The genus Synaldis Foerster , 1863 ( Hymenoptera : Braconidae : Alysiinae ) in the Neotropical region : first record , descriptions of new species and a key to the New World taxa

The genus Synaldis Foerster, 1863 is recorded in the Neotropical region for the first time. Five new Neotropical species, S. brasiliense Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., S. fritzi Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., S.  longiflagellaris Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., S. magnioculis Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., and S. novateutoniae Peris-Felipo, sp. nov., are described and illustrated. The original combination for Synaldis ulmicola Ashmead, 1889 stat. rev. is proposed. A key for the determination of the all New World Synaldis species is provided.


Introduction
The status of the Alysiinae genus Synaldis Foerster, 1863 has been uncertain for a long time. Van Achterberg (1988) revised the Aspilota genera group and synonymized this genus with the re-established genus Dinotrema Foerster, 1863 on the basis of the plesiomorphic state of the unenlarged paraclypeal pits. As a result, he distributed the former species of Synaldis among the genera Aspilota Foerster, 1863 and Dinotrema according to the new diagnostic feature, the size of the paraclypeal areas. However, such a synonymy of Synaldis was not supported by several experts working on alysiine taxa (Fischer 1993a(Fischer , 1993bPapp 2000;Belokobylskij 2002). It is necessary to underline that such an apomorphic feature, as the complete reduction of vein 2-SR, is an evolutionary event which was also accompanied by the disappearance of the break (corner) between veins r and 3-SR, this part of the veins is only gently and relatively widely curved. Such an apomorphic state of the wing venation represents an important qualitative transformation and can reliably support the generic status of Synaldis (Belokobylskij 2002) European Journal of Taxonomy 386: 1-28 ISSN 21181-28 ISSN -9773 https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017 www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu 2017 · Peris-Felipo F.J. & Belokobylskij S.A. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

R e s e a r c h a r t i c l e
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:12B1D2CD-B743-4651-82F5-D091462C2B03 in spite of the rare present reduction of vein 2-SR in some specimens of a few species of Dinotrema. For that reason, we prefer to keep the generic status for Synaldis until any results of a molecular phylogenetic study of taxa of Alysiinae. Rather recently, Fischer (2003) established the genus Adelphenaldis, whose species differ from Synaldis only by the length of the paraclypeal fovea, which reaches the margin of the eye in Adelphenaldis, and is thus equivalent to the species of 'Synaldis' that Van Achterberg (1988) placed in Aspilota. Peris-Felipo & Belokobylskij (2016) published a key for the identifi cation of these four related genera.
Members of the genus Synaldis are often reared from agaric mushrooms and recorded as parasitoids of the larvae and puparia of the dipterous families Phoridae (mainly) and Drosophilidae (doubtfully) (Hussey 1960;Fischer 2005;Yu et al. 2012).

Materials and methods
For the terminology of morphological features, sculpture and measurements see Peris-Felipo et al. (2014a); for wing venation nomenclature see Van Achterberg (1993); for measurements of the marginal cell see Fig. 1. European Journal of Taxonomy 386: 1-28 (2017) Material was imaged using a Digital Microscope Keyence ® VHX-2000 and Adobe Photoshop ® imaging system. The types of described and studied species are deposited in the collections listed below and in  Genus Synaldis Foerster, 1863

Diagnosis
Mandibles tridentate, teeth of differing shape and length. Paraclypeal fovea short, far from reaching ventral margin of eye. Mesoscutal pit present or absent. Precoxal sulcus always present, usually not reaching anterior and posterior margins of mesopleuron. Pterostigma very long and narrow. Vein 2-SR always absent; break between veins r and 3-SR absent and abscissae here only gently and rather widely curved. Veins m-cu and cu-a always postfurcal.

Hosts
Diptera larvae, mainly of the family Phoridae and possibly Drosophilidae.

Diagnosis
This new species is similar to S. glabrifovea Fischer, 1967 (USA), but differs from it in having the prescutellar pit present (absent in S. glabrifovea), face 2.1 times as long as high (3.0 times in S. glabrifovea), mandible 1.8 times as long as its maximum width (1.5 times in S. glabrifovea), and the fi rst metasomal tergite 2.4 times as long as its apical width (2.1 times in S. glabrifovea).

