Xiphydriidae of the Philippines, Insular Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Fiji

Woodwasps of the family Xiphydriidae from the Philippines, insular Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Fiji are reviewed. Twenty-six species in six genera are keyed, described, and illustrated. Two species are recorded from the Philippines, three species from insular Malaysia, eight species from Indonesia, nine species from Papua New Guinea, four species from New Caledonia, and one species from Fiji. Taxa described are Lissoxiphyda, n. gen., L. kiunga, n. sp. (Papua New Guinea), L. lucida, n. sp. (Papua New Guinea), L. morobe, n. sp. (Papua New Guinea), L. rufipes (F. SMITH, 1859), n. comb. (Indonesia: Aru), L. shinoharai, n. sp. (Indonesia: Sulawesi), L. simbai, n. sp. (Papua New Guinea), L. tripotini, n. sp. (New Caledonia); Calexiphyda, n. gen., C. blanki, n. sp. (New Caledonia), C. caledonia, n. sp. (New Caledonia), C. crocea, n. sp. (New Caledonia); Indoxiphia MAA, 1949, I. darlingi, n. sp. (Indonesia: Kalimantin), I. falcata, n. sp. (Papua New Guinea: New Ireland), I. fijiensis, n. sp. (Fiji), I. laeviceps (F. SMITH, 1861) (Indonesia: Ambon, Buru; Papua New Guinea), I. maai, n. sp. (Papua New Guinea), I. papuaensis, n. sp. (Papua New Guinea), I. quadricincta (BENSON, 1935) (Indonesia: Java), I. schiffi, n. sp. (Papua New Guinea), I. sumatra, n. sp. (Indonesia: Sumatra); Obesaxiphyda, n. gen., O. banahao, n. sp. (Philippines), O. borneensis (ROHWER, 1921), n. comb. (Malaysia: Sabah); Hyperxiphia MAA, 1949, H. cyanea (MOCSÁRY, 1891) (Indonesia: Java), H. flavicornis (ROHWER, 1921), n. comb. (Malaysia: Sabah), H. sulawesi, n. sp. (Indonesia: Sulawesi); Lataxiphyda, n. gen., L. erythropus (CAMERON, 1903), n. comb. (Malaysia: Sarawak), L. paraerythropus, n. sp. (Malaysia: Selangor), L. pyrura (ROHWER, 1921), n. comb. (Philippines). Two males for which names were proposed are placed as unassociated in their respective genera, Calexiphyda novacaledonica (JENNINGS and AUSTIN, 2007), n. comb., and Indoxiphia testacea (MOCSÁRY, 1900), n. comb. Cingalixiphia MAA, 1949, is a new synonym of Indoxiphia MAA, 1949, and Palpixiphia MAA, 1949, is a new synonym of Hyperxiphia MAA, 1949. Hyperxiphia formosana (ENSLIN, 1911) and Obesaxiphyda heritierae (ROHWER, 1921) are new combinations.

