Expanding the knowledge on Aximopsis Ashmead, 1904 (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae): a new species from Brazil and novel distributional data for Aximopsis masneri Gates, 2009

Abstract

Aximopsis Ashmead, 1904 (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) is widely distributed across the Neotropics, with 14 of its 40 described species occurring in the region. Here, we describe and illustrate Aximopsis batistai sp. nov., a new parasitoid wasp species discovered in the Amazon rainforest. The new species is described based on a female specimen collected in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Additionally, we report the first occurrence of Aximopsis masneri Gates, 2009 in the Brazilian Amazon, based on two female specimens collected at the same location. This finding extends the known distribution of A. masneri, previously recorded in Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and southeastern Brazil, by approximately 2,600 km into the Amazon basin. Detailed illustrations, diagnostic comparisons, a key to Brazilian species of Aximopsis, and a distribution map of A. masneri are provided.

Key words
Amazon rainforest; Biogeography; Chalcidoidea; Parasitoid wasps

INTRODUCTION

Aximopsis Ashmead, 1904 sensu lato (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) exhibits a broad geographical distribution (UCD Community 2023). The genus was redefined by Lotfalizadeh et al. (2007), and over a century after its original description, Gates (2009) reaffirmed that wasps of this genus are “distributed in the Old World and the New World neotropics at a minimum, but are undoubtedly cosmopolitan in scope”. In the Neotropics, its species have been documented in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina (UCD Community 2023). The genus comprises 40 described species worldwide, 14 in the Neotropical region, six of which occur in Brazil: A. morio Ashmead, 1904,

A. acricola (De Santis et al. 1973), A. arietinis Gates, 2006, A. pythmenis Gates, 2006, A. hippolytis Gates, 2006, and A. masneri Gates, 2009 (Freiria et al. 2017, Werneck & Campos 2021, UCD Community 2023).

Species of Aximopsis are often parasitoids of endophytic insect larvae inhabiting branches, stems, or leaf mines, and most of them parasitize larvae of Cerambycidae and Buprestidae (Coleoptera), as well as aculeate Hymenoptera that nest in twigs (Zerova 1995, 2010, Gates et al. 2006, Gates 2009, Delvare et al. 2019, Naghizadeh et al. 2019) and some species target larvae of Lepidoptera (e.g. Gates & Delvare 2008, Lotfalizadeh & Hosseini 2014, Tavares et al. 2015, Campos-Moreno et al. 2022).

Aximopsis masneri was originally described based on specimens from Panama and Trinidad & Tobago (Gates 2009), with subsequent records extending its distribution to Brazil, for the states of Minas Gerais, and São Paulo (Freiria et al. 2017, Werneck & Campos 2021). As far as is known, this species acts as parasitoid of orchid bees of the genus Euglossa Latreille, 1802 (Apidae: Euglossini) such as E. cordata Linnaeus, 1758, E. cybelia Moure, 1968, E. variabilis Friese, 1899 and E. townsendi Cockerell, 1904 (Gates 2009, Freiria et al. 2017, Werneck & Campos 2021).

This study aims to characterize a newly identified species of Aximopsis within the Amazonian forest and provide additional biogeographic data for A. masneri. Furthermore, a key to Brazilian species of Aximopsis, illustrations and a map of the geographic distribution of A. masneri are included based on both new findings and existing literature data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The studied material consisted of one female of Aximopsis batistai sp. nov. and two females of A. masneri deposited at Entomological Collection of the Instituto de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, AM, Brazil (Marcio Luiz de Oliveira, curator).

Observations and descriptions were conducted under magnification using a stereomicroscope Leica S APO. Color images were captured with a digital camera Leica DFC295 attached to a stereomicroscope Leica M205C APO. The specimens under study were illuminated with high diffuse dome illumination Leica LED5000 HDI. Serial images from different layers were generated using Leica Application Suite software (LAS version 4.12.0) and merged with Helicon Focus software (v. 5.3). Figure plates were generated using Adobe Photoshop software (v. 11.0).

Identification was carried out utilizing the key proposed by Gates et al. (2006) and the description of A. masneri in Gates (2009). The distribution of A. masneri was compiled into a dataset and integrated into a distribution map. Geographic coordinates of species records, if absent from labels, were sourced from Google Earth software (https://www.google.com/earth/), and the distribution map was generated using the web software SimpleMappr (Shorthouse 2010).

General morphological terminology follows the Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology preferred terms (Yoder et al. 2010). Terms for sculpturing follow Harris (1979).

Abbreviations are as follows: Fn, flagellomeres (n = number of the flagellomere); OOL, ocular ocellar line; POL, posterior ocellar line; Gtn, gastral tergum (n = number of the gastral tergum).

