Conocalama Hopper
Conocalama is a typical member of the Callajoppa genus-group and is easily diagnosed (at least with specimens under a scope) by a combination of the characters listed below.
Most species are entirely black, entirely brownish-red, or have a primarily black head and mesosoma and a brownish-red or brownish-yellow metasoma (some with black banding).At least some degree of wing yellowing or infuscation is present in most species too.
Conocalama brullei has a nearly identical color pattern to Gnamptopelta obsidianator, and I assume there are at least a few observations on iNaturalist and BugGuide that misidentified C. brullei as G. obsidianator.
Diagnosis
- mandible bidentate
- propodeum sloping downward anteriorly
- areola modified into polished boss
- areolet petiolate and irregularly quadrangular
- postpetiole with small to large conical elevation
- scutellum strongly elevated above postscutellum
- female metasoma amblypgous