have not been taken into consideration. All of these genera are very similar, and I suspect that they eventually will be reduced to only several groupings. For this study, Indoxiphia, Obesoxiphyda, Hyperxiphia, and Lataxiphyda have similar mouthparts, 4 or 5-segmented maxillary palpi and 3-or 4-segmented labial palpi, with the maxillary palpi reduced, and I do not subdivide them further by number of segments and relative lengths and shapes of the segments. The malar space was sometimes used by , but  was unsure of MAA's definition. In the malar area there is a depression (antennal groove), and BENSON interpreted the length of the malar space to be from the inner edge of this depression to the eye, not the outer (mandibular) edge of the groove. The length of the malar space and depth of the depression varies in the specimens studied. BENSON's interpretation is used here. Eyes may be large and oval, in lateral view close to the posterior margin of the head (Figs 43,49,65), or smaller and more rounded, farther removed from the posterior margin of the head (Figs 105,111). In frontal view, the inner margins of the eyes may be subparallel or diverge; they are generally subparallel in Lissoxiphyda (Fig. 2), Obesaxiphyda (Figs 82,86), Hyperxiphia (Figs 96,100), and Lataxiphyda ( Fig. 105), but mostly diverge below in Indoxiphia (Figs 66,70) and some Calexiphyda (Fig. 34). The genal carina is absent in Indoxiphia, the gena bearing a number of carinae in its place (Fig. 43). In other genera, the genal carina is present though may be faint, present only on the lower part of the gena or distinct and extending to the top of the eye. All genera have an occipital carina. It may be very narrow and indistinct to very broad. In Calexiphyda, it is more broadly developed laterally than dorsally (Fig. 35). In most genera, the gena and vertex of the head are smooth and shining, sometimes with some punctures. In several genera, Dryxiphia MAA, Gryponeura BENSON, Platyxiphydria TAKEUCHI, Rhysacephala BENSON, and Xiphydriola SEMENOV, the genae and vertex are dull with dense microsculpture and or cross striations. Except for Rhysacephala in Australia, these genera do not occur in the region under study and are not treated further. A faint median longitudinal groove is present on the vertex only in species of Rhysacephala and Lissoxiphyda.
Thorax: The length vs. the width of the "prepisterna" of MAA (= propleuron or "neck") is used in one couplet of MAA's key to separate two groups of genera. I do not see that this is useful. Specimens apparently belonging to certain genera will go to the wrong part of the key.  was skeptical of the use of this character as well, and it is not used here. Wing venation may be erroneously used to support genera. Many xiphydriids are described from single specimens, and aberrations in wing venation commonly occur. Examples for such variation have been illustrated by ZIRNGIEBL (1939) for Xiphydria prolongata (GEOFFROY) and by JANSEN (1987) for Konowia betulae (ENSLIN) and K. megapolitana (BRAUNS). Thus, it is not good to use venation unless series of specimens are available to determine the stability of the presence or absence, fading out, or position of veins. In the forewing, the fading out of vein 2A+3A apically, and in the hind wing the presence or absence of cells Rs and M are occasionally used.  separated his Xiphidiaphora from all other genera of Xiphydriinae by the absence of 2r in the forewing. In Lissoxiphyda, all specimens lack cells Rs, M, and most lack cell A in the hind wing, and I feel this is fairly reliable. In Indoxiphia, one species lacks cell Rs in the hind wing; and in Obesaxiphyda, some specimens lack the hind wing cells, others have all or some of them, and this may even occur in wings on the same individual. The costal cell of Lataxiphyda is very broad (Figs 110,120), five or more times broader than the width of the costa; in other genera the costal cell is very narrow (Fig. 69), not much more than the width of the costa. The shape of the anal cell of the hind wing, if present, may differ. In most genera, vein 1A is straight, the apex of vein 2A sharply turns up at its apex to meet 1A and thus the cell appears almost truncate at its apex (Fig. 69). In Lataxiphyda, vein 1A is more curved, and veins 1A and 2A slope evenly toward the apex, giving the apex a more rounded appearance (Figs 110,121). The sculpturation of the thorax differs between genera and species. In general, parts of the thorax, e.g., mesoscutal lateral lobes, mesoscutellum, and or mesepisternum, of Lissoxyphyda are smooth and shining without sculpture, whereas most other genera have densely reticulate or punctate patterns. Tarsal claws are extremely variable. Females of Indoxiphya and one species of Lissoxiphyda lack an inner tooth on the middle and hind or only the hind tarsal claws (Fig. 57). Males of Indoxiphyia and species of all other genera have a short or long inner tooth on all tarsal claws (Figs 38,104). The inner tooth varies in size, and the distinction of "apically bifurcate" and "minor tooth" by  is inadequate because there are all degrees of sizes. Males of Obesaxiphyda and Lataxiphyda have an unusually long inner tooth, being almost the same length as the outer tooth and closely appressed to the outer tooth (Fig. 119). I have included the length of the hind basitarsus vs. the length of the remaining tarsal segments combined. This may be of use in species separation.
Abdomen: I have included measurements of the sheath vs. valvifer 2 vs. the hind tibia and the length of the basal plates vs. the length of the second tergite, which may be of use in some species separation. In general, the abdomen is shining, commonly dulled with microsculpture especially on the first and second tergites. Differences in female ovipositors and male genitalia need to be explored. Too many specimens, however, are known only from old type material and could not be examined without possible destruction. Using many of these characters, I have grouped the species within the scope of this study as follows: (1) Species with 7-segmented maxillary palpus, with length much longer than labial palpus. Although I limit the value and prefer not to use the palpi as a sole generic character, several groups of species from Australia, New Zealand, eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia share the long 7-segmented maxillary palpus, which is slender and two times or more longer than the labial palpus. Genera included are Rhysacephala BENSON, Moaxiphia MAA, Calexiphyda, n. gen., and Lissoxiphyda, n. gen. I have examined the New Zealand Moaxiphia and only several specimens of the Australian Rhysacephala, the two genera that are not further treated here.  treated this as a single genus, Moaxiphia. Later Benson distinguished between the New Zealand and Australian species, and proposed Rhysacephala for the Australian species, Moaxiphia being restricted to the two species that occur in New Zealand. There are some significant differences between these and the specimens from Papua New Guinea and eastern Indonesia and New Caledonia, and I am placing the latter in different genera. The Australian members have a densely punctate, dull head (vs. very shining and without sculpture), a small occipital carina (vs. large, flangelike laterally), and are very small, and with the full complement of veins and cells in the wings. RIEK (1955) described another genus, Austrocyrta, from Australia, placed in the Neotropical tribe Derecyrtinae. It lacks vein 2r in the forewing and is not considered here because all species possess this vein.
(2) Species with short maxillary palpi and hind or middle and hind claws of female simple, fore claws with inner tooth. Available names for this group are Xiphydriola SEMENOV, Cingalixiphia MAA, and Indoxiphia MAA. Xiphydriola has all claws simple, the entire head sculptured, 2r absent in the forewing, and cell Rs open in the hind wing. Cingalixiphia and Indoxiphia were described as subgenera of Indoxiphia by MAA, but treated as genera by BENSON who gave characters separating them. Both MAA and BENSON separated Indoxiphia by having only the hind claw simple and Cingalixiphia by having both middle and hind claws simple. Contrary to the concepts of MAA and BENSON, however, the type species of Indoxiphia, Xiphydria quadricincta BENSON, has both middle and hind claws simple. Thus, the distinction of the two genera disintegrates and the two must be considered the same. I am therefore treating all species with the hind claws simple and species with both the middle and hind claws simple as one genus, Indoxiphia. I choose Indoxiphia over Cingalixiphia because I have examined the type species of the latter. Nine species are here placed in Indoxiphia; two have only the hind claws simple, the rest that both the middle and hind claws simple. This assemblage of species also has the following in common: Absence of a distinct, prominent genal carina, the carina on the lower half of the gena being replaced by 4 or 5 or more prominent ridges; labial palpus 3 or 4-segmented, maxillary palpus 4 or 5-segmented and always shorter than the labial palpus (when this can be determined); usually antennae rather short, 13-15 segmented; wings mostly with the full complement of cells and veins.
(3) Species with short maxillary palpi and all claws of both sexes with inner tooth. This assemblage of species has, in general, a distinct genal carina, at least on the lower third or quarter of the gena or sometimes extending to the top of the eye, that is larger and well separated from any associated ridges on the genae; maxillary and labial palpi various, but maxillary palpi sometimes up to 6-segmented but shorter than the labial palpus; antennae usually longer and 17-23 segmented; and hind wings sometimes lacking cells Rs and/or M in the hind wing. I further break this down as follows: Species with all claws with inner tooth, maxillary palpus 4-or 5-segmented and shorter than labial palpus, and vertex smooth and shining: This group includes the genera Hyperxiphia MAA, Paraxiphia MAA, Palpixiphia MAA, Xiphydria LATREILLE, Nasoxiphia MAA, Euxiphydria SEMENOV, Heteroxiphia SAINI and SINGH, and apparently Carinoxiphia , Megaxiphia WEI, 1999, Trixiphidia WEI, 1999, Xanxiphia WEI, 2002, and Alloxiphia WEI, 2002. I fail to see adequate differences between these genera other than mouthparts and am tempted to treat all species in this region in the oldest genus, Xiphydria. Most of the remaining species, however, fall into the currently recognized genus Hyperxiphia because of the 4-segmented labial palpus, although, as  has shown, some species of Xiphydria also may have, or apparently have a 4-segmented labial palpus. Palpixiphia goes to the same couplet in MAA's key, where he separates it from Hyerxiphia by the apically bifurcate tarsal claws (difficult to determine because the inner teeth are all sizes), short apical segment of the maxillary palpus (of different lengths), and lengths and position of the segments of the labial palpus (variable in the species treated here). Other recognized genera have a 3-segmented labial palpus, 3-or 4-segmented maxillary palpus and variously shaped claws. Heteroxiphia was proposed by SAINI and SINGH (1987) because of the 3-segmented maxillary palpus, and WEI (2002) proposed Trixiphidia and Yangixiphia, both close to Heteroxiphia because of the 3-segmented maxillary palpus, but also with a 3-segmented labial palpus. Other genera differ from the above mentioned by having the temples behind the eyes sculptured. This character is shared by Genaxiphia, Gryponeura, Platyxiphydria, and Dryxiphia. No species in the region under study belongs here and these genera are not treated further. Apoxiphia MAA (treated as a synonym of Konowia by BENSON 1954 andJANSEN 1987), Konowia BRAUNS, and Pseudoxiphydria ENSLIN (treated as synonyms of Xiphydria by ROSS 1937 and) are European and have not been recorded elsewhere. The following key to genera includes those recognized from the Philippines, Insular Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Fiji. The Australian and New Zealand fauna are not treated further.
Key to Genera 1. Medial length of pronotum long, equal to or slightly longer than depth of excavation of pronotal collar in front; mesoscutellum with tubercle near apex; vein 2r absent in forewing (Australia

Remarks:
The seven included species form a group of small (5.5-10 mm), shining, and mostly black species with long maxillary palpi, each tarsal claw with an inner tooth, lack of enclosed cells in the hind wing, and presence of a shallow median longitudinal furrow on the vertex. The long, 7-segmented maxillary palpus relates them to Moaxiphia of New Zealand, Calexiphyda from New Caledonia, and Rhysacephala of Australia. All three genera have the full complement of cells in the hind wing, whereas Lissoxiphyda lacks cells M, Rs, and usually A. They share with Rhysacephala and Calexiphyda the long distance between the antennae which is longer than the antenno-ocular distance; however, Rhysacephala has a dull, sculptured gena and vertex which are entirely shining in species of Lissoxiphyda, and Calexiphyda has a broad occipital carina which is enlarged laterally and lacks a median furrow or row of punctures on the vertex. Moaxiphia has the vertex smooth and shining, the distance between the antennal insertions about equal to the antenno-ocular distance, and long, 24-segmented antenna. The presence of a shallow longitudinal median furrow or row of punctures on the vertex is shared with Rhysacephala. Males are unknown for this genus but probably can be associated by the 7-segmented maxillary palpus, smooth and shining appearance, and lack of cells in the hind wing. I have included L. tripotini from New Caledonia in this genus. Though it differs from other species by the simple hind claws, presence of cell A in the hind wing, and longer scape, it shares with them the shiny appearance, especially the mesopleuron, longitudinal furrow on the vertex, lack of cell Rs and M in the hind wing, and small occipital carina. This genus is distributed in a rather small area, from Papua New Guinea to Aru and Sulawesi in Indonesia, and one species in New Caledonia.

Diagnosis:
Legs black with basitarsi and basal quarter of middle and hind tibiae white; mesoscutellum densely reticulate; lateral white marks on abdominal tergites 6-8; frons sculptured up to level of lateral ocelli; mesoscutal lateral lobes smooth with fine striae on inner margins.

Etymology:
The name is from the type locality, a noun in apposition.

