Holotype, ♀ (MNHN), “Cipro [= Cyprus]”, “Muséum Paris, 1867, coll. O. Sichel”, “Rogas aestuosus Rhd.”.

Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Russia, Turkey, Tunisia, [Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan]. Specimens in ZJUH, BZL, CNC, HSC, MRC, MTMA, NMS, RMNH, ZSSM, ZISP. Distributed principally in Asia Minor, extending to Cyprus where it has been collected plentifully. Only single specimens examined from Albania (MTMA) and mainland Greece (BZL), but in North Africa it apparently extends westwards to Tunisia (one specimen in BZL).

MRS004 (Turkey).

Collected March–July, often at light, but it is not clear how many generations are represented nor how the winter is passed. Reared from Noctuidae: Heliothis peltigera (Denis & Schiffermüller) (4 [1 CNC/Iraq, 1 ZISP (with mummy)/Uzbekistan, 2 MTMA/Iraq]), Sesamia sp. (2 [ZJUH/Iran]). This indicates a host range of both endophagous and exophagous larvae, but the individuals purporting to be from Sesamia are labelled [no doubt incorrectly] “ex pupa” and lack mummies, suggesting that they may have resulted from substrate rearings (presumably from stems of crop species of Poaceae, inside which Sesamia larvae feed and pupate) rather than from isolated hosts, with a consequent reduction in the reliability of the host determination and suspicion that mummies of other hosts could have been overlooked on the stems (see also remark under A. apicalis). On the other hand, the large hypoclypeal depression and somewhat protruding clypeus does indicate that A. aestuosus adults are equipped to chew their way out of mummies made in concealed sites. The hosts given above are regular crop pests, but the paucity of reared material examined may suggest that A. aestuosus is not especially associated with cultivated habitats. The single mummy seen (Fig. 25) is rather elongate, scarcely arched, and the cocoon occupies most of the host abdomen. It has the appearance of not being securely stuck to the substrate.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.6–0.7 × minimum width of face (Fig. 34); clypeus rather protruding anteriorly and rather thick ventrally (Fig. 36); head brownish yellow; vertex finely punctate; lateral lobes of mesoscutum sparsely and finely punctate, with wide smooth interspaces; precoxal sulcus absent, area only sparsely finely punctate or smooth; 1-CU1 of fore wing subequal to vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 26); hind tarsal claws with brownish pecten (Fig. 37); only apex of hind tibia dark brown; metasoma of ♀ completely yellowish and distinctly depressed subapically, 1^st tergite partly and 4^th–6^th tergites of ♂ often blackish. Sometimes entire body (including propodeum and 1^st metasomal tergite) yellowish (“var. desertus”).

Redescribed ♀ (RMNH) from Turkey (Icil). Length of fore wing 6.8 mm, of body 8.3 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 52, length of antenna 1.1 × fore wing, its subapical segments approx. as long as wide; frons with irregular curved rugae, shiny, and rugose behind antennal sockets; OOL 2.4 × diameter of posterior ocellus, and finely remotely punctate, interspaces much larger than diameter of punctures; vertex spaced punctate, shiny; clypeus short, coarsely and densely punctate; ventral margin of clypeus thick and rather protruding forwards (Fig. 36); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.65 × minimum width of face (Fig. 34); length of eye 0.8 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 35); vertex behind stemmaticum sparsely punctate; clypeus near lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.3 × length of eye in lateral view.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely smooth, shiny, sparsely and finely punctate; prepectal carina medium-sized, reaching anterior border; precoxal area of mesopleuron and metapleuron remotely punctate, interspaces much wider than diameter of punctures, shiny; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except speculum) sparsely punctate; scutellum slightly convex, remotely punctate and evenly rounded laterally, no carina; propodeum evenly convex and coarsely rugose, medio-longitudinal carina complete, but irregular posteriorly, without tubercles.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.4 × 3-SR (Fig. 26); 1-CU1 horizontal, nearly as long as (0.9 x) 2-CU1; r-m 0.9 × 2-SR, and 0.7 × 3-SR; second submarginal cell medium-sized (Fig. 26); cu-a vertical, not parallel with CU1b, straight; 1-M rather curved posteriorly. Hind wing: marginal cell gradually and evenly widened, its apical width 2.3 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 27); 2-SC+R shortly longitudinal; m-cu distinct; M+CU:1-M = 23:19; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws subpectinate, with four brown medium-sized pectinal bristles (Fig. 37); hind coxa remotely punctate, shiny; hind trochantellus robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 3.0 and 3.5 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.55 × hind basitarsus; hind tibia slender (Fig. 23).

