to blog added almost 15 years ago by Istvan Miko
Synonyms of the posterior scutellar depression: Miko and Ernst 2009: The posterior scutellar depression extends anteriorly along the posterior area of the mesoscutellum which area is delimited internally anteriorly by the posterior mesoscutellar ridge medially and the mesoscutellar arms laterally. The posterior scutellar depression is present in numerous Apocritan taxa including many Proctotrupoidea (posterior margin of scutellar disk Yoder 2004), Chalcidoidea (delimiting the marginal rim of scutellum), Ichneumonoidea (posterior scutellar depression Sharkey and Wharton 1997) and Platygastroidea (Posterior scutellar sulcus Miko et al 2007). The length of the sulcus is actually correlate with the distance of the medial opening of the two scutellar arms. In PLatygastroidea the sulcus extends along almost the whole posterior margin of the mesoscutellum (Figs), in most other taxa however the sulcus is represented just by few fovea located medially on the posterior megin of the mesoscutellum (Figs). It is quite uncertain what function the sulcus might have, but since it is located just posteriorly of the posterior mesoscutellar ridge, which is actually serves as the part of articulation between the mesonotum and mesopostnotum, it might be developed for strenghtening the area extended posteriorly of the ridge. Although it is questionable, whether the sulcus is homologous in these groups (most probably the presence of the sulcus due to reversals), we prefer to use the same term since both the topology and the function is seemingly shared by the sulci located in each Apocritans superfamily.
Is the above made statement that the foveolate sulcus extending along the posterior margin of the mesoscutellum just posterior to the posterior mesoscutellar ridge are analogous in all Apocritan taxa, is acceptable? If yes, than what should be the preferred term?
Reference: Miko, I. 2009. -2019 Curator. Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology.
Cross reference:
None provided.