Remarks:
This and L. tripotini are the only species of Lissoxiphyda that have a densely sculptured mesoscutellum (Fig. 5). In L. kiunga, only the axillae and lateral parts of the mesoprescutal lateral lobes are smooth and shining, and cell A is absent in the hind wing. It is separated from L. simbai, the only other species with mostly black legs by the densely sculptured mesoscutellum and frons ( Fig. 2).  6). Labial palpus 4-segmented, apical segment slightly clubbed. Maxillary palpus with 2 nd segment about as long as following 4 segments, apical 5 segments about equal in length. Frons shining, smooth without sculpture anterior to front ocellus; mostly finely reticulate at center and curved, irregular longitudinal carinae ending at interantennal area (Fig. 6); vertex and gena smooth, shining, without sculpture. Thorax: Mesoscutal middle lobe smooth and shining on anterior third, posterior third finely reticulate, with irregular transverse sculpture; mesoscutal lateral lobes smooth and shining, reticulate on inner margins (Fig. 7). Axilla and mesoscutellum smooth and shining (Fig. 7). Propleuron shining, smooth, without distinct sculpture. Pronotum smooth and shining laterally, finely reticulate in dorsal margin (Fig. 8). Mesepisternum smooth and shining; mesepimeron finely scrobiculate (Fig. 8)

Remarks:
This is the only species of Lissoxiphyda I have seen with an orange mesosternum. Otherwise, it is similar to L. morobe and L. rufipes by the smooth and shining axillae and mesoscutellum (Fig. 7) and orange legs. It is most similar to L. morobe, sharing the finely sculptured mesoscutum, frons, and mesepisternum which are densely sculptured in L. rufipes (Figs 14,16,17). The less evident circular carinae above the antennal insertions ( Fig. 6), more finely sculptured mesoscutum (Fig. 7), and lack of large punctures on the dorsum of the mesepisternum (Fig. 8) (Fig. 9). Labial palpus 4-segmented, apical segment enlarged, clubbed. Maxillary palpus apparently 7-segmented, separation of 5 th and 6 th segments faint, possibly equal one segment; 2 nd segment nearly equal to length of following 3 segments, segments 3-6 about equal in length. Frons sculptured, except area just below front ocellus; mostly reticulate with arclike carinae from interantennal area to above antennal insertions (Fig. 9). Gena and vertex smooth and shining. Thorax: Mesoscutal middle lobe smooth, shining on anterior quarter, rest finely reticulate, irregularly transversely striate; lateral lobes smooth and shining, finely striate to reticulate on inner margins (Fig. 10). Axilla and mesoscutellum smooth and shining (Fig. 10). Propleuron smooth and shining. Pronotum smooth and shining with few curved carinae dorsally (Fig. 11). Mesopleuron smooth, mostly shining, dull with microsculpture and few large punctures dorsally (Fig. 11). Mesepimeron smooth and shining (Fig. 11). Metapleuron shining with few irregular punctures (Fig. 11). Foreclaw with small inner tooth less than half length of outer tooth, midclaw missing, hind claw with long, curved outer tooth and minute inner tooth near base, with large circular notch between inner and outer teeth; hind claw much larger than foreclaw. Hind basitarsus 0.6X length of remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen: Shining but with fine microsculpture. Length of basal plates subequal to length of 2 nd tergite. Lengths of sheath:valvifer 2:hind tibia as 0.7:0.8:1.0.

Etymology:
The name is from the type locality, a noun in apposition.

Male: Unknown.
Type: The female syntype is at OUMNH, with the following labels "Aru" (white, round); a blank white round label; "TYPE, O.U.M." (round, white with red border), "Xiphidria rufipes Smith" (handwritten), and "Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH)." Westwood (1859) described the female from "Aru." The number of specimens was not indicated; thus, I am designating this specimen a lectotype to ensure nomenclatural stability.

Remarks:
Lissoxiphyda rufipes has orange legs, similar to L. lucida, L. morobe, L. shinoharai, and L. tripotini, but has lateral yellow spots on tergites 5-8. In L. lucida and L. morobe, the abdomen is black, in L. shinoharai, the abdomen has a lateral yellow spot only on tergite 8, and in L. tripotini the abdomen has lateral yellow spots on tergites 4-8. The sculpturation of the mesoscutum, mesepisternum, and frons (Figs 14,16,17) is also much denser and more evident than that of the other species.
Lissoxiphyda shinoharai SMITH, new species  Diagnosis: Legs orange; lateral yellow spot on tergite 8; mesoscutal middle lobe and inner margins of mesoscutal lateral lobes reticulate; mesoscutellum with fan-shaped striae radiating from anterior margin.
Etymology: Named for Dr. Akihiko Shinohara, National Museum of Science and Nature, Tokyo, Japan, who brought this specimen to my attention.

Remarks:
Two features separate this species from other species of Lissixiphyda, the presence of the fan-shaped radiating striae from the anterior portion of the mesoscutellum and the presences of a lateral yellow spot only on abdominal tergite 8. Other species lack the radiating striae on the mesoscutellum and have a black abdomen or, in L. rufipes, lateral yellow spots on tergites 5-8.
Lissoxiphyda simbai SMITH, new species  Diagnosis: Legs black with basitarsi and basal quarter of middle and hind tibiae white; lateral yellow spot on tergite 8; frons with smooth, non-sculptured area below ocelli; anterior half of mesoscutal middle lobe smooth; mesoscutal lateral lobes smooth, punctured on inner margins; mesoscutellum smooth and shining with few widely-spaced punctures.
Pronotum mostly shining with few striae and reticulations on posterior and dorsal areas (Fig. 25). Mesepisternum smooth, shining, with fine microsculpture; mesepimeron scrobiculate ( Fig. 25). Metapleuron shining, finely reticulate ( Fig. 25). Each tarsal claw with inner tooth, foreclaw with small inner tooth near base, shorter than half length of long, curved outer tooth, middle and hind claws with moderate tooth at center less than half length of outer tooth, larger than inner tooth of foreclaw, middle and hind claws larger than foreclaw. Hind basitarsus 0.7X length of remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen: Shining with fine microsculpture. Length of basal plates subequal to length of 2nd tergite. Sheath:valvifer 2:hind tibia as 7.0:9.0:1.0.

Etymology:
The name is from the locality of one of the paratypes, a noun in apposition.

Remarks:
The paratypes are very similar to the holotype but with slightly less distinct sculpturation on the frons. See notes under L. kiunga, the only other species with mostly black legs, for separation of the two species. The frons of L. simbai is much smoother and more shining than in other species of Lissoxiphyda.

Diagnosis:
Hind wing with cell A present. Hind claw simple. Pedicel 1.7X longer than broad. Mesonotum and head dull, punctate; mesopleuron shining.
Etymology: Named for Pierre Tripotin, Okcheon-gun, South Korea, who collected this species and brought it to my attention.

Remarks:
The three characteristics mentioned in the diagnosis separate this species from other species of Lissoxiphyda. Its similar habitus, shiny appearance, especially the mesopleuron, presence of a longitudinal furrow on the vertex, small occipital carina, and absence of cells Rs and M in the hind wing are shared with other species in the genus.

Description:
Antenna filiform, 17-23 segmented; pedicel 2X or more longer than broad; eyes large, lower interocular distance about equal to eye height, inner margins of eyes usually diverging below, head short behind eyes in lateral view (Figs 31,34,39), in dorsal view, sharply narrowing behind eyes; malar space short, almost linear; genal carina distinct, extending to tip of eye; occipital carina broad, about equal half diameter of an ocellus, lateral portions expanded and broader than dorsal portion (Fig. 35); labial palpus 4-segmented; maxillary palpus 7-segmented, more than 2X length of labial palpus; gena and vertex smooth and shining; frons reticulate or finely punctured. Pronotum deeply excavated laterally (Fig. 37); mesonotum densely sculptured (except C. crocea relatively smooth). Tarsal claws each with an inner tooth. Forewing: Costal cell narrow, less than 2X broader than costa. Hind wing: Cells Rs, M, and A present; anal cell with vein 1A straight, vein 2A sharply upturned at apex and meeting 1A to form cell.

Etymology:
The name is from the first syllables of Caledonia, with the suffix -xiphyda, from Xiphydriidae. Gender: feminine.

Remarks:
The long, 7-segmented maxillary palpus is shared with Rhysacephala, Moaxiphia, and Lissoxiphyda. Calexiphyda is differentiated from Moaxiphia by the long interantennal area and distinct genal carina. From Rhysacelphala, Calexiphyda is separated by the smooth, shining gena and vertex, well-developed, wide occipital carina which is broadened laterally, absence of a longitudinal median furrow on the vertex, and the distinct genal carina which reaches to the top of the eye.
From Lissoxiphyda, Calexiphyda is distinguished by the long pedicel, genal carina reaching top of the eye, broadened occipital carina laterally, absence of the median furrow on the vertex, and having the full complement of cells in the hind wing. Several unassociated males are known that may be males of the two described females or represent distinct species. Additional collecting and rearing are needed to help clarify their identity. This genus is known only from New Caledonia.
Key to Species

Diagnosis:
Entirely black with sheath and middle and hind tibiae and tarsi brownish orange. Mesonotum with longitudinal striae. Wings uniformly hyaline.
Hind basitarsus equal to length of remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen: Shining, fine microsculpture on tergites 4-5 to apex. Length of basal plates subequal to length of 2nd tergite. Sheath:valvifer 2:hind tibia as 0.8:1.0:0.7. Etymology: Named for the Dr. Stephan M. Blank, Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, who has been of considerable help in my work.