Metasoma. First tergite rather flattened, as long as wide apically; 1^st and 2^nd tergites coarsely and densely rugose, robust, with distinct median carina; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite wide and short; 2^nd suture deep medially and shallow laterally; basal half of 3^rd tergite finely rugose, remainder of metasoma largely smooth, punctulate; 4^th and apical half of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath with medium-sized setae and apically rounded (Fig. 22).

Colour. Brownish yellow; antenna, mesosternum (except anteriorly) and mesopleuron (except anteriorly and dorsally), metapleuron, propodeum, ovipositor sheath and stemmaticum black; hind tibia (except apically) pale yellowish; apices of femora (dorsally) and tibiae, palpi, tarsi (except basally), veins and pterostigma dark brown; wing membrane rather infuscate.

Variation. Size of eyes and ocelli rather variable. Mesopleuron, mesosternum, metapleuron and propodeum brownish yellow or black; 1^st tergite entirely brownish yellow or with dark brown patch basally; in desert areas body can be wholly orange. Antennal segments: ♀ 49 (1), 50 (3), 51 (9), 52 (13), 53 (10), 54 (3), 55 (5), 56 (2); ♂ 51 (10), 52 (11), 53 (5), 54 (4), 55 (3), 56 (1). The two sexes have comparable numbers of antennal segments. Apical tergites of ♂ type 3 and fringe moderately strong; inner hind tibial spur 0.50 × as long as hind basitarsus.

Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, *Greece, Iran, *Iraq, Israel, *Jordan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia, *Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

Figures 22–25. 

Aleiodes aestuosus (Reinhard), ♀, Cyprus, Yermasoyja River, but 25 from Uzbekistan, Qamashi 22 ovipositor sheath lateral 23 habitus lateral 24 apex of antenna 25 mummy of Heliothis peltigera (Denis & Schiffermüller).

Figures 26–37. 

Aleiodes aestuosus (Reinhard), ♀, Cyprus, Yermasoyja River 26 fore wing 27 hind wing 28 mesosoma lateral 29 mesosoma dorsal 30 metasoma dorsal 31 fore femur lateral 32 hind femur lateral 33 base of antenna 34 head anterior 35 head dorsal 36 head lateral 37 inner hind tarsal claw.

Lectotype, ♀ (ZISP; examined via photos), “Persiya [= Iran], Tavriz, 21.iii.[19]14, Andrievskij”, “Rhogas agilis sp. n., N. Telenga det.”, “Syntypus agilis Tel.”, “Lectotypus Rogas agilis Tel., design. Tobias, 1980”; paralectotype, ♀ (ZISP; id.), “Armenia, pr. Eriwan [= Yerevan], A. Schelkovnikow / Ragakag, 19.iii.[19]25”, “Paralectotypus Rhogas agilis Telenga, design. Tobias, 1986”. In the original description the latter date is incorrectly cited as 24.vii.1925.

None.

Unknown. It appears to fly very early in the year (March).

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression approx. 0.8 × minimum width of face; anterior part of clypeus very narrow (Fig. 46); OOL 1.0–1.3 × diameter of posterior ocellus and coarsely remotely punctate with some weak rugulosity; head and mesosoma (except pronotal side partly and mesoscutum medio-posteriorly and laterally) blackish; mandible massive triangular, coarsely punctate and with thick ventral lamella (Fig. 46); face largely transversely rugose and conspicuously whitish setose; frons rugose and shiny; vertex and temple coarsely remotely punctate and shiny; area of precoxal sulcus (but posteriorly superficially) distinctly rugose; lateral lobes of mesoscutum largely smooth (anteriorly becoming densely punctate and somewhat rugose), whitish setose and with satin sheen, middle lobe distinctly punctate; basal half of wings (except anteriorly) largely glabrous and remainder of wing inconspicuously setose; vein r of fore wing approx. 0.6 × vein 3-SR (Fig. 40); vein 1-CU1 0.2–0.3 × as long as 2-CU1, narrow and subhorizontal; tarsal claws long, slender, hardly bent and simple (Fig. 44); 1^st and base of 2^nd tergite weakly longitudinally rugulose with some superficial punctures; metasoma dark brown but with yellow patches (Fig. 38), clypeus and antenna (except yellow scapus and pedicellus) yellowish brown; legs and palpi pale yellowish, but hind coxa and most of middle coxa dark brown.

