Carinodes Hancock, 1926
Carinodes is likely the most common and diverse ichneumonine genus in the Neotropics, though only one species, Carinodes havanensis, has been recorded in the Nearctic. There are only 33 described species, but the total diversity may be in the low hundreds. Local diversity can also be exceptional. For example, recent sorting work of material from a single locality (10 km radius) in the Peruvian Amazon yielded no less than 44 species.
Carinodes is morphologically diverse in terms of habitus, size, color, and even certain characters (shape of the propodeum, clypeus modifications, ect.) thought to only differ between genera. The main character that unites all of these species is the median longitudinal carina of the areola, though even a few species or exceptional specimens lack the carina Carinodes. While not unique, the smooth, punctate postpetiole and the median tubercle on the anterior margin of the propodeum are also useful for diagnosing Carinodes.
Carinodes could possibly be broken up into perhaps 5-10 different genera that each have a more cohesive overall morphology, but given that Carinodes is already readily diagnosable, doing so would unnecessarily complicate the identification of Neotropical genera. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that monophyletic groups within Carinodes could be identified based on morphology alone. Also, there is a high likelihood that Paraditremops is derived within Carinodes.
The only species known from the Nearctic is Carinodes havanensis, which occurs in Florida. However, there is at least one species each in southeast Arizona and southwest Texas. There may also an unknown species in Florida (pers. comm. Davide dal Pos).
Diagnosis
- male flagellum with well-developed bristle ridges
- anterior margin of propodeum with median tubercle
- areola with median longitudinal carina
- postpetiole usually densely, coarsely punctate
- female metasomal apex oxypygous