Remarks:
The yellow-marked head and pronotum (Figs 28,30,31), blackish crossbands of the forewing, and transverse sculpture of the mesoscutal middle lobe are not known in any other species of Calexiphyda.

Diagnosis:
Yellow with black mesoscutal lateral lobes. Head and thorax mostly smooth and shining.

Remarks:
This is an unusual circumstance where I believe description and naming of an unassociated male is justified. This species is so structurally different from other members of the genus, particularly the smooth and shining head and thorax , that association with the female should not be difficult. It differs from C. novacaledonica by the smooth sculpturation.

Description:
Antenna filiform, 13-18 segmented; pedicel usually 2X or more longer than broad; eyes large, lower interocular distance slightly less than to slightly greater than eye height, inner margins of eyes diverging below; head short behind eyes in lateral view (Figs 42,43,48,51,54,59,62,66,70,74), in dorsal view, short and narrowing behind eyes (Fig. 72); malar space linear to about half diameter of an ocellus; genal carina absent, replaced by 6 or more fine carinae or striae on gena (as in Fig. 43); occipital carina distinct, narrow, less than one-third diameter of an ocellus; labial palpus 3-4 segmented; maxillary palpus 4-5 segmented, very small, less than half diameter of labial palpus and less than half length of labial palpus; gena and vertex shining, smooth except for carina on gena; frons sculptured, usually with longitudinal carinae. Pronotum deeply excavated laterally; excavation of pronotal collar deep (Fig. 46). Mesonotum with dense sculpturing; mesepisternum shining or dulled with microsculpture, mostly with large punctures at center separated by narrow ridges or flat interspaces. Female with middle and hind or only hind tarsal claws simple (as in Fig. 57), hind tarsal claw larger than fore-and middle tarsal claws; male with inner tooth on each claw and all claws of equal size. Forewing; Costal cell narrow, less than 2X width of costa. Hind wing: Cells Rs, M, and A present (Rs absent only in specimen of I. sumatra); vein 1A straight, vein 2A abruptly upturned at apex meeting 1A to form cell. Wings as in Fig. 69.

Remarks:
Available names for this group are Xiphydriola, Cingalixiphia, and Indoxiphia. Xiphydriola has all claws simple, 2r absent in the forewing, and cell Rs open in the hind wing. It includes only one species from far-eastern Russia (SMITH 1978). Cingalixiphia and Indoxiphia were described as subgenera of Indoxiphia by MAA, but treated as genera by  who gave characters separating them. Both MAA and BENSON separated Indoxiphia by having only the hind tarsal claws simple and Cingalixiphia by having both middle and hind tarsal claws simple. However, examination of the holotype of I. quadricincta shows that it has both middle and hind tarsal claws simple, which corresponds to the original description by BENSON (1935), I. quadricincta has both middle and hind tarsal claws simple. Therefore, the primary character separating the two genera is invalid, and the two are considered synonymous here. I am treating all species with the hind tarsal claws simple and species with both the middle and tarsal hind claws simple as one genus, Indoxiphia. I choose Indoxiphia over Cingalixiphia because I have examined the type species of the latter.  used two other characters besides the tarsal claws. For Cingalixiphia, vein A in the forewing is entire and the face is sculptured with longitudinal striae in front of the ocelli; for Indoxiphia, vein A in the forewing fades out before the anal crossvein and the face has coarse reticulate sculpture in front of the ocelli. Neither character warrants recognition of separate genera. Whether on not vein A fades out before reaching the anal crossvein is difficult to determine; there seems to be various degrees of "fading" and it is impossible to rely on this. All species treated here have more or less distinct longitudinal sculpturation on the frons. Some are very distinct, with shining interspaces, and there are various degrees of this to more or less reticulate but still with longitudinal striae or carinae. Males are associated with only one species, I. falcata. Lissoxiphyda testacea (MOCSÁRY) was described from a male and is treated as an unassociated males at the end of the genus. Usual drastic color differences between the sexes occur in I. falcata. In addition, all tarsal claws of the males have an inner tooth, and all claws are of similar size; none are modified as in the females. This makes it very difficult to place species described from isolated males such as I. testacea. Indoxiphia testacea, however, is here placed in Indoxiphia because of the longitudinal carinae on the frons, lack of a genal carina, presence of several striae on the gena, and general sculpturation of the thorax such as the reticulate mesonotum and shining mesepisternum with large scattered punctures. Nine species are here placed in Indoxiphia, excluding I. testacea. Of the nine species, two have only the hind tarsal claws simple and seven have both the middle and hind tarsal claws simple. This assemblage of species shares the following: Antennae short, usually around 1.5X head width and 13-18 segmented; antennal pedicel usually 2X or more longer than broad; absence of a distinct, prominent genal carina, being replaced on the lower half of the gena by 6 or more prominent striae; labial palpus 3 or 4-segmented, maxillary palpus 4 or 5-segmented and always shorter than the labial palpus (when this can be determined); and the complete venation of the wings (except the hind wing of the specimen of I. sumatra). Species of Indoxiphia occur in southeastern Asia, from India and southern China through Indonesia to Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

Diagnosis:
Middle and hind claws simple. Narrow band of longitudinal striae between top of eyes behind ocelli. Mesoscutellum black; metanotum yellow. Abdomen with complete yellow bands on tergites 2 and 5-8.
Male: Length, 7.5 mm. Antenna black with scape and pedicel orange. Head orange with interocellar area, stripe from each lateral ocellus to antennal insertions, stripe between antennal insertions, and lateral corner of clypeus black. Thorax black with following yellow: lateral corners of pronotum, stripe on ventral margin of lateral pronotum, dorsoposterior half of mesepisternum, posterior two-thirds of mesoscutal middle lobe, axilla, posterior corner of mesoscutellum, metanotum, mesepimeron, and metapleuron; mesosternum and mesoscutellum orange. Legs entirely orange yellow. Abdomen black above, almost confluent yellow marks laterally on tergites 2-7, large spot on tergite 8; sternites yellow. All tarsal claws of similar size, each with inner tooth. Etymology: From the Latin adjective, falcatus, sickle-shaped, referring to the long curved hind claws.

Remarks:
The two males are very similar except the black stripes on the frons are fainter in one of the specimens. I am quite certain they are the male of this species since sculpturation is very similar to the female. The darker coloration is a common sexual dimorphism in xiphydriids. The rather long, curved tarsal claws, largely orange color, and reticulate sculpture of the mesonotum will distinguish the female of this species.

Diagnosis:
Fore tarsal claw with minute inner tooth, middle and hind tarsal claws simple. Mesonotum black. Reticulate sculpture of mesoscutum coarse, with transverse pattern at center; sculpture of mesoscutellum in transverse pattern.

Remarks:
This species is predominately black to dark brown with yellowish margins on the head, pronotum, and mesepisternum. Segments of the maxillary palpus are not discernable. The sculpture on the mesonotum (Fig. 53) is unique in that the cavities formed by the reticulations are much larger than those of other species of the genus and are transversely oriented. This is the first record of a xiphydriid from Fiji and the most eastern record for the genus.

