Undescribed genus 2 (Probable)

Because of the long dorsal surface of the propodeum and the strong apical transverse carina, this female keys to the genus Orthizema, but it does not appear to belong in Orthizema because of a number of unique characters. As is evident in image 449951, the head is nearly cubical in dorsal aspect. While the apex of the clypeus bears two small apical teeth centrally as is quite normal for species of the substribe Phygadeuontina and some species of Orthizema, the clypeus is exceptionally short and broad. The mandible is correspondingly large, with the lower tooth about half as long as the upper (in Orthizema the lower tooth is about .8 the length of the upper tooth). The structure of the petiole is unlike that of any ichneumonid I have seen in that the sclerotized part of the sternum is absent or minuscule. As is fairly evident from image 449952, the petiolar tergite consists of a rather flattened plate. In fact, this is so unusual that I cannot help wondering if the petiole of this specimen is simply abnormal. Whatever, the case there, I expect this species to represent a genus distinct from any currently recognized in the Phygadeuontini.

— Bob Carlson