Monograph |
Corresponding author: Cornelis van Achterberg ( kees@vanachterberg.org ) Academic editor: Bernardo Santos
© 2016 Cornelis van Achterberg, Mark R. Shaw.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
van Achterberg C, Shaw MR (2016) Revision of the western Palaearctic species of Aleiodes Wesmael (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Rogadinae). Part 1: Introduction, key to species groups, outlying distinctive species, and revisionary notes on some further species. ZooKeys 639: 1-164. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.639.10893
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Seven new species of the genus Aleiodes Wesmael, 1838 (Braconidae: Rogadinae) are described and illustrated: A. abraxanae sp. n., A. angustipterus sp. n., A. artesiariae sp. n., A. carminatus sp. n., A. diarsianae sp. n., A. leptofemur sp. n., and A. ryrholmi sp. n. A neotype is designated for each of Aleiodes circumscriptus (Nees, 1834) and A. pictus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838), and both species are redescribed and illustrated. Aleiodes ochraceus Hellén, 1927 (not A. ochraceus (Curtis, 1834)) is renamed as A. curticornis nom. n. & stat. rev., and redescribed and illustrated. Aleiodes bistrigatus Roman, 1917, A. nigriceps Wesmael, 1838, and A. reticulatus (Noskiewicz, 1956), are re-instated as valid species. A lectotype is designated for Aleiodes bistrigatus Roman. An illustrated key is given to some distinctive species and the residual species groups along which further parts of an entire revision of western Palaearctic species of Aleiodes and Heterogamus will be organised. Biology, host associations and phenology are discussed for the keyed species (in addition to the above, A. albitibia (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838), A. apiculatus (Fahringer, 1932), A. arcticus (Thomson, 1892), A. cantherius (Lyle, 1919), A. esenbeckii (Hartig, 1834), A. jakowlewi (Kokujev, 1898), A. modestus (Reinhard, 1863), A. nigricornis Wesmael, 1838, A. pallidator (Thunberg, 1822), A. praetor (Reinhard, 1863), A. seriatus (Herrich- Schäffer, 1838) sensu lato, A. testaceus (Telenga, 1941), A. ungularis (Thomson, 1892), and A. varius (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838)) which are dealt with in full here (with the exception of A. seriatuss.l. which is, however, included in the key). The experimental methodology covering the revision as a whole, which involves some behavioural investigation, is outlined.
Aleiodes , host range, biology, distribution, Europe, phenology
As defined by
Van
Over the past 45 years, during a programme aimed at investigating host relations of Ichneumonoidea in which Rogadinae and some other cyclostome braconid groups have been strong foci, the second author has reared many western European species of Aleiodes from their Lepidoptera hosts, and also received donations of specimens reared by a large number of lepidopterists. Investigation of Aleiodes host ranges has also involved some experimentation using short-term cultures by the second author, and in some cases this has been motivated by, and crucial for, elucidating species-level taxonomy. The large amount of collected data will be used for a revision of the western Palaearctic species of the genera Aleiodes and Heterogamus, also covering the host range, phenology and other aspects of biology of as many species as our data permit.
In this first paper we give a key to the species groups that will be dealt with in further parts, and to some of the more distinctive species which are then dealt with in full here. Some species that urgently need valid names are newly described and/or redescribed to clarify the confused nomenclature and status of some nominal species. One valid species (A. ochraceus Hellén, 1927) is renamed as A. curticornis (nom. n. & stat. rev.), because Hellén’s name is a junior homonym; and moreover not a synonym (as proposed by Papp 1985) of A. gastritor (Thunberg, 1822). Some parts of the genus appear to have radiated relatively recently and even in the well-studied British fauna it is probable that further biological research will reveal that some of the taxa currently recognised as single species are in fact aggregates of biologically distinct entities resistant to morphological separation. An example is given in this paper with the A. pictus-aggregate, and a relevant speciation hypothesis has been suggested by
Unless stated otherwise the following protocols apply here and to ensuing parts of this work. Distributions are based only on material studied by us, unless otherwise stated. Literature records (e.g. as in
Except for the limited time it took to perform experiments and/or service rearing containers indoors, all livestock (including wild collected caterpillars harbouring parasitoids; Lepidoptera cultures; Aleiodes mummies awaiting emergence; adult Aleiodes, from whatever source; experimentally parasitized and control caterpillars) was kept in an unheated, well-ventilated and fully shaded detached outdoor shed that held outdoor shade temperatures (Reading, UK and Edinburgh, UK) generally to within 0.5 °C of ambient (
Mating trials were conducted by introducing a female to a fed male already present in a clean tube (not the other way round); generally, fresh tubes were used for each pair, and trials were done with newly emerged females (if possible before she had fed). The results of mating trials are given only impressionistically, as no way was found to quantify them satisfactorily.
The collections used for our revision contain the majority of recently collected material of Aleiodes from the western Palaearctic region; collections with type material are separately listed under the description of the species. The following collections and acronyms are used: AAC (A.A. Allen Collection, Dawlish), ALC (A. Lozan Collection, Institute of Entomology, České Budĕjovice), BMNH (Natural History Museum, London), BZL (Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum, Biologiezentrum, Linz), CC (M. Čapek Collection, Moravian Museum, Brno), CMIM (C. Morley Collection, Ipswich Museum, Ipswich),
The number of antennal (i.e. flagellar + 2) segments is frequently an important aid to species recognition and of interest also because in some species the female has more segments on average than the male (while other species are more normal in that the male has the greater number). We give counts of antennal segments for the specimens we have examined, but for some species (especially when the segments did not need to be counted for determination) sometimes only for the first hundred or so of the specimens examined of each sex.
GenBank accession numbers are given for DNA sequences from specimens in the
For the recognition of braconid subfamilies, see
Terminology and measurements used in this paper. 1 wing venation: pa = parastigma, pt = pterostigma, 1 = marginal cell, 2a, b, c = first, second and third submarginal cell, respectively, 3a, b = first and second discal cell, respectively, 4a = first subdiscal cell, 5 = basal cell, 6 = subbasal cell 2 head dorsal: a = length of eye, b = length of temple 3 head lateral: c = width of temple, d = width of eye, e = height of eye, f = width of malar space (measured as actual true distance in its own plane) 4 head anterior: g = width of face, h = width of hypoclypeal depression 5 fore femur lateral: i = length, j = width 6 first metasomal tergite dorsal: k = length of tergite (measured from adductor), l = apical width of tergite.
Aleiodes
Wesmael, 1838: 194;
Petalodes
Wesmael, 1838: 123;
Schizoides Wesmael, 1838: 94. Unavailable name.
Nebartha
Walker, 1860: 310;
Tetrasphaeropyx
Ashmead, 1889: 634;
Neorhogas
Szépligeti, 1906: 605;
Chelonorhogas
Enderlein, 1912b: 258;
Leluthinus
Enderlein, 1912c: 96;
Aleirhogas
Baker, 1917b: 383, 411; Shenefelt 1974: 1185–1186;
Heterogamoides
Fullaway, 1919: 43;
Cordylorhogas
Enderlein, 1920: 153;
Hyperstemma
Shestakov, 1940: 10;
R(h)ogas
auctt.;
Propodeum with a long median carina dorsally (Figs
Very large genus of koinobiont, synovigenic endoparasitoids; in the western Palaearctic of Drepanidae (including Thyratirinae), Erebidae (including Hypeninae, Lymantriinae, Arctiinae, Hypenodinae), Geometridae, Hesperiidae, Lasiocampidae, Lycaenidae, Noctuidae, Nolidae, Notodontidae, Nymphalidae (Satyrinae), Pterophoridae, Sphingidae, Ypsolophidae and Zygaenidae. This list includes only taxa of which we have been able to verify hosts, either by our own rearings or by examination of host remains; there are other host groups recorded in the literature, but we regard many of them as almost certainly erroneous and seek confirmation of others. The caterpillars are killed by the endoparasitoid and “mummified” — i.e. turned into a partly shrunken and hardened structure that is more or less tanned (Figs
The oviposition behaviour of Aleiodes species is based on the following sequence, from which one or more steps may habitually be eliminated by particular species: (a) antennation of the host, often also investigation using fore and sometimes mid tarsi, during which the host often curls and may be drawn in towards the ventral/mesosomal region of the parasitoid; (b) a rapid sting (usually less than 0.5 second), executed more or less between the parasitoid’s front legs and usually accompanied by a brief fluttering of the wings; (c) waiting motionless by, but often not in physical contact with, the host while temporary paralysis caused by the injected venom takes effect (about 20 to exceptionally 90 seconds); oviposition (a single insertion of the ovipositor, usually about 30–80 seconds duration but regularly much shorter or much longer in certain species); (d) a period (usually about 20–100 seconds) of post-oviposition association, when the parasitoid stands over the host and the host is intermittently antennated, during which time the host recovers from paralysis; (e) abrupt and energetic departure, often by flight. Sluggish hosts are generally unattractive, but superparasitism is frequent if (e) is prevented or if the two come into contact again. In most species host feeding was seen only infrequently or not at all in well-fed parasitoids, but it became commoner in aged females; it was always non-destructive and concurrent (i.e using the same host individual as for oviposition) but took place from separate ad hoc wounds made using the ovipositor, usually before but occasionally after oviposition itself. In most species, first instar hosts are oviposited into only with difficulty and even then they frequently die from the trauma, second and early third instars are the most suitable, and from late in the third instar onwards hosts are consistently ignored (a rough guide is that if the host exceeds the length of the parasitoid it will usually be of no interest). In the majority of investigated species the egg floats freely in the haemocoel.
Cosmopolitan.
Two papers with descriptions of the same Aleiodes species appeared in 1838. Most likely Herrich-Schäffer’s paper was published earlier (the introduction is dated April, 1838) than Wesmael’s paper. Baron de Stassart stated in his presidential report (Bulletins de l’Académie royale des sciences, des lettres et des beaux-arts de Belgique 5: 328) dated May 6th, 1838, that the 11th volume of the Nouveau Memoires was in press.
1 | Hind trochantellus of female moderately elongate, its ventral length 2.4–4.5 × its width (a), hind wing narrow (b), its vein 1r-m strongly reclivous (c) and vein r of fore wing 0.8–3.0 × vein 3-SR (d); second submarginal cell of fore wing about as long as high or distinctly shorter (e) | genus Heterogamus Wesmael, 1838 |
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– | Hind trochantellus of female usually moderately robust (aa), if ventrally 2.4–2.8 × as long as wide, then hind wing wider (bb) and its vein 1r-m moderately reclivous (cc) or vein r of fore wing shorter than 0.6 × vein 3-SR (dd); second submarginal cell of fore wing often longer than high (ee); genus Aleiodes Wesmael, 1838 | 2 |
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2 | Ovipositor sheath largely glabrous (except apically and ventrally) (a); marginal cell of hind wing narrowed near basal 0.6 and slightly widened apically (b); lateral carina of scutellum strong (c) and lunula rather narrow, but widened medially (d); [ovipositor with small teeth ventrally and with wide dorsal flange (e)]; parasitoid of Sphingidae | A. praetor (Reinhard, 1863) |
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– | Ovipositor sheath distinctly setose (aa), but sometimes mainly ventrally so; marginal cell of hind wing subparallel-sided (upper bb), evenly widened (lower bb) apically or somewhat narrowed and distinctly widened apically (bbb); lateral carina of scutellum absent (cc) or if present (ccc) then lunula wide (dd) or narrow (ddd); parasitoids of other families | 3 |
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3 | Apical half of marginal cell of hind wing distinctly gradually widened, its maximum width 1.6 × its width near hamuli or wider (a), if largely parallel-sided (aaa) then tarsal claws with coarse blackish pecten (b); second metasomal tergite with wide smooth triangular area medio-basally (c); occipital carina usually reduced ventrally, not reaching hypostomal carina (d); mesopleuron partly smooth and shiny (at least between punctures), but largely densely sculptured in A. krulikowskii and some males of A. ruficornis; (usually macropterous, the known brachypterous specimens also belong here) | A. apicalis-group |
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– | Apical half of marginal cell of hind wing parallel-sided or slightly widened and its maximum width less than 1.8 × its width near hamuli (aa), if 1.7–2.7 × (aaa), then mesopleuron largely coriaceous or granulate and tarsal claws at most yellowish pectinate (bb); second tergite without triangular area medio-basally (cc) or this area is narrow or minute (ccc); occipital carina usually complete ventrally, reaching hypostomal carina (dd); mesopleuron usually extensively coriaceous or finely granulate, but medially coarsely sculptured in A. bicolor-group and a few members of A. circumscriptus-group, rarely largely shiny; (only macropterous specimens known) | 4 |
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4 | Mesopleuron largely (and often strongly) shiny (a), but may be partly superficially granulate in A. testaceus and A. ungularis, and in A. modestus mesopleuron shiny mainly anteriorly of speculum (aaa); maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3–0.6 × minimum width of face (b) | 5 |
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– | Mesopleuron largely rather matt and distinctly sculptured (aa; at least coriaceous or granulate, though sometimes only weakly so); maximum width of hypoclypeal depression usually 0.3–0.4 × minimum width of face (bb) | 8 |
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5 | Inner side of hind tibia with comb of whitish bristles apically (a); mesosoma (except propodeum and metapleuron) largely yellowish or yellowish orange (b); precoxal area impressed medially and finely crenulate (c); metasoma dark brown or blackish medially and largely pale yellow laterally (d) | A. ungularis (Thomson, 1892) |
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– | Inner side of hind tibia without comb apically, normally only with bristly setae (aa); mesosoma largely black (bb) except in A. testaceus; precoxal area not impressed and smooth (cc) or rugose (ccc); metasomal tergites practically completely yellowish (dd) or brownish (in A. albitibia sometimes with a large yellow or ivory central patch on second tergite), if blackish or dark brown then also laterally so (ddd) | 6 |
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6 | OOL 0.4–0.5 × diameter of posterior ocellus (a); pterostigma dark brown (b); inner hind tibial spur 0.40–0.50 × hind basitarsus (c); third antennal segment robust (d); vein 1r-m of hind wing about as long as vein 1-M (e); area in front of anterior ocellus without tubercle (f); inner side of basal half of hind tibia whitish and contrasting with darker apical half (g), rarely largely dark brown; third tergite about as long as second tergite and curved medio-posteriorly in dorsal view (h) | A. albitibia (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838) |
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– | OOL about equal to diameter of posterior ocellus (aa); pterostigma largely yellow (bb), yellowish brown or brown; inner hind tibial spur 0.25–0.30 × hind basitarsus (cc); third antennal segment rather slender (dd); vein 1r-m of hind wing distinctly shorter than vein 1-M (ee); area in front of anterior ocellus with a minute smooth tubercle (ff); inner side of basal half of hind tibia yellowish, similar to apical half (gg); third tergite 0.8 × as long as second tergite and truncate medio-posteriorly in dorsal view (hh) | 7 |
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7 | Antennal segments of female 30–35 (of male 34–37); vein r of fore wing 0.7–0.9 × vein 3-SR (a); vein 1-SR of fore wing rather long (b); ventral margin of clypeus thick (c); maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.30–0.35 × minimum width of face (d); head and mesosoma largely yellowish brown (e), but mesopleuron dorsally and propodeum usually more or less dark brown; length of malar space of female 0.3–0.4 × height of eye in lateral view (f); third metasomal tergite with more or less developed diverging striae laterally (g) | A. testaceus (Telenga, 1941) |