Female:
Length, 13.0 mm. Color: Antenna black with apical 7-8 flagellomeres white. Head black with spot on inner side of each antennal insertion and inner orbit from top of eye through malar area and most of gena to posterior margin of vertex yellow (Fig. 54). Thorax black with posterior margin and lateral corners of pronotum, anteroventral margin of pronotum, spot on upper angle of mesepisternum, axilla, and two spots on metanotum yellow. Legs black with outer surfaces of coxae, basal third to half of hind tibia, and hind basitarsus white. Abdomen black with basal plates, lateral spots on tergites 2 and 4-6, posterior band on tergite 8 not meeting at center, complete posterior band on tergite 9, and spot at apex of tergite 10 yellow. Wings hyaline, veins and stigma black. Head: Antenna 14-segmented; length 1.5X head width; scape:pedicel:1 st antennomere as 1.0:0.5:0.8; pedicel more than 2.3X longer than broad. Malar space narrow, about half diameter of an ocellus. Lower interocular distance subequal to eye height; inner margins of eyes diverging below (Fig. 54). Labial palpus 4-segmented. Maxillary palpus 4-5 segmented, more slender and shorter than labial palpus, about equal to length of first labial palpal segment. Frons with longitudinal curved carinae from ocelli through interantennal area onto clypeus, somewhat more reticulate at center and finely reticulate between carinae; ocellar area reticulate (Fig. 54). Gena and vertex smooth and shining, with fine scattered punctures; gena with 7-9 striae. Thorax: Mesoscutum, axilla, and mesoscutellum evenly, densely reticulate (Fig. 55). Propleuron shining with scattered punctures (Fig. 55). Pronotum shiny, smooth ventrally, reticulate on upper half (Fig. 55). Mesepisternum shining with large punctures separated by shining interspaces slightly less than puncture diameters; microsculptured posteriorly; mesepimeron finely striate (Fig. 55). Metapleuron reticulate (Fig. 55). Fore tarsal claw with small inner tooth at center of claw; middle and hind tarsal claws simple (Fig. 57). Hind basitarsus equal in length to remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen: Shining with fine microsculpture. Length of basal plates 1.4X length of 2 nd tergite. Sheath:valvifer 2:hind tibia as 0.7:1.0:1.1.

Remarks:
This is the only known species of Indoxiphia with a mostly white antennal flagellum. This plus the color pattern of the head, thorax (Figs 52-54), and abdomen and simple middle and hind tarsal claws will separate this species. I have compared the type of I. laeviceps and the specimen identified by Benson from Buru and confirm that they are conspecific.

Diagnosis:
Fore-and midtarsal claws with inner tooth; hind tarsal claw simple. Abdomen orange yellow with apex black. Mesepisternum shining with widely spaced punctures.

Female:
Length, 6.5 mm. Color: Head yellow with transverse black stripe on vertex between top of eyes, and extending through ocelli halfway down frons, with narrow extensions to each antennal insertion and centrally to interantennal area (Fig. 59). Thorax black with lateral corners of pronotum, ventroanterior margin of lateral pronotum, two lateral spots near apex of mesoscutal middle lobe, posterior half of axilla, V-shaped stripe on lateral and posterior margins of mesoscutellum, metanotum, upper third of mesepisternum, and metapleuron yellow (Figs 59, 61). Legs yellow. Abdomen orange yellow with dorsum of tergites 7 and 8 and entire tergite 9 black; lateral white spots on 2 nd tergite; valvifer 2 orange; sheath black, orange basally. Wings hyaline; veins and stigma black. Head: Antenna 14-15 segmented; length 1.8X head width; scape:pedicel:1 st antennomere as 1.0:0.5:0.9; pedicel 2.0X longer than broad. Malar space narrow, less than half diameter of an ocellus; carina in malar area just below eye. Lower interocular distance subequal to eye height; inner margins of eyes diverging below (Fig. 59). Labial palpus 4-segmented; maxillary palpus possibly 5-segmented (difficult to see).
Etymology: Named for T.C. Maa, collector of the species.

Remarks:
The mostly orange abdomen with the apex black, only hind claws simple, color pattern of the head and thorax (Figs 56-59), and very shining and smooth mesepisternum with only a few scattered pits will distinguish this species from other species of Indoxiphia.

Diagnosis:
Fore and midtarsal claws with inner tooth; hind tarsal claw simple. Orange to yellow with black band on head between top of eyes and extending anteriorly through ocelli to lower frons and on apex of abdomen black. Mesonotum with coarse, transversely directed sculpturation.

Female:
Length, 11.5 mm. Color: Antenna black with scape and pedicel dark brown. Head yellow with black transverse stripe on vertex between eyes and broad stripe anteriorly through ocelli to lower frons (Fig. 62); narrow black stripe on center of postocellar area from black area to hind margin of head; apex of mandible red brown; palpi brown. Thorax orange, yellowish marks on lateral corners of pronotum and upper margin of mesepisternum. Legs orange. Abdomen orange; tergites 2-4 with small lateral yellow spots, tergite 7 black dorsally at center; segment 8 black except narrow anterior margin; segment 9 black; cercus, sheath, and basal plates orange, apex of sheath black. Wings yellow, apex and veins at apex black, veins basal to stigma brown; costa brownish orange, subcosta black. Head: Antenna broken apical to segment 9; scape:pedicel:1 st antennomere as 1.0:0.4:0.8; pedicel 2.0X longer than broad. Malar space narrow, less than one-quarter diameter of an ocellus. Lower interocular distance subequal to eye height; inner margins of eyes diverging below (Fig. 62). Labial palpus 4-segmented; maxillary palpus possibly 5-segmented (difficult to see). Frons with longitudinal carinae extending from ocelli through clypeus; reticulations between antenna and mostly reticulate on lateral areas of frons (Fig. 62). Vertex and gena shining; few transverse ridges and punctures immediately behind ocelli; gena with 6-8 fine striae. Thorax: Mesoscutum, axilla, and mesoscutellum evenly and coarsely reticulate, sculpturation transversely oriented (Fig. 64). Propleuron smooth and shining. Pronotum shining, reticulate dorsally and on upper lateral corners (Fig. 63). Mesepisternum dulled with microsculpture, with large punctures separated by narrow ridges except on posterior margin; mesepimeron shining, smooth, with narrow row of fine striae on posterior margin (Fig. 63). Metapleuron finely reticulate (Fig. 63). Fore and midtarsal claws both with long inner tooth; hind tarsal claw simple. Hind basitarsus 1.1X length of remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen: Shining, anterolateral portion of basal plates finely sculptured. Length of basal plates subequal to length of 2nd tergite. Sheath: valvifer 2:hind tibia as 0.7:1.0:0.8.
Etymology: Named for the country of collection.

Remarks:
This species and I. maai are the only two with only the hind tarsal claws simple, and both have an orange abdomen with the apex black. Indoxiphia papuaensis, however, has an orange thorax and a dull, microsculptured mesepisternum with large, almost confluent punctures (see Figs 58-64).

Remarks:
This species was originally placed in Xiphydriola, but Xiphydriola has all tarsal claws simple and shorter antennae. Indoxiphia quadricincta may be distinguished by the color pattern of the head and body (Figs 65-68), especially the yellow axillae, mesoscutellum, and metanotum, simple middle and hind tarsal claws, and smooth and shining mesepisternum with widely spaced punctures.

Diagnosis:
Middle and hind tarsal claws simple. Frons with curved carinae. Head yellow with 3 longitudinal black marks on vertex. Mesoscutellum yellow with broad black medial stripe. Abdominal tergites 1 and 2 mostly yellow, tergites 3-6 with lateral yellow spots.

Female:
Length, 12.0 mm. Color: Head yellow with three longitudinal black marks, one at center enclosing ocelli, the other two on each side from center of vertex to top margin of each eye (Figs 70, 72). Thorax (Figs 71,73) with pronotum mostly yellow with black spot at center on lateral protons; stripes on lateral margins of mesoscutal middle lobe, spot laterally on mesoscutal lateral lobe, axilla, most of mesoscutellum except medial black stripe, metanotum, and stripe on posterior margin of mesepisternum yellow. Legs black with fore tibia, foretarsus, midtibia and most of midbasitarsus white to yellowish; hind tibia with basal half white, apical half darker, light blackish, hind basitarsus white with extreme apex black. Abdomen black, tergites 1 and 2 yellow orange with anterior and posterior margins black; tergites 3-6 with lateral white spots. Wings hyaline, costal cell darkened; veins and stigma black. Head: Antenna 15-segmented; length 1.3X head width; scape:pedicel:1 st antennomere as 1.0:0.5:0.7; pedicel 2.1X longer than broad. Malar space narrow but distinct, less than half diameter of an ocellus. Lower interocular distance subequal to eye height; inner margins of eyes diverging below (Fig. 70). Labial palpus 4-segmented; maxillary palpus possibly 5-segmented (difficult to see). Frons with longitudinal carinae, from center of frons and inner orbits, extending in circular fashion to interantennal area and clypeus; ocellar area and immediately below ocellar area punctate (Fig. 70); gena and vertex shining with few widely scattered punctures and few small punctures and oblique ridges immediately behind ocelli and scattered punctures and 6-9 fine striae on gena (Fig. 72). Thorax: Mesoscutal middle lobe with irregular transverse carinae; lateral lobes shining laterally, irregularly carinate on inner margins (Fig. 73). Axilla reticulate, without transverse pattern; mesoscutellum with irregular transverse carinae at center, fading to finer reticulations laterally (Fig. 73). Propleuron shining (Fig. 73). Pronotum with irregular carinae, more reticulate on upper lateral corners; mesepisternum shining to dulled with microsculpture dorsally, upper two-thirds wrinkled to reticulate, shinier ventrally with scattered punctures separated by flat interspaces several times puncture diameters at center, and lower third shining without sculpture; mesepimeron shining with broad posterior band of striae (Fig. 73); metapleuron reticulate ( Fig. 73). Fore tarsal claw with inner tooth, about half length of outer tooth; middle and hind tarsal claws simple, both larger than fore tarsal claw and hind tarsal claw larger than midtarsal claw; hind tarsal claw long, slender, sickle-shaped. Hind basitarsus 0.9X length of remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen: Shining with fine microsculpture, sculpture fine on anterolateral portion of basal plates. Length of basal plates subequal to length of 2 nd tergite. Sheath:valvifer 2:hind tibia as 0