Etymology
The specifi c epithet refers to "Brazil", after the country where this species was found. HEAD. In dorsal view, 1.8 times as wide as long, 1.5 times as wide as mesoscutum, smooth, with temple rounded behind eyes. Eye in lateral view 1.5 times as high as wide and 1.4 times as wide as temple medially. POL 1.3 times as long as OD; OOL 3.2 times OD. Face 2.1 times as wide as high; inner margins of eyes subparallel. Clypeus 3.0 times as wide as high, slightly concave ventrally. Paraclypeal fovea reaching half of distance between clypeus and eye. Mandible narrow, not widened towards apex, 1.8 times as long as its maximum width. Upper tooth very small, distinctly shorter than middle tooth; middle tooth small, pointed apically; lower tooth short, as long as upper tooth, rounded. Antennae 20-segmented, 1.2 times as long as body. Scape 1.5 times as long as pedicel. First fl agellar segment 3.6 times as long as its apical width, 1.2 times as long as second segment. Second to 4 th segments 2.7 times, 5 th to seventh segments 2.2 times, 9 th to 15 th segments 2.1 times, 16 th segment 2.0 times, 17 th segment 1.8 times and 18 th (apical) segment 2.3 times as long as their maximum width.

Holotype
MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.2 times as long as high. Mesoscutum (dorsal view) 0.9 times as long as its maximum width, with sparse setae arranged as single line along notaulus line. Notauli mainly absent on horizontal surface of mesoscutum. Mesoscutal pit present and elongate. Prescutellar depression smooth, European Journal of Taxonomy 386: 1-28 (2017) without lateral carinae, 1.1 times as long as its maximum width. Precoxal sulcus present, crenulate, not reaching anterior and posterior margins of mesopleuron. Posterior mesopleural furrow smooth. Propodeum with pentagonal areola crossed by complete and distinct median longitudinal carina from its base to apex. Propodeal spiracles relatively small, its diameter 0.2 times as wide as the distance from spiracle to anterior margin of propodeum.
WINGS. Length of fore wing 2.8 times its maximum width. Marginal cell ending on apex of wing, 4.0 times as long as its maximum width. Vein SR1 2.5 times as long as vein 3-SR. Vein 3-SR 3.0 times as long as vein r. Vein cu-a distinctly postfurcal. First subdiscal cell closed distally, 3.0 times as long as its maximum width. Hind wing 5.7 times as long as its maximum width.
LEGS. Hind femur 4.1 times as long as its maximum width. Hind tibia weakly widened to apex, 8.4 times as long as its maximum subapical width, about as long as hind tarsus. First segment of hind tarsus 1.5 times as long as second segment.
METASOMA. First tergite weakly widened towards apex, 2.4 times as long as its apical width, weakly striate in apical half. Ovipositor 1.3 times as long as fi rst tergite, 0.4 times as long as metasoma, 0.8 times as long as hind femur.

Male
Body length 1.6 mm, fore wing 1.9 mm, hind wing 1.3 mm. Antenna 21-segmented, 1.3 times as long as body. Second fl agellar segment 3.2 times as long as its maximum width and 6th segment 2.3 times. Hind femur 4.4 times as long as its maximum width. Otherwise similar to female.

Diagnosis
This new species is similar to S. magnioculis sp. nov. but differs from it in having the eye in lateral view 1.5 times as long as temple medially (1.7 times in S. magnioculis sp. nov.), face 1.8 times as long as high (1.2 times in S. magnioculis sp. nov.), second fl agellar segment 2.2 times as long as its maximum width (2.7 times in S. magnioculis sp. nov.); sixth segment 1.8 times (2.5 times in S. magnioculis sp. nov.), and hind femur 3.5 times as long as its maximum width (3.9 times in S. magnioculis sp. nov.).

Etymology
Named after Fritz Plaumann, collector of the type material of this new species.