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– | Antennal segments of both sexes (37–)40–45(–47); vein r of fore wing 0.5–0.6 × vein 3-SR (aa); vein 1-SR of fore wing shorter (bb); ventral margin of clypeus thin (cc); maximum width of hypoclypeal depression about 0.5 × minimum width of face (dd); head and mesosoma largely blackish (ee); length of malar space of female 0.5–0.6 × height of eye in lateral view (ff); third tergite without distinct striae (gg) | A. modestus (Reinhard, 1863) |
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8 | Antennal segments of ♀ 50–71 and head usually entirely brownish yellow (a), of ♂ 52–68 (but males of A. pallidator practically unknown); scapus brownish yellow or reddish brown (b) and robust in lateral view (c); [fourth metasomal tergite largely superficially granulate; first tergite lamelliform protruding latero-anteriorly] | 9 |
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– | Antennal segments of ♀ 28–51, of ♂ 31–48, if antenna with 45–55 segments then head largely blackish medio-dorsally (aa) and/or scapus largely black or dark brown (bb) and less robust in lateral view (cc) | 11 |
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9 | Vein 2-CU1 of fore wing 0.7–1.2 × as long as vein 1-CU1 (a); vein 1-SR weakly angled with vein 1-M (b) and vein 1-M rather curved (c); vein r of fore wing long and subvertical (d); antennal segments of ♀ 56–62; length of fore wing 6–10 mm; [tarsal claws small (e)] | A. esenbeckii (Hartig, 1834) |
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– | Vein 2-CU1 of fore wing 1.63.0 × longer than vein 1-CU1 (aa); vein 1-SR distinctly angled (bb) or linearly connected to vein 1-M (bbb) and vein 1-M nearly straight (cc); vein r of fore wing medium-sized and oblique (dd); antennal segments of ♀ 51–71, if with 54–55 segments then length of fore wing 5–7 mm | 10 |
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10 | Antennal segments of ♀ 66–71; length of malar space of ♀ 0.4 × height of eye (a); vein 2-CU1 of fore wing 1.6–1.8 × vein 1-CU1 (b); occipital carina reduced ventrally (c) | A. varius (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838) |
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– | Antennal segments of ♀ 50–55; length of malar space of ♀ 0.3 × height of eye (aa); vein 2-CU1 of fore wing 2.2–3.0 × vein 1-CU1 (bb); occipital carina complete ventrally, reaching hypostomal carina (cc) | A. pallidator (Thunberg, 1822) |
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11 | First metasomal tergite lamelliform protruding latero-anteriorly (a) and hind trochantellus of female slender, its ventral length 2.2–2.9 × its width (b); fore wing rather narrow (c); speculum of mesopleuron often rugose and with satin sheen, largely reticulate or granulate (d) | 12 |
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– | First tergite less lamelliform protruding latero-anteriorly (aa); if lamella present up to spiracle and rather protruding then hind trochantellus of female moderately robust, its ventral length less than 2.4 × its width (bb), if rarely up to 2.6 × then fore wing moderately wide (cc) and speculum of mesopleuron shiny and (partly) smooth or granulate (dd) | 15 |
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12 | Tarsal claws with distinct fine pecten (a); scapus and pedicellus of ♀ at least partly blackish, contrasting with yellowish middle of antenna (b); length of malar space of ♀ 0.25–0.30 × height of eye in lateral view (c; of ♂ 0.30 times); [fourth metasomal tergite of ♀ black latero-posteriorly (of ♂ brownish yellow); antenna of ♀ in dorsal view bicoloured, first–eighth and 48th–49th segments more or less dark brown, remainder of antenna yellowish, of ♂ entire antenna yellowish] | A. apiculatus (Fahringer, 1932) |
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– | Tarsal claws only bristly setose, without distinct pecten (aa); scapus and pedicellus of ♀ similarly coloured as medial fifth of antenna or paler (bb); length of malar space of ♀ 0.30–0.50 × height of eye in lateral view (cc; of ♂ 0.25 times, but males of A. angustipterus unknown) | 13 |
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13 | Antennal segments of ♀ 49–52; hind tibia infuscate subapically, contrasting with yellowish apex of tibia (a); second tergite comparatively long (b); fourth tergite with distinct sharp lateral crease (c) and basally rugulose or rugose (d); pterostigma bicoloured, with its basal third pale yellow (e); [vein m-cu of fore wing straight and angled to vein 2-CU1; antenna of ♀ sometimes with a narrow white or pale yellowish submedial band] | A. jakowlewi (Kokujev, 1898) |
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– | Antennal segments of ♀ 34–40; hind tibia subapically and apically similarly coloured and brownish yellow (aa); second tergite comparatively short (bb); fourth tergite partly without distinct sharp lateral crease (cc), partly retracted and tergite largely smooth (dd); pterostigma unicoloured yellowish brown or dark brown (ee) | 14 |
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14 | Length of malar space of ♀ 0.4 × height of eye in lateral view (a); vein m-cu of fore wing slightly curved towards vein 2-CU1, meeting it at about 140° (b); pterostigma dark brown (c); fore wing distinctly infuscate (d); inner side of hind tibia without apical comb (e); speculum sculptured (f); occipital carina complete or narrowly interrupted dorsally (g) | A. angustipterus sp. n. |
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– | Length of malar space of ♀ 0.5 × height of eye in lateral view (aa); vein m-cu of fore wing straight and angled to vein 2-CU1 (bb); pterostigma yellowish (cc); fore wing subhyaline (dd); inner side of hind tibia with weakly developed apical comb (ee); speculum partly smooth and shiny (ff); occipital carina widely interrupted dorsally (gg) | A. carminatus sp. n. |
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15 | Fourth metasomal tergite curved posteriorly in dorsal view (a) and following tergites more or less retracted (b); vein r of fore wing 0.6–0.8 × vein 3-SR (c), precoxal sulcus largely granulate or coriaceous (d); trochanters, trochantelli and pterostigma largely black(ish) (e); [vein m-cu of hind wing distinct; formerly Tetrasphaeropyx Ashmead, 1889. Associated with Macariini (Geometridae)] | 16 |
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– | Fourth tergite subtruncate medio-posteriorly in dorsal view (aa) and following segments at least partly exposed (bb); vein r of fore wing 0.2–0.6 × vein 3-SR (cc), if 0.6–0.8 × (ccc) then precoxal area coarsely rugose medially (dd) and third tergite enlarged and flattened (A. hergeri Papp); trochanters, and trochantelli usually brownish yellow (ee) and colour of pterostigma variable (ee, eee) | 18 |
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16 | Mesoscutum (a), orbita (b) and malar space (c) largely yellowish brown; all femora and tibiae black or dark brown (d); fore and hind femora slender (e); vein 1-SR of fore wing angled with vein 1-M (f) | A. artesiariae sp. n. |
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– | Mesoscutum (aa), orbita (bb) and malar space (cc) black; all femora and tibiae reddish or yellowish brown (dd); fore and hind femora less slender (ee); vein 1-SR of fore wing sublinear with vein 1-M (ff) | 17 |
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17 | Vein M+CU1 of fore wing apically at about same level as vein 2-CU1 (a); vein r of fore wing 0.6–0.9 × vein 3-SR (b); length of fore wing 3.4–3.7 mm; arctic and alpine sp. | A. arcticus (Thomson, 1892) |
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– | Vein M+CU1 of fore wing apically above level of vein 2-CU1 (aa); vein r of fore wing 0.9–1.1 × vein 3-SR (bb); length of fore wing 3.9–4.7 mm; lowland sp. | A. reticulatus (Noskiewicz, 1956), stat. rev. |
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18 | Head subglobose in dorsal view (a) and high in anterior view (b); dorsal face of propodeum long and (slightly) angularly protruding postero-laterally (c); fore femur stout (d); [antennal segments of ♀ 28–35, stout; strongly sexually dimorphic, male with large ocelli and slender antennal segments and antenna with 39–41 segments; body completely yellowish; length of antenna of ♀ 0.9–1.1 × fore wing, longer in ♂; second submarginal cell of fore wing rather narrow] | A. curticornis nom. n. |
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– | Head transverse in dorsal view (aa) and lower in anterior view (bb); dorsal face of propodeum shorter and rounded posteriorly (cc), if more elongate then fore femur slenderer (dd) | 19 |
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19 | Fourth metasomal tergite with a more or less sharp lateral crease for its whole length (a), if weak or absent then length of malar space of female 0.5–0.6 × height of eye in lateral view (b); precoxal area distinctly (and usually coarsely) rugose medially (c); epicnemial area (d) and propodeum (e) coarsely rugose; fourth metasomal tergite at least basally distinctly sculptured (f) | A. bicolor-group |
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– | Fourth tergite gently folded laterally, without acute lateral crease or this only anteriorly developed (aa), although rarely present as a simple, non-lamelliform crease to apex of tergite; length of malar space of female less than 0.5 × height of eye in lateral view (bb); precoxal area (cc) and epicnemial area less rugose (dd); propodeum (ee) usually with few rugae or completely coriaceous; fourth tergite usually mainly smooth with some superficial sculpture (ff) | 20 |
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20 | Inner apex of hind tibia with distinct comb (a); surroundings of veins 1-M and 1-SR of fore wing more or less infuscate and darker than surroundings (b); metasoma usually richly patterned (c); fourth tergite of ♀ pale (ivory-)yellowish latero-posteriorly (d), in ♂ usually infuscate; base of hind tibia usually narrowly dark brown (e); [antennal segments of ♀ (35–)44–50, of ♂ (42–)48–54; length of malar space 0.2–0.4 × height of eye in lateral view (f); temple narrow and directly narrowed behind eyes (g); length of hind femur of ♀ 5.1–6.5 × its width (of ♂ up to 8 times)] | A. seriatus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838) s.l. |
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– | Inner apex of hind tibia without distinct comb (aa); surroundings of veins 1-M and 1-SR of fore wing subhyaline and similar to surroundings (bb); metasoma less patterned (cc); fourth tergite of ♀ dark brown or yellowish brown latero-posteriorly (dd); base of hind tibia usually yellowish brown (ee); [malar space (ff) and head shape variable]; A. circumscriptus-group | 21 |
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21 | Antennal segments of ♀ 42–49, of ♂ 42–46; temple directly narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view (a), mesosoma black(ish) dorsally (especially mesoscutum and scutellum (b), but sometimes notaulic area or scutellum brownish) and apical half of metasoma largely blackish (c); hind femur usually orangeish brown (d); [second tergite with (pale) yellowish elliptical patch medially (e). If body pale yellowish, antenna with 47–51 segments, head coarsely sculptured dorsally and fourth and following tergites largely under enlarged and flattened third tergite (f), cf. A. hergeri Papp, 1989] | 22 |
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– | Antennal segments of ♀ 27–46, of ♂ 31–48; if antennal segments of ♀ 42–46 then temple gradually narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view (aa) or mesosoma partly dorsally (bb) and apical half of metasoma yellowish brown (cc); hind femur variable, often yellowish or partly strongly darkened (dd) | 23 |
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22 | Fore femur of ♀ less slender, 5.4–5.7 × as long as wide (a) and hardly sculptured, but of males slenderer; scapus and pedicellus (yellowish) brown ventrally (b); precoxal area frequently with some rugae or rugulae (c); propodeum distinctly transversally rugose medially and median carina largely absent on posterior half of propodeum or irregular (d); posterior half of pterostigma of ♀ largely dark brown (e); ivory part of malar space usually reaching clypeus, sometimes extending to lower part of inner orbit (f); mesosternum more or less blackish or dark brown (g), rarely completely reddish; [antennal segments of ♀ 42–47, of ♂ 42–46] | A. circumscriptus (Nees, 1834) s.s. |
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– | Fore femur slender, (6.0–)6.7–7.4 × as long as wide (aa) and very finely sculptured; scapus and pedicellus more or less infuscate or black ventrally (bb); precoxal area usually without rugae (cc); propodeum largely coriaceous medially and median carina at least anteriorly present on posterior half of propodeum and regular (dd); posterior half of pterostigma of ♀ more or less yellowish (ee), but usually apical third laterally darkened; pale yellowish part of malar space usually not reaching clypeus (ff); mesosternum frequently reddish or brownish (gg); [antennal segments of ♀ 44–49, of ♂ 43–47] | A. nigricornis Wesmael, 1838 |
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23 | Hind femur often partly, mesonotum dorsally and/or head largely dark brown or blackish (a); OOL and POL of ♀ 1.2–1.7 × diameter of posterior ocellus (b), but less in A. cantherius and ryrholmi (bbb); antennal segments of ♀ 36–45, of ♂ 34–45; metasoma with medial ivory patch (c), but less developed or absent in A. diarsianae and nigriceps (ccc) | 24 |
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||
– | Hind femur completely, mesonotum dorsally and head largely yellowish (aa); if these parts are strongly darkened then OOL and POL of ♀ about equal to diameter of posterior ocellus (bb) and/or antennal segments of ♀ (31–)33–37, rarely up to 40, of ♂ 34–39(–41) and metasoma without ivory patch, brownish yellow, brown or dark brown (cc) | 30 |
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24 | Head behind eyes directly narrowed in dorsal view (a); ocelli large (b); apex of metasoma of ♀ brownish yellow (c); temple short (d) | 25 |
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– | Head behind eyes gradually (roundly) narrowed in dorsal view (aa); ocelli medium-sized (bb); apex of metasoma of ♀ black or dark brown (cc); temple medium-sized (dd) | 26 |
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25 | Face yellowish brown (a); ocelli smaller, POL 0.8 × as wide as diameter of posterior ocellus (b); pale area of second tergite wide (c); mesoscutum with pair of yellowish brown stripes (d; but in males sometimes only vaguely indicated); medio-posterior depression of metanotum wide (e); palpi pale yellowish (f); vein cu-a of fore wing subvertical (g); face mainly transversely rugose (h) | A. cantherius (Lyle, 1919) |
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– | Face black (aa); ocelli larger, POL 0.6 × as wide as diameter of posterior ocellus (bb); pale area of second tergite narrow (cc); mesoscutum entirely black (dd); medio-posterior depression of metanotum rather narrow (ee); palpi mainly dark brown (ff); vein cu-a of fore wing inclivous (gg); face superficially rugulose (hh) | A. ryrholmi sp. n. |
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26 | Length of fore femur 6.4–8.0 × its maximum width (a) and hind femur (centrally and subapically) parallel-sided (b); hind femur slender basally (c); mesosternum usually black(ish) (d); temple normal (e); scapus ventrally and usually basal half of antenna (dark) brown (f), rarely yellowish; hind femur basally largely yellowish and slightly infuscate subapically (g), paler than ventral side of scapus; if hind femur is distinctly infuscate then often also extreme base of hind tibia infuscate (h); [face usually black or dark brown medially and near eyes yellowish brown, but sometimes completely black or rarely completely yellowish; antennal segments of ♂ 35–40(–41), usually 36–38, less than of ♀, which has usually 37–39 segments] | A. leptofemur sp. n. |
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||
– | Length of fore femur 5.4–6.4(–8.0) × its maximum width (aa) and hind femur more or less weakly swollen (bb); or fore femur more than 6.4 × (aaa) and hind femur comparatively wide basally (cc), antenna with more than 40 segments and mesosternum yellowish or orange-brown (dd) or temple slightly wider (ee), or scapus ventrally and basal half of antenna yellowish brown (ff); scapus usually yellowish ventrally, if dark brown or blackish then scapus similarly coloured as hind femur subapically; apical half of hind femur (partly) conspicuously dark brown (gg); base of hind tibia yellowish (hh); [face usually completely black or yellowish; POL 1.2–1.7 × diameter of posterior ocellus] | 27 |
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||
