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Microsega bella Krombein
Life   Insecta   Hymenoptera   Chrysidoidea   Chrysididae   Microsega

Microsega bella
L. S. Kimsey and R. M. Bohart, 1990 · 9
Microsega bella

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Microsega bella
R. M. Bohart and L. S. Kimsey, 1982 · 9
Microsega bella
Microsega bella, claw
R. M. Bohart and L. S. Kimsey, 1982 · 1
Microsega bella, claw
Overview
Taken from: R. M. Bohart and L. S. Kimsey. 1982. A Synopsis of the Chrysididae in America North of Mexico.

Microsega bella Krombein

1960:32. Holotype female, Los Fresnos, Cameron Co. Texas (USNM).

Discussion: Relatively little can be said about this species. Tiny and antlike bella resembles no other nearctic species. Because bella females are apterous they superficially resemble females of Nesogyne taino Krombein found in the Dominican Republic. The two species can be separated immediately by the absence of a metanotum in bella (fig. 19) and the short wings of N. taino

Material examined: 1 female.

Distribution: Texas: Cameron Co. Collection date was July.




Microsega Krombein


Microsega Krombein 1960:31. Generotype: Microsega bella Krombein 1960, original designation.

Diagnosis: Genal groove absent, no transverse pronotal groove (fig 19), metanotum absent, propodeum without lateral teeth or angles, female apterous.

Discussion: There are many problems with discussing the characteristics of a genus containing only one species. This genus is especially difficult because no males have been seen. The single species, bella, is one of the smallest in the Amiseginae. Microsega resembles Amisega and Mesitiopterus in the structure of the head and prothorax, but is unique among the nearctic Amiseginae in having an apterous female and practically no metanotum. The relationships between Microsega and other amisegines were discussed by Krombein (1960).





AMISEGINAE


Although primarily a tropical group, several amisegine genera have nearctic species. There is also one genus, Microsega, which is apparently restricted to the southeastern United States. Amisegines are a distinctive, peculiar looking group. They superficially resemble ants, and brachyptery or aptery in females in common. Females have a slender needlelike ovipositor tube which Is apparently inserted in a hole gnawed by the wasp in a phasmatid egg in a preliminary to oviposition. The amisegines have been extensively studied by Krombein (1957, 1960).

Diagnosis: Frons without medial groove below midocellus, pronotum usually without transverse submedial groove, tarsal claws with one subsidiary tooth (fig. 17) (some Old World genera have simple tarsal claws), forewing without discoidal and cubital cells (fig. 13), radial sector short, abdominal venter convex (fig. 16), females with four external terga and males with five, T-I-II dorsally much longer than length of T-III-IV or V (fig. 13), ovipositor slender and needlelike (fig. 19).


Key to genera of Amiseginae

1. Propodeum with posterolateral teeth (fig. 13); occipital carina well developed at least dorsally; pronotal lobe touching tegula; pronotum with transverse submedial groove (fig. 13) ………………………………………………………………Adelphe Mocsary p.
Propodeum without posterolateral teeth, evenly rounded (fig. 16); occipital carina absent; pronotal lobe not reaching tegula; pronotum without transverse submedial groove (fig. 16) ………………………………………………………………….2
2. Pronotum much longer than scutum along midline, female wingless ………………………………………….Microsega Krombein p.19
Pronotum about as long as scutum along midline, female with normal wings…………………………………………….Mesitiopterus Ashmead p.18

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Updated: 2024-03-29 12:17:24 gmt
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