This is one the most poorly understood genera of Microgastrinae. The original description (Mason 1981) is mostly based on Holarctic species. However, in the tropics this genus is much more variable, and will need, at some point, to be split in several genera when a more comprehensive phylogenetic study of the whole subfamily is done.
Type: Apanteles (Pseudapanteles) consimilis (Viereck 1911).
The name is from the Greek meaning a hog's-back ridge, and refers to the characteristic median carina of the propodeum. Hypopygium large, medially folded in several striae; ovipositor sheath from about half as long as hind tibia to a little longer; entirely hairy. Tergite I parallel-sided or apically tapered, sides almost always straight, broad with a shallow basal excavation, never with a mediobasal sharp groove; tergite II usually transverse rectangular but sometimes subtriangular, broadly pentagonal or very broad, almost linear, width 1.5-7x its length; tergites I and II variable in sculpture, smooth to densely rugose; tergum III smooth and longer than II. Propodeum usually bearing a strong median carina but never with any indication of areola, surface smooth to coarsely rugose; metanotum without projections but bearing a few hairs on the anterolateral corners; pronotum with both upper and lower groove. Radius (2r) and 1st intercubitus (Rs) straight, about equally long and meeting at an abrupt angle, with a knob or stump if 2nd intercubitus is absent; 2nd intercubitus (2r-m) absent, faint, or strong, its anterior end meeting other veins proximad, at, or distad of, junction of radius and lst intercubitus; the areolet (1Rs) absent, indefinite, triangular and small or large, or quadrangular and large; vannal lobe usually convex and hairy, but flat or even concave and hairless in the oriental psarae group. Larva: Mandible long-bladed and bearing about 20 teeth; labium with 4-6 hairs, each maxilla with 1; skin papulae with long straight spines.
Hosts. Microlepidoptera, often Pyraloidea.
This is one the most poorly understood genera of Microgastrinae. The original description (Mason 1981) is mostly based on Holarctic species. However, in the tropics this genus is much more variable, and will need, at some point, to be split in several genera when a more comprehensive phylogenetic study of the whole subfamily is done.
Type: Apanteles (Pseudapanteles) consimilis (Viereck 1911).
The name is from the Greek meaning a hog's-back ridge, and refers to the characteristic median carina of the propodeum. Hypopygium large, medially folded in several striae; ovipositor sheath from about half as long as hind tibia to a little longer; entirely hairy. Tergite I parallel-sided or apically tapered, sides almost always straight, broad with a shallow basal excavation, never with a mediobasal sharp groove; tergite II usually transverse rectangular but sometimes subtriangular, broadly pentagonal or very broad, almost linear, width 1.5-7x its length; tergites I and II variable in sculpture, smooth to densely rugose; tergum III smooth and longer than II. Propodeum usually bearing a strong median carina but never with any indication of areola, surface smooth to coarsely rugose; metanotum without projections but bearing a few hairs on the anterolateral corners; pronotum with both upper and lower groove. Radius (2r) and 1st intercubitus (Rs) straight, about equally long and meeting at an abrupt angle, with a knob or stump if 2nd intercubitus is absent; 2nd intercubitus (2r-m) absent, faint, or strong, its anterior end meeting other veins proximad, at, or distad of, junction of radius and lst intercubitus; the areolet (1Rs) absent, indefinite, triangular and small or large, or quadrangular and large; vannal lobe usually convex and hairy, but flat or even concave and hairless in the oriental psarae group. Larva: Mandible long-bladed and bearing about 20 teeth; labium with 4-6 hairs, each maxilla with 1; skin papulae with long straight spines.
Hosts. Microlepidoptera, often Pyraloidea.