Remarks:
This species has the middle and hind tarsal claws simple, almost semicircular carinae on the frons, and transversely directed sculpturation on the mesonotum. The color pattern of the abdomen, with the first two tergites almost entirely yellow and only lateral yellow spots on tergites 3-6, and broad medial black stripe of the mesoscutellum are distinctive.
Indoxiphia sumatra SMITH, new species

Diagnosis:
Middle tarsal claws and presumably hind tarsal claws simple. Frons with coarse, almost straight carinae. Mesepisternum with large, confluent punctures separated by narrow ridges. Mesoscutellum and metanotum yellow. Abdomen with most of tergites 2 and 3 and lateral stripes on tergites 6-8 yellow.

Female:
Length, 7.0 mm. Color: Antenna brownish. Head black with spot below anterior ocellus, circular spot on inner and upper margin of each antennal insertion, stripe on inner orbits from top of eye through malar area, gena, and extending to top of eye yellow. Thorax black with lateral corners of pronotum, upper quarter of mesepisternum, inverted U-shape stripe on mesoscutal lateral lobe, axilla, mesoscutellum except black spot anteriorly, and metanotum yellow. Legs yellow. Abdomen black with yellow bands on tergites 2 and 3, tergites 6-8 each with yellow stripe not meeting on meson; sheath black with margins narrowly yellowish. Wings hyaline, veins and stigma brownish. Head: Antenna 13-segmented; length 1.5X head width; scape:pedicel:1 st antennomere as 1.0:0.3:0.4; pedicel 1.7X longer than broad. Malar space about equal to one-quarter diameter of an ocellus. Lower interocular distance 1.2X eye height; inner margins of eyes diverging below (Fig. 74). Labial palpus 4-segmented. Maxillary palpus 4 or 5 segmented (difficult to see). Frons with longitudinal ridges extending from just below front ocellus onto clypeus; area between ridges shining with few punctures (Fig. 74); gena and vertex smooth and shining with few scattered punctures, gena with 6-9 fine striae. Thorax: Mesoscutal middle lobe reticulate, smoother on anterior margin; lateral lobes smooth and shining, punctate on inner margins (Fig. 76). Axilla and mesoscutellum finely reticulate, shining (Fig. 76). Propleuron smooth and shining. Pronotum shining, smooth, few reticulations on upper lateral corners and diagonal stripe at center (Fig. 75). Mesepisternum shining with large punctures separated by narrow ridges; mesepimeron shining, with band of striae on posterior half (Fig. 75)

Remarks:
Indoxiphia sumatra has the middle tarsal claws and probably the hind tarsal claws simple. Although the hind tarsal claws are absent, I know of no other instance where the hind tarsal claws would have an inner tooth if the midtarsal claws are simple. Other distinctive characters are the shining mesepisternum shining with large closely set punctures separated by narrow ridges, the yellow mesoscutellum, axillae, and the narrow posterior corners of the pronotum, and the yellow bands on tergites 2 and 3 and lateral yellow stripes on tergites 6-8. Cell Rs in the hind wing is absent which is the only known instance of the lack of a hind wing cell in Indoxiphia. Whether or not this is useful cannot be determined from a single specimen.

Diagnosis:
The male is known for only one other species of Indoxiphia, I. falcata. Indoxiphia testacea is almost entirely yellow orange and shining, with the mesepisternum shining with large scattered punctures (Fig. 81); I. falcata has parts of the head and dorsum of abdomen black, is slightly dulled with surface microsculpture and has smaller, more closely set punctures on the mesepisternum (similar to Figs 48, 50).

Male:
Length, 6.0 mm. Color: Yellow with blackish areas on ocellar area and apex of abdomen. Wings hyaline, veins and stigma brownish. Head: Antenna broken beyond 11 th segment; scape:pedicel:1 st antennomere as 1.0:0.4:0.9; pedicel 2.1X longer than broad (Fig. 78). Malar space linear Occipital carina very narrow, less than one third diameter of an ocellus. Lower interocular distance 1.1X eye height; inner margins of eyes almost straight (Fig. 79). Labial palpus 4-segmented, apical segment slightly enlarged apically; maxillary palpus difficult to see. Frons with longitudinal carinae from just below ocelli extending onto clypeus; interspaces shining, without sculpture (Fig. 79). Gena and vertex smooth and shining with very few scattered punctures (Fig. 80); gena with 5-6 fine striae. Thorax: Mesoscutum, axilla, and mesoscutellum rather evenly reticulate (Figs 78, 80). Propleuron smooth, shining. Pronotum smooth and shining, few reticulations on upper lateral corner (Fig. 81). Mesepisternum shining, with scattered punctures separated by shiny interspaces equal to or slightly more than puncture diameters; mesepimeron shining with narrow row of carinae on posterior margin (Fig. 81). Metapleuron shining, finely reticulate (Fig. 81). All tarsal claws with inner tooth, inner tooth of each claw long, close to and more than half length of outer tooth; claws slightly increasing in size with hind claw largest. Hind basitarsus 0.9X length of remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen: Shining, fine microsculpture on anterior margin of each tergite. Length of basal plates subequal to length of tergite 2.

Remarks:
It is sometimes difficult to place unassociated males even to genus, but the longitudinal sculpture of the frons, short maxillary palpus, striae on the gena, and general sculpture of the thorax associate this species with Indoxiphia. Whether or not it is a male of another species described here will have to await association of sexes. It appears to be most similar to I. maai, especially the similarity of the carinae on the frons and shining mesepisternum, but association is not certain. Since I have seen the holotype, I included a detailed description.

Description:
Antennal flagellum strongly swollen basally, sharply tapering to apex (Figs 81, 85); 17-18 segmented; pedicel dorsoventrally flattened, about 2.0X longer than broad on flattened surface; eyes small, oval, lower interocular distance greater than eye height, inner margins of eyes subparallel, eyes removed from hind margin of head in lateral view (Figs 82,86,87), in dorsal view, straight behind eyes, then sharply narrowing; malar space about equal to diameter of front ocellus; genal carina absent; labial palpus 3-4 segmented; maxillary palpus 4-5 segmented, much narrower in diameter than labial palpus and less than 2X length of labial palpus; gena and vertex smooth and shining; frons densely sculptured. Pronotum rounded in laterally, very shallowly concave near anterolateral portion but not evident in dorsal view; pronotal collar excavation broadly rounded (Fig. 89). Tarsal claws of females with inner tooth on fore-and midclaws, hind claw simple; each tarsal claw of males with inner tooth which is nearly as long as outer tooth and closely appressed to outer tooth (as in Fig. 113). Forewing: Costal cell narrow, width less than 2X width of costa. Hind wing: Cells Rs and M present or absent, normally without anal cell (Fig. 91); if cell A present, vein 1A straight, 2A abruptly curved up at apex meeting 1A to form cell.
Etymology: From the Latin, obesus, swollen, referring to the swollen antennae. Gender: feminine.