27 | Width of hypoclypeal depression of ♀ 0.35–0.40 × minimum width of face (a); antennal segments of ♀ (38–)39–43, of ♂ (38–)39–44; mesoscutum anteriorly and pronotum medio-anteriorly usually black or dark brown (b); medially mesopleuron usually without distinct rugulae or with a few (c); mesosternum yellowish, orange-brown or reddish (d), if darkened then not sharply defined; second metasomal tergite of ♀ with well differentiated median carina (e); lateral margins of third and fourth metasomal tergites of ♂ often completely yellowish, but sometimes darkened; [dark part of hind femur often extended to its apex] | A. nigriceps Wesmael, 1838 |
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||
– | Width of hypoclypeal depression of ♀ 0.30–0.35 × minimum width of face (aa); antennal segments of ♀ (34–)36–40, of ♂ (36–)37–41; mesoscutum anteriorly and pronotum medio-anteriorly often yellowish (bb); medially mesopleuron of females with several rugulae or rugae (cc), but often lacking in males; colour of mesosternum variable, often strongly darkened or black and this usually sharply defined in N. European specimens (dd; more often orange-brown in S. European and Turkish specimens and in some males only indistinctly darkened); second metasomal tergite of ♀ with less differentiated median carina (ee); lateral margins of third and fourth tergites of ♂ almost always dark brown | 28 |
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28 | Third and fourth antennal segments of ♀ slenderer (a); ocelli smaller (b); rugosity of face of female less developed (c); palpi slenderer (d); subapical antennal segments of ♀ moderately slender (e); first tergite slenderer (f); propodeum mainly coriaceous and with some rugulae or rugae (g); malar space usually partly or completely and temple near eye yellowish brown (h); fore and hind tarsi slenderer (hind tarsus: i); fore wing subhyaline or somewhat infuscate; mummy slender and light brownish | A. pictus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838) s.s. |
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– | Third and fourth antennal segments of ♀ stout (aa); ocelli somewhat larger (bb); larger part of face of female with distinct rugae (cc); palpi less slender (dd; especially third and fourth maxillary palp segments of ♂ widened); subapical antennal segments of ♀ submoniliform (ee); first tergite robust (ff); propodeum coarsely rugose (gg), but anteriorly less so; malar space and temple near eye usually dark reddish brown or blackish (hh); fore and hind tarsi less slender (hind tarsus: ii); fore wing usually slightly infuscate; mummy swollen and blackish; (unknown of A. bistrigatus) | 29 |
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29 | Length of eye in dorsal view about 1.6 × temple (a); 4th–7th antennal segments of both sexes slightly slenderer (b); temple behind eye slightly wider (c); number of antennal segments of ♂ usually less than of ♀, about 38 segments | A. bistrigatus Roman, 1917, stat. rev. |
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– | Length of eye in dorsal view 2.2–2.5 × temple (aa); 4th–7th antennal segments of both sexes stout (bb); temple behind eyes narrower (cc); number of antennal segments of ♂ usually more than of ♀, 40–45 segments | A. diarsianae sp. n. |
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30 | Pterostigma of both sexes blackish or dark brown medially (a), border between dark and pale part well limited, contrasting with each other (b); temples linearly narrowed (c), head trapezoid in anterior view (d), and hind femur rather slender (e); OOL about equal to diameter of ocellus or less (f); antennal segments of ♀ 41–45, of ♂ 40–44; [vein 2-SR of fore wing yellowish; propodeum and first tergite usually yellowish in S. England, almost always moderately darkened in N. England and Scotland; vertex may be distinctly rug(ul)ose; mesopleuron shiny and only superficially granulate; rather long face and malar space; stemmaticum of male black and of female usually partly brownish yellow; a predominantly yellowish orange species] | A. abraxanae sp. n. |
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– | Pterostigma of ♀ often largely or completely yellowish (aa), if distinctly infuscate (aaa) then border not well delimited, vague, not or less contrasting with its pale base (bb), antennal segments of ♀ 28–34, temples gradually (roundly) narrowed (cc), hind femur widened (ee) or OOL larger than diameter of ocellus (ff) and/or head nearly globular in anterior view (dd); antenna of ♀ often with less than 41 segments; [antennal segments of ♀ 28–47, of ♂ 30–47; mostly largely yellowish or orange species, but some very dark specimens should also run here] | remainder of A. circumscriptus-group |
|
Aleiodes
abraxanae
van Achterberg in
Rogas
circumscriptus
auct. p.p. (not
Aleiodes
armatus
auct. p.p. (not
Holotype, ♀ (
Univoltine and presumed monophagous parasitoid of Abraxas grossulariata, overwintering in the living host larva and killing it in early summer in its penultimate instar. Mummy (Fig.
Pterostigma of both sexes blackish or dark brown medially, border between dark and pale part sharp, contrasting with each other (Figs
Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 5.1 mm, of body 6.2 mm.
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 43, length of antenna 1.3 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 2.3 × as long as wide; frons only coriaceous, matt; OOL 0.9 × diameter of posterior ocellus and coriaceous; vertex coriaceous, matt; clypeus convex, coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely coriaceous, matt, but medio-posteriorly longitudinally rugose; notauli narrow and smooth, posteriorly lost in rugose area; prepectal carina medium-sized, reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron and metapleuron coriaceous, matt; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except smooth and shiny speculum) coriaceous, but dorsally rugose; mesosternal sulcus narrow and shallow, impressed and without carina posteriorly; mesosternum angulate posteriorly; scutellum slightly convex, coriaceous, and carinate laterally; propodeum evenly convex and rugose but anteriorly weakly so, median carina complete, without tubercles.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.4 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa coriaceous, largely matt; hind trochantellus 2.6 × longer than wide; length of fore and hind femora 6.1 and 4.9 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite nearly as long as wide posteriorly, moderately convex and latero-posteriorly lamelliform; first and second tergites densely and finely longitudinally rugose, robust (Fig.
Colour. Brownish yellow; apical fifth of antenna and dorsally propodeum dark brown; ovipositor sheath black; palpi, tegulae, apical 0.4 of first tergite and more or less second tergite pale yellowish; veins (but distally from 2-SR yellowish) and pterostigma (except yellow base and apex) dark brown; border between dark and pale part of pterostigma sharp, contrasting with each other (Figs
Variation. Length of fore wing 4.4–5.3 mm; antennal segments of ♀ 41(10), 42(18), 43(30), 44(6), and 45(1), of ♂ 40(3), 41(7), 42(8), 43(4), 44(4); stemmaticum of male black and of female brownish yellow; basal 0.2–0.5 of pterostigma pale yellow, rarely largely yellow and only medially darkened; first tergite yellowish or infuscate medially.
Named after the generic name of its host: Abraxas Leach.
*British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales), *Czech Republic, *Finland, *Germany, *Sweden.
The males of this species have on average about one antennal segment less than females.
Rogas
albitibia
Herrich-Schäffer, [April] 1838: 156;
Aleiodes
albitibia
;
Aleiodes
heterogaster
Wesmael, [May] 1838: 96;
Rhogas
heterogaster
;
Rogas
heterogaster
;
Redescribed ♀ and holotype of A. heterogaster (KBIN), “[Belgium], Campine, 1833”, “A. heterogaster mihi, det. C. Wesmael”, “Belgique, Charleroi/teste Papp, J., 1983”, “Holotypus Aleiodes heterogaster Wesm., 1838 / Papp, 1983”. The type series of R. albitibia is lost.
*Austria, British Isles (England: V.C.s 3, 11, 15, 22, 58, 59, 61, 69; Wales: V.C. 49; Scotland: V.C.s 72, 77, 80, 88, 92, 96, 97, 98, 99; Ireland: (V.C.s H1, H19, H20), *Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands (DR: Wijster, LI: Asselt; Castelre, GE: Heerde; Putten; Tongeren, NB: Tilburg (Kaaistoep), NH: Muiderberg, OV: Buurse (Schipbeek)), Poland, *Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. Specimens in
Univoltine parasitoid of arboreal notodontids, overwintering in a highly distinctive mummy (Fig.
Third antennal segment robust (Fig.
Aleiodes albitibia (Herrich-Schäffer), ♀, Switzerland. 22 fore wing 23 hind wing 24 mesosoma lateral 25 propodeum and anterior half of metasoma dorsal 26 hind leg lateral 27 apical segments of antenna 28 fore femur lateral 29 head anterior 30 head lateral 31 ovipositor sheath lateral 32 head dorsal 33 antenna 34 basal segments of antenna.
Holotype of A. heterogaster, length of fore wing 5.4 mm, of body 5.6 mm.
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 46, long setose, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments distinctly longer than wide; frons weakly depressed, finely rugose medially, remainder superficially micro-granulate; OOL 0.4 × diameter of posterior ocellus, and finely granulate; vertex finely granulate, with some rugulae posteriorly, rather dull; clypeus normal, micro-granulate; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards; width of hypoclypeal depression 0.5 × minimum width of face (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely granulate and with punctulation, matt; prepectal carina complete, rather weak; precoxal area of mesopleuron largely smooth (but in other specimens usually micro-granulate with some punctulation); mesopleuron above precoxal area strongly shiny and smooth; metapleuron largely coriaceous; scutellum granulate and finely punctate, no distinct carina; propodeum evenly convex, short, anteriorly granulate, medially and posteriorly rugose, median carina complete, without tubercles.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.5 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws yellowish setose; hind coxa sparsely punctulate, and granulate; hind trochantellus robust; length of fore femur, hind femur and basitarsus 5.4, 3.7 and 6.6 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite robust (Fig.
Colour. Black; malar area, narrow stripe along eyes dorsally, fore and middle legs (but telotarsi infuscate), hind coxa, trochanter trochantellus and femur, palpi and tegulae yellowish; pterostigma and most veins dark brown; basal 0.6 of hind tibia ivory; remainder of hind tibia and tarsus blackish.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀: 43(8), 44(14), 45(14), 46(3), 47(3), 49(1); of ♂: 39(1), 40(7), 41(7), 42(4), 43(3), 44(2). Second metasomal tergite may be largely yellowish or ivory (except laterally), or only with pale basal patch; hind tibia may be largely dark brown; base of pterostigma and first tergite medio-apically completely black (typical A. heterogaster) or yellowish (typical A. albitibia); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4–0.5 × minimum width of face; mesopleuron usually with faint brownish longitudinal streak ventrally.
Males average about four fewer antennal segments than females. As is the case for the vast majority of Aleiodes species, only one parasitoid develops in each host (pace
Holotype, ♀ (
No males have been seen, suggesting that this species might be thelytokous. Only a single reared specimen examined, from Hypenodes humidalis Doubleday (Erebidae: Hypenodinae). From the specimen labelling, the mummy appears to be formed in the host cocoon (but this has not been examined) and the adult emerged the same year. From this, and the flight data (vii-viii), it is surmised that it is a univoltine species, overwintering in the partly fed host larva. Hypenodes humidalis occurs in both acidic and alkali marshy areas, and the larva feeds on plant debris certainly including dead or dying Molinia caerulea (G.M. Haggett, personal communication). Indeed, when known the collecting sites of A. angustipterus have mostly been wet grasslands, including fens and bogs, but at least one specimen was collected in woodland on a limestone hill (Whitbarrow) which may suggest a wider host range.
Head subglobular (Fig.
Aleiodes angustipterus sp. n., ♀, holotype. 36 fore wing 37 hind wing 38 mesosoma lateral 39 propodeum and anterior half of metasoma dorsal 40 hind leg lateral 41 fore femur lateral 42 antenna 43 basal segments of antenna 44 head anterior 45 head lateral 46 head dorsal 47 apical segments of antenna.
Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 3.2 mm, of body 4.1 mm.
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 36, length of antenna 1.1 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.4 × as long as wide; frons granulate, rather shiny; OOL and POL 1.2 and 1.5 × width of posterior ocellus, respectively; vertex superficially granulate-coriaceous, rather shiny; clypeus convex and coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes coriaceous-rugulose, matt, but medio-posteriorly longitudinally rugose and anteriorly low; notauli narrow and crenulate, but sculpture largely lost; prepectal carina medium-sized, reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron, area below it and mesosternum largely reticulate-rugose; remainder of mesopleuron (including speculum) rugose or rugulose and matt (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.4 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws with yellow bristles; hind coxa rugulose and with spaced oblique rugae, with satin sheen and 0.7 × as long as first tergite; hind trochantellus 2.4 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.8 and 6.1 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 1.1 × as long as wide posteriorly, convex anteriorly and dorsal carinae lamelliform protruding basally; first and second tergites longitudinally rugose, robust (Fig.
Colour. Dark brown; head (except stemmaticum), mesoscutum and scutellum medially, tegulum, legs (but femora largely infuscate), patch on posterior third of first tergite, large triangular patch on second tergite (Fig.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀: 36(2), 37(4), 38(2), 39(3), 40(2). The male is unknown. Pale patches of first and third tergites sometimes absent; hind femur 6.1–7.0 × as long as wide and hind trochantellus 2.4–3.0 × longer ventrally than wide. Central antennal segments vary from 1.2–1.5 × as long as wide, but in one specimen about 2.2 times – although its metasoma (at least posteriorly) is female, it seems possible that this individual is an intersex.
From “angustus” (Latin for “narrow”) and “pteron” (Greek for “wing”), because of the narrow wings.
*British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales, Jersey), *Finland, *Greece, *Lithuania, *Netherlands, *Portugal (Azores), *Russia (Siberia), *China (Chongqing), *Japan (Honshu).
CO1 sequences obtained from the paratypes from Azores and China group closely with those from Britain, and this seldom-collected species appears to have a very wide distribution.
Rogas apicalis Reinhard, 1863: 266 (not Brullé 1832) (examined).
Rhogas apiculatus Fahringer, 1932: 284 (replacement name).
Aleiodes
apiculatus
;
Rogas (Aleiodes) negativus
Tobias, 1961: 123;
Aleiodes
negativus
;
Holotype of A. apiculatus, ♀ (
*England (V.C.s 9, 17, 20, 23, 24, 29, 31), *Poland. Specimens in
This rather poorly-known species is a probably monophagous parasitoid of Euproctis similis (Fuessly) (Erebidae: Lymantriinae), from which we have seen 5 rearings (England, Poland; A.A. Allen, S.D. Beavan, M.R. Shaw, L. Sukovata) in addition to a reared paratype of A. negativus from the same host. Although evidently not obligatorily so (see below), it is probably largely univoltine, and the winter is passed inside the diapausing host larva. The host is arboreal, and when parasitised shows strong climbing behaviour just before being mummified, such that mummies are formed in exposed positions. It was readily reared from E. similis in culture, but quantitative data are not available owing to high overwintering mortality. The notes that follow relate to a single, virgin, female. This female showed great interest in an egg mass of its host, antennating the dense covering of setae left by the female moth, and probing also with the ovipositor but probably without attempting to oviposit except into fully eclosed larvae as they exited from the felted covering. Neither legs nor antennae were used to manipulate such hosts, and the process was achieved with a single insertion of the ovipositor. In subsequent trials, second instar hosts were offered naked, and it was clear that there was an injection of a temporarily paralysing venom (detected by a clear jerk of the wings) before actual oviposition took place, although the ovipositor was usually not removed in the interim. As with the emerging first instars, the use of antennae or legs to hold the host was minimal so usually the ovipositor was all that was in contact with the host, pinning it against the substrate, and oviposition usually took about (often just over) 2 minutes, without a period of post-oviposition assessment or at most with only a minimal one. The long setae of third instar hosts were a good deal harder for the female to penetrate, but some ovipositions into this instar also occurred.
