Genus Holopyga Dahlbom, 1845

From: Kimsey L.S. & Bohart R.M., 1990 (1991) – The chrysidid wasps of the world. Oxford University Press, ix-652 pp.

Synonymy

Holopyga Dahlbom 1845:4. Type: Holopyga amoenula Dahlbom 1845:4. Desig. by Ashmead 1902:227.
Halopyga Tournier 1878:305. Invalid emendation of Holopyga Dahlbom 1845.
Pseudhedychrum Abeille 1879:27. Type: Chrysis fervida Fabricius 1781:456. Desig. by Bodenstein 1939: 130.
Oar Semenov 1954b:142. Type: Oar globulus Semenov 1954b:144. Orig. desig. and monobasic.
Psacas Semenov 1954b:l43. Type: Psacas meda Semenov 1954:143. Otig. desig. and monobasic.

Generic diagnosis

Facial setae sparse and erect; scapal basin deep and transversely cross-ridged; vertex with inter-ocellar sulcus; malar space less than 1 MOD; genal carina present; pronotum with anteromedial pit; mesopleuron strongly angulate, with well- developed verticaulus, omaulus, signum, and scrobal carina; notauli sulciform; scutellar wing fossa without anterior lobe; fore femur usually angulate sub-basally with ventral carina; hind tarsal claw with 2-5 (rarely 1) subsidiary teeth; fore wing medial vein strongly arched, arising at or slightly before cu-a, costa dilated medially, stigma short and broad, Rl clearly indicated; T-III apical margin evenly rounded or somewhat indented medially, slightly swollen subapically; male genitalia, volsella with digitus and cuspis.

Hosts

Holopyga is another large genus whose biology is poorly known, probably because these chrysidids attack ground-nesting sphecid wasps. In North America Bicyrtes quadrifasciata (Say) and B. fodiens (Handlirsch) have been reported as hosts of ventralis (Evans 1966). Astata pinguis Dahlbom is a host of integrum in Europe according to Else (1973). Móczár (1967) and Linsenmaier (1959) reported Chalicodoma sp. (Megachilidae) as the host of ovata. Mocsáry (1889) listed Chalicodoma muraria F. as the host of amoenula, Cerceris quadrifasciata Panzer and Mimumua (Vanderl.) as hosts of ignicollis, and rugosa on Sceliphron madraspatanum (F.) (as Pelopoeus separatus Sm.).

Distribution

Species occur in all zoogeographic regions, with the majority in the Palearctic. There are 67 Palearctic species, 8 Nearctic, 7 Neotropical, 3 Asian, 1 in Australia, 1 in Madagascar, and 4 in Africa south of the Sahara.

Discussion

Holopyga are generally large heavy-bodied wasps, ranging in length from 4-8 mm. They can be distinguished by the sharply angulate fore wing medial vein, setose medial cell, multidentate tarsal claws, carinate and angulate mesopleuron, angulate postocular region, and cross-ridged scapal basin.

A number of Palearctic species are sexually dimorphic, particularly amoenula and fervida, which are two of the most commonly collected species. In these species males tend to be blue and green, at least on the thorax, and females coppery red.

The name gloriosa F. has been used for years for one of the commonest European species, amoenula. Surprisingly, upon examining the type, we discovered that gloriosa is actually a synonym of Pseudomalus auratus and not a species of Holopyga (Kimsey 1988b).

Linsenmaier (1987) described the genus Chamaeholopyga based on the new species parvicornis Linsenmaier (1987). We have been unable to see this species and therefore cannot render judgment on the placement of this group.

European species

1.  Holopyga amoenula Dahlbom, 1845
2.  Holopyga amoenula occidenta Linsenmaier, 1959
3.  Holopyga amoenula oriensa Linsenmaier, 1959
4.  Holopyga austrialis Linsenmaier, 1959
5.  Holopyga baeckmanni Semenov, 1967
6.  Holopyga chrysonota (Förster, 1853)
7.  Holopyga chrysonota appliata Linsenmaier, 1959
8.  Holopyga chrysonota discolor Linsenmaier, 1959
9.  Holopyga comosa Semenov & Nikolskaya, 1954
10.  Holopyga crassepuncta effrenata Linsenmaier, 1959
11.  Holopyga cypruscola Linsenmaier, 1959
12.  Holopyga duplicata Linsenmaier, 1987
13.  Holopyga fervida (Fabricius, 1781)
14.  Holopyga generosa (Förster, 1853)
15.  Holopyga generosa proviridis Linsenmaier, 1959
16.  Holopyga generosa virideaurata Linsenmaier, 1951
17.  Holopyga gloriosa-aureomaculata complex
18.  Holopyga gogorzae Trautmann, 1926
19.  Holopyga guadarrama Linsenmaier, 1987
20.  Holopyga hortobagyensis Móczár, 1983
21.  Holopyga ignicollis Dahlbom, 1854
22.  Holopyga ignicollis granadana Linsenmaier, 1968
23.  Holopyga ignicollis padri Linsenmaier, 1968
24.  Holopyga impressopunctata Arens, 2004
25.  Holopyga inflammata (Förster, 1853)
26.  Holopyga inflammata caucasica Mocsáry, 1889
27.  Holopyga jurinei Chevrier, 1862
28.  Holopyga lucida Lepeletier, 1806
29.  Holopyga mauritanica (Lucas, 1849)
30.  Holopyga mavromoustakisi Enslin, 1939
31.  Holopyga merceti Kimsey, 1990
32.  Holopyga metallica (Dahlbom, 1845)
33.  Holopyga minuma Linsenmaier, 1959
34.  Holopyga miranda Abeille de Perrin, 1878
35.  Holopyga mlokosiewitzi spartana Linsenmaier, 1968
36.  Holopyga parvicornis Linsenmaier, 1987
37.  Holopyga pseudovata Linsenmaier, 1987
38.  Holopyga punctatissima Dahlbom, 1854
39.  Holopyga punctatissima reducta Linsenmaier, 1959
40.  Holopyga rubra Linsenmaier, 1999
41.  Holopyga sardoa Invrea, 1952
42.  Holopyga trapeziphora Linsenmaier, 1987
43.  Holopyga vigora Linsenmaier, 1959
44.  Holopyga vigoroidea Arens, 2004

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