Research Article |
Corresponding author: Francisco Javier Peris-Felipo ( peris.felipo@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Jose Fernandez-Triana
© 2018 Francisco Javier Peris-Felipo, Sergey A. Belokobylskij.
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:
Peris-Felipo FJ, Belokobylskij SA (2018) A review of the genus Apronopa van Achterberg (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) with a key to species. ZooKeys 793: 143-155. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.793.29313
|
A review of the genus Apronopa van Achterberg, 1980 with illustrated re-descriptions of the known species and a key for their identification is provided.
Braconidae , Alysiinae , Apronopa , parasitoid wasp, Palaearctic, redescription, illustration, key
The genus Apronopa van Achterberg, 1980 is small, with only three known species, and rarely collected taxon with a Palaearctic distribution (
The main aim of this study is the preparation of a complete and richly illustrated redescription of all known Apronopa species (some of which have non-English original descriptions), estimation of their diagnostic species characters and preparation of the first comprehensive key for determination of all described species.
For the terminology of morphological features, sculpture and measurements see
Apronopa
van Achterberg, 1980: 75;
Paraclypeal fovea small, far from inner border of eye. Mandibles small, tridentate, without transverse carina. Upper tooth small; median tooth rather wide and short; lower tooth wide, lobe shaped. Antenna thickened; first flagellar segment longer than second segment. Mesoscutum without postero-medial mesoscutal pit; notauli present on horizontal surface of mesoscutum reaching half or two thirds of mesoscutum; precoxal sulcus present, wide or narrow, oblique, crenulate-rugose, rarely almost smooth; propodeum with different types of sculpture, without areas delineated by carinae. Marginal cell of forewing always long; vein r longer than pterostigma width; vein 2-SR present and rather distinctly sclerotized; veins m-cu and cu-a always strongly postfurcal; subvertical vein 2-SR+M long; first subdiscal cell closed postero-apically by vein CU1b; vein CU1a arising from vein 3-CU1 distinctly behind its middle. Metasoma more or less distinctly depressed dorso-ventrally; first metasomal tergite without dorsope; second tergite usually striate-rugulose in basal one-third or two thirds.
Unknown.
Apronopa
haeselbarthi
van Achterberg, 1980: 75;
Holotype: female, Germany, Dransfeld, B/L 2.vi.1966 (Haeselbarth leg.) (
Description. Female (holotype).
Head. In dorsal view, 1.6 times as wide as long, 1.2 times as wide as mesoscutum, smooth, with temple rounded behind eyes. Eye in lateral view 1.3 times as high as wide and 1.5 times as wide as temple medially. POL equal to OD; OOL 2.5 times OD. Face 1.9 times as wide as high; inner margins of eyes subparallel. Clypeus 2.5 times as wide as high, slightly concave ventrally. Paraclypeal fovea almost reaching half distance between clypeus and inner border of eye. Mandible almost parallel-sided, about as long as its maximum width. Upper tooth small; middle tooth rather wide and short, weakly directed upwards; lower tooth wide, curved and obtuse. Antenna more than 9-segmented (apical segments missing). Scape 1.8 times as long as pedicel. First flagellar segment 2.2 times as long as its apical width, 1.3 times as long as second segment. Second flagellar segment 1.6 times, third to seventh segments 1.3–1.5 times as long as their maximum width.
Mesosoma. In lateral view about as long as high. Mesoscutum (dorsal view) about as long as its maximum width, smooth, sparsely setose. Notauli present on horizontal surface of mesoscutum reaching anterior two-third of mesoscutum. Prescutellar depression smooth, with median and lateral carinae, 2.8 times as long as its maximum width. Precoxal sulcus wide, smooth, not reaching anterior and posterior margins of mesopleuron. Posterior mesopleural furrow weakly crenulate. Propodeum sculptured, with several small smooth areas. Propodeal spiracles very small, its diameter 0.2 times as large as distance from spiracle to anterior margin of propodeum.
Wings. Length of forewing 2.4 times its maximum width. Marginal cell 4.2 times as long as its maximum width, ending almost on apex of wing. Vein 3-SR 1.5 times as long as vein 2-SR. Vein SR1 2.8 times as long as vein 3-SR. First subdiscal cell 3.0 times as long as its maximum width. Hindwing 4.3 times as long as its maximum width.
Legs. Hind femur 4.0 times as long as its maximum width. Hind tibia weakly widening towards apex, 8.5 times as long as its maximum subapical width, about as long as hind tarsus. First segment of hind tarsus 1.8 times as long as second segment.