Remarks:
The swollen antennae of the female, rounded pronotum lacking a deep excavation laterally, simple hind tarsal claws of the female, and appressed teeth of the tarsal claws of the male are characteristic for this genus. Females of Lataxiphyda have a stout antenna, but they are not so swollen as in Obesaxiphyda. Lataxiphyda is separated by the broad costal cell of the forewing and depressed area on the head posterior to the ocelli. Key to Species 1. Head red; pronotum with yellow stripe laterally (Fig. 90); interantennal area reticulate (Fig. 86)

Diagnosis:
Head black except for continuous yellow stripe on inner orbits to genae and vertex; pronotum black; abdomen black. Interantennal area with longitudinal carinae.

Female:
Length, 15.0 mm. Color: Antenna black. Head black; mandible yellow with apex black; continuous yellow band from near top of inner orbit through malar space and gena and meeting on posterior vertex (Figs 82, 83). Thorax black with spot at center of pronotum, small spot on lateral corners of pronotum, narrow streak on upper margin of mesepisternum, and small spot posterior to each cenchrus yellow. Abdomen black with lateral yellow spots on tergites 1, 2 and 3-6, large on tergite 2, small but increasing in size from tergites 3-6. Foreleg black with spot at apex of femur and basal 1/5 of tibia yellow, tarsus brown; midleg black with apex of femur and basitarsus yellow; hind leg black with basal 1/3 of tibia and basitarsus, except extreme apex, yellow. Wings hyaline; veins and stigma black. Head: Antenna 19-segmented, length 2X head width, with basal 1-4 flagellar segments swollen, tapering to narrow apex (Fig. 83); segments 5-9 about as long as broad, segments 10 to apex slightly longer than broad; scape:pedicel:1 st antennomere as 1.0:0.7:0.9; pedicel 2X longer than broad measured on broadest side, strongly laterally flattened. Malar space linear; malar depression shallow, elongate. Genal carina indistinct; occipital carina present, width about one-third diameter of an ocellus. Lower interocular distance 0.9X eye height; inner margins of eyes parallel (Fig. 82). Labial palpus 4-segmented, apical segment not thickened. Maxillary palpus apparently 5-segmented, fifth segment indistinct. Ocellar area and frons reticulate; longitudinal carinae on interocellar area extending through clypeus (Fig. 82).

Male:
Length, 6.0-9.0 mm. Color: Antenna black with scape and pedicel reddish brown. Head black with continuous yellow stripe from middle of inner orbit through malar area through gena to posterior of vertex and two yellow spots on frons above antennal insertions. Thorax black lateral pronotal angles, spot on posterior half of axilla, longitudinal central stripe on lateral pronotum, upper half of mesepisternum, posterior third of mesepimeron, and posterior third of metapleuron yellow. Legs orange yellow. Abdomen black, mostly orange ventrally; lateral yellow spots on tergites 2 and 4-6, those on 4 and 5 largest. Head: Antenna 15-segmented, flagellum not quite as swollen basally as in female; segments longer than broad. Thorax: Hind wing with cells Rs or both Rs and M absent. All tarsal claws of similar size, each with long inner tooth, subequal in length to outer tooth and closely appressed to outer tooth.
Etymology: Named for the type locality; a noun in apposition.

Remarks:
The males are associated by the same collection data and similarity of the antennae, rounded pronotum, and sculpturation of the head and thorax. In the female, all cells are present in the hind wing, the hind tarsal claws are simple and the fore-and midtarsal claws have a small inner tooth. In the male, one specimen has cell M absent and the others have both cells Rs and M absent in the hind wing, and all claws have an inner tooth.

Diagnosis:
Head red; antenna, thorax, abdomen, and legs mostly black with lateral yellow stripe on pronotum and lateral yellow spot on 8 th tergite. Interantennal area reticulate.

Remarks:
This species was originally a subspecies of X. heritierae, described from India. Females of both are similar, except Obesaxiphyda heritierae has a lateral yellow spot on the first tergite and one at the apex of the ninth tergite, has yellow spots on the pronotum, and cells RS, M, and A in the hind wing are present. The male of O. borneensis is not known, but males are associated with O. heritierae. These males differ from the female by the following: each tarsal claw with long inner tooth, subequal in length to outer tooth and closely appressed to outer tooth; hind wing with cells Rs and M present or absent (even in same specimen), and anal cell of hind wing present or absent. The antenna is not quite as thickened as in the female, but the pedicel is similarly flattened and about 1.5X longer than broad on its broadest side, and all antennomeres are mostly about as long or a little longer than broad. The female from Selangor is identical to the holotype except the antennae are 15-segmented.

Remarks:
This species has a distinct metallic-blue luster, more so than other species treated here. Otherwise, it can be distinguished from other Hyperxiphia species treated here by the black antennae, the almost entirely black head, thorax, and abdomen, and the large, almost confluent punctures of the mesepisternum. FORSIUS (1933) questionably recorded a female from "North borneo: Sumawang, near Sandakan [Sabah, Malaysia], 15 th July, 1927, C. B. Kloss and H. M. Pendleburry," Examination of the specimen is needed to verify this record.

Female:
Length, 12.0 mm. Color: Antenna white. Head yellow with black transverse stripe on vertex extending to top inner margin of each eye; a broad stripe extending through ocellli to center of frons, from center of frons, black divided into three small stripes, one medially to interantennal area and two to dorsum of each antennal insertion; and narrow median stripe on vertex from interocellar area to occiput (Fig. 96). Thorax black with lateral corner of pronotum, upper third of mesepisternum, axilla, two spots on mesoscutellum, and metanotum yellow. Abdomen mostly yellow basally, black apically; segment 1 yellow with inner margin of basal plates black; segments 2 and 3 yellow with narrow posterior margin of tergites black; segment 4 with anterior half yellow, posterior half black; segments 5 and 6 black with narrow anterior margin yellow; tergites 7 and 8 with large lateral yellow spots; tergite 9 black with apex yellow. Legs yellow. Wings hyaline, veins and stigma black. Head: Antenna 17-segmented; length 1.4X head width; scape:pedicel:1 st antennomere as 1.0:0.5:0.7; pedicel 2.4 X longer than broad. Malar space narrow, equal to about one-quarter diameter of an ocellus. Genal carina distinct to top of eye; occipital carina large, equal to half or more diameter of an ocellus. Lower interocular distance 1.1X eye height; inner margins of eyes parallel (Fig. 96). Labial palpus 4-segmented, apical segment slightly enlarged; maxillary palpus 5-segmented. Maxillary palpus, segments uncertain (difficult to see), apical two segments short. Ocellar area, frons, and interantennal area reticulate, shining (Fig. 96). Gena and vertex smooth and shining, transverse band of longitudinal carinae between eyes posterior to hind ocelli. Thorax: Mesoscutum, except for median shining spot anteriorly, axilla, and mesoscutellum reticulate, shining (Figs 98,99). Propleuron shining, punctate (Fig. 97). Lateral pronotum shining, mostly without sculpture, center with several short carinae and upper lateral lobes finely reticulate (Fig. 99). Mesepisternum shining with large scattered punctures mostly separated by flat interspaces about equal to diameter of a puncture; mesepimeron shining with narrow band of striae on posterior margin (Fig. 97). Metapleuron finely reticulate (Fig. 97). All tarsal claws with long inner tooth; inner tooth of foreclaw about three-quarters length of outer tooth and close to outer tooth; inner tooth of middle and hind legs about half length of outer tooth and located near center of claws; foreclaw more slender than larger middle and hind claws. Hind basitarsus slightly longer than remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen: Shining, slightly dulled with microsculpture. Length of basal plates 1.3X length of 2 nd tergite. Sheath:valvifer:hind tibia as 0.8:1.0:0.8.
Male: Length, 7.2 mm. Antenna brownish. Head yellow with ocellar area and area immediately posterior to ocelli black; frons brownish. Thorax yellow with brownish on lateral pronotum and on mesoscutal middle and lateral lobes. Abdomen brown above, lateral areas of tergites and sternites yellow. All tarsal claws of similar size. Length of basal plates 1.7X length of 2 nd tergite.

Remarks:
The male (paratype) described by ROHWER is pale yellowish brown, has all claws bifid, and has both cells in the hind wing. This species was placed in Palpixiphia by MAA (1949) but I here transfer it to Hyperxiphia. FORSIUS (1933) recorded 8 males from the North Borneo locality above. I examined three of the males from the Forsius collection (TURKU) and have determined that they are conspecific with male ROHWER (1921) described. The mostly white antennal flagellum, white inner orbits, and rather smooth and shining mesepisternum with only widely scattered pits distinguish this species.  Diagnosis: Apical antennomeres of antenna white. Head black with small spot on upper inner orbit, two spots on frons, and malar area yellow. Basal abdominal segments black with lateral yellow spot on tergites 2. 7. and 8. Mesepisternum with narrow white stripe on upper margin. Mesonotum and metanotum black. Head shining behind ocelli. Mesepisternum evenly reticulate.