In culture A. apiculatus proved to be, like its host, partly plurivoltine. The host invariably overwinters as a partly grown larva in a densely spun hibernaculum, and the adult moths appear in the following vi/vii. In captivity, a small proportion of host larvae (available from about vii onwards) from the resulting eggs fed up rapidly and produced a second generation of the moth, while the majority developed only slowly and entered hibernation in the autumn (often not until the end of ix) while still relatively small, joined at that time by offspring of the second generation. The parasitoid invariably overwinters as a small larva within these diapausing hosts. From overwintering hosts mummification takes place in about (v–)vi the following year, and emergence of the adult parasitoids in about (vi–)vii, to oviposit into the young hosts that appear soon after. In host individuals with the accelerated growth pattern the host was mummified in about viii and the adult parasitoids emerged in ix (N = 4). At this time host larvae, from both generations, are still available prior to constructing their hibernacula. The cohort of hosts with accelerated growth that produced a second generation during the culture experiments arose in control groups as well as among the parasitised hosts, so this behaviour was not the result of having been parasitised: rather, it seems likely that only the growth of host individuals independently destined for a second generation would have provoked similar early development by the parasitoid. Hosts bearing the parasitoid entered winter diapause on average an estimated 8–10 days sooner than unparasitised ones. For the hibernaculum, the parasitised hosts constructed a weak outer web, moulted, and then made a much denser inner chamber isolated from the exuvium, while unparasitised controls usually moulted before commencing construction of a single chamber. Parasitised hosts (N = 10) broke diapause in spring over a period of 22 days, on average 8.0 days later than controls (N = 9) which emerged from their hibernacula over a period of 11 days (see also A. pallidator which exhibits similar behaviour).
Despite the possibility of plurivoltinism revealed in culture experiments the capture dates, in Britain (vi–)vii–ix(–x), suggest that a single generation of rather long-lived individuals is the norm. It appears to have colonised Britain only recently; the first specimens known to us were collected in 1999 in Berkshire, since when it has been taken in MV traps in the SE corner of England fairly regularly. It is unlikely to have been long-overlooked in Britain, as its rather common and attractive host larva is conspicuous, readily identified, often reared and, when mummified by this parasitoid, often easily seen in a sun-exposed position.
Head transverse in dorsal view and directly narrowed ventrally in anterior view; eye rather large; OOL 0.5 × width of posterior ocellus; scapus and pedicellus of ♀ at least partly blackish, contrasting with yellowish middle of antenna and antenna of ♀ in dorsal view bicoloured, first–fifth[–eighth] and few apical segments more or less dark brown, remainder of antenna yellowish, antenna of ♂ entire yellowish; antennal segments of ♀ 46–49; length of malar space of ♀ 0.25–0.30 × height of eye in lateral view (Fig.
Aleiodes apiculatus (Fahringer), ♀, England. 50 wings 51 mesosoma lateral 52 propodeum and anterior half of metasoma dorsal 53 hind leg lateral 54 outer hind claw lateral 55 fore femur lateral 56 antenna 57 apical segments of antenna 58 basal segments of antenna 59 head anterior 60 head lateral 61 head dorsal 62 base of first tergite dorsal.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 47, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments 1.6 × as long as wide; frons granulate, with satin sheen and some rugae; OOL and POL 0.5 and 0.6 × width of posterior ocellus, respectively; stemmaticum strongly protruding; vertex rugulose-granulate, with satin sheen; clypeus convex and punctulate-coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus thick and convex (Fig.
Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.7 × its height; mesoscutal lobes finely granulate, matt, but medio-posteriorly irregularly rugose and anteriorly high; notauli medium-sized and crenulate; prepectal carina medium-sized, remaining separate far from anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron and area above it distinctly rugose; remainder of mesopleuron (including speculum) granulate and with satin sheen (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.3 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws rather small and with distinct fine pecten (Fig.
Metasoma. First tergite 1.1 × as long as wide posteriorly, stout, convex anteriorly and latero-anteriorly distinctly lamelliform; first and second tergites densely coarsely longitudinally rugose (Fig.
Colour. Brownish yellow; scapus and pedicellus of ♀ at least partly blackish, contrasting with yellowish middle of antenna and antenna of ♀ in dorsal view bicoloured, first–fifth[–eighth] and 2–3 apical segments more or less dark brown, remainder of antenna yellowish; malar space, mandible, palpi, tegulae, pronotum anteriorly, basal half of pterostigma, trochanters and trochantelli, fore and middle coxae, and ventral half of metasoma ivory or pale yellow; face medially, frons and vertex medially, stemmaticum, occiput dorsally, mesoscutum laterally narrowly, scutellar sulcus, axilla, scutellum posteriorly, metanotum, third (except antero-lateral corner)–sixth tergites, fourth–sixth sternites and ovipositor sheath black or dark brown; telotarsi slightly infuscate; veins and apical half of pterostigma dark brown; wing membrane slightly infuscate.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀ 46(1), 47(10), 48(4), 49(1); ♂ 41(1), 42(2), 43(8), 44(3), 45(6), 46(2). Length of fore wing 5–6 mm, of body 5–7 mm. Males are brownish yellow, but stemmaticum black and antenna apically, occiput dorsally, mesoscutum laterally, scutellum posteriorly, metanotum, propodeum medially, first tergite except posteriorly and second tergite laterally somewhat infuscate; malar space, palpi, tegulae, pronotum, fore and middle coxae, trochanters and trochantelli, first tergite medio-apically and middle of second tergite pale yellowish.
Similar to A. pallidator (Thunberg), but the latter differs by having the tarsal claws only bristly setose, the hind trochantellus ventrally 2.2 × as long as wide, the antennal segments of ♀ with 51–57 segments; the stemmaticum less protuberant, the pterostigma yellow and the body of ♀ entirely brownish yellow. The extent of dark colouration is highly variable, and is often poorly developed in the British population. In males especially, the colour (including scape and even stemmaticum) can be rather uniform orange to light honey-brown. Because it can lack the colour characters usually plain in females, the male of this species can superficially resemble some of the relatively large orange species with big ocelli and antennal segments in the range 41–48 that fall into the residual circumscriptus-group not dealt with in this paper. Good recognition characters for male A. apiculatus include its somewhat bristly antenna and legs, its enlarged fifth tarsal segment (especially in the fore leg), its relatively strongly sculptured second metasomal tergite with weak mediolateral depressions, its weakly pectinate claws, and the stronger (though weak) development of a comb at the apex of the hind tibia. The synonymy with Aleiodes negativus (Tobias) is accepted; the examined females of A. apiculatus have the antenna with 46–49 segments (the holotype has 49 segments). The examined paratype of A. negativus (BMNH) was reared from E. similis and has 47 antennal segments. According to
Rogas
arcticus
Thomson, 1892: 1679;
Rhogas
arcticus
;
Aleiodes
arcticus
;
Lectotype, ♀ (
3 ♀, 2 ♂ (G. Várkonyi personal coll.,
This boreoalpine species is univoltine, passing the winter as a mummy. The only known host is the ennomine (Macariini) geometrid Pygmaena fusca (Thunberg) (5:1; G. Várkonyi/Finland), which feeds on Empetrum and Vaccinium (G. Várkonyi personal communication) and probably occurs throughout the range of the parasitoid. The small mummy (Fig.
Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3–0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig.
Redescribed ♀ (BMNH) from Müstairtal (Switzerland), length of fore wing 3.7 mm, of body 4.6 mm.
Head. Antennal segments 40, length of antenna as long as fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.7 × as long as wide; frons mainly superficially granulate and with some rugulae anteriorly, weakly shiny; OOL 1.9 × diameter of posterior ocellus and granulate as vertex, with satin sheen; clypeus moderately convex, narrow and coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely granulate-coriaceous, matt and medio-posteriorly rugose, middle lobe without a longitudinal carina; notauli narrow, shallow and very finely crenulate; prepectal carina narrow lamelliform medio-ventrally, not reaching anterior border of mesopleuron; precoxal area of mesopleuron granulate; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except large smooth and shiny speculum) granulate, but dorsally finely rugose; medially metapleuron granulate and with some rugae, rather shiny; mesosternal sulcus narrow and rather deep, with longitudinal carina posteriorly; mesosternum rounded posteriorly; scutellum moderately convex, mainly granulate and largely non-carinate laterally; propodeum rather directly lowered posteriorly and granulate-rugose, median carina complete, without tubercles.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.7 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa granulate-coriaceous, with satin sheen; hind trochantellus twice longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.5 and 4.0 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 0.7 × as long as wide posteriorly, convex and latero-posteriorly non-lamelliform; first–second tergites finely and densely irregularly rugulose and with median carina (Fig.
Colour. Black (including coxae); palpi basally, tegulae, pterostigma, veins, trochanters and trochantelli dark brown; remainder of palpi and legs yellowish brown; wing membrane slightly infuscate.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀ 39(1), 40(2), 41(0), 42(1), of ♂ 38(1), 39(2), 40(2); length of fore wing 3.4–3.7 mm; maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3–0.4 × minimum width of face; vein r of fore wing 0.6–0.8 × vein 3-SR; median carina of middle mesoscutal lobe absent or weakly indicated; legs (except basally) vary from largely yellowish brown to largely dark brown with base of hind femur and tibiae paler than remainder of legs; second submarginal cell of fore wing rather variable in shape, but some are as trapezoidal as in A. reticulatus, with which this species is closely related.
Recorded as British by
Holotype, ♀ (
Apart from the host (determined as a result of adults of Macaria artesiaria (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Geometridae) being reared from caterpillars morphologically corresponding to the mummy and collected at the same time), nothing is known of the biology of this species. The holotype was excavated (fully formed but dead) from the mummy more than a year after it had been collected in apparently freshly made condition on a twig of its foodplant.
Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3 × minimum width of face (Fig.
Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 2.9 mm, of body 3.6 mm.
Head. Antennal segments 33+ (incomplete), length of antenna at least as long as fore wing, its subapical segments somewhat longer than wide; frons mainly superficially granulate, moderately shiny; OOL 2.4 × diameter of posterior ocellus and granulate as vertex, with satin sheen; clypeus moderately convex, narrow and coriaceous, 0.4 × width of face; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely granulate-coriaceous, matt and medio-posteriorly rugose, middle lobe without a longitudinal carina; notauli narrow, shallow and very finely crenulate; prepectal carina narrow lamelliform medio-ventrally, not reaching anterior border of mesopleuron; precoxal area of mesopleuron granulate; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except large smooth and shiny speculum) granulate, but dorsally rugose; medially metapleuron granulate, rather shiny; mesosternal sulcus narrow and rather deep, without longitudinal carina posteriorly; mesosternum rather angulate posteriorly; scutellum moderately convex medially and depressed laterally, mainly granulate and largely non-carinate laterally; lunula moderately wide; propodeum rather directly lowered posteriorly and granulate-rugose, median carina complete, without tubercles.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.7 × 3-SR and linear with 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa granulate-coriaceous, with satin sheen; hind trochantellus 2.2 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.4 and 5.2 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 0.7 × as long as wide posteriorly, convex and non-lamelliform latero-posteriorly and basally; first–second tergites finely and densely irregularly rugulose and with median carina (Fig.
Colour. Black (including coxae, middle and hind trochanters); palpi, tegulae, pterostigma, veins, first and second tergites and remainder of legs dark brown; malar space, orbita, mesoscutum (but middle lobe somewhat infuscate medio-anteriorly), scutellum laterally, pronotum, mesopleuron (except postero-ventrally) yellowish brown; wing membrane slightly infuscate.
From the specific epithet of its host.
*France.
Aleiodes
circumscriptus
var.
bistrigatus
Roman, 1917: 9;
Lectotype here designated, ♀ (
None.
Unknown.
Apical half of hind femur (partly) dark brown, darker than hind trochanter and trochantellus; face with distinct rugae; antenna of female with 39 segments and third segment stout, 4th–7th segments moderately stout (but less than in A. diarsianae; Fig.
Lectotype, ♀, length of fore wing 4.0 mm, of body 5.5 mm.
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 39, length of antenna 1.3 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.9 × as long as wide and third segment stout (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesosoma 1.7 × as long as high; mesoscutal lobes coriaceous, matt, but medio-posteriorly longitudinally rugose; notauli complete and moderately wide, weakly crenulate and posteriorly widened and rugose; prepectal carina medium-sized and lamelliform, reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron very coarsely rugose, connected to rugosity of dorso-anterior part of mesopleuron; speculum nearly smooth and shiny (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.3 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa coriaceous but partly superficially rugulose, largely matt; hind trochantellus twice longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.4 and 5.0 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 0.9 × as long as wide posteriorly and latero-posteriorly narrowly lamelliform, moderately convex and flattened posteriorly, dorsope comparatively wide (Fig.
Colour. Black or brownish black; antenna yellowish brown, but scapus dorsally and apical seventh of antenna dark brown; palpi, temple near eyes, legs (except infuscate subapical part of hind femur), tegulae, longitudinal stripe on mesopleuron, mesoscutum posteriorly, metasoma baso-ventrally, first tergite medio-apically, middle of second tergite and third tergite medio-basally largely yellowish; veins and pterostigma (except yellowish basal third and centrally) dark brown; border between dark and pale part of pterostigma diffuse (Fig.
Variation. The male paralectotypes are very similar to the lectotype; one has a complete antenna with 38 segments and most of the hind femur darkened. One paralectotype has the hind coxa completely yellowish and the mesopleuron less coarsely rugose, but other paralectotypes have the mesopleuron coarsely sculptured and the hind coxa largely infuscate.
Possibly a Faroe Islands endemic.
Rogas cantherius Lyle, 1919: 153–154 (examined).
Aleiodes
cantherius
;
Lectotype here designated, ♀ (BMNH), “2504” [on card], “cotype”, “[England,] New Forest, 4.v.1914, ex Semiothisa liturata, G.T. Lyle”, “G.T. Lyle Coll., B.M. 1930-579”, “Rhogas cantherius Lyle”. Paralectotypes: 4 ♀ + 3 ♂ (BMNH, CMIM), topotypic and from same host, but one non-reared paralectotype from Harwood collection.
*Austria, British Isles (England: V.C.s 11, 17, 19, 22, 24, 25, 28, 56), *Germany, *Netherlands (Breda; Melissant; Wageningen), *Russia, Slovakia, *Sweden. . Specimens in
A parasitoid of conifer-feeding Macaria species (Geometridae), overwintering as a mummy. Specimens (in
Antennal segments of ♀ 39–43, of ♂ 40–43; head strongly narrowed behind eyes (Fig.