Metasoma. First tergite weakly and curvedly widening towards apex, 1.1 times as long as its apical width, rugose-reticulate. Second tergite distinctly striate with reticulation in two-thirds baso-medially. Ovipositor 3.6 times as long as first tergite, almost as long as metasoma, 2.2 times as long as hind femur.
Colour. Body, flagellar segments of antenna and pterostigma dark brown to black. Mandible and legs brown. First metasomal tergite similar in colour to second and third tergites. Wings almost hyaline.
Length. Body 2.5 mm, forewing 3.0 mm, hindwing 2.2 mm.
Length of body 2.0–2.5 mm, forewing 2.0–3.0 mm. Antennae with 23 segments.
Male. Body length 1.9 mm. Forewing length 2.4 mm. Otherwise similar to female.
This species is similar to A. ussuricola Belokobylskij, 1998 (Russia), but differs from it in having the eye in lateral view 1.5 times as wide as temple medially (1.2 times in A. ussuricola), face 1.9 times as wide as high, distinctly and densely punctate-rugulose (1.6 times and weakly and sparsely punctate-rugulose in A. ussuricola), clypeus 2.5 times as wide as high (3.0 times in A. ussuricola), vein 3-SR 1.5 times as long as vein 2-SR (2.0 times in A. ussuricola), and ovipositor 3.6 times as long as first metasomal tergite (2.1 times in A. ussuricola).
Germany, Slovakia.
Apronopa
levis
Papp, 2007: 15;
Holotype: female, North Korea, Prov. Kangwon Kumgang-san, 24.ix.1978, in the woods around Oe-Kungang resthouse, No. 396 (A. Vojnits & L. Zombori leg.), Type No. 10970 (
Female (holotype).
Head. In dorsal view, 1.8 times as wide as long, 1.4 times as wide as mesoscutum, smooth, with temple rounded behind eyes. Eye in lateral view 1.3 times as high as wide and 1.1 times as wide as temple medially. POL 0.8 times OD; OOL 3.1 times OD. Face 1.8 times as wide as high; inner margins of eyes subparallel. Clypeus 2.5 times as wide as high, slightly concave ventrally. Paraclypeal fovea not reaching middle of distance between clypeus and inner border of eye. Mandible almost parallel-sided, about as long as its maximum width. Upper tooth small, wide and obtuse; middle tooth rather wide and short, directed forward; lower tooth wide, curved and obtuse. Antenna more than 20-segmented (apical segments missing). Scape 1.5 times as long as pedicel. First flagellar segment 2.5 times as long as its apical width, 1.4 times as long as second segment. Second flagellar segment 1.5 times, third to 18th segments 1.3–1.4 times as long as their maximum width.
Mesosoma. In lateral view 1.1 times as long as high. Mesoscutum (dorsal view) 0.9 times as long as its maximum width. Notauli present, on horizontal surface of mesoscutum reaching almost half of mesoscutum. Prescutellar depression smooth, with median and lateral carinae, 2.5 times as long as its maximum width. Precoxal sulcus narrow, crenulate, reaching anterior margin of mesopleuron but not reaching posterior margins of mesopleuron. Posterior mesopleural furrow crenulate. Propodeum anteriorly densely rugose, posteriorly (on its long declivous part) almost smooth, with several wrinkles. Propodeal spiracles small, its diameter 0.2 times as large as distance from spiracle to anterior margin of propodeum.
Wings. Length of forewing 2.6 times its maximum width. Marginal cell 4.4 times as long as its maximum width, ending on apex of wing. Vein 3-SR 1.8 times as long as vein 2-SR. Vein SR1 2.4 times as long as vein 3-SR. First subdiscal cell 2.5 times as long as its maximum width. Hind wing 5.3 times as long as its maximum width.
Legs. Hind femur 4.0 times as long as its maximum width. Hind tibia weakly widened at apex, 9.0 times as long as its maximum subapical width, about as long as hind tarsus. First segment of hind tarsus 1.9 times as long as second segment.
Metasoma. First tergite weakly curvedly, widened at apex, about as long as its apical width, reticulate-rugose. Second tergite entirely smooth. Ovipositor 1.8 times as long as first tergite, 0.7 times as long as metasoma, 3.0 times as long as hind femur.
Colour. Body, flagellar segments of antenna and pterostigma brown to dark brown. Mandible, scape, pedicel and legs light brown. First metasomal tergite similar in colour to second and third tergites. Wings almost hyaline.
Length. Body 3.0 mm, forewing 3.1 mm, hindwing 2.1 mm.