The following acronyms refer to Brazilian states: AM, Amazonas; PA, Pará; AC, Acre; MG, Minas Gerais; SP, São Paulo; SC, Santa Catarina and, RS, Rio Grande do Sul.

Taxonomy

Eurytomidae Walker, 1832

Eurytominae Walker, 1832

Aximopsis Ashmead, 1904: 259.

Type species: Aximopsis morio Ashmead, 1904 by monotypy.

Key to Brazilian species of Aximopsis, adapted from Gates et al. (2006).

1. Body predominantly red-brown (Figure 2a) … Aximopsis masneri Gates, 2009 (Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, Brazil (AM, MG, SP))

Figure 2
Aximopsis masneri Gates, 2009 (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae). a: Habitus lateral; b: Part of Central and South Americas, showing its distribution (red dots: known distributional records, red star: new distributional record).

1’. Body predominantly black … 2

2(1’). Ocellar horns present, developed (see figures 24, 25 in Gates et al. 2006) … Aximopsis acricola De Santis et al., 1973 (Brazil, AC)

2’. Ocellar horns absent (see figures 17, 21 ibid) … 3

3(2’). Pronotum with distinctly different patch of short, thickened, yellowish brown setae anteromedially on the dorsal surface (see figure 31 ibid) ... Aximopsis morio Ashmead, 1904 (Brazil, PA)

3’. Pronotum with setae of uniform size, shape, and color (see figure 30 ibid) ... 4

4(3’). Vertex horns present, developed (see figure 22 ibid) or reduced (see figures 27 and 66 ibid); pronotal processes present (see figures 30, 52 ibid) … 5

4’. Vertex horns and pronotal processes absent (Figures 1b, 1e) … Aximopsis batistai sp. nov. Perioto, Lara & Lotfalizadeh (Brazil, AM)

5(4). Vertex horns reduced, represented by a slight angulation of the preorbital carina (see figures 27, 66 ibid); pronotal processes reduced, present as low alveolate bosses (see figure 56 ibid) ... Aximopsis hippolytis Gates, 2006 (Brazil, RS)

5’. Vertex horns developed, represented by two triangular extensions of the preorbital carina, in lateral view (see figure 22 ibid); pronotal processes developed … 6

6(5’). Lower face long, head 1.25–1.3× as broad as high (see figure 68 ibid); vertex horns as broad as long ... Aximopsis pythmenis Gates, 2006 (Brazil, SC)

6’. Lower face shorter, head ~1.5× as broad as high (see figure 18 ibid); vertex horns broader than long (1.5–2.0×) (see figures 30, 64 ibid) ... Aximopsis arietinis Gates, 2006 (Brazil, SC)

Aximopsis batistai sp. nov. Perioto, Lara & Lotfalizadeh

Zoobank:

https://zoobank.org/CA4824A4-37B9-497E-8F35-3A24739D026B

Material examined

Holotype

♀, Labels: 1: {printed on white label} “BRASIL, Amazonas, Manaus, ZF-2, Km-14, 2°35’21”S – 60°06’55”W, 1-18.ix.2018, Malaise Gde, solo, poente, JARafael – Rede Bia” / 2: {printed on red label} “HOLOTYPE, Aximopsis batistai Perioto, Lara & Lotfalizadeh} (deposited at INPA). The holotype is in excellent condition.

Diagnosis

Aximopsis batistai sp. nov. can be separated from the other species of Aximopsis by the vertex horns and pronotal processes absent; propodeum broadly flattened, reticulate; central region finely reticulate, bordered laterally and posteriorly by carinae, setose cells anterolaterally and irregular cell anterad nucha; lateral panel setose, with coarse alveolate sculpturation; and from A. masneri mainly by the black body coloration.

Description

Female

Body length 3.7 mm. Color (Figure 1a): black except for the following: orangish-brown on scape, pedicel and tegula; infumated brown on trochanter and femur of fore and mid legs; pale yellow on tibiae and tarsi; brown on antenna (F1–club covered by silvery white setae); yellowish on wing; light brown on wing venation; whitish on body setation.

Figure 1
Aximopsis batistai sp. nov. Perioto, Lara & Lotfalizadeh (Hymenoptera. Eurytomidae), holotype female. a: Habitus lateral; b: Head, frontal view; c: Antenna; d: Fore wing; e: Head and mesosoma, dorsal view; f: Propodeum, latero dorsal view; g: Metasoma, lateral view.

