Abstract. The genus Hemistephanus Enderlein is revised, and a detailed investigation on the methodology and morphology used in taxonomic studies of Stephanidae is presented. Specific terminology for the family is revised and defined for the first time. A key to the South American genera of Stephanidae is provided, and new characters are proposed to support the genus Hemistephanus. More than 300 external morphological characters were analysed, from which 82 are proposed to be used as a new character set to the group. Males were thoroughly investigated, and representatives of nine species are described for the first time. Keys for females and males (in Portuguese and in English), descriptions, redescriptions, and distribution maps are provided for 21 species recognized, of which eight (H. adustus, H. velutinus, H. erugatus, H. elimatus, H. arctatus, H. artiosulcatus, H. simulator, and H. validus) are described as new. Eight new synonyms are proposed (Stephanus wustneii Schletterer [=H. limpidipennis (Schl.)], S. vadosus Schletterer and H. bolivianus Fritz & Scaramozzino [=H. cylindricus (Westw.)], H. peruanus Enderlein [=H. tener (Schl.)], H. pehlkei Enderlein [=H. ruficeps (Cam.)], S. (H.) glabricoxis Roman and H. amazonicus Fritz & Scaramozzino [=H. submaculatus (Westw.)], and H. cariocanus Fritz & Scaramozzino [=H. orfilanus Fritz & Scaramozzino]). Four species are removed from Hemistephanus: H. maculipennis (Westwood) in ELLIOTT (1922), H. intermedius (Szépligeti) in ELLIOTT (1922), and H. giganteus Girault are transfered to Megischus, and H. granulatus Elliott is transfered to Parastephanellus. Neostephanus fritzi Orfila is transfered to Foenatopus. Illustrations are provided for all valid species of Hemistephanus.

INTRODUCTION

The Neotropical Hemistephanus was chosen as an introductory genus for the revision of Stephanidae because of its restricted distribution, small number of species, small number of synonyms, and close relation to Megischus, a key genus to the systematics of the family.

Hemistephanus cylindricus (Westwood)

Nearly all of the previously published Hemistephanus species were described from single specimens, based mostly in characters of low taxonomic value, strongly heterogeneous character-sets, and little or no attention given to the relative taxonomic importance of male and female specimens.

The objective of this work was to revise the genus Hemistephanus and investigate its monophyly, proposing, at the same time, a more consistent methodology for taxonomic work with Stephanidae.

This page last updated: December 3, 1998.