On the Hymenopterous Genus Harpagocryptus and its Allies
International Journal of
ON THE HYMENOPTEROUS GENUS HARPAGOCRYP- TUS AND ITS ALLIES.
BY CHARLES T. BRUES.
In the October issue of the Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society for 1908 Bridwell ('08) described a peculiar genus of Hymenoptera from Queensland, which he named Harpagocryptus and placed in the Family Dryinide. Harpagocryptus differs from all other genera of Dryinide except Dryinopsis Brues ('10)2 in having the antennm of the female 12-jointed, but Bridwell was influenced in placing the genus in this family by the habits of the larva which forms a sac on the side of the abdomen of crickets after the fashion of certain well known Dryinids.
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Still a fourth member of this group is Olixon Cameron (’87)
described from Panama and later redescribed by Kieffer (’11)
from Mexico, as Saphobethylus. Turner and Waterston (’17)
have shown these two genera to be complete synonyms as the
type species of both are identical. Cmeron regarded Olixon as
an anomalous Brconid, but thought that it showed resemblance
to certain Bethylids, particularly on account of its greatly
thickened fore legs. Kieffer placed Saphobethylus in the
Bethylidm without question, but Turner and Waterston hve referred
the insect to the Rhopalosomatidee.
All four gener are closely related, but are, I think,
undoubtedly separable on good characters. They my be
distinguished by means of the following key, which is based solely on
the females, except in the cse of Olixon.
1. Second segment of abdomen much the longest 2
Second segment of bdomen only little longer than
third, head transverse, vestigial wings present,
reaching to bse of abdomen, but without nervure; tarsal
clws with smll subapical tooth...Olixon Cmeron.
2. Tegulm well developed; anterior wings present, but
reduced in size and reaching to the tip of the
propodeum; antennae much longer thn the head and
thorax together, slender 3
Tegulm and wings absent; ntennm stout, brely as
long as the hed and thorax Al,oa Brues
3. Mndible with long apical tooth and with three
minute subapical teeth on the inner edge; head seen
from above transverse Harpaocryptus Bridwell
Mndible with long pical tooth, the inner teeth
large and well-developed; head seen from above as
long as broad Nea|oa gen. nov.
Of the three genera, Algo and Nealgo re distinguished
by number of characters which are indicated in the generic
diagnoses that follow; likewise Algoa and Harpagocryptus are
separable by several clear-cut structural differences.
Harpagocryptus and Nealgoa are evidently more closely similar,
although many characters which might be useful are not given
by Bridwell, and were it not for the great geographical separation,
I should hesitate to propose a new genus for the North American
species.
The characters which appear useful in differentiating the
four genera follow.
Olixon Cameron.
c. Head transverse, wider than the thorax. Antennae
a little shorter than the body; first joint of flagellum one-half
longer than second, all flagellar joints long, at least four times
as long as thick; antennm inserted below the lower margin of
the eyes; malar space with a black carina connecting the eye
and mandible; cheeks half as long as the eye. Mandibles curved,
pointed and without tooth. Eyes almost attaining the posterior
margin of the head. Prothorax a little longer than wide, bulging
laterally in front. Anterior wing reaching to the base of the
abdomen, without venation or stigma. Propodeum as long as
the prothorax, its hind angles acutely toothed. Tarsal claws
with a small tooth near tip. Third segment of abdomen a little
shorter than the first. External genitalia consisting of a median
styler between a pair of parallel, upturned, filiform projections.
Harpagocryptus Bridwell.
Proc. Hawaiian Entom. Soc., vol. 2, pp. 34 (1908).
9. Head transverse, wider than the thorax, occiput
arcua.tely emarginate. Antennm elongate, slender, much longer
than the head and thorax together; second and following joints
of antennm subequally elongate, many times as long as thick;
first joint shorter than second; pedicel very short, but evidently
longer than wide. Mandibles with a long apical tooth and three
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minute subapical teeth on the edge. Prothorax large and long,
narrowed posteriorly; tegulee present; fore wings strap-like,
reaching to the posterior face of the propodeum; propodeum
very long, its superior angles produced into a strong acute tooth
on each side.
AlCoa Brues.
Journ. New York Entom. Soc., vol. 18, p. 18 (1910)
9. Head quadrate, not broader than long, occiput faintly
emarginate. Antennm short, barely as long as the head and
thorax together; first flagellar joint longer than the second;
second and following barely three times as long as thick; pedicel
twice as long as thick and more than half as long as the first
flagellar joint; antennae inserted just above the level of the
lower margin of the eyes. Malar space with a sharp furrow,
shorter than the basal width of the mundible. Mandibl (...truncated)