Female:
Length, 12.0 mm. Color: Antenna black with apical 9 flagellar segments white. Head black with white spot on upper inner orbit, two small spots on frons, and stripe on lower outer orbit through malar area and extending onto outer orbit to about midlength of eye (Fig. 100). Thorax black with spot on lateral pronotal corners and stripe on upper margin of mesepisternum white (Fig. 102). Legs black with basal half of tibiae and basitarsi white. Abdomen black with lateral white spot on 2 nd tergite; large rectangular marks laterally on tergites 7 and 8, and lateral yellow spots at apex of 9 th tergite. Head: Antenna 17-segmented; length 1.5X head width; scape:pedicel:1 st antennomere as 1.0:0.5:0.6; pedicel more than 2X longer than broad. Malar space narrow, about half diameter of an ocellus, carina below eye in malar area. Genal carina distinct only on lower half of eye, without associated ridges. Lower interocular distance 1.1X eye height; inner margins of eyes parallel (Fig. 100). Labial palpus 4-segmented, apical segment slightly enlarged enlarged (Fig. 92). Maxillary palpus apparently 4-segmented. Ocellar area, frons and interantennal area reticulate, several arclike carinae dorsal to antennal insertions (Fig. 101). Gena and vertex smooth and very shining, without sculpture, vertex shining to hind ocelli. Thorax: Mesonotum shining, reticulate; mesoscutellum smoother and shining on extreme lateral and posterior sides; narrowly scrobiculate in notauli (Fig. 103) Propleuron shining, punctate (Fig. 102). Pronotum shining, with several curved carinae at center and dorsolateral margins reticulate (Fig. 102). Mesepisternum reticulate with dorsoposterior margin smooth and shining; mesepimeron smooth and shining, few striae on extreme posterior margin (Fig. 102). Metapleuron reticulate (Fig. 102). Fore tarsal claw with small inner tooth near center, less than half length of outer tooth; middle and hind tarsal claws with small tooth at center, about half length of outer tooth (Fig. 104); middle and hind tarsal claws much larger than fore tarsal claw. Hind basitarsus 0.8X length of remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen: Dull with fine microsculpture, more densely punctate on tergite 1. Length of basal plates 1.4X length of 2 nd tergite. Sheath:valvifer 2:hind tibia as 0.7:1.0:1.4.

Etymology:
The species name is for the type locality, a noun in apposition.

Remarks:
The white antennal flagellum, white spot on the upper inner orbits, black axillae, only the upper margin of the mesepisternum white, and large confluent pits of the mesepisternum will separate this species.

Description:
Antenna 14-18 segmented, swollen and tapering to apex with segments beyond 3 about as long as broad or broader than long in female (Figs 109, 112); filiform, with segments longer than broad in male; pedicel short, as long as or slightly longer than broad. Eyes small, oval, lower interocular distance greater than eye height, eyes in lateral view removed from posterior margin of head (Figs 105,106,111,112,116), in dorsal view long behind eyes with length behind eyes equal to eye length; malar space less than half diameter of an ocellus; genal carina distinct to top of eye; occipital carina distinct and broad, about half diameter of an ocellus; labial palpus 4-segmented; maxillary palpus 5-segmented, less than half diameter of labial palpus and less than half length of labial palpus; gena and vertex shining, smooth or punctured; frons densely sculptured or shining with sparse sculpture. Pronotum deeply concave laterally; mesonotum and mesepisternum densely sculptured. Each tarsal claw with inner tooth in both sexes. Forewing: Costal cell very broad, 5-6X diameter of costa (Figs 110, 120). Hind wing: Cells Rs, M, and A present; 1A and 2A evenly curved toward apex meeting at center to form rounded apex of anal cell (Figs 110, 121).
Etymology: From the Latin latus, broad, referring the broad costal cell of the forewing. Gender: feminine.

Remarks:
Distinctive characters are the very broad costal cell of the forewing, as well as the short antennae, short pedicel, small eyes, elongated head length behind eyes, and rounded apex of the anal cell of the hind wing. Species are known only from the Philippines and insular and peninsular Malaysia.
Male: Length, 15.0 mm. Similar to female except for following. Color: Black with scape, pedicel, and legs dark red. Head: Antenna 14-segmented, slender and filiform, with segments 3 to apex 2X or more longer than broad (Fig. 106); pedicel about as long as broad. Gena and vertex slightly more densely reticulate and punctate than in female. Thorax: Each tarsal claw with inner tooth, inner tooth slightly shorter than outer tooth and near center of claw.

Remarks:
FORSIUS (1933) recorded three females and one male from the "Malay Peninsula, Selangor, Bukit Kutu." These are described as L. paraerythropus below. I have little doubt that X. erythropus and X. melanopus are opposite sexes of the same species as suggested by FORSIUS (1933). The slight differences in sculpturation and color as noted by Cameron can be attributed to sexual dimorphism.  placed this species in Hyperxiphia and followed FORSIUS' synonymy.

Diagnosis:
Gena and lateral and frontal areas of vertex sparsely punctured; antenna 17 to 18-segmented; mesoscutal middle lobe U-shaped, broadly scrobiculate at sides, without median longitudinal scrobiculate line.
Male: Length 14.0 mm. Similar to female except for following: Color: Black with scape, pedicel and legs dark red. Head: Antenna 14-segmented, slender and filiform, with segment 3 to apex 2X or more longer than broad; pedicel about as long as broad. Gena and vertex slightly more densely reticulate and punctate than in female. Thorax: Each tarsal claw with inner tooth, inner tooth slightly shorter than outer tooth and near center of claw.
Etymology: Para plus erythropus, indicating the species is near L. erythropus.

Remarks:
FORSIUS (1933) recorded three females and one male of X. erythropus from the "Malay Peninsula, Selangor, Bukit Kutu, 3,300-3,500 ft., 14 March, 1931 and one male from the same locality, collected 16 April, 1926 by H. M. Pendlebury." I examined one female and one male from the Forsius collection (TURKU). They belong in Lataxiphyda and are similar to L. erythropus in general habitus, the presence of a depression above the ocelli, and color, but they are not the same species. Those from Selangor have different head and thorax sculpture, and the female antenna is much more enlarged and has 17-18 segments. This species was recorded as X. erythropus by FORSIUS (1933), but examination of two of the specimens FORISUS examined show they are different. The two can be separated by characters in the key. Though outside of the region treated in this paper, I include it because it is the only other species known in the genus and to clarify Forsius' determination. (Figs 115-121) Xiphydria pyrura ROHWER 1921: 88.-HEDICKE 1938: 12. Palpixiphia pyrura: MAA 1949: 31, 165.-BALTAZAR 1966: 14.-SMITH 1978

Diagnosis:
Wings darkly infuscated. Frons and gena shining, with some carinae and reticulations on frons above and between antennae and only carinae on gena. Inner tooth of tarsal claws long, close to and appressed to outer tooth. Female: Unknown.

Remarks:
The smooth and shining genae and vertex, appressed teeth of the tarsal claws, lack of a deep depressed area posterior to the ocelli, and black abdomen with the apex orange are distinctive for this species. Although there are probably sexual differences in the tarsal claws, color, and perhaps some sculpturation, the female should not be difficult to associate with this species.  placed this species in Palpixiphia based on the original designation.

Unassociated Male of Xiphydriidae
One male is labeled "Philippines: Mountain Prov., Abatan, Buguias, 60 km S. of Bontoc, 1800-2000 m, 31.V.-1.VI-64, H. M. Torrevillas Collector, Bishop" (BPBM). The locality is on the island of Luzon. I am unable to associate this with the species or genera treated in this paper. This specimen has all claws bifid, the inner tooth almost as long as the outer tooth, the pronotum deeply excavated laterally, both the frons and genae with longitudinal carinae, and the color is mostly black with pale areas on the head and thorax. It is like Indoxiphia and Hyperxiphia, possibly most similar to Hyperxiphia flavicornis from Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. I prefer not to describe an unassociated male, especially since generic placement is questionable.