Orasema polymyrmex

Orasema polymyrmex
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Eucharitidae
Subfamily:	Oraseminae
Genus:	Orasema
Species:	O. polymyrmex
Binomial name
	Orasema polymyrmex; Baker & Heraty, 2020

Identification

Distinguished from other members of the bakeri group by the following combination of characters: male petiole short (PTL:PTW = 0.8–1.2), female mesoscutellum often with a medial depression that is differently colored ( Fig. 15F ), fore wing with marginal fringe, mesoscutal midlobe rarely with an indication of a depression ( Fig. 15F ), mesoscutal lateral lobes reticulate ( Fig. 15F ), and clypeal margin generally broadly rounded ( Fig. 15B ).

Distribution

Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras

Habitat

Biology

Plant associates. Swept from acacia-thorn scrub and oak-acacia grassland. Ant host: Pheidole, Solenopsis

Nomenclature

Etymology. From Greek poly meaning “many” and myrmex meaning “ant” in reference to the multiple host ant genera implicated for this species.

Description

References

Baker AJ, Heraty JM. The New World ant parasitoid genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae). Zootaxa. 2020 Nov 30;4888(1):zootaxa.4888.1.1. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4888.1.1. PMID: 33311254.

Baker, A.J., Heraty, J.M., Mottern, J., Hang, J.Z., Hines, H.M., Lemmon, A.R., Lemmon, E.M. 2019. Inverse dispersal patterns in a group of ant parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae: Oraseminae) and their ant hosts. Systematic Entomology 45: 1–19 (doi:10.1111/syen.12371).

Carey, B., Visscher, K., & Heraty, J. (2012). Nectary use for gaining access to an ant host by the parasitoid Orasema simulatrix (Hymenoptera, Eucharitidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 27: 47-65.

Gahan, A.B. (1940). A contribution to the knowledge of the Eucharidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Proceedings of the United States National Museum 88: 425-458.

Heraty, J.M. Classification and evolution of the Oraseminae in the Old World, including revision of two closely related genera of Eucharitinae (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae). JOURBOOK: Life Sciences Contributions, Royal Ontario Museum VOLUME: 157 PAGES: vii+174pp. (1994).

Heraty, J., Hawks, D., Kostecki, J.S. and Carmichael, A. (2004). Phylogeny and behaviour of the Gollumiellinae, a new subfamily of the ant-parasitic Eucharitidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Systematic Entomology 29(4): 544-559.

Munro, J. B., Heraty, J. M., Burks, R. A., Hawks, D., Mottern, J., Cruaud, A., Rasplus, J.-Y. & Jansta, P. (2011). A molecular phylogeny of the Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). PLoS One 6(11): e27023.

Murray, E. A., Carmichael, A. E., & Heraty, J. M. (2013). Ancient host shifts followed by host conservatism in a group of ant parasitoids. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 280(1759): 20130495.

Wheeler WM (1907) The polymorphism of ants with an account of some singular abnormalities due to parasitism. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 23: 1–93.