Aleiodes cantherius (Lyle), ♀, England. 101 wings 102 mesosoma lateral 103 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 104 hind leg lateral 105 antenna 106 basal segments of antenna 107 mesosoma dorsal 108 head anterior 109 head lateral 110 head dorsal 111 fore femur lateral 112 apical segments of antenna.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments 43, length of antenna 1.3 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 2.3 × as long as wide (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes very finely coriaceous, with satin sheen, but medio-posteriorly with some rugae; notauli narrow, shallow and largely smooth; prepectal carina rather lamelliform medio-ventrally, nearly reaching anterior border of mesopleuron and latero-ventrally curved; precoxal area of mesopleuron granulate; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except large smooth and shiny speculum) superficially granulate, but dorsally rugulose; medially metapleuron superficially granulate, rather shiny; mesosternal sulcus narrow and rather deep, micro-crenulate, without carina posteriorly; mesosternum rather angulate posteriorly; scutellum finely coriaceous and non-carinate laterally; dorsal face of propodeum medium-sized, convex and rugulose, but posteriorly with some carinae and smooth in between and anteriorly mainly granulate, median carina complete, without tubercles.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.5 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws yellowish setose; hind coxa superficially finely coriaceous, rather shiny; hind trochantellus 2.4 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 6.2 and 4.0 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 1.2 × as long as wide posteriorly, flattened and latero-anteriorly narrowly lamelliform; first–second tergites and base of third tergite densely finely longitudinally rugose and with median carina; second tergite stout, 0.8 × longer than wide basally and 1.2 × as long as third tergite (Fig.
Colour. Black or dark brown; palpi, pronotum postero-dorsally and tegulae pale yellowish; scapus and pedicellus ventrally (but dorsally more or less darkened), orbita, two stripes on mesoscutum, legs (but hind coxa more or less dark brown), first tergite medio-apically, second tergite (except postero-lateral corners), third and following tergites mainly yellowish brown (Figs
Variation. Length of fore wing 3.6–4.5 mm, of body 3.8–4.6 mm; antennal segments of ♀ 39(1), 40(2; one is lectotype), 41(6), 42(2), 43(4), of ♂ 39(1), 40(6), 41(8), 42(3), 43(3); specimens have a characteristic pair of more or less obscure dorsal orange brown marks on the otherwise dark mesoscutum. Males examined have the metasoma dark brown apically, hind tibia (except ivory base) and tarsus more or less infuscated.
The two sexes have about the same number of antennal segments.
Holotype, ♀ (
Unknown. This species is active at night and occurs in open habitats suggesting that its hosts live in low vegetation, but its voltinism is unclear.
Head weakly transverse (Fig.
Aleiodes carminatus sp. n., ♀, holotype. 114 wings 115 mesosoma lateral 116 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 117 hind leg lateral 118 fore femur lateral 119 inner side of hind tibial apex lateral 120 basal segments of antenna 121 head anterior 122 head dorsal 123 head lateral 124 apical segments of antenna.
Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 3.4 mm, of body 3.9 mm.
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 35, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.7 × as long as wide; frons rugulose-granulate, with satin sheen; OOL and POL 1.0 and 0.8 × width of posterior ocellus, respectively; vertex granulate, rather dull and distinctly depressed near ocelli; clypeus convex and coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes coriaceous-granulate, with satin sheen, but medio-posteriorly longitudinally rugose and anteriorly steep; notauli obsolescent; prepectal carina medium-sized, reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron (except posteriorly) and mesopleuron antero-dorsally distinctly rugose; remainder of mesopleuron (but speculum partly smooth and shiny) granulate and dull; metapleuron largely granulate, matt; mesosternal sulcus shallow and largely smooth; mesosternum rounded posteriorly; scutellum flat, granulate, and laterally with distinct carina, lunula narrow and parallel-sided; propodeum convex, without tubercles, rugulose anteriorly and remainder rugose, median carina complete.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.7 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws with yellow setae; hind coxa rugulose and with spaced oblique rugae, with satin sheen and 0.8 × as long as first tergite; hind trochantellus 2.8 × longer ventrally than wide (Fig.
Metasoma. First tergite as long as wide posteriorly, convex anteriorly and dorsal carinae lamelliform protruding basally; first and second tergites longitudinally striate, robust (Fig.
Colour. Yellowish brown; antenna (except scapus and pedicellus ventrally), ovipositor sheath and most of ventral part of metasoma dark brown; stemmaticum black; tegulae, pronotum partly and legs brownish yellow; veins brown; pterostigma pale yellowish, but slightly darkened laterally; wing membrane subhyaline.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀: 34(5), 35(3), 36(2), 37(2), of ♂: 35(1), 36(1), 37(8), 38(3), 39(1), 40(2). In many specimens fore wing 2-SR is strikingly longer than r-m, but in others this is less distinctive. Hind femur sometimes brown, 4.5–4.9 × as long as wide and hind trochantellus 2.6–2.9 × longer ventrally than wide; occipital carina ventrally sinuate and reduced or complete; colour of body varies from nearly completely yellowish brown to largely brown. The female from Canary Islands is the darkest specimen examined with metasoma (except medial pale patch) and hind leg largely brown.
From “carmino” (Latin for “comb”), because of the comb on the hind tibia.
*France (Corsica), *Spain (mainland, Balearic and Canary Islands).
Males have on average about 2–3 more antennal segments than females.
Rogas circumscriptus Nees, 1834: 216 (syntypes lost).
Aleiodes
circumscriptus
;
Neotype here designated, ♀ (
Widespread in western Europe: *Austria, Belgium, British Isles (England: V.C.s 1, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64; Wales: V.C. 52; Scotland: V.C.s 72, 77, 84, 86, 87, 89, 99, 111; Ireland: Co. Cork), Bulgaria, Czech Republic, *Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, *Lichtenstein, Netherlands (FL: Lelystad (Oostvaardersplassen), FR: Ried, GE: Heerde; Tongeren; Brummen (Voorstonden), LI: Kerkrade; St. Pietersberg; Tegelen; Wrakelberg, NB: Bergen op Zoom, ZH: Asperen; Waarder; Lexmond), Norway, Spain, Slovakia, *Sweden. Specimens in
Plurivoltine parasitoid of larvae of Hypena proboscidalis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Erebidae: Hypeninae), overwintering in the host larva. Mummy (Fig.
Antennal segments of female 42–47, of male 42–46; fore femur of ♀ 5.4–5.7 × as long as wide (Fig.
Neotype, ♀, length of fore wing 4.9 mm, of body 5.3 mm.
Head. Antennal segments 46, length of antenna 1.3 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.6 × as long as wide; frons coriaceous and posteriorly rugulose, weakly shiny; OOL equal to diameter of posterior ocellus and coriaceous; vertex coriaceous, with satin sheen; clypeus moderately convex, coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely coriaceous, matt, but medio-posteriorly with a few longitudinal rugae; notauli narrow, shallow and crenulate, but posterior half absent; prepectal carina lamelliform medio-ventrally, reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron coriaceous and with some rugae medially; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except large smooth and shiny speculum) coriaceous, but dorsally rugose; medially metapleuron coriaceous, matt; mesosternal sulcus narrow and rather deep, with carina posteriorly; mesosternum rather angulate posteriorly; scutellum nearly flat, coriaceous and largely non-carinate laterally; propodeum rather flat and coriaceous but posteriorly with some rugae, median carina present but absent on posterior half, without tubercles.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.2 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa superficially coriaceous, with satin sheen; hind trochantellus 2.3 × longer than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.7 and 4.3 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite as long as wide posteriorly, flattened and latero-posteriorly lamelliform; first tergite coriaceous and finely irregularly longitudinally rugose; second tergite robust (Fig.
Colour. Black or brownish black; antenna brown, but scapus dorsally and laterally dark brown; palpi, malar space up to eyes, mandible, tegulae, fore and middle coxae, trochanters and trochantelli, bases of fore and middle femora, medio-apical fifth of first tergite, medially second tergite and medio-basal patch of third tergite pale yellowish (Fig.
Variation. Length of fore wing 4.5–5.0 mm; antennal segments of ♀: 42(1), 43(1), 44(17), 45(46), 46(28), 47(4); of ♂: 42(13), 43(30), 44(38), 45(25), 46(1); notauli absent posteriorly or shallowly impressed; mesoscutum sometimes with weak diffuse reddish colouration posteriorly, along notaulic courses; orbita sometimes completely yellowish; mesosternum varying from (frequently) almost black, and then strongly contrasting with the reddish lower third of the mesopleuron, to reddish brown; median carina of propodeum sometimes traceable to posterior margin.
Males have on average about one fewer antennal segment than females.
Aleiodes
ochraceus
Hellén, 1927: 24, 32 (not Rogas ochraceus Curtis, 1834);
Rhogas
ochraceous
;
Lectotype of A. ochraceus Hellén here designated (FMNH), ♀, “[Finland,] Jomala”, “Hellén”, “829”, “Coll. Hellén: Aleiodes ochraceus Hellén”, “http://id.luomus.fi./GL3421”; one ♀ paralectotype (topotypic, GL3420) and one ♂ paralectotype (Nystad, GL3419).
*Austria, Finland, France (*mainland and *Corsica), *Hungary, Italy (*mainland and *Sicily), *Romania, *Spain, *Slovakia, *Slovenia, *Turkey. Specimens in
Unknown. Most specimens have been collected at night in July and August in open situations. It may be univoltine and have hosts in low vegetation.
Head subglobose (Fig.
Aleiodes curticornis nom. n., ♀, Turkey, Agri, but 143 of ♀ from Tyrol. 139 fore wing 140 hind wing 141 mesosoma lateral 142 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 143 hind leg lateral 144 basal segments of antenna 145 fore femur lateral 146 antenna 147 apical segments of antenna 148 head anterior 149 head lateral 150 head dorsal 151 propodeum and first tergite lateral.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments 28, length of antenna 0.8 × as long as fore wing, its subapical segments slightly longer than wide (Fig.
Mesosoma. Pronotum medio-anteriorly distinctly convex; mesoscutal lobes largely coriaceous, matt and medio-posteriorly rugulose, notauli narrow and sparsely finely crenulate and posteriorly absent; prepectal carina narrow lamelliform medio-ventrally, not reaching anterior border of mesopleuron; precoxal area of mesopleuron finely rugose; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except partly smooth and shiny speculum) superficially granulate, but dorsally rugose; medially metapleuron granulate and matt; mesosternal sulcus narrow and rather shallow, without carina posteriorly; mesosternum rounded posteriorly; scutellum slender, moderately convex, mainly granulate and non-carinate laterally; dorsal face of propodeum largely rugose, long and (slightly) angularly crest-like or tuberculate protruding postero-laterally, median carina present but irregular and similar to surrounding sculpture.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.5 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa coriaceous, with some oblique striae and satin sheen and about reaching apex of first tergite; hind trochantellus 2.4 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 4.5 and 4.2 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 0.9 × as long as wide posteriorly, rather flattened medially and latero-posteriorly non-lamelliform; first–second tergites longitudinally rugose and with median carina (Fig.
Colour. Yellowish brown; palpi, tegulae, pterostigma, veins (but parastigma and part of basal veins dark brown) and legs yellow; stemmaticum and ovipositor sheath black; wing membrane subhyaline.
Variation. Sexual dimorphism is unusually pronounced in this species, in respect of the large ocelli and the slenderer and much higher number of antennal segments of the male. Antennal segments of ♀ 28(2), 30(6), 31(2), 32(1), 33(1), 34(3), 35(1) and of ♂ 39(2), 40(1), 41(5), 42(1); antenna of ♀ 0.8–1.1 × as long as fore wing; stemmaticum black or brown; hind femur of ♀ moderately robust (Fig.
Holotype, ♀ (
Univoltine and possibly partly plurivoltine parasitoid of low feeding noctuid larvae (especially, perhaps exclusively, Diarsia spp.) on moorland vegetation such as Calluna, overwintering in the host larva. Mummy (Fig.
Apical half of hind femur (partly) dark brown, darker than hind trochanter and trochantellus (Fig.
Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 4.0 mm, of body 5.5 mm.
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 40, length of antenna 1.3 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.5 × as long as wide and third segment stout (Figs
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes coriaceous, matt, but medio-posteriorly longitudinally rugose; notauli complete and moderately wide, weakly crenulate and posteriorly widened and rugose; prepectal carina medium-sized and lamelliform, reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron largely widely rugose, mesopleuron above precoxal area (except nearly smooth and shiny speculum) largely rugose (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.3 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa coriaceous but partly superficially rugulose, largely matt; hind trochantellus 2.3 × longer than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.1 and 4.3 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 0.8 × as long as wide posteriorly and latero-posteriorly narrowly lamelliform, moderately convex and flattened posteriorly, dorsope comparatively wide (Fig.
Colour. Black or brownish black; antenna pale brown, but scapus dorsally and apical seventh of antenna dark brown; palpi, and tegulae pale yellowish (Fig.
Variation. Length of fore wing 4.5–5.0 mm; antennal segments of ♀ 36(1), 38(3), 39(1), 40(1), of ♂ 40(2), 41(2), 42(4), 43(13), 44(16), 45(14), 46(3); mesosoma largely black to largely orange-brown; OOL of male slightly longer than diameter of posterior ocellus and apical half of antenna dark brown; fifth maxillary palp segment slender to moderately widened and rather long; first tergite (except medio-posteriorly) black (♂) or entirely dark reddish-brown (♀) and second tergite black or reddish laterally; in British females only posterior segments somewhat darkened; in British males first tergite more or less blackish in anterior half as well, but second and third tergites usually (almost) fully orange, sometimes with infuscation sublaterally on second tergite (especially anteriorly).; mesopleuron medially and propodeum rugose or superficially rugulose; few females seen, but in one very extensively orange specimen the legs are almost completely orange, with only slight infuscation in the apical half of hind femur. May be confused with A. borealis (Thomson, 1892), but this species has less antennal segments (♀: 32–34 segments), palpi and legs more or less infuscate and the clypeus wider (about 0.5 × width of the face).
We have seen 3 ♀ + 11 ♂ (
Named after the generic name of its host: Diarsia Hübner.
*British Isles (England, Wales, Scotland), *France, *Netherlands.
Males have on average about 3–4 more antennal segments than females.
Rogas
esenbeckii
Hartig, 1838: 255;
Rhogas esenbeckii ; Kokujev (in Serebryanikova), 1901: 100.
Aleiodes
esenbecki
;
Aleiodes
esenbeckii
;
Rhogas corsicus Szépligeti, 1906: 616 (examined).
Aleiodes
corsicus
;
Rogas gastropachae Kokujev (in Serebryanikova), 1901: 100–101.
Aleiodes
gastropachae
;
Phanomeris
dendrolimi
Matsumura, 1926: 41;
Aleiodes
dendrolimi
;
Phanomeris dendrolimusi Matsumura, 1926: 32 (invalid emendation).
