Ceroptres Hartig, 1840

(Figures 1, 3–17)

Type species. Ceroptres clavicornis Hartig, 1840, designated by Förster (1869: 364).

Diagnosis. Ceroptres differs from Buffingtonella by having a pubescent depressed area between or below the toruli, which is always present, even if the lower face vertical carinae are very short or almost absent (for example, Figs 11a, d; 12a; 13a; 14a; 15a; 16a; 17a), whereas both carinae and the depressed area are absent in Buffingtonella (Fig. 2e); by having the first metasomal tergum as a dorsal smooth crescent-shaped scale (for example, Figs 12f; 13h; 14e; 15i; 16l; 17i), whereas this is ring-shaped and longitudinally sulcate, like most of Synergini, in Buffingtonella (inset image in Fig. 2c; 2d, k); and by having the propodeal carinae uniformly straight or very slightly curved along their entire length (for example, Figs 12e; 13d; 14f; 15g; 16j; 17k), whereas the carinae are straight in the anterior 1/3, clearly divergent and curved in the posterior 2/3 and somewhat branched distally in Buffingtonella (Fig. 2j).

Redescription. Female antenna 12–13-segmented and usually subclavate (rarely filiform), male antenna 15- segmented and filiform. Front and vertex weakly sculptured, almost smooth or alutaceous to finely coriaceous, without frontal carinae. Malar space usually much shorter than height of compound eye, rarely 0.6 or more. Lower face with striae radiating from sides of clypeus, which can be short (Fig. 1a, c) or long (Fig. 1b). Usually with two vertical carinae running from inner ventral margin of the toruli, which can be complete (Fig. 1a) or incomplete (Fig. 1b); sometimes, they are very short or inconspicuous to absent (Fig. 1c). A densely pubescent depressed area between and below the toruli, that is usually delimited by the two vertical carinae when these are conspicuous (whether complete or not), but even visible when these are very short or absent (Fig. 1), is always present. Pronotum without lateral carinae. Dorsal part of pronotal plate complete, with two distinct and usually more or less widely spaced foveae. Mesoscutum smooth to strongly coriaceous, sometimes with weak discontinuous transversal elements. Notauli complete or incomplete, but never absent (although they are sometimes very narrow and shallow; for example, Figs 12h, 13g). Mesopleuron usually completely smooth and shiny, rarely with some striae or with an alutaceous sculpture anteriorly (Figs 6d; 11b). Propodeal carinae uniformly straight or very slightly curved in their whole length (for example, Figs 12e; 13d; 14f; 15g; 16j; 17k). First metasomal tergum reduced to a dorsal smooth crescent-shaped scale (for example, Figs 12f; 13h; 14e; 15i; 16l; 17i). Second metasomal tergum (T2) small and free in both sexes, usually with a dense patch of setae anterolaterally, rarely with sparse pilosity. Third metasomal tergum (T3) without punctures or just with a small posterodorsal patch of micropunctures, never dorsodistally incised. Radial cell of the forewing closed. Tarsal claws bidentate, with a basal lobe.