Male. Unknown.
This species is very similar to Apronopa ussuricola Belokoblyskij, 1998 (Russian Far East) but differs from them in having an entirely smooth second tergite (tergite striate with rugosity baso-medially in A. ussuricola), clypeus 2.5 times as wide as high (3.0 times in A. ussuricola), first flagellar segment 2.5 times as long as its maximum width (2.0 times in A. ussuricola), and ovipositor 1.8 times as long as first metasomal tergite (2.1 times in A. ussuricola).
North Korea
Apronopa
ussuricola
Belokobylskij, 1998: 217;
Holotype: female, Primorskiy kray, env. Ussuriysk, dry meadow, 15.vi.1993 (S. Belokobylskij leg.) (ZISP).
Female (holotype).
Head. In dorsal view, 1.8 times as wide as long, 1.4 times as wide as mesoscutum, smooth, with temple rounded behind eyes. Eye in lateral view 1.4 times as high as wide and 1.2 times as wide as temple medially. POL equal to OD; OOL 3.0 times OD. Face 1.6 times as wide as high; inner margins of eyes subparallel. Clypeus 3.0 times as wide as high, slightly concave ventrally. Paraclypeal fovea not reaching middle distance between clypeus and inner border of eye. Mandible almost parallel-sided, as long as its maximum width. Upper tooth very small; middle tooth rather wider and short, directed forwards; lower tooth wide, curved and obtuse. Antenna more than 27-segmented (apical segments missing). Scape 1.1 times as long as pedicel. First flagellar segment 2.0 times as long as its apical width, 1.3 times as long as second segment. Second flagellar segment 1.3 times as long as its maximum width, third to 25th segments 1.2–1.4 times as long as their maximum width.
Mesosoma. In lateral view 1.1 times as long as high. Mesoscutum (dorsal view) 0.9 times as long as its maximum width. Notauli present on horizontal surface of mesoscutum reaching two-thirds of mesoscutum. Prescutellar depression smooth, with median and lateral carinae, about 2.0 times as long as its maximum width. Precoxal sulcus rather wide, crenulate, not reaching anterior and posterior margins of mesopleuron. Posterior mesopleural furrow shortly crenulate. Propodeum rugose-reticulate, with smooth latero-medial areas. Propodeal spiracles rather small, its diameter 0.4 times as large as distance from spiracle to anterior margin of propodeum.
Wings. Length of forewing 2.2 times its maximum width. Marginal cell 4.5 times as long as its maximum width, ending on apex of wing. Vein 3-SR 2.0 times as long as vein 2-SR. Vein SR1 2.6 times as long as vein 3-SR. First subdiscal cell 2.5 times as long as its maximum width. Hindwing 5.0 times as long as its maximum width.
Legs. Hind femur 4.0 times as long as its maximum width. Hind tibia weakly widened at apex, 7.8 times as long as its maximum subapical width, about as long as hind tarsus. First segment of hind tarsus 1.7 times as long as second segment.
Metasoma. First tergite weakly widening towards apex, about as long as its apical width, rugose-reticulate. Second tergite in baso-medial half striate with reticulation. Ovipositor 2.1 times as long as first tergite, 1.1 times as long as metasoma, 3.4 times as long as hind femur.
Colour. Body, flagellar segments of antenna and pterostigma brown to dark brown. Mandible, scape, pedicel and legs light brown. First metasomal tergite similar in colour to second and third tergites. Wings almost hyaline.
Length. Body 2.0 mm, forewing 2.4 mm, hindwing 1.5 mm.
Male. Unknown.
This species is similar to Apronopa haeselbarthi van Achterberg, 1980 (Slovakia and Germany); differences between both species are showed under the description of the latter species.
Russia (south of Far East).
1 | Second metasomal tergite entirely smooth (Fig. |
A. levis Papp (♀) |
– | Second metasomal tergite striate with rugosity in baso-medial one- or two-thirds (Figs |
2 |
2 | Eye in lateral view 1.5 times as wide as temple medially (Fig. |
A. haeselbarthi van Achterberg (♀♂) |
– | Eye in lateral view 1.2 times as wide as temple medially (Fig. |
A. ussuricola Belokobylskij (♀) |
Most of the genera belonging to the Aspilota group (
An additional aspect to highlight is the rarity of specimens in collections, which hinders a better understanding (including molecular characters) of this peculiar genus. Any new samples and study of their phylogenetic position would allow us to better understand its position within the Aspilota group.
We are very thankful to Frederique Bakker from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, Netherlands;