Phanomeris
spectabilis
Matsumura, 1926: 33;
Rhogas
metanastriae
Rohwer, 1934: 47;
Holotype of R. esenbeckii, ♂ (ZSSM), “715, [Germany, Charlottenburg]”, “Esenbeckii n.”, together with mummy of Dendrolimus pini (L.); holotype of R. corsicus, ♀ (MTMA), “[France, Corsica,] Ajaccio”, “praetor Reinh.? (Corsica)”.
f. esenbeckii: Austria, *Croatia, Czech Republic, France (*mainland and Corsica) *Netherlands (Muiderberg), Germany, Spain (*Mallorca); f. dendrolimi: China, *Finland, Russia, Switzerland. Specimens in
Apart from the examined holotype (see above) all the reared specimens we have seen (of form dendrolimi) were from Siberian populations of Dendrolimus superans sibericus (Rozhkov) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) (7). Aleiodes esenbeckii is a well-known parasitoid of Dendrolimus species. In the central part of its range the host species D. pini (Linnaeus) is normally univoltine, but in southern European (Mediterranean) populations it is at least bivoltine (Vadim V. Zolotuhin, pers. comm.), while in northern Siberia the host D. superans sibericus Tchetverikov usually has a 2-year life cycle. The parasitoid overwinters inside the diapausing host larva, and adapts its seasonality according to that of the host:
Antennal segments of ♀ 56–62; head entirely brownish yellow apart from stemmaticum (Figs
Aleiodes esenbeckii (Hartig), ♀, Spain, Mallorca. 167 wings 168 mesosoma lateral 169 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 170 hind leg lateral 171 fore femur lateral 172 antenna 173 head anterior 174 head lateral 175 head dorsal 176 apical segments of antenna 177 basal segments of antenna.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments 59, length of antenna 1.3 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.9 × as long as wide and scapus in lateral view rather oblique apically; frons superficially granulate, rather shiny; OOL 0.3 × diameter of posterior ocellus and granulate; vertex superficially coriaceous, with satin sheen; clypeus rather high, convex dorsally and flattened ventrally, coriaceous and with long setae; ventral margin of clypeus thick and gradually depressed (Figs
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes very finely coriaceous, with satin sheen; notauli narrow, shallow and mainly coriaceous; prepectal carina rather lamelliform medio-ventrally, almost reaching anterior border of mesopleuron and latero-ventrally curved; precoxal area of mesopleuron coriaceous, without fine rugae medially; mesopleuron above precoxal area (including shiny and granulate speculum) coriaceous, but dorsally finely rugose (cf. Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.3 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws with fine brownish pecten basally; hind coxa finely coriaceous, with satin sheen; hind trochantellus 2.2 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.7 and 4.5 × their width, respectively; inner apex of hind tibia without comb; length of inner hind spur 0.35 × hind basitarsus; hind basitarsus wider than following segments.
Metasoma. First tergite 1.3 × as long as wide posteriorly, flattened and latero-anteriorly widely lamelliform; first–second tergites densely finely irregularly rugulose and with fine median carina; second tergite as long as wide basally and 1.4 × as long as third tergite (Fig.
Colour. Yellowish brown; antenna (except yellow scapus and pedicellus) dark brown; stemmaticum black; hypopygium, middle and hind tarsi more or less infuscate; pterostigma and veins of middle third of wings dark brown (Fig.
Variation. Length of fore wing 6–10 mm, of body 7.5–11.5 mm; antennal segments of ♀ 58(1), 59(2), 60(3), (and of f. dendrolimi: 60(2), 61(2), 62(1), 63(1)), of ♂ 55(1), 56(2), 57(1), 58(2), 59(2), 61(1) (of f. dendrolimi: 54(1), 61(1)); latero-anterior lamella of first tergite rather wide or narrow; marginal cell of hind wing parallel-sided or slightly narrowed submedially; f. dendrolimi has head partly, palpi, mesosoma ventrally and posteriorly, metasoma and legs more or less dark brown or blackish; rarely nearly entire head black.
A. esenbeckii f. dendrolimi differs morphologically only in colouration and occurs in the East Palaearctic region and in boreal Europe, perhaps reflecting a 2-year life cycle. The CO1 sequences (between Mallorcan f. esenbeckii and Finnish f. dendrolimi) are, however, divergent, differing by at least 32 base pairs in the barcode region (around 5%) (D.L.J. Quicke, pers. comm.), suggesting effective genetic isolation of at least these populations. For mediterranean specimens the name A. corsicus Szépligeti, 1906, is available. From limited data males appear to average about 3 fewer antennal segments than females, in both forms.
Rhogas (Aleiodes) jakowlewi Kokujev, 1898: 307.
Aleiodes
jakowlewi
;
Rogas
jakowlewi
;
*Finland: 2 ♀ (
MRS355 (Finland JF962849, CO1).
Nothing is known of the biology of this predominantly boreal species.
Head transverse in dorsal view and directly narrowed ventrally; eye rather large; antenna of ♀ sometimes with a narrow white or pale yellowish submedial band, scapus and pedicellus of ♀ similarly coloured as medial fifth of antenna; antennal segments of ♀ 49–52; OOL equal to width of posterior ocellus; length of malar space of ♀ 0.30–0.40 × (of ♂ 0.25 times) height of eye in lateral view (Fig.
Aleiodes jakowlewi (Kokujev), ♀, Finland, Kangaslampi. 191 wings 192 mesosoma lateral 193 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 194 hind leg lateral 195 fore femur lateral 196 apical segments of antenna 197 basal segments of antenna 198 antenna 199 head anterior 200 head lateral 201 head dorsal 202 base of first metasomal tergite dorsal.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 49, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments 1.7–1.8 × as long as wide; frons granulate, with satin sheen; OOL and POL 1.0 and 0.8 × width of posterior ocellus, respectively; vertex distinctly rugulose-granulate, with satin sheen; clypeus convex and coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus thick and convex (Fig.
Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.8 × its height; mesoscutal lobes coriaceous, matt, but medio-posteriorly longitudinally rugose and anteriorly low; notauli narrow and crenulate; prepectal carina medium-sized, remaining separate from anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron and area above it largely rugose (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.5 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws with yellow bristles and small; hind coxa rugose-granulate, with satin sheen and 0.9 × as long as first tergite; hind trochantellus 2.7 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 7.0 and 4.9 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 1.2 × as long as wide posteriorly, stout, convex anteriorly and latero-anteriorly distinctly lamelliform; first–fourth tergites densely finely rugose (Fig.
Colour. Dark brown; palpi, humeral plate, trochanters and trochantelli, fore and middle coxae, and ventral half of metasoma ivory or pale yellow; orbita posteriorly and tegula brown; legs (but hind femur (except basally) dark brown and fore and middle femora and hind tibia subapically infuscate), first tergite posteriorly, second tergite (except laterally) brownish yellow; ovipositor sheath black; veins and pterostigma (but basal third pale yellow) dark brown; wing membrane rather infuscate.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀ 49(3), 50(1); of ♂ 48(1). In some females the antenna is distinctly white-banded (over about 23rd–27th segments) but in others, even from the same locality, the antenna is completely brownish. The anterior ocellus is sometimes enlarged, but this too seems to be variable and is not always noticeable.
From limited data males appear to have fewer antennal segments than females.
Aleiodes
?
nigriceps
;
Aleiodes
borealis
;
Aleiodes
borealis
;
Aleiodes
borealis
;
Aleiodes
nigriceps
auctt. p.p. (not
Holotype, ♀ (
A parasitoid of a wide range of low feeding noctuid larvae, as listed below. Overwinters as a small larva in the host, which is killed before it is in its final instar. Mummy (Fig.
Length of fore femur 6.4–8.0 × its maximum width (Fig.
Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 4.5 mm, of body 4.4 mm.
Head. Antennal segments 39, length of antenna 1.1 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.8 × as long as wide (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes finely coriaceous, with satin sheen, medio-posteriorly with a few rugulae; notauli complete and narrow, largely smooth and posteriorly reduced; prepectal carina narrow lamelliform, reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron granulate-coriaceous, mesopleuron with superficially granulate and shiny speculum and rugose dorso-anteriorly (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.3 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa finely coriaceous, largely matt; hind trochantellus 2.4 × longer than wide; length of fore and hind femora 6.9 and 6.9 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 1.1 × as long as wide posteriorly and latero-posteriorly narrowly lamelliform, moderately convex and flattened posteriorly, dorsope medium-sized (Fig.
Colour. Black; antenna dark brown; palpi largely brown; tegulae, malar space ventrally and triangular patch on second tergite pale yellowish (Fig.
Variation. Length of fore wing 4.5–5.0 mm; antennal segments of ♀ 35(3), 36(16), 37(79), 38(98), 39(70), 40(20), 41(1), 42(1), of ♂ 35(22), 36(64), 37(89), 38(60), 39(17), 40(4), 41(1)); mesosoma largely black to largely orange brown; medial length of second tergite 0.8–0.9 × its basal width; OOL of male slightly longer than diameter of posterior ocellus and apical half of antenna dark brown; mesopleuron medially and propodeum rugose or superficially rugulose. Specimens of the summer generation(s) are usually overall paler than those from the overwinter generation. The face usually dark centrally with the inner orbits paler but sometimes face completely black (as in the type, from the overwinter generation), less often completely orange or darkened only near clypeus (males more likely than females to exhibit these extremes). Extent of orange markings on mesoscutum extremely variable, but almost always distinct; metasoma only rarely wholly black or dark brown. Colour of pterostigma very variable, sometimes pale greyish and only faintly darker near posterior margin.
The broad host range, which has (at least in part) been experimentally verified, may contribute to the variability of this species. We have seen a large number of summer-generation female specimens from S. Europe (Portugal, Greece, Turkey and most notably a long series from South Bulgaria from Rodopi in BZL) that consistently differ in colour from summer specimens from Britain in the combination of a slightly darker pterostigma, uniformly pale legs, and the metasomal tergites posterior to the central pale area tending to be reddish brown rather than blackish, and they are also slightly smaller. Because of its relative uniformity in contrast to the variability of what we otherwise regard as A. leptofemur, it seem possible that this material represents a different species and we have not included it in the type series.
This common and widely distributed species is named after its slender femora (“leptos” = Greek for “thin”).
*Andorra, *Austria, *Belgium, *British Isles (England, Wales, Isle of Man, Scotland, Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey), *Bulgaria, *Cyprus, *Czech Republic, *France, *Finland, *Germany, *Gibraltar (British territory), *Greece, *Hungary, *Italy, *Netherlands, *Norway, *Slovakia, *Spain, *Sweden, *Switzerland. The southern European countries are included provisionally (see above under variation).
Males have on average about one fewer antennal segments than females. Both authors have left determination labels for this species incorrectly as A. borealis (Thomson) on a large number of specimens in many collections (up until about 2006 for CvA; until 2007 for MRS), which are now impossible to correct.
Rogas
modestus
Reinhard, 1863: 271;
Aleiodes
modestus
;
Rhogas (Aleiodes) modestus var. piceus
Fahringer, 1932: 302–303;
Lectotype ♀ (
Widespread in western Europe: *Austria, British Isles (England: V.C.s 11, 17, 22, 28, 29, 31, 32, 38, 39, 52, 57, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64; Wales: V.C.s 48, 52: Scotland: V.C.s 88, 96, 97), Bulgaria, *Czech Republic, *Denmark, Finland, *France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands (DR: Borger; Wijster, GE: Heerde; Brummen (Voorstonden), FR: Terschelling (Midsland-Noord, dunes), LI: Epen, ZH: Asperen; Meijendel (dunes)), Poland, *Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland. Specimens in
A univoltine parasitoid of a wide range of Eupithecia species (Geometridae: Larentiinae), mummifying the host in its pupation chamber and overwintering in the mummy. Specimens reared from wild collected hosts determined as follows: Eupithecia absinthiata (Clerck) (2
Antennal segments of both sexes 37–(40–45)–47 and third segment rather slender (Fig.
Aleiodes modestus (Reinhard), ♀, Netherlands, Wijster. 217 wings 218 mesosoma lateral 219 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 220 hind leg lateral 221 fore femur lateral 222 antenna 223 basal segments of antenna 224 apical segments of antenna 225 head anterior 226 head lateral 227 head dorsal 228 base of hind tibia 229 inner apex of hind tibia.
Figured ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 43, moderately setose, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments distinctly longer than wide (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes densely and finely granulate and with punctulation, matt; prepectal carina complete, distinct; precoxal area of mesopleuron with some rugulae medially; mesopleuron above precoxal area strongly shiny, sparsely punctate and with some superficial micro-granulation (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.6 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws yellowish setose; hind coxa granulate; hind trochantellus rather robust; length of fore femur, hind femur and basitarsus 5.7, 5.2 and 8.6 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite rather robust (Fig.
Colour. Black; palpi, tegulae and pterostigma yellow; veins (except basally) dark brown; malar area ventrally, orbita dorsally and posteriorly, pronotum anteriorly and ventrally, mesopleuron antero-dorsally and postero-ventrally, hind coxa (but basally black), medio-posterior part of mesoscutum, first tergite latero-posteriorly, second and third tergites dark reddish brown; apical half of hind femur largely dark brown, except apically; antenna, telotarsi and clypeus dark brown; remainder of legs yellowish brown or blackish; wing membrane subhyaline.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀ 38(1), 39(0), 40(0), 41(1), 42(18), 43(27), 44(12), 45(4) and of ♂ 40(1), 41(1), 42(2), 43(37), 44(18), 45(2); length of antenna of ♂ 1.3 × fore wing; length of eye of ♀ 1.2–1.9 × temple in dorsal view, of ♂ 1.6–2.5 times; dark specimens have mesosoma, metasoma and hind coxa nearly completely black; pale specimens have scapus, pedicellus, clypeus, entire orbita, notaulic area of mesoscutum, metapleuron posteriorly, first tergite apically and most of second–fourth tergites dark reddish brown; pterostigma sometimes slightly infuscate laterally, but remaining largely yellow; the infuscation of the hind femur is sometimes diffuse; vein cu-a of fore wing vertical or oblique; rugae of precoxal area may be entirely absent.
The number of antennal segments does not differ appreciably between the sexes. The specimens reported from Hungary by
Aleiodes
nigriceps
Wesmael, 1838: 109;
Aleiodes
circumscriptus
var.
nigriceps
;
Lectotype, ♀ (KBIN) from Belgium examined.
*Austria, Belgium, British Isles (*England: V.C.s 3, 8, 12, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 40, 58, 62, 65; *Wales: V.C.s 41, 45, 52; *Isle of Man: V.C. 71; *Scotland: V.C.s 75, 77, 83, 84, 89, 97, 99, 101, 105; *Ireland: V.C. H5), *Jersey, *Bulgaria, *Czech Republic, *Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, *Italy, *Lithuania, *Netherlands (FR: Terschelling (Formerum), GE: Putten, NB: Geertruidenberg; Oploo; Udenhout (de Brand), NH: Overveen; Muiderberg, LI: Tegelen; St. Pietersberg; Venlo; Maastricht, UT: Harmelen, ZE: Cadzand; Oostkapelle; ZH: Delft; Den Haag; Wassenaar; Leidschendam), *Norway, *Poland, *Portugal, Russia, *Slovakia, Spain, *Sweden and Switzerland. Specimens in
At least partly a plurivoltine parasitoid of larvae of low-feeding noctuine Noctuidae inhabiting grassy sites; most frequent in humid situations. Mummy (Fig.
