CREMNOPS (Braconidae: Agathidinae)

DIAGNOSIS
HABITUS
        These are relatively large 4-12 mm and colored with shades of orange, and black.  (fig. 1)
HEAD
        The 3^rd (penultimate) labial palpomere is about as long as the last (distal) palpomere.  (fig. 2)
        The frons is bordered with carinae, i.e., there are carinae extending from the lateral edges of the antennal sockets that extend posteriorly towards the ocelli.  (fig. 3)
        The face is elongated into a rostrum as in most species of Agathis and some species of Bassus.  (fig. 4)
        The galea and glossa are usually elongate and modified for feeding in deep nectaries.  (fig. 4)
MESOSOMA
        The notauli are impressed.
        The propodeum is areolated.  (fig. 5)
        The fore and middle tarsal claws are cleft (bifid). The hind tarsal claws are usually bifid as well but the basal tooth may be squared distally, especially the lateral claw of each pair. Tarsal claws usually (always?) have basal pectination, though this may be difficult to see.  (fig. 6)
        The hind tibia almost has 2 or more distolateral pegs or spines.  (fig. 7)
        The hind trochantellus may have 1 or 2 longitudinal carinae ventrally.  (fig. 8)
        The 2nd cubital cell of the forewing is quadrate and usually almost square.  (fig. 9)
        The wings are always pigmented and are usually infuscate, sometimes the stigmal area is yellow.
        The hind coxal cavities are always closed.  (fig. 10)
METASOMA
        The first median tergite of the metasoma (gaster) is flat and smooth, lacking sculpture.  (fig. 11)
        The ovipositor (when fully exerted) varies from half as long as the as the metasoma to almost as long as the body. Relative to that of most other agathidine genera, the ovipositor is thicker and stronger.  (fig. 12)
        
BIOLOGY
        Little is known about the life history of species of Cremnops although all appear to be larval endobiont parasitoids of Pyralidae. Simmonds studied the biology of Cremnops vulgaris (as Bracon vulgaris) and discovered that all larval stages of the host Loxostege sticticalis L. are successfully attacked, although there is a preference for half-grown larvae. Like all other genera of Agathidinae with know biology, the host is killed and consumed in the prepupal stage.

DISTRIBUTION
        Worldwide distribution except polar areas. Members are very rare in lowland, wet, tropical areas and none is known from the Amazon basin. Cremnops is diverse in temperate and moderately dry tropical areas.  distribution map

KEYS TO SPECIES
        Marsh (1961) revised the species of America north of Mexico, Berta de Fernandez (1998) revised the American species south of Mexico.  Spanish Key   English Key

DIVERSITY
        22 species are described from America south of the USA. 14 species have been recorded from Canada and the USA, a fifteenth species, Cremnops desertor (apparently accidentally introduced from the Palaearctic) is recorded here for the first time in the Nearctic region. It has been found in Ottawa (Canada) and Washington D.C. (USA). There are a total of 33 New World species as 4 of the species are found on both sides of the USA / Mexican border. Several neotropical and Mexican (Nearctic) species remain to be described

REFERENCES
Berta de Fernandez, D.C. 1998. Contributión al conocemiento del género Cremnops Foerster, 1862 (Braconidae: Agathidinae) en la región Neotropical. Acta zoological lilloana 44: 231-288.

Marsh, P.M. 1961. A taxonomic study of the genus Cremnops in America north of Mexico (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 54: 851-861.

Simmonds, F.J. 1947. The biology of the parasites of Loxostege sticticalis L., in North America - Bracon vulgaris (Cress.) (Braconidae: Agathinae). Bulletin of entomological Research 38: 145-155.