Leptofoeninae Handlirsch is a small subfamily of Pteromalidae, particularly interesting due to its unusual dimensions and morphological features head with raised rough parascrobal crests separated by deep scrobes and neck-like pronotum (Bouček & Heydon, 1997; Krogmann & Burks, 2009). Leptofoenines closely resemble parasitoids of the families Pelecinidae, Gasteruptiidae, and Stephanidae (Engel, 2009). Despite of its conspicuous size (11-27 mm in female y 5-12 mm in males) are rarely collected and little is known about their biology (Engel, 2009). Due to its extremely long ovipositor, elongate and tubular body, long legs and the fact that specimens have been collected on dead or fell trees, it is suggested that the species of Leptofoeninae could be parasitoids of xylophagous beetles (Bouček, 1959; Brues, 1924; Dodd, 1927; Hanson & Heydon, 2006). The subfamily includes two genera and nine species (Noyes, 2016; Krogmann & Burks, 2009); the genus Doddifoenus Bouček includes three species distributed in Australasia and the genus Leptofoenus Smith with six species restricted to America which they are distributed from northern Argentina to the Southwest of the United States (Engel, 2009; Krogmann & Burks, 2009; Noyes, 2016).
Leptofoenus is characterized by presenting the eighth gastral tergum reduced, pronotal lateral surfaces with finely striate regions and the length of basitarsus of all legs twice as long as second tarsomere (Engel, 2009). LaSalle & Stage (1985) reviewed the genus and provided a female key for the five species from to America: L. howardi (Ashmead), L. peleciniformis Smith, L. rufus LaSalle & Stage, L. stephanoides (Roman) and L. westwoodi (Ashmead). In 2009, an extinct new species, L. pittfieldae Engel, was described from a fossil record of Miocene found in Dominican Republic; information about the possible phylogenetic relationships of the Leptofoeninae species and an identification key to the subfamily genera were also provided (Engel, 2009).
The L. stephanoides female (Fig. 1A) is distinguished by basal cell with 16 or less setae; cubital vein not represented posterior to basal cell, or rarely represented by 1-2 setae (Fig. 1B); single row of setae between preorbital ridge and eye not approaching vertex, not or barely extending dorsal of middle of head (Fig. 2C); hind tibia with rasplike structure along entire inner margin (Fig. 1D); ovipositor extended past apex of T9 for a length greater than twice the length of T9 (Fig. 1A); and pronotum with lateral striolate area (Fig. 1E) (LaSalle & Stage 1985). Superfamily and family identification follows Mason & Fernandez (2006), Gibson (2006) and Hanson & Heydon (2006); genus follows Engel (2009) and species LaSalle & Stage (1985). Material deposited in the Colección Entomológica del Museo de Entomología de la Universidad del Valle, (MUSENUV) revealed the presence of L. stephanoides.
Leptofoenus stephanoides (Roman)
Material examined: 1 Female. COLOMBIA, Valle del Cauca, Buenaventura, Vereda El Salto, Área en Conservación de la Microcuenca Quebrada Pericos. Date: August 14, 2014, 344 masl. 3°50'1"N, 76°46'50"W. Manual capture (with hand net), flying over decomposing trunk at noon, Tropical rainforest, Collectors: Oscar Ascuntar-Osnas. Deposit: Museo de Entomología de la Universidad del Valle (MUSENUV), accession number MUSENUV- 27834
Comments and world distribution Within the genus, L. stephanoides is one of the most widely distributed species in America (De Santis, 1968; LaSalle & Stage, 1985; Ruiz et al., 2004; GBIF, 2016; Noyes, 2016 – Fig. 2): ARGENTINA (Misiones, Loreto), PARAGUAY (San Berardino), BRAZIL (Parana, Santa Catarina, Goias, Mato Grosso, Amazonas), FRENCH GUIANA (Nouveae Chantier), VENEZUELA (Zulia), COLOMBIA (see below), PANAMA (Barro Colorado Island). COSTA RICA (Bagaces, Palo Verde Natural National Park, Palo Verde Station, 40 m, 10,34957N, -85,35236W; A.C.L.A.C, Central, Res Biol Hitoy Cerere, Est Hitoy Cerere, Send Bobócara, 300 m, 9.67227N, -83.04137W; Osa, Sierpe, Rancho Quemado, 200 m, 8.6791N, -83.56671W; Guanacaste National Park. La Cruz. Maritza Biological Station, 600 m, 10.96254N, -85.49524W). MEXICO (80 Km S. Victoria, Route 85, Carr. La Gloria, 197m, 23.261N, -98.842W. [Tamaulipas]; Chiapas, 1 female, Simojovel, 2.viii.1958 (Chermsak) (BMNH)).
In Colombia, L. stephanoides is the only species reported so far and it has been recorded in the Orinoquia region (La Macarena, Department of Meta) from a single male collected in 01-15.iii.1976 (LaSalle & Stage, 1985). However, the genus (unpublished data) has been recorded in the three natural regions: Amazon Region (Amazonas: PNN [Parque Nacional Natural] Amacayacu, Mocagua, 03º41'S 70º15'W, 150 m, Malaise, 06-12.vi.2000, A. Parente leg. M. 670; same data except for: 07-14. viii. 2000, M. 677); Caribbean Region (Magdalena: PNN Tayrona, Zaino, 11º20'N 74º2'W, 50 m, Malaise, 28.vii-14. viii.2000, R. Henriquez leg. M. 567) and Orinoquia Region (Vichada: PNN El Tuparro, Bosque Sabana, 5º21'N 67º51'W 100 m, Malaise, 08-18. viii.2000, W. Villalba leg. M. 515). Specimens were found in lowland areas from 50 m to 150 m. The material was collected under the project "Insect Diversity of Colombia" (Sharkey, 2016) and became part of the Colección Entomológica, Jorge Ignacio Hernández Camacho, Museo del Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt (IAvH-E), Villa de Leyva, Colombia. This material was not reviewed because the identification of the specimen deposited in MUSENUV is part of the curation process of the museum and not a study focused on the genus Leptofoenus.
Here, the Department of Valle del Cauca (Buenaventura) is reported as a new locality of L. stephanoides from Colombia. The presence of this species is confirmed once again for Colombia after 38 years. This is also the first record for the Pacific Region. It is worth noting that this record was expected as part of L. stephanoides distributional range.