Stuart Fullerton and Phillip Russell, at the University of Central Florida, recently shipped several boxes of Platygastridae for identification. Among them was a very odd, perhaps as-yet undescribed, synopeadine. I am posting some images of this possibly new species, without suggesting any names, to be examined by other workers if they wish, on this web-site. It is possible that the species may have been described elsewhere, though I have not found it.
I have chosen an "E-Type", or electronic type, as a means to disperse and acquire new information on a species that may or may not be described. Therefore, I am not including a specific epithet. It is a temporary means designed to reduce the possiblity of synonomy by introducing the "intent to describe", unless it can be shown to have been previously described. If, after sufficient time elapses without response to the contrary, the "E Type" will be pulled and the description published.
Only the minimum of pictures are included here, but there is a full report available containing detailed anatomical information for anyone who desires to have it. I can make it available at the cost of desk top printing and postage. All observations about this species will be welcome at the authors address:
In the U. S., the species seems closest to Synopeas longiventre (Ashmead), and I include here a drawing of one of the types of that species. Unlike S. Iongiventre, the "flea-Synopeas", as I call it, has no scutellar spine, and the abdomen of the female is very much enlarged and flattened, almost flea-like. The mandibles are large and more or less pendulous, female antennae clavate, male antennae filiform and covered with whitish, bristly setae, and mid and hind tibial spurs long and curved at the tips.
It is a most intriguing species for this genus, which we usually expect to have more or less flattened, dorso-ventrally compressed abdomens. There are similar European counterparts, but once again, with spined scutellum.
