title: A key to new world distatrix mason (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), with descriptions of six new reared neotropical species.
abstract: Six new species of the genus Distatrix Mason from Central and South America, D. loretta, D. xanadon, D. vigilis, D. pitillaensis, D. pandora Grinter, n. sp., and D. antirrheae Whitfield & Grinter, n. sp., are described from large-scale caterpillar inventory endeavors, mostly from the larvae of geometrid moths. Biological information and diagnostic features that distinguish these species from other previously described Distatrix, especially those from the Neotropical region, are provided; and the first key to New World species is presented. The new discoveries expand our knowledge of the World's widespread Distatrix fauna by about a third, suggesting that similar survey efforts in other poorly sampled regions will reveal numerous additional undescribed species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 61801 USA. acgrinter@gmail.com
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Grinter
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Whitfield
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Connahs
authors.forename: Lee A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.forename: Winifred
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hallwachs
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Janzen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000469:parasitology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014863:Wasps / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology*