ABSTRACT. It is difficult to make reliable sex associations in several species of Hymenoptera due to sexual dimorphism. Only a few species of the flat wasp genus Dissomphalus Ashmead, 1893 have had their sexes associated, since females are rarely collected and differ morphologically from their conspecific males. Collecting couples during their phoretic copula is difficult, but it is the most reliable way to associate the sexes in Dissomphalus. Herein, we associate the sexes and discuss the mating briefly discuss the genital structures used during phoretic copulation, analyzing the male and female genitalia in copulation.During copulation, the mating female is attached to the male only by the genitalia and is apparently grasped by muscles attached to the male's metasoma.

The mesopleuron of Bethylidae has many structures that are used in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. The lack of understanding of these structures has generated independent terminologies and a series of confusing terms, hampering effective scientific communication. A morphological study and literature review were made in order to solve these problems. Our study resulted in an anatomic glossary with 49 terms that presented a large number of synonyms and polysemies. The glossary standardizes the terms used in the Bethylidae mesopleuron and in other Hymenoptera groups, which will facilitate hypotheses of primary homology in comparative biology.

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Sixty-four species of Dissomphalus from Panama are recognized, 31 are described and illustrated as new to science: D. abarus sp. nov., D. afestus sp. nov., D. arbeius sp. nov., D. ardonius sp. nov., D. areius sp. nov., D. aretisus sp. nov., D. arteobius sp. nov., D. arteus sp. nov., D. asfartus sp. nov., D. asitius sp. nov., D. azagus sp. nov., D. borus sp. nov., D. citus sp. nov., D. ettus sp. nov., D. geortus sp. nov., D. ibocius sp. nov., D. ibrastus sp. nov., D. ilarius sp. nov., D. iozus sp. nov., D. isortus sp. nov., D. isteus sp. nov., D. racarus sp. nov., D. raziogus sp. nov., D. sartus sp. nov., D. teobus sp. nov., D. teraus sp. nov., D. terbius sp. nov., D. tisinus sp. nov., D. trisus sp. nov., D. urazius sp. nov. and D. ubracus sp. nov.. Eight species are registered for the first time from Panama: D. angulatus Azevedo, D. galeatus Alencar & Azevedo, D. infissus Evans, D. persontaus Redighieri & Azevedo, D. pilus Alencar & Azevedo, D. politus Ashmead, D. pronus Alencar & Azevedo and D. vallensis Evans. Eighteen species had their known distribution broadened in the country: D. bilobatus Azevedo, D. brasiliensis Kieffer, D. cervoides Azevedo, D. coronatus Alencar & Azevedo, D. culteratus Alencar & Azevedo, D. curvifoveatus Azevedo, D. dilatatus Azevedo, D. geniculatus Azevedo, D. gilvipes Evans, D. guttus Azevedo, D. intradentatus Azevedo, D. piscicercus Azevedo, D. plaumanni Evans, D. punctatus (Kieffer), D. rettenmeyeri Evans, D. rufipalpis Kieffer, D. strepsus Azevedo and D. unitus Azevedo. Seven species previously recorded from Panama were not found in the studied material: D. altivolans Evans, D. apertus Kieffer, Alencar & Azevedo, D. declinatus Alencar & Azevedo, D. latus Azevedo, D. ramosus Alencar & Azevedo, D. strabus Azevedo and D. subdeformis Azevedo. A key to species of Dissomphalus from Central America is provided.