Paratypes
BRAZIL: 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂, same locality as holotype, but 19 Mar., 5 Jul., 31 Aug. 1937and 2 Jun. 1938(BMNH, ZISP: B.M. 19371937-656;1937-748;1938-458 (2017) HEAD. In dorsal view, 1.9 times as wide as long, 1.5 times as wide as mesoscutum, smooth, with temple rounded behind eyes. Eye in lateral view 1.6 times as high as wide and 1.1 times as wide as temple medially. POL 1.0 times as long as OD; OOL 2.7 times OD. Face 1.8 times as wide as high, completely covered by numerous setae; inner margins of eyes subparallel. Clypeus 2.5 times as wide as high, slightly concave ventrally. Paraclypeal fovea short, reaching 0.4 times distance between clypeus and eye. Mandible weakly widened towards apex, 1.5 times as long as its maximum width. Upper tooth very small, shorter than lower and middle teeth; middle tooth short, wide basally and pointed apically; lower tooth short, rounded. Antennae 23-segmented, 1.1 times as long as body. Scape 2.5 times as long as pedicel. First fl agellar segment 3.6 times as long as its apical width, 1.4 times as long as 2 nd segment. Second and 3 rd fl agellar segments 2.0 times, 4 th to 8 th segments 1.8 times, 9 th to 18 th segments 2.0 times, 19 th and 20 th segments 1.8 times, and 21 st (apical) segment 2.2 times as long as their maximum width.
MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.3 times as long as high. Mesoscutum (dorsal view) as long as its maximum width, with numerous setae arranged in middle part of mesoscutum. Notauli mainly absent on horizontal surface of mesoscutum. Mesoscutal pit present and elongate. Prescutellar depression smooth, without lateral carinae, twice as long as its maximum width. Precoxal sulcus present, crenulate, not reaching anterior and posterior margins of mesopleuron. Posterior mesopleural furrow smooth. Propodeum sculptured, with complete and distinct median longitudinal carina from its base to apex and with several transverse carinae reaching sides of propodeum. Propodeal spiracles small, its diameter 0.1 times as wide as the distance from spiracle to anterior margin of propodeum.
WINGS. Length of fore wing 2.8 times its maximum width. Marginal cell ending on apex of wing, 4.2 times as long as its maximum width. Vein SR1 2.8 times as long as vein 3-SR. Vein 3-SR 2.6 times as long as vein r. Vein cu-a distinctly postfurcal. First subdiscal cell closed distally, 2.8 times as long as its maximum width. Hind wing 5.8 times as long as its maximum width.
LEGS. Hind femur 3.8 times as long as its maximum width. Hind tibia weakly widened to apex, 8.8 times as long as its maximum subapical width, 1.1 times as long as hind tarsus. First segment of hind tarsus twice as long as second segment.
METASOMA. First tergite weakly widened towards apex, 2.7 times as long as its apical width, weakly striate. Ovipositor as long as fi rst tergite, 0.3 times as long as metasoma, 0.7 times as long as hind femur.

Male
Body length 2.4 mm, fore wing 2.5 mm, hind wing 1.8 mm. Antenna 25-segmented. First fl agellar segment 3.4 times as long as its maximum width; second segment 2.7 times, and sixth segment 2.4 times as long as its maximum width. Otherwise similar to female.  HEAD. In dorsal view, 1.8 times as wide as long, 1.5 times as wide as mesoscutum, smooth, with temple rounded behind eyes. Eye in lateral view 1.3 times as high as wide and 1.4 times as wide as temple medially. POL 1.1 times as long as OD; OOL 2.5 times OD. Face 1.6 times as wide as high, completely covered by numerous setae; inner margins of eyes subparallel. Clypeus 2.3 times as wide as high, slightly concave ventrally. Paraclypeal fovea reaching half of distance between clypeus and eye. Mandible weakly widened towards apex, 1.6 times as long as its maximum width. Upper tooth small, slightly shorter than middle tooth; middle tooth short, wide basally and pointed apically; lower tooth short, wide, rounded. Antenna 18-segmented, 1.1 times as long as body. Scape 1.5 times as long as pedicel. First fl agellar segment 4.0 times as long as its apical width, about as long as second segment.  (2017) Second fl agellar segment 3.2 times as long as its maximum width, third to sixth segments 2.9 times, seventh to 13 th segments 2.5 times, and 14 th to 16 th (apical) segments 2.9 times as long as their width.

Synaldis longifl agellaris
MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.1 times as long as high. Mesoscutum (dorsal view) about as long as its maximum width, with sparse double setae arranged along notaulus line. Notauli mainly absent on horizontal surface of mesoscutum. Mesoscutal pit present and elongate. Prescutellar depression smooth, without lateral carinae. Precoxal sulcus present, crenulate, not reaching anterior and posterior margins of mesopleuron. Posterior mesopleural furrow smooth. Propodeum sculptured, with complete and distinct median longitudinal carina from its base to apex, with long transverse carinae not reaching sides of propodeum. Propodeal spiracles small, its diameter about 0.1 times as large as distance from spiracle to anterior margin of propodeum.
WINGS. Length of fore wing 3.0 times its maximum width. Marginal cell ending on apex of wing, 4.0 times as long as its maximum width. Vein SR1 3.0 times as long as vein 3-SR. Vein 3-SR 2.8 times as long as vein r. Vein cu-a distinctly postfurcal. First subdiscal cell closed distally, 3.8 times as long as its maximum width. Hind wing 6.5 times as long as its maximum width.
LEGS. Hind femur 4.6 times as long as its maximum width. Hind tibia weakly widened to apex, 8.2 times as long as its maximum subapical width, 1.1 times as long as hind tarsus. First segment of hind tarsus 1.7 times as long as second segment.
METASOMA. First tergite weakly widened towards apex, 2.1 times as long as its apical width, entirely striate. Ovipositor 1.6 times as long as fi rst tergite, 0.7 times as long as metasoma, 1.1 times as long as hind femur.

