightly twisted, in dorsal view triangular and not concealing spiracular sclerite. Notaulus present only as vaguely impressed concavities, not reaching front margin of mesoscutum. Epicnemial carina present, ending short distance from anterior margin of mesopleuron, distinctly dorsal to ventral corner of pronotum. Subalar prominence anteriorly low, rounded, posteriorly sharp. Sternaulus absent. Mesepisternal sulcus distinct, narrow, with vague cross-striae. Metapleuron with submetapleural carina strongly expanded anteriorly as wide triangular lobe. Metanotum lacking projections. Propodeum gently rounded, coarsely rugose (Figs 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4 ). Median longitudinal carinae present but not as straight lines, interrupted by rugosity; posterior transverse carina present, close to posterior margin of propodeum, again incomplete as interrupted by rugosity; pleural and other carinae absent. Propodeal spiracle circular. Legs slender, fore coxa flattened on anterior surface, hind coxa flattened on anterior, basal surface with distinct angulation distally on anterior surface; all tibiae bearing strong, spine-like setae scattered over outer surface (although not most proximally or in distal 1 / 4) and with row of apical spines. Tarsal claws strongly curved, with pecten of several short teeth. Tarsomeres cylindrical. Tibial spurs long. Wings rather narrow so that cells are narrower than usual in banchines. Fore wing with vein 3 rs-m longer than 2 rs-m, areolet small and petiolate. Vein 2 m-cu with one bulla, close to M, occupying ~ 1 / 3 length of vein. Vein cu-a distal to base of Rs & M by 0.35 × length of cu-a and strongly inclivous. Hind wing with Cu 1 present, much closer to 1 A than to M. Upper outer corner of sub-basal cell slightly obtuse. Metasoma. Tergite I, in lateral view, with spiracle positioned at anterior 0.5. Lateromedian longitudinal carinae very strongly raised, especially medially, fading out near posterior margin of tergite, lateral longitudinal carina strong over anterior 0.8 of tergite. Tergite I evenly narrowing from anterior to posterior. Sclerotized part of first sternite not fused with tergite and ending at ~ 0.2 length of tergite. Tergite II transverse, rugous on coriaceous background; thyridia large, transverse, close to anterior margin (Fig. 3 View Figure 3 ). Laterotergites II – IV narrow, turned under, laterotergite V + not separated. Subgenital plate large, triangular, ending some distance short of posterior level of distal tergite, with membranous, narrow triangular area postero-medially. Apex of metasoma with very large proctodeal membrane, cerci far removed from ovipositor sheaths, posterior rim of tergite strongly arched above cerci. Ovipositor sinuous, with sharp dorsal, subapical notch; dorsal and ventral valves deeper immediately proximal to notch, with dorsal valve also flattened dorsally here, so with indication of lateral ridges.

Etymology.

The generic name Amazoboea is derived from the words “ Amazonia ”, referring to the distribution of the genus, and Podeleboea and Pristiboea , two Neotropical banchine genera with possible affinities to Amazoboea .

Remarks.

The possible relatively close phylogenetic relationship of Amazoboea with Podeleboea or Pristiboea is suggested by the elongate body form with a convex frons, but the submetapleural carina is rather strongly lobed anteriorly in Amazoboea (Fig. 4 View Figure 4 ). Cecidopimpla is also similar to Amazoboea in the strongly convex tergite I, the sculptured tergite II (with obvious thyridia) and relatively short ovipositor, but Amazoboea is clearly less stout, it does not have transverse impressions on tergites and possesses a rugose propodeum and medially convex clypeus.