Antennal segments of female (38–)39–43, of male (38–)39–44; pale area of facial (= inner) orbita of female usually narrow or absent (Fig.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments 43, length of antenna 1.3 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.6 × as long as wide; frons granulate-coriaceous, with satin sheen; OOL 1.6 × diameter of posterior ocellus (POL 1.4 times); vertex granulate-coriaceous, with satin sheen; clypeus distinctly convex and largely smooth; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes finely coriaceous, with satin sheen, but medio-posteriorly longitudinally rugose; notauli narrow, moderately impressed and finely crenulate, but posteriorly lost in rugose area; prepectal carina narrow lamelliform and reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron coriaceous and without rugae medially; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except small smooth and shiny speculum) coriaceous, but antero-dorsally rugose; medially metapleuron coriaceous, matt; mesosternal sulcus narrow and moderately deep, but posteriorly shallow and with a carina; mesosternum rather angulate posteriorly; scutellum nearly flat, coriaceous and largely non-carinate laterally; propodeum rather flat and coriaceous but posteriorly with some rugae, median carina complete, without tubercles.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.2 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa superficially coriaceous, with satin sheen; hind trochantellus 2.3 × longer than wide; length of fore and hind femora 6.3 and 5.6 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 1.2 × as long as wide posteriorly, convex, but posteriorly flattened; first and second tergites and base of third tergite densely longitudinally rugose; second tergite robust (Fig.
Colour. Black or brownish black; antenna brown, but scapus and pedicellus dorsally and laterally and apical third of antenna dark brown; palpi and tegulae pale yellowish (Fig.
Variation. Length of fore wing 4.3–4.4 mm; antennal segments of ♀ 38(1), 39(9), 40(44), 41(44), 42(27), 43(13), 44(2), 45(1); of ♂ 37(1), 38(4), 39(31), 40(82), 41(113), 42(33), 43(12), 44(7), 45(3); vein r of fore wing 0.2–0.5 × vein 3-SR; length of first tergite of ♀ 1.1–1.2 × its apical width; pterostigma medially yellow or dark brown; medio-posteriorly mesoscutum black or brownish yellow; second and third tergites yellowish, infuscate or dark brown laterally, mesosternum orange brown or infuscate.
The two sexes have about the same number of antennal segments. The lectotype of A. nigriceps has the antenna mutilated; according to the original description it had 40 or 41 segments. Aleiodes nigriceps is often considered to be a synonym of A. circumscriptus, e.g. Papp (1985) but the selection of a neotype for A. circumscriptus in the present work resolves that issue (and the two species differ in, among other things, the number of antennal segments).
Aleiodes
nigricornis
Wesmael, 1838: 105;
Lectotype, ♀ (KBIN) from Belgium examined.
*Austria, Belgium, British Isles (England: V.C.s 2, 3, 7, 11, 16, 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 34, 38, 57, 58, 59, 60, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69; Wales: V.C.s 35, 44, 48, 52; Scotland: V.C.s 72, 75, 78, 79, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 102, 105, 107, 108, 111; Ireland: V.C.s H21, H28, H29, “Westport”), Czech Republic, *Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands (GE: Ede; Nunspeet; Heerde; Otterlo, Velp, LI: Grubbenvorst, NB: Geertruidenberg; Helvoirt; Bergen op Zoom; Etten-Leur, NH: Overveen; Muiderberg, ZH: Den Haag; Meijendel; Oegstgeest; Voorschoten; Asperen; Waarder), *Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland. Specimens in
A plurivoltine parasitoid of Noctuidae, using Apamea species in which to overwinter, and (possibly exclusively) Orthosia gothica (Linnaeus) in early summer. The mummy is moderately dark brown, rather elongate (Fig.
Antennal segments of female 44–49, of male 43–47; antenna dark brown or black (also scapus and pedicellus more or less infuscate or black ventrally), rarely completely yellowish brown; temples directly narrowed behind eyes; OOL about equal to diameter of posterior ocellus (Fig.
Aleiodes nigricornis Wesmael, ♀, England, Gait Barrows. 245 wings 246 mesosoma lateral 247 mesosoma dorsal 248 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 249 hind leg lateral 250 fore femur lateral 251 head anterior 252 head dorsal 253 head lateral 254 apical segments of antenna 255 basal segments of antenna 256 antenna.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments 46, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments about twice as long as wide; frons mainly granulate, posteriorly with some rugulae, rather shiny and mainly flat; OOL 0.8 × diameter of posterior ocellus and granulate-coriaceous; vertex superficially granulate-coriaceous, with satin sheen; clypeus convex, coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes finely granulate and with satin sheen; notauli narrow, moderately deep and smooth; prepectal carina lamelliform medio-ventrally, reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron finely granulate and with some rugulae medially (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.3 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa superficially coriaceous, with satin sheen; hind trochantellus 2.3 × longer than wide; length of fore and hind femora 6.2 and 5.0 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 1.2 × as long as wide posteriorly, flattened and latero-posteriorly lamelliform; first–second tergites and base of third tergite coriaceous and finely irregularly longitudinally rugose; second tergite rather robust (Fig.
Colour. Black or brownish-black; antenna dark brown; palpi, tegulae, tibiae (except apically), medio-apical fifth of first tergite and medially second tergite pale yellowish (Fig.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀ 42(2), 43(4), 44(10), 45(44), 46(73), 47(59), 48(12), 49(5); of ♂ 42(3), 43(24), 44(20), 45(30), 46(15), 47(9), 48(1); mesosternum reddish brown or partly fuzzy dark brown; precoxal area of mesopleuron medially entirely granulate or rarely with some weak rugulae; scapus entirely dark brown or partly brown.
The lectotype has 46 antennal segments. On average males have 1–2 fewer antennal segments than females.
Ichneumon pallidator Thunberg, 1822: 259.
Aleiodes
pallidator
;
Rogas
pallidator
;
Rogas
ochraceus
Curtis, 1834: 512.4;
Aleiodes
ochraceus
;
Aleiodes
unicolor
Wesmael, 1838: 111;
Lectotype of I. pallidator here designated, ♀ (
British Isles (England: V.C.s 11, 15, 24, 59, 60), Bulgaria, Netherlands (FL: Bant; Lelystad (Jagersbos), FR: Ried, GE: Ede (Maanderbroek); Zaltbommel (Kerkwijk), GR: Scheemda, LI: Reuven; Vlodrop, NB: Nederweert; Geffen; Valkenswaard; Heusden, ZH: Rotterdam; Lexmond; Melissant), Germany, Hungary, *Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey. Specimens in
A univoltine, thelytokous specialist parasitoid of the erebid lymantriine Leucoma salicis (Linnaeus), overwintering in the host. More than 200 reared specimens seen from L. salicis (most in
Antennal segments of ♀ 50–55 and head (except stemmaticum) entirely brownish yellow; scapus in lateral view distinctly oblique apically (Fig.
Aleiodes pallidator (Thunberg), ♀, Netherlands, Nederweert. 260 fore wing 261 hind wing 262 mesosoma lateral 263 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 264 hind leg lateral 265 antenna 266 fore femur lateral 267 head anterior 268 head lateral 269 head dorsal 270 basal segments of antenna 271 apical segments of antenna.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments 54, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.8 × as long as wide and scapus in lateral view distinctly oblique apically (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes very finely coriaceous, with satin sheen, but medio-posteriorly rugose; notauli narrow, shallow and crenulate; prepectal carina rather lamelliform medio-ventrally, nearly reaching anterior border of mesopleuron and latero-ventrally angulate; precoxal area of mesopleuron with some short rugae medially (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.3 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws yellowish setose; hind coxa superficially finely coriaceous, with satin sheen; hind trochantellus 2.7 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 6.2 and 4.9 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 0.9 × as long as wide posteriorly, flattened and latero-posteriorly lamelliform; first–second tergites and base of third tergite densely finely irregularly rugose and with median carina; second tergite robust and 1.5 × as long as third tergite (Fig.
Colour. Yellowish brown; apical third of antenna and stemmaticum (except medially) dark brown; palpi, malar space up to eyes, mandible, tegulae, fore and middle legs, hind trochanter and trochantellus and pterostigma pale yellowish (Fig.
Variation. Length of fore wing 5.6–6.5 mm, of body 6.3–7.5 mm; antennal segments of ♀ 50(3), 51(13), 52(43), 53(79), 54(44), 55(7); colour and shape are very uniform in this species, probably because of absence of sexual propagation.
Apart from a single specimen (reared from L. salicis probably in Russia, with its mummy present) in poor condition in
Rogas
pictus
Herrich-Schäffer, 1838: 156 (type series lost);
Aleiodes
pictus
;
Neotype of A. pictus here designated, ♀ (
*Austria, British Isles (*England V.C.s 3, 15, 16, 20, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 40, 59, 65, 69; *Scotland: V.C.s 77, 83, 84, 88, 89, 96, 101, 105, 111; Ireland: “Westport”), *Bulgaria, Czech Republic, *Finland, *France, Germany, Gibraltar (British territory), *Greece, Hungary, *Iceland, *Italy, Netherlands (DR: Drijber, LI: St. Pietersberg, ZH: Den Haag; Meijendel; Goeree; Ouddorp), *Norway, *Poland, *Portugal, *Romania, *Russia, *Serbia, *Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey. Specimens in
This is a plurivoltine parasitoid, abundant in grassland habitats, of larvae of both geometrids and noctuids feeding in low vegetation, overwintering as a small larva in that of the host. Mummy made low down, more or less in concealment, brown and not swollen (Fig.
Antennal segments of ♀ (35–)36–40, of ♂ (36–)37–41; pale area of orbita of ♀ rather wide (Figs
Neotype, ♀, length of fore wing 4.6 mm, of body 4.9 mm.
Head. Antennal segments 37 (right) and 38 (left), length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.6 × as long as wide; frons granulate and some rugulae, with satin sheen; OOL 1.3 × diameter of posterior ocellus (POL equal to ocellus); vertex superficially granulate, with satin sheen; clypeus distinctly convex and largely nearly smooth; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes finely granulate-coriaceous, with satin sheen, but medio-posteriorly rugose; notauli narrow, moderately impressed and finely crenulate, but posteriorly merging in rugose area; prepectal carina narrow lamelliform and reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron coriaceous and with some rugae medially (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.3 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa granulate-coriaceous, matt; hind trochantellus 2.5 × longer than wide; length of fore and hind femora 6.1 and 4.9 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 1.1 × as long as wide posteriorly, convex, but posteriorly flattened; first and second tergites densely longitudinally rugose; second tergite slenderer than is usual in A. nigriceps (Fig.
Colour. Black or brownish black; antenna brown, but scapus and pedicellus dorsally and laterally and apical half of antenna dark brown; malar space (except near eye), palpi, tegulae, fore and middle coxae, trochanters and trochantelli, first tergite medio-posteriorly, second tergite medially and third tergite narrowly medially pale yellowish (Fig.
Variation. Length of fore wing 3.8–4.6 mm; antennal segments of ♀ 34(1), 35(5), 36(27), 37(52), 38(64), 39(38), 40(9) and of ♂ 36(9), 37(22), 38(39), 39(34), 40(18), 41(4); vein r of fore wing 0.4 × vein 3-SR; clypeus 0.3–0.4 × as wide as face; length of first tergite of ♀ 1.0–1.1 × its apical width; pterostigma medially and anteriorly yellow; malar space largely dark brown to largely pale yellow; pronotum medio-anteriorly and scutellum brownish yellow or dark brown; medially metapleuron black or orange brown.
Males have on average about one more antennal segments than females. In some populations pale specimens (including hind femur and much of face) occur that superficially resemble A. leptofemur, but can be distinguished by their more robust femora. For further notes see A. nigriceps.
Rogas
praetor
Reinhard, 1863: 264;
Aleiodes
praetor
;
Neorhogas
luteus
Szépligeti, 1906: 606;
Holotype of A. praetor ♀ (
Austria, Belgium, British Isles (England: V.C.s 5, 11, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 30, 31, 34, 38, 62, 64), *Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands (GE: Heerde; LI: Stein, Epen, Tegelen; NH: Naardermeer; UT: Bilthoven, Leersum; ZH: Melissant, Oostkapelle), Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. Specimens in
Aleiodes praetor is a univoltine parasitoid of at least some arboreal Sphingidae, and overwinters in the host mummy. Reared specimens seen were from Lathoe populi (Linnaeus) (1 CMIM; C. Morley), Mimas tiliae (Linnaeus) (2
Aleiodes praetor (Reinhard), ♀, Netherlands, Epen. 288 fore wing 289 hind wing 290 mesosoma lateral 291 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 292 hind leg lateral 293 fore femur lateral 294 antenna 295 ovipositor lateral 296 basal segments of antenna 297 apical segments of antenna 298 head anterior 299 head lateral 300 head dorsal 301 hypopygium and ovipositor sheath lateral.
Large yellowish brown species with antennal segments of female 67–77 and of male 62–75; OOL 0.3 × diameter of posterior ocellus; lateral carina of scutellum strong and lunula rather narrow; marginal cell of hind wing narrowed near basal 0.6 and slightly widened apically (Fig.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 72, with many tyloids and apex of subbasal segments oblique (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes densely punctate, micro-sculptured and shiny; prosternum rather large and distinctly concave; prepectal carina complete, distinct; precoxal area of mesopleuron with some striae medially; mesopleuron above precoxal area strongly shiny, punctate medio-posteriorly and remainder smooth (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.6 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws yellowish setose; hind coxa punctate and micro-sculptured dorso-basally and remainder largely smooth and punctulate; hind trochantellus ventrally twice as long as wide; length of fore femur, hind femur and basitarsus 6.3, 4.2 and 7.8 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite as long as wide apically (Fig.
Colour. Yellowish brown; antenna (but scapus brownish basally), stemmaticum, apical third of hind tibia (except spurs) and hind tarsus largely, black; base of hind tibia pale yellowish; pterostigma and veins brownish yellow; wing membrane largely subhyaline, but basally slightly pigmented and near veins 1-SR and 1-M slightly infuscate.
Variation. Antennal segments of European ♀ 67(2), 68(7), 69(7), 70(7), 71(3), 72(4), 73(4); of ♂ 62(3), 63(5), 64(5), 65(5), 66(1), 67(1); males have fifth–seventh tergites moderately setose; vein m-cu of fore wing sometimes slightly curved and gradually merging into 3-CU1; precoxal sulcus entirely smooth or with some striae; scapus and pedicellus partly yellowish brown or entirely black.
European males have approximately four fewer antennal segments than females. Antenna of possibly conspecific Chinese and Japanese females consists of 70–77 segments and of males 62–75 segments and they have the pterostigma darker compared to the veins below it.
Rhogas reticulatus Noskiewicz, 1956: 176 (examined).
Aleiodes
reticulatus
;
Holotype, ♀ (PAN), “[Poland], 15/1 [19]48 Itame fulvaria Vill. 1.II.[19]49”, “Rhogas - ♂ reticularis [sic] Nosk.”, “Holotyp. (lgz. pnedui)”, “Holotypus ♀ % Rhogas reticulatus Nosk. 1956.
2 ♀, 2 ♂ (3
MRS808 (Poland KU682262, CO1).
The type series was reared in Poland from the ennomine gemetrid Macaria brunneata (Thunberg) (3 ♀, 3 ♂) feeding on Vaccinius myrtillus - and supposedly also Arctia caja (Linnaeus) (1 ♂) collected from the same plant, but we discount that as a presumed error (the specimen can no longer be found in PAN, its supposed depository). It is not surprising to add Macaria wauaria (Linnaeus) (4:1 [Belarus]; Silvanovich) and another possibly from this host (Russia) to the known host range, especially as these two Macaria species both overwinter in the egg stage (unlike many others). From material recently obtained from M. brunneata in the type locality and five other sites in Poland (M.R. Shaw), it is clear that A. reticulatus is a regular univoltine parasitoid of M. brunneata feeding on Vaccinium myrtillus growing as understory in conifer forests especially on infertile sandy soils (on one of the German specimens “Fichtenwald” translates as spruce forest), flying in early spring (April and May) which is no doubt why it has remained poorly understood until now. The small mummy (Fig.
Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Apical antennal segments missing, remaining 37 segments, length of antenna about as long as fore wing, its subbasal segments about 1.2 × as long as wide; frons mainly superficially granulate and with some rugae anteriorly, weakly shiny; OOL twice diameter of posterior ocellus and granulate as is vertex, with satin sheen; clypeus weakly convex, narrow and coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely granulate-coriaceous, matt and medio-posteriorly rugose, middle lobe with a complete longitudinal carina, but weakly developed anteriorly (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r nearly as long as 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa granulate-coriaceous, with satin sheen and nearly reaching apex of first tergite; hind trochantellus 1.8 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.3 and 4.5 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 0.7 × as long as wide posteriorly, convex and latero-posteriorly non-lamelliform; first–second tergites finely and densely irregularly rugulose and with median carina (Fig.
Colour. Black (including coxae); palpi basally, tegulae, pterostigma, veins, trochanters, middle and hind femora dorso-apically and more or less trochantelli dark brown; remainder of palpi and legs brown; wing membrane slightly infuscate, especially near basal veins.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀ 40(1), 41(1), 43(1), 44(1); of ♂ 40(1), 42(1), 43(3), 44(3); male has shape of head just like the examined specimens of true A. arcticus but females have the temple slightly longer and more narrowed; mesoscutum black but one ♀ vaguely brownish near origin of notauli; pale parts of legs brown or orange brown; mesopleuron black or more or less brownish.
This species is very close to A. arcticus but, in addition to small morphological differences, the fact that A. reticulatus is a lowland species while A. arcticus is boreo-alpine is also regarded as significant.
Holotype, ♀ (
MRS395 (Sweden JF962792, CO1).
Unknown.
Antennal segments of ♀ about 40, of ♂ unknown; head strongly directly narrowed behind eyes (Fig.
Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 4.4 mm, of body 4.9 mm.
Head. Antennal segments 40, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, basal segments rather robust (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes very finely granulate-coriaceous, with satin sheen, but medio-posteriorly rugulose; notauli narrow, shallow and anterior half largely smooth; prepectal carina narrow lamelliform medio-ventrally, nearly reaching anterior border of mesopleuron and latero-ventrally curved; precoxal area of mesopleuron granulate and shiny; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except large smooth and shiny speculum) superficially granulate, but dorsally rugose; medially metapleuron nearly smooth, superficially granulate, shiny; mesosternal sulcus narrow and rather deep, smooth, without carina posteriorly; mesosternum rather angulate posteriorly; scutellum finely coriaceous and non-carinate laterally; lunula (= smooth lateral part of scutellum) wide medially; medio-posterior depression of metanotum rather narrow (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.55 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws yellowish setose; hind coxa superficially finely coriaceous, rather shiny; hind trochantellus 2.2 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.2 and 3.9 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite as long as wide posteriorly, flattened and latero-anteriorly lamelliform near dorsope; first–second tergites and base of third tergite mainly coriaceous with superficial rugulosity, and with median carina weakly developed on apical half of first tergite and middle of second tergite; second tergite 0.9 × longer than wide basally and 1.3 × as long as third tergite (Fig.
Colour. Black; antenna, palpi, basal two-thirds of third tergite, apices of femora, bases of tibiae and hind coxa dark brown; pronotum postero-dorsally, trochanters, trochantelli and tegulae pale yellowish; fore and middle coxae, remainder of tibiae and tarsi brown; orbita (except ventrally and sides of face), femora (except apically), first tergite medio-apically, second tergite narrowly medially, apical third of third and following tergites mainly orange brown (Fig.
This species from Sweden is named after the collector of the type specimen, Swedish lepidopterist Nils Ryrholm, whose generous donations of Swedish parasitic wasps to the
*Sweden.
Rogas seriatus Herrich-Schäffer, 1838: 156–12, Fig. [type series lost].
Aleiodes
seriatus
;
Aleiodes
vittiger
Wesmael, 1838: 112;
Rogas
kuslitzkyi
Tobias, 1976: 88, 223–224;
Aleiodes
kuslitzkyi
;
Antennal segments of ♀ (35–)44–50, of ♂ (42–)48–53; length of malar space of ♀ 0.3–0.4 × (of ♂ 0.25 times) height of eye in lateral view (Fig.
Aleiodes seriatus (Herrich-Schäffer) s.l., ♀, Netherlands, Wijster. 329 wings 330 mesosoma lateral 331 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 332 hind leg lateral 333 fore femur lateral 334 antenna 335 basal segments of antenna 336 apical segments of antenna 337 head anterior 338 head lateral 339 head dorsal 340 inner apex of hind tibia and basitarsus lateral.
We include this taxon only in outline, because DNA evidence (Quicke & Shaw, unpublished) suggest that an aggregate of two species in Europe and another in the Russian Far East currently going under this name remains unresolved. This will be addressed in a future paper (van Achterberg, Shaw & Quicke, in prep.), but here we include A. seriatus sensu lato in the key because the aggregate is morphologically isolated (within the region covered), easily recognised and does not fall logically into any of the species groups represented. The aggregate is very widespread in Europe, and at least one segregate is associated with Lithosiini (Erebidae: Arctiinae).
Heterogamus
testaceus
Telenga, 1941: 134;
Aleiodes
testaceus
Lectotype ♀ (
*Austria, British Isles (*England: V.C.s 2, 3, 5, 17, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 31, 32, 38, 39, 57, 58, 63; *Wales: V.C.s 48, 52; *Ireland: H5, H30 and Co. Cork), Bulgaria, *Cyprus, France (*mainland and *Corsica), Greece (mainland), Italy, Morocco, *Netherlands (NB: Tilburg (Kaaistoep)), Portugal (Madeira), Spain (mainland, *Mallorca and *Canary Islands (Gomera; Gran Canaria; Tenerife)). Specimens in
This is a plurivoltine parasitoid of Eupithecia (Geometridae: Larentiinae) and close relatives feeding on flowers, overwintering as an adult. Specimens in
Antennal segments of female 30–35 (of male 34–37); third antennal segment rather slender (Fig.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments 32, antenna as long as fore wing, its subbasal and subapical segments about 2.4 and 1.7 × as long as wide, respectively; frons mainly granulate and flat; OOL equal to diameter of posterior ocellus and very finely granulate as vertex, with satin sheen; clypeus weakly convex, medium-sized and granulate; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes finely granulate, matt and medio-posteriorly rugose; anterior half of notauli narrow, shallow and smooth and posterior half obsolescent; prepectal carina narrow lamelliform medio-ventrally, not reaching anterior border of mesopleuron; precoxal area of mesopleuron finely rugulose medially (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r nearly as long as 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws yellowish setose; hind coxa granulate and with satin sheen; hind trochantellus 2.2 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 6.4 and 4.7 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 1.1 × as long as wide posteriorly, convex and latero-posteriorly narrowly lamelliform; first–second tergites and basal 0.6 of third tergite finely longitudinally rugose, interspaces granulate and with median carina (Fig.
Colour. Brownish yellow; stemmaticum, patch on outer side of scapus and pedicellus, apical third of antenna, pronotum dorsally, mesopleuron dorsally, metanotum, metapleuron dorsally, propodeum largely and veins around 1-M of fore wing dark brown; remainder of veins brown or yellowish; palpi, tegulae and pterostigma pale yellowish; wing membrane subhyaline; first tergite somewhat infuscate basally; ovipositor sheath black.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀ 30(1), 31(9), 32(24), 33(78), 34(30), 35(6); of ♂ 34(7), 35(16), 36(18), 37(9); side of pronotum and metasoma of both sexes sometimes largely dark brown or brown except ivory patch of second and third tergites and yellowish brown apex of metasoma.
This species is distinctive and (with the wide use of UV light traps by lepidopterists) proving to be rather common in southern England, but it seems to have been very rarely collected and generally overlooked as a British species until quite recently. However, it has probably been present for a long time; a British specimen in the Dale collection (
The name “testaceus” (or the invalid emendation “testaceator” by
The oldest name is Ichneumon testaceus Fabricius, 1798, not Gmelin, 1790. As a junior homonym Ichneumon testaceus Fabricius is unavailable, and the oldest available name for this taxon is Rogas luteus Nees, 1834 (see
Second is “Aleiodes testaceus” of
Finally, Heterogamus testaceus Telenga, 1941, was (correctly in our view) included in the genus Aleiodes by several authors, including
Rogas (Aleiodes) ungularis Thomson, 1892: 1677 (examined).
Aleiodes
ungularis
;
Lectotype ♀ (
British Isles (*England: V.C. 18; *Wales: V.C. 49; *Ireland: V.C. H19) *Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, *Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland. Specimens in
A probably monophagous and at least partly plurivoltine parasitoid of Pseudopis prasinana (Linnaeus) (Nolidae: Chloephorinae), overwintering as a mummy. The mummy is cylindrical and dark brown (Fig.
Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig.
Aleiodes ungularis (Thomson), ♀, France, Fayl Billot. 355 wings 356 mesosoma lateral 357 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 358 hind leg lateral 359 fore femur lateral 360 basal segments of antenna 361 head anterior 362 head lateral 363 head dorsal 364 antenna 365 apical segments of antenna.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 46, with medium-sized setae, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments distinctly longer than wide (Fig.
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes finely and densely granulate and with fine punctation, matt; prepectal carina strongly developed, lamelliform, not reaching anterior border of mesopleuron; precoxal area of mesopleuron medially impressed and crenulate, remainder of mesopleuron (except dorsal rugose area) superficially granulate, shiny and with some superficial punctures (but in other specimens largely smooth); metapleuron granulate-punctate; scutellum finely granulate and rather flat, only antero-laterally with distinct carina; propodeum convex, rather short, distinctly rugose and its median carina complete, without tubercles.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.5 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws yellowish setose; telotarsi 1.5 × wider than fourth tarsal segment in dorsal view; hind coxa superficially granulate; hind trochantellus 1.8 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore femur, hind femur and basitarsus 5.5, 5.1 and 6.8 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite robust; first and second tergites and basal half of third tergite finely and densely rugose, with distinct median carina; medio-basal area of second tergite minute; second suture narrow and rather shallow; third tergite nearly as long as second tergite; remainder of metasoma micro-sculptured, depressed; fourth and apical half of third tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath shiny, setose and apically truncate.
Colour. Yellowish brown; head (except orbita dorsally and part of malar space), metapleuron, propodeum and metasoma dorsally (except lateral margins) blackish; antenna, pterostigma, most veins, tibiae (except narrow pale basal ring), hind coxa largely, apical half of middle and hind femora largely, narrowly base of tibiae and telotarsi dark brown; palpi and tegulae yellowish brown; wing membrane subhyaline.
Variation. Antennal segments of ♀ 44(1), 45(1), 46(4), 47(2); of ♂ 41(1), 42(2), 43(5), 44(2); head mainly blackish or dark brown; metapleuron blackish or largely yellowish brown; hind coxa and tarsi nearly entirely dark brown or largely (except telotarsus) yellowish brown. In males the metasoma is sometimes entirely dark (without a paler lateral margin) and the hind coxae are dark brown.
Males have about three fewer antennal segments than females. In MTMA is a ♀ from Korea with 43 antennal segments and the apical half of hind coxa, hind and middle femora and tibiae dark brown, similar to males from Switzerland.
Rogas
varius
Herrich-Schäffer, 1838: 156-7, fig.;
Aleiodes
varius
;
Aleiodes
procerus
Wesmael, 1838: 104;
Rogas
procerus
;
Type series of Rogas varius is lost. Lectotype of Aleiodes procerus ♀ (KBIN), “Belgique, Charleroi/teste Papp J. 1983”, “A. procerus”, “dét. C. Wesmael”, “Lectotypus”, “Aleiodes procerus Wesm. 1838, ♀, Papp, 1983”. One ♀ paralectotype with same label data.
*Austria, *Finland, *Netherlands (Oisterwijk), Russia. There is a specimen in BMNH labelled “British Isles: Devignes Coll. B.M. 1868–52” but we have seen no other evidence of its occurrence in Britain, and it is probably extinct if indeed it ever occurred. Specimens in
MRS446 (Russia HQ551275, CO1).
The only reared specimen seen is from Euthrix potatoria (Linnaeus) (Lasiocampidae) (E.O. Peltonen/Finland). The single date (6.vii.1987) on the label does not suggest voltinism or how the winter is passed, but the specimen is accompanied by a mummy (Fig.
Antennal segments of ♀ 66–71; head (except stemmaticum) entirely brownish yellow; scapus in lateral view distinctly oblique apically; occipital carina reduced ventrally (Fig.
Aleiodes varius (Herrich-Schäffer), ♀, Finland, Lappeenranta. 368 wings 369 mesosoma lateral 370 propodeum and metasoma dorsal 371 hind leg lateral 372 fore femur lateral 373 antenna 374 head anterior 375 head lateral 376 head dorsal 377 basal segments of antenna 378 apical segments of antenna.
Redescribed ♀ (
Head. Antennal segments 69, length of antenna 1.4 × fore wing, its subapical segments about 1.9 × as long as wide and scapus in lateral view distinctly oblique apically (Figs
Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes very finely coriaceous, with satin sheen, but medio-posteriorly with some rugae; notauli narrow, shallow and mainly coriaceous; prepectal carina rather lamelliform medio-ventrally, reaching anterior border of mesopleuron and latero-ventrally angulate; precoxal area of mesopleuron with some fine rugae medially (Fig.
Wings. Fore wing: r 0.3 × 3-SR (Fig.
Legs. Tarsal claws with fine brownish pecten; hind coxa superficially finely coriaceous, with satin sheen; hind trochantellus 2.2 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 7.5 and 5.3 × their width, respectively (Figs
Metasoma. First tergite 1.3 × as long as wide posteriorly, flattened and latero-anteriorly distinctly lamelliform; first–second tergites and base of third tergite densely finely regularly rugose and with median carina; second tergite slender, 1.1 × longer than wide basally and 1.4 × as long as third tergite (Fig.
Colour. Yellowish brown; apical 0.6 of antenna dark brown; stemmaticum, mesosoma (except largely brownish pronotum, mesoscutum medio-posteriorly, scutellum, metanotum posteriorly) and base of first tergite black or nearly so; pterostigma pale yellowish but apical third infuscate (Fig.
Variation. Length of fore wing 8.0–8.5 mm, of body 10.1–10.3 mm; antennal segments of ♀ 67(1), 68(1), 69(1), 70(1), 71(2), of ♂ 65(2), 66(1), 68(2), 69(1); marginal cell of hind wing parallel-sided or slightly narrowed submedially.
Females have on average 1–2 more antennal segments than males.
We thank Pekka Malinen and Marti Koponen (FMNH) for the loan of types and gift of specimens, the hospitality to the first author during his visit to Helsinki, and supplying pictures; for the latter also Stefan Schmidt (ZSSM). Sergey Belokobylskij (