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Chrysocharis, subgenus Zaommomyia Ashmead, 1904 comparative info ret. to: prev home
Transverse frontal groove strongly v-shaped; scrobal grooves reaching transverse groove separately, very close-together throughout their length, extending below toruli as distinct grooves; interscrobal ridge always meeting transverse groove in females; triangular area present immediately above transverse suture different color and/or sculpture from rest of frons, sometimes sharply angled and set off by an arched dorsal ridge. Males with a basal whorl of erect setae on each funicular segment; peg sensilla of flagellum symmetrical (type 1) (C. Hansson, personal comm.). Postmarginal vein 1.6-2.3x stigmal vein length. Propodeum variable, at least usually with median carina or submedian carinae, some species with plicae. Compare with: Proacrias, Neochrysocharis, Chrysocharis sensu strictu, Ionympha, Omphale.

1a-c: Chrysocharis (Zaommomyia) maya Hansson face (left), female antenna (center), and male antenna (right)

2a-c: Chrysocharis (Zaommomyia) propodea with petioles: C. (Z.) beckeri Yoshimoto (left), C. (Z.) sulcata (center), and C. (Z.) vonones (Walker) (right)

Biology:

Comments: Schauff (1991) synonymized this group with Chrysocharis, based in part on the assumption that Omphale varia (Hansson) and O. gracilicornis (Hansson) were true Chrysocharis as Hansson (1987) had indicated at the time. Hansson (1997) reinstated Zaommomyia as a subgenus based on the characters given above. The final placement of this group awaits further study, including exploration of its relationship to Neochrysocharis, Ionympha, and the Omphale group. Air-dried specimens are usually strongly collapsed, and difficult to identify. The specially colored and/or sculpted area of the upper frons is difficult to distinguish with any strong certainty, and should not be relied upon too heavily.

Comparative information:

Proacrias: Propodeum with median carina modified: either broadened and flattened, or posteriorly split.

Neochrysocharis: Postmarginal vein in nearly all species <1.5x stigmal vein length. Either with some transverse flagellomeres and without distinct triangular area above the transverse frontal suture.

Chrysocharis sensu strictu: Interscrobal ridge not meeting transverse groove in females (and nearly all males). Scrobal grooves not extending ventrally below toruli. Male flagellum without whorls of erect setae. The differences between females of these groups are subtle, especially if the head is collapsed, but in all cases I have been able to successfully use these characters in distinguishing specimens of known identity in these two subgenera.

Ionympha: Mandibles very long and narrow, with several tiny dorsal teeth and 2 large apical ones. Occiput with median furrow.Gena with strong incision for base of mandible to fit into when open. Scape with sensory pores present only at apex in males.

Omphale: Clypeus usually set off by distinct sutures (dorsal suture rarely missing), often different color from frons, usually transverse ridge also present separating lower face from center of face. Heads of flagellar peg sensilla always slanting, asymmetrical, sometimes strongly asymmetrical. Petiole always broader than long. Propodeum without median carina, submedian carinae, or channels.

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References

Hansson, C. 1986. A revision of the Nearctic species of the genus Zaommomyia Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 88(2): 244-252.

Hansson, C. 1987. Revision of the New World Chrysocharis Förster (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Entomologica Scandinavica supplement 31.

Hansson, C. 1996. Taxonomic revision of the Nearctic species of Omphale Haliday (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Entomologica Scandinavica supplement 49.

Hansson, C. 1997. Survey of Chrysocharis Förster and Neochrysocharis Kurdjumov (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from Mexico, including eight new species. Miscellania Zoologica (Barcelona). 20(1): 81-95.

Schauff, M.E. 1991. The Holarctic genera of Entedoninae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 26.

Image credits: 1a-c: Hansson (1997). 2a-c: Hansson (1986).