Diagnosis
This new species is similar to Synaldis fritzi sp. nov.; differences between both species are described under the latter species.

Etymology
The specifi c epithet is derived from the Latin "magnus", meaning "big", and "oculus", meaning "eye" because of the large eye in lateral view.

Description
Female (holotype) LENGTH. Body 1.7 mm, fore wing 1.8 mm, hind wing 1.4 mm. HEAD. In dorsal view, 1.7 times as wide as long, 1.4 times as wide as mesoscutum, smooth, with temple rounded behind eyes. Eye in lateral view 1.5 times as high as wide and 1.7 times as wide as temple medially. POL 0.9 times as long as OD; OOL 2.4 times OD. Face 1.2 times as wide as high, with numerous setae; inner margins of eyes subparallel. Clypeus 2.5 times as wide as high, slightly concave ventrally. Paraclypeal fovea reaching half distance between clypeus and eye. Mandible not widened towards apex, 1.9 times as long as its maximum width. Upper tooth very small, shorter than middle tooth; middle tooth small, wide basally and pointed apically; lower tooth short, as long as upper tooth, rounded. Antennae 20-segmented, 1.1 times as long as body. Scape 2.0 times as long as pedicel. First fl agellar segment 3.5 times as long as its apical width, 1.4 times as long as 2 nd segment. Second fl agellar segment 2.5 times, 3 rd to 5 th segments 2.1 times, 6 th to 8 th segments 2.5 times, 9 th to 17 th segments 2.2 times, and 18 th (apical) segment 2.4 times as long as their maximum width.
MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.2 times as long as high. Mesoscutum (dorsal view) as long as its maximum width, with sparse single setae arranged along notaulus line. Notauli mainly absent on horizontal surface of mesoscutum. Mesoscutal pit present and elongate. Prescutellar depression smooth, without lateral carinae. Precoxal sulcus present, crenulate, not reaching anterior and posterior margins of mesopleuron. Posterior mesopleural furrow smooth. Propodeum sculptured, with complete and distinct median longitudinal carina from its base to apex, with one transverse carina reaching both sides of propodeum. Propodeal spiracles relatively small, its diameter 0.2 times as wide as the distance from spiracle to anterior margin of propodeum.
WINGS. Length of fore wing 2.7 times its maximum width. Marginal cell ending on apex of wing, 3.8 times as long as its maximum width. Vein SR1 2.6 times as long as vein 3-SR. Vein 3-SR 1.8 times as long as vein r. Vein cu-a distinctly postfurcal. First subdiscal cell closed distally, 4.0 times as long as its maximum width. Hind wing 5.7 times as long as its maximum width.
LEGS. Hind femur 3.9 times as long as its maximum width. Hind tibia weakly widened to apex, 9.6 times as long as its maximum subapical width, as long as hind tarsus. First segment of hind tarsus 1.7 times as long as second segment.
METASOMA. First tergite weakly widened towards apex, 2.7 times as long as its apical width, striate. Ovipositor 1.2 times as long as fi rst tergite, 0.4 times as long as metasoma, 0.8 times as long as hind femur.
VARIATION. Hind femur 3.8-4.0 times as long as its maximum width.

Diagnosis
This new species is similar to Synaldis longifl agellaris sp. nov. and S. segmentata Fischer, 1967. Differences between S. novateutoniae sp. nov. and S. longifl agellaris sp. nov. are described after the description of S. longifl agellaris sp. nov. Synaldis novateutoniae sp. nov. differs from S. segmentata in having the fi rst fl agellar segment 3.5 times as long as its maximum width (

Etymology
The specifi c epithet refers to Teutônia ("Nova Teutonia"), the type locality of the species.
COLOUR. Body, pterostigma and fl agellar segments of antenna brown; legs, scape and pedicel of antenna brownish yellow. Lower part of pronotal side and propleuron yellow. Wings hyaline.
HEAD. In dorsal view, 1.9 times as wide as long, 1.4 times as wide as mesoscutum, smooth, with temple rounded behind eyes. Eye in lateral view 1.5 times as high as wide and 1.4 times as wide as temple medially. POL 1.0 times as long as OD; OOL 2.7 times OD. Face 1.8 times as wide as high, completely covered by numerous setae; inner margins of eyes subparallel. Clypeus 2.5 times as wide as high, slightly concave ventrally. Paraclypeal fovea reaching half distance between clypeus and eye. Mandible weakly widened towards apex, 1.8 times as long as its maximum width. Upper tooth small, shorter than lower teeth; middle tooth small, slightly longer than upper tooth, wide basally and pointed apically; lower tooth short, wide, rounded. Antennae 22-segmented, 1.1 times as long as body. Scape 1.8 times as long as pedicel. First fl agellar segment 3.5 times as long as its apical width, 1.3 times as long as second segment. Second fl agellar segment 2.3 times, third to sixth segments 1.8 times; seventh to 17 th segments about 2.0 times, 18 th and 19 th segments 2.2 times, and 20 th (apical) segment 2.8 times as long as their maximum width.
MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.1 times as long as high. Mesoscutum (dorsal view) as long as its maximum width, with sparse single setae arranged along notaulus line. Notauli mainly absent on horizontal surface of mesoscutum. Mesoscutal pit present and elongate. Prescutellar depression smooth, without lateral carinae. Precoxal sulcus present, not reaching anterior and posterior margins of mesopleuron. Posterior mesopleural furrow smooth. Propodeum sculptured, with complete and distinct median longitudinal carina from its base to apex, with very short transverse carinae far from reaching sides of propodeum. Propodeal spiracles small, its diameter 0.4 times as wide as the distance from spiracle to anterior margin of propodeum.
WINGS. Length of fore wing 2.8 times its maximum width. Marginal cell ending on apex of wing, 4.0 times as long as its maximum width. Vein SR1 2.6 times as long as vein 3-SR. Vein 3-SR 3.4 times as long as vein r. Vein cu-a distinctly postfurcal. First subdiscal cell closed distally, 4.0 times as long as its maximum width. Hind wing 5.7 times as long as its maximum width.
LEGS. Hind femur 4.4 times as long as its maximum width. Hind tibia weakly widened to apex, 7.5 times as long as its maximum subapical width, as long as hind tarsus. First segment of hind tarsus 1.9 times as long as second segment.
METASOMA. First tergite weakly widened towards apex, 2.2 times as long as its apical width, weakly striate. Ovipositor 1.7 times as long as fi rst tergite, 0.5 times as long as metasoma, 1.1 times as long as hind femur.

Discussion
Species of the genus Synaldis are parasitoids of Diptera, ovipositing into larvae and emerging from puparia, and have already been recorded in many zoogeographical regions of the world (Afrotropical, Australasian, Holarctic and Oriental). However, information about this group in the Neotropical region began to appear only recently (see, e.g., Peris-Felipo & Belokobylskij 2016). The discovery of the genus Synaldis in South America is more evidence for the wide global distribution of this genus.
Despite a rather limited number of morphological characters used for species diagnoses in the Aspilota group, their combination allows a reliable discrimination of species in each region, including a highly diverse and species-rich territory such as Brazil. It is important to underline that, even in the Neotropics, members of the Aspilota group (including Synaldis) morphologically do not strongly deviate from the main and well-known diagnostic structures. This is also demonstrated for the fi ve Neotropical Synaldis species described here: S. brasiliense sp. nov., S. fritzi sp. nov., S. longifl agellaris sp. nov., S. novateutoniae sp. nov., and S. magnioculis sp. nov. have a predominantly black body with pale legs, one of the four known types of propodeum sculpture, a similar type of wing venation, and a short and upcurved ovipositor.
The fi rst original key for determination of all New World Synaldis species published in this paper is a very important step for a future deeper study of the biodiversity of this group of Alysiinae in the Neotropical region.
Finally, it is important to remark that the limited number of known Alysiinae taxa in the Neotropical region is a refl ection of the very limited research carried out on this group to date. Further investigation both on the fauna and host associations of the Neotropical Alysiinae will be necessary to provide real information about the biodiversity of one of the world's most important regions of biota.