Head rectangular (Figure 1b), roughly umbilicate, interspaces finely granulate, 1.4× as broad as high, setae 1.2–1.5× longer than diameter of punctures, interspaces finely granulate; occiput umbilicate; clypeal region not elevated, punctured; ventral margin of clypeus shallowly bilobed; oral fossa 0.3× width of head; genal carina indistinct, gena punctate; malar space 0.5× eye height; toruli positioned about ¼ above lower ocular line. Scrobal depression carinate laterally. POL 3.2× longer than OOL. Vertex horns absent. Antenna (Figure 1c): scape not reaching ventral margin of anterior ocellus; funicular segments and clava setose; ratio of scape (minus radicle): pedicel: anellus: F1: F2: F3: F4: F5: club as 17:5:2:10:8:8:6:6:16; pedicel chalice-shaped; F1 rectangular, slightly narrowed basally; F2–F5 globose and clava trisegmented.

Mesosoma (Figure 1e) umbilicate, interspaces finely granulate, 1.7× as long as broad. Pronotum 0.3× as long as broad, pronotal processes absent; midlobe of mesoscutum 1.6× as long as broad; mesoscutellum 1.3× as long as broad; notauli complete, indicated as a row of punctae; prepectus rounded posteriorly, dorsally nearly smooth, ventrally deep. Metapleuron smooth centrally with shallow umbilicate sculpture on posterior margin. Propodeum (Figure 1f) broadly flattened, reticulate; central region finely reticulate, bordered laterally and posteriorly by carinae, setose cells anterolaterally and irregular cell anterad nucha; lateral panel setose, with coarse alveolate sculpturation. Metacoxa roughly sculptured dorsally. Fore wing 2.3× as long as broad; marginal vein 0.8× as long as postmarginal (Figure 1d).

Metasoma 2.1× as long as high (Figure 1g). Gt1 smooth, with a row of three setae dorsolaterally; Gt2–4 microreticulate with posterior margins smooth; Gt5–8 microreticulate covered with dense setation.

Male

Unknown.

Etymology

The specific epithet batistai is a patronymic, formed by the addition of the surname Batista to the Latin genitive singular suffix –i. It is a noun in the genitive case, coined in tribute to Dr. Antonio Batista Filho, an agronomist and researcher specializing in the biological control of pests at the Instituto Biológico, for his extensive scientific contribution and dedication to this institution.

Distribution

Presently known only from Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil (the type locality).

Biology

Unknown.

Aximopsis masneri Gates, 2009

Aximopsis masneri Gates, 2009: 167.

New distributional record: Manaus (AM), Brazil (Figure 2b).

Material examined

Two ♀♀, Labels: 1: {printed on white label} “Brasil, Amazonas, Manaus, ZF-2, km-14, 2°35’21”S - 60°06’55”W, 1-18.ix.2018, Malaise gde, 16m, poente, JARafael – Rede Bia”; same data: 24m alt. / 2: {printed on white label} “Aximopsis masneri Gates, 2009, NW Perioto, det. 2025} (deposited at INPA).

Diagnosis

Aximopsis masneri (Figure 2a) may be separated from the other Neotropical species of Aximopsis by its broadly flattened, reticulate median area of the propodeum and, majority red-brown coloration (Gates 2009).

Remarks

The studied specimens match perfectly with the description of A. masneri provided by Gates (2009). Aximopsis masneri was previously known only from Panamá, Trinidad & Tobago and, Brazil (Gates 2009, Freiria et al. 2017, Werneck & Campos 2021). Its occurrence in Manaus (AM), in the core of Amazon Rainforest, at approximately 2,600 km southeast of the type locality, indicates that this species may have a broad distribution across Central and South America.

Distribution

Brazil (AM – this study, MG, SP), Panamá, Trinidad and Tobago (Gates 2009, Freiria et al. 2017, Werneck & Campos 2021).

Biology

Parasitoid of Euglossa sp., E. cybelia, E. variabilis and E. townsendi (Gates 2009, Freiria et al. 2017, Werneck & Campos 2021).

CONCLUSIONS

The description of Aximopsis batistai sp. nov. expands the knowledge on the diversity of Aximopsis in the Neotropical region, especially in the Brazilian Amazon, were records of Eurytomidae are scarce. Additionally, the first record of A. masneri for the state of Amazonas indicates that this species may have a broad distribution across Central and South America.

Acknowledgements

We thank the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia dos Hymenoptera Parasitoides for financial support - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq grant #465562/2014‑0), the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, grant #2008/57949‑4), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).

• Data availability
  The original data presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

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Edited by

• Handling editor
  Renato Martins

Data availability

The original data presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  17 Aug 2026
• Date of issue
  2026

History

• Received
  03 Oct 2025
• Accepted
  24 Jan 2026