Taken from:
R. M. Bohart and L. S. Kimsey. 1982. A Synopsis of the Chrysididae in America North of Mexico.
Philoctetes seminudus (Aaron)
Notozus seminudus Aaron 1885:218. Lectotype male, Washington (ANSP).
Discussion: Differences from its close relative, intermedius, are given for that species. The projecting metanotum is similar to that in species of Elampus (fig. 79). Genitalia are about as in fig. 94, but the cuspis is a little longer. O. seminudus is fairly large for the genus, modal body length of males being 5.0 mm, of females 5.5 mm.
Material examined: 355 males including lectotype, 15 females. This relatively uncommon species may occasionally be abundant. A collection of 292 males was made in one day at Arroyo Seco Camp, Monterey Co., California, March 30, 1971 (R. M. Bohart). They were lighting on new foliage of live oaks on the sunny side of the trees.
Distribution: Canada and U.S. from the Rocky Mts. west. Most of the following records are in Transition and Canadian Life Zones. ALASKA; ONTARIO: Sudbury, Kearney; BRITISH COLUMBIA: Robson, 4 ml w. Princeton, Oliver, Vernon, Kushanook; IDAHO: Idaho City; WASHINGTON: Seattle, Valley Ford, Malaga; OREGON: 10 mi SW. The Dalles, 3 mi e. Ochoco Ranger Station (Crook Co.); CALIFORNIA: Shasta Co., Carrville, Sagehen Creek (Nevada Co.), Arroyo Seco Camp (Monterey Co.), Coalinga, Ash Mt. Road (Tulare Co.); NEVADA: Mt. Rose (Washoe Co.); ARIZONA: Kaibab National Forest.
Subgenus Diplorrhos Aaron
Diplorrhos Aaron 1885:216. Generotype: Diplorrhos plicatus Aaron 1885, monotypic.
Elampus of Aaron 1885.
Notozus of Aaron 1885, in part.
The character of the scutum in which the punctures are grouped along the notauli is diagnostic (fig. 65). The metanotum is often pointed or projecting in profile, especially in seminudus and intermedius which combine this feature with a somewhat truncate T-III to increase the resemblance to Elampus. In fact the above two species were originally placed in Notozus (Elampus) by Aaron. Nine species are distinguished in the following key.
Key to subgenus Diplorrhos
1. T-III with a narrow apical truncation, notch partly membrane filled; at least three well
developed subsidiary claw teeth ………………………………………………………….2
T-III apical notch without membrane, only two well developed subsidiary claw teeth (fig. 84) except in granti (fig. 72)………………………………………………………... 3
2. Metanotum pointed but obtusely angled in lateral view (fig. 77) ………………………………………………………………………...intermedius (Aaron)
Metanotum pointed or mucronate, acutely angled in lateral view (fig. 79)…………………………………………………………………….. seminudus (Aaron)
3. T-III with a sharp or rounded projection over hanging apical truncation ……………..4
T-III without projection above apical truncation ………………………………………5
4. T-III with a sharp projection, margins of notch protruding as far as overhanging projection in side view (fig. 81) ………………………………………….plicatus (Aaron)
T-III with blunt and rounded projection above shallow emargination, margins of notch not protruding as far as overhanging projection in side view (fig. 80) ……………………………………………………………….downeyi Bohart and Campos
5. Wing membrane water clear, terga usually brassy to coppery red ………………………………………………………………..telfordi Bohart and Campos
Wing membrane brown stained ………………………………………………………..6
6. Scutum, scutellum and metanotum with a few very large pits (fig. 66), and scutum somewhat humped posteriorly in side view………………………………. speculum (Say)
Scutum, at least, without very large pits, or scutum not humped in side view………... 7
7. Terga light green, bronzy or brassy, contrasting with thoracic coloration; T-III obtusely notched at apex metanotum sharply angled in side view (fig. 78), its summit slightly overhanging ……………………………………………….krombeini Bohart and Campos
Terga blue, dark green or purplish, not contrasting with thoracic coloration; T-III
notch various; metanotum sometimes sharply rounded but summit rarely over hanging …………………………………………………………………………………………….8
8. Metanotum obtusely or acutely pointed in side view, scutellum with a smooth
anteromedial spot which is nearly always followed by a zone of punctures (fig. 67),
T-III apex in female nearly always truncate or subtruncate in side view (fig. 83), body
length 3.0-4.5 mm ………………………………………………………..variates (Aaron)
Metanotum broadly rounded in side view, scutellum with a smooth medial area
extending entire length (fig. 65), T-III apex in female not at all truncate in side
view, body length 5.0-5.5 mm …………………………………granti Bohart and Campos
Genus Omalus Panzer
Diagnosis: forewing medial vein strongly arched (fig. 59), median and submedian cells practically asetose, RS stub at least as long as stigma and extending beyond it apicad; tarsal claws with two to five subsidiary teeth (figs. 68-72), forefemur partly to strongly carinate beneath but not angled; mesopleuron simple; T-III nearly always with an apicomedial notch.
Discussion: As presently constituted, Omalus in North America contains three subgenera and 17 species. This compares with more than 100 species worldwide. Nine of the U.S. species are found only west of the 100th meridian.
For the most part Omalus are medium to small wasps which as far as known parasitize relatively small aphid-storing pemphredonine wasps. Most of the latter are twig nesters and several have been reared from old bee burrows in rose canes. Transport of roses by ship in the 16th and 17th centuries may have been the route by which auratus and possibly aeneus reached our eastern shores.
Specimens of Omalus are fairly often taken by wasp collectors, and we have examined 4, 600. Bohart and Campos (1960) revised North American species of the genus and clarified the relationship to Elampus. Both genera have a practically asetose median cell and a strongly arched median vein. Also, two species of Omalus have the Elampus-like features of projecting metanotum and a membrane in the truncation of T-III. A critical difference in Elampus is the long genal fringe in males and short setiform fringe in females. Omalus of both sexes have the genal fringe rather short and sparse. Furthermore, the association of scutal punctures with the notauli in the Elampus-like forms points to Omalus (Diplorrhos).
Sex recognition in Omalus is difficult unless male genitalia or the female sting are visible. Other identifying features of males are the more evenly concave S-Ill toward the apex and the shorter more rotund T-III. Also, males tend to be darker than females but this character is not dependable.
Key to subgenera of Omalus
1. Scutal punctures clumped along notauli, leaving extensive lateral and medial impunctate areas (fig. 65); metanotum usually angulate in lateral view (fig. 77) ……………………………………………………………………..Diplorrhos Aaron p. 42
Scutal punctures not particularly clumped along notauli, either scattered randomly or clumped posteriorly between notauli, occasionally almost impunctate …………………..2
2. Scutum with large shallow punctures clumped posteriorly between notauli (fig. 61); tarsal claws with three to six subsidiary teeth (fig. 69) ………………………………………………………………Pseudomalus Ashmead p.40
Scutum almost impunctate or with evenly scattered small punctures (fig. 62); tarsal
claws usually with two subsidiary teeth (figs. 68, 70) ……………………………………………………………………Omalus s. s. Panzer p.37
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