Variegatus group

Fore wing with submarginal vein with more than 3 setae dorsally. Postmarginal vein (PMV) present, usually less than 1.25 times the length of stigmal vein(STV).
Antenna with scape slender, not reaching apex of vertex, and with 0-2 anelli. Funicle 2-segmented in both sexes; club 3-segmented.
Fronto-facial suture adjacent to anterior ocellus; a transverse short groove is also present from eye margin to scrobal cavity about halfway between ocellus and torulus. Malar sulcus present and straight. Vertex strongly vaulted between eyes: i.e. extends more than 1/3 of eye length above the eye (in species of Cirrospilus “sensu strictu” the vertex is always not vaulted).
Mesosoma elongate. Axillae situated anterior to the posterior margin of the mesoscutum and elongated. Pronotum quite long medially: usually almost long or longer than scutellum length. Notauli complete to posterior margin of mesoscutum. Scutellum with 2, 3 or more pair of setae and with 1 pair of longitudinal grooves. Dorsellum strongly elongate. Propodeum with or without median carina, without plicae. Petiole not distinct.
Coloration yellowish and usually with dark longitudinal stripes and spots.

C. variegatus (Masi) is recorded in all the continents, while C. isonoi Kamijo was described in Japan and C. coachellae Gates in USA and Mexico (Noyes, 2001).

Cirrospilus belongs to the tribe of Cirrospilini by having funicle 2-segmented in both sexes, propleura separated posteriorly, submarginal vein with 3 or more setae dorsally and at least 2 pairs of scutellar setae.
We have considered the “variegatus group” of species separately, as those species have morphological features unique within Cirrospilus. Indeed, the species belonging to this group may be easily distinguished from all the other Cirrospilus by having vertex vaulted. This character has usually been used as one of the main features to distinguish Cirrospilus from Zagrammosoma, but given that those species have notauli complete and reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum (while in all Zagrammosoma they are curving to axillae), it seems to be more correct to place them in Cirrospilus, according to Ubaidillah et al. (2000).
Within Cirrospilini this group can be recognized by the combination of the following characters: vertex vaulted, notauli complete and reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum, yellowish coloration.
Notes and discussions about C. variegatus (Masi) have been made by Yefremova (1995) (as Zagrammosoma variegatus) and by Ubaidillah et al. 2000. Regarding to C. isonoi Kamijo (1987) and C. coachellae Gates (2000), see the original descriptions.

Diagnosis

Distribution

Biology