Rhopalothrix kusnezovi

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Brown and Kempf (1960) - This species is most closely related to Rhopalothrix weberi, Rhopalothrix isthmica, and Rhopalothrix stannardi, but differs strikingly from all of these in its abundant and bristly pilosity, as well as in labral form and other characters.

Key to Rhopalothrix workers

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina.

Castes
Known only from queens.

Nomenclature

 *  kusnezovi. Rhopalothrix kusnezovi Brown & Kempf, 1960: 238, fig. 60 (q.) ARGENTINA.

Queen
Holotype, alate TL 2.9, HL 0.62, HW 0.65 (CI 105), ML 0.18, greatest diameter of compound eye ca. 0.12, WL 0.83, forewing L ca. 2.5 mm.

Form of head and mandibles as shown. Two weak, feebly arcuate sulci crossing head, one just behind clypeus, the other just in front of anterior ocellus. Curved transverse carina behind ocelli is shown by dotted line in figure. Clypeus flat, with raised convex lateral lobes. A brief median longitudinal carina runs forward from anterior ocellus. Labrum shown. Antennal scapes flattened and bent near base, and somewhat broadened, but not forming prominent lobes. Apical segment of funiculus about as long as the five basal segments combined. Mandible with 3 large and 2 small teeth on masticatory border, followed by the long subapical tooth, which is nearly twice as long as hasal width of mandible and more than twice as long as (ventral) apical tooth; between subapical and apical teeth are two strong intercalary teeth.

Alitrunk depressed and broad; pronotum broad above, but the sides concave and receding beneath it; scutum depressed, with an extensive shallow impression centered between the wing bases. Scutellum elliptical, flat, feebly impressed, not protruding. Propodeum with extremely short dorsum almost immediately dropping off into declivity, which is concave from side to side, and laterally bordered on each side by a low translucent lamina which is convex above and below, concave in the middle.

Petiolar node sessile, its anterior face rising at a sharp slope, slightly convex; summit rounded, posterodorsal face convex; seen from above, node is subrectangular, broader than long, anterior and lateral borders slightly convex. Anteroventral process short and stout. Postpetiole reniform, wide, but narrow from front to rear, its anterior border gently concave, its posterior border convex. Gaster depressed and rather broad, with subparallel sides; first tergite flat above, with a broad but shallow anteromedian impression. Exserted sting stout, acute.

Entire body, including mandibles, densely and finely granulose-punctulate, opaque; occiput and promesonotum with a faint open network of rugulae superimposed. Posterior dorsum of head, gula, scapes, dorsum and lower middle sides of alitrunk, coxae, both nodes and all of gaster covered with abundant, rather short but slender, clavate to truncate erect hairs, Legs, frontal region of head, and clypeus with reclinate linear-spatulate hairs, often directed toward midline on head; mandibles with long, decumbent truncate to pointed hairs (the last not shown in the figure). Labrum with paired tapered sensory setae.

Venation of forewing reduced til a rather weak R+Sc with stigma. Costa of forewing basad of stigma with 3 large equally-spaced oblique setae. Hindwing with 4 submedian hamuli. Color medium ferruginous; ocellar calli blackened.

Type Material
Holotype taken, presumably in or after nuptial flight, at Tucuman, Argentina (N. Kusnezov leg., no. 10068). Two similar paratype females, also from Tucuman, are deposited with the holotype and WWK.