Paralectotype, ♀, length of fore wing 6.6 mm, of body 7.0 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 47, antenna as long as body and its subapical segments moderately slender; frons rugose, shiny; OOL 1.3 × diameter of posterior ocellus; OOL and vertex remotely punctate, with satin sheen, OOL also with some rugulae; anterior part of clypeus 9 × wider than high, coarsely punctate and rather convex; clypeus above lower level of eyes; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards (Fig. 48); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.8 × minimum width of face (Fig. 46); length of eye 1.8 × temple in dorsal view; vertex behind stemmaticum convex and sparsely punctate; length of malar space 0.19 × length of eye in lateral view; occipital carina nearly complete, fine and ventrally strongly curved; mandible massive triangular, coarsely punctate and with thick ventral lamella (Fig. 46).

Mesosoma. Lateral lobes of mesoscutum largely smooth, with satin sheen and whitish setose, middle lobe distinctly punctate and setose; prepectal carina complete and lamelliform; precoxal area of mesopleuron widely rugose, but posterior 0.2 narrowly striate; mesopleuron largely weakly and sparsely punctate, shiny, but anteriorly becoming densely punctate and somewhat rugulose; scutellum largely smooth, with some punctures; propodeum evenly convex, finely rugose and with medio-longitudinal carina, without tubercles.

Wings. Fore wing: basal half largely glabrous; r 0.6 × 3-SR (Fig. 40); 1-CU1 subhorizontal, 0.25 × as long as 2-CU1; r-m 0.7 × as long as 3-SR; 2^ndsubmarginal cell robust (Fig. 40); cu-a distinctly inclivous; 1-M weakly curved posteriorly. Hind wing: basal 0.4 of marginal cell slightly widened and distally strongly widened, its apical width approx. twice width at level of hamuli; 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu indistinct; M+CU:1-M = 24:19; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws slender, slightly curved and only setose (Fig. 44); hind coxa partly obliquely striate dorsally; tarsi slender, segments (except telotarsus) with long apical spiny bristles; length of hind femur and basitarsus 5.0 and 6.0 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.3 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite robust, as long as wide apically, distinctly narrowed anteriorly and rather flat posteriorly; 1^st and 2^nd tergites finely longitudinally striate-rugulose; medio-longitudinal carina of 1^st and 2^nd tergites indistinct; 2^nd tergite 0.7 × longer than its basal width; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite wide triangular, rather short; 2^nd suture shallow and narrow; 3^rd tergite mainly smooth and with satin sheen; 4^th and apical half of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath rather slender, with short setae and apically truncate (Fig. 39).

Colour. Black; pronotal side largely yellowish brown; mesoscutum medio-posteriorly and postero-laterally partly chestnut brown; tegulae, clypeus and antenna (except yellow scapus and pedicellus) yellowish brown; mandible, legs and palpi pale yellowish, but hind coxa and most of middle coxa dark brown; metasoma dark brown but with yellow patches (Fig. 38); pterostigma brown medially and dark brown laterally; ovipositor sheath dark brown; veins of fore wing (but pale yellow in basal 0.2 of fore wing) brown; wing membrane hyaline.

Armenia, Iran. Included in this revision, because it may occur in Turkey.

Figures 38, 39. 

Aleiodes agilis (Telenga), ♀, paralectotype 38 habitus lateral 39 ovipositor sheath lateral. Photographs by K. Samartsev.

Figures 40–49. 

Aleiodes agilis (Telenga), ♀, paralectotype, but 47 of lectotype 40 wings 41 mesosoma lateral 42 fore femur lateral 43 hind femur lateral 44 outer hind tarsal claw 45 fore leg 46 head anterior 47 head dorso-lateral 48 head lateral 49 base of antenna. Photographs by K. Samartsev.

Holotype of B. apicalis, ♂ (MNHN) “[Greece], Morée, Muséum Paris, Brullé 4187-33”, “Type”, “Bracon apicalis Brullé, Type”. Lectotype of R. similis, ♂ (MTMA) “[Hungary], Kecskemét, Szépligeti”, “Hym. Typ. No. 7021, Mus. Budapest”, “Lectotypus”, “Rhogas similis Szépl. 1903 ♂, Papp, 1984”, “Rhogas reticulator var. similis Sz., det. Szépligeti, 1906”, “Aleiodes ductor Thunbg., det. Papp, J., 1983”. Holotype of R. rufo-ater, ♂ (ZJUH) “[Portugal], Madeira, Wollaston, 55.7”, “Rogas rufo-ater, W.”, Type, H.T.”, “B.M. Type Hym., 3.c.241”.

Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France (including Corsica), Germany, Greece (including Chios, Corfu, Crete, Lesbos, Rhodes), Hungary, Italy (including Sardinia, Sicily), Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Portugal (including Madeira), Romania, Russia (including Dagestan), Serbia, Slovakia, Spain (including Mallorca and Canary Islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura), Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, [Georgia, Kazakhstan, Oman, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Turkmenistan]. Specimens in ZJUH, BZL, CMIM, CNC, HSC, MRC, MSC, MTMA, NMS, RMNH, SDEI, UNS, ZISP, ZSSM. This is a mainly Mediterranean species, extending into Central Europe and West Asia, and one of the commonest species of the group in the Mediterranean area. One surprising female from Sweden (Skåne, Käseberga, MV light 17-vii-14.ix.2013, N. Ryrholm & C. Källander, in NMS) is presumed, like two British specimens (England, V.C. 3, S. Devon, Slapton Ley 7–14.vi.1932, H.St.J. Donisthorpe, in ZJUH; V.C. 22, Berkshire, Beale Park, 25–27.vii.2018, Rothamsted trap, in coll. A.C. Galsworthy destined for ZJUH) and one specimen from Netherlands (Lexmond, ZH, 10.viii.2004, C. Gielis in RMNH) to have been deposited there by winds from southern Europe or N. Africa rather than representing an established breeding population. Whether or not A. apicalis can eventually establish permanent populations, i.e., with winter survival, in these relatively northerly parts of Europe may depend on whether its host can do likewise.

MRS008 (Turkey), MRS111 (Turkey), MRS112 (Turkey), MRS181 (Russia), MRS869 (Sweden).

Time of flight varies according to harshness of summer. In its more temperate sites plurivoltine April-September(October), overwintering in the mummy, but in Cyprus (and presumably other places with extremely hot dry summers) it appears to be most active from autumn to spring (October–May), with a prolonged summer diapause (June–October or later) in the mummy (reared series ex “Plusia” in ZJUH and NMS, W.R. Ingram, six with mummification dates recorded in May or June and adult emergence in the following October–December, further specimens in the series have only one date, which is ambiguous). Reared from Noctuidae: Autographa gamma (Linnaeus) (6 [4 ZISP/Moldova, 1 HSC/Germany, 1 NMS/Malta]; J.L. Gregory, H. Schnee), indet. Plusiinae (14). There is no reason to suppose that the hosts recorded as indet. Plusiinae are anything except A. gamma. A further specimen labelled as ex Peribroma [sic] saucia is accompanied by a clearly Plusiinae mummy (Sicily, NMS). Also, one labelled as from Anarsia lineatella Zeller (Gelechiidae) (Ukraine, ZISP), but without a mummy and clearly in error on grounds of size alone. Another specimen labelled as “ex Sesamia pupa” (Iran, ZJUH) lacks its mummy but accompanies two individuals of A. aestuosus (q. v.) from the same source, and the remarks made under that species apply also to this record – but with the added objection that the small hypoclypeal opening and flat clypeus of A. apicalis strongly suggest that its hosts do not mummify in deep concealment. The mummy (Fig. 52) is of a pale chalky buff colour, and the cocoon occupies approx. abdominal segments 4–7 of the host larva. Several of the mummies examined, all of which seem to be penultimate instar, have been formed in a more or less curled leaf beneath a web (Fig. 53) that the host had been induced to spin before being mummified, and were weakly stuck to the substrate.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3–0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig. 60); antennal segments of ♀ 44–51 and flagellar segments moderately robust (Figs 64, 65); ventral margin of clypeus thick and obtuse apically and clypeus not protruding outwards (Fig. 62); vertex, mesoscutum, metapleuron and scutellum normally shiny and without dense granulation, at most with some superficial micro-sculpture; frons (and more or less vertex) with striae (Fig. 61) or rugae; scutellum largely smooth and shiny; mesopleuron largely smooth; vein 2-CU1 of fore wing approx. as long as vein 1-CU1 (Fig. 54); vein M+CU of hind wing distinctly longer than vein 1-M (Fig. 54); hind tarsal claws of ♀ with rather slender and brownish pecten (Fig. 63); basal half of hind tibia (largely) pale yellowish, or if black (var. rufoater) then also fore femur black; 3^rd tergite (except basally) largely smooth; medially 4^th–6^th tergites of ♂ slightly concave and with dense band of medium-sized setae (Figs 68, 69); head, mesoscutum and scutellum black; 2^nd tergite yellowish or reddish.

Redescribed ♀ (RMNH) from Hungary (Budapest), length of fore wing 5.1 mm, of body 6.7 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ more than 40, but apical segments missing (length of antenna of ♀ from Lesbos 1.4 × fore wing and its subapical segments robust); frons with coarse curved rugae, shiny; OOL 1.5 × diameter of posterior ocellus, and distinctly striate; vertex transversely striate, rather weak; clypeus normal, punctulate and convex; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards; width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3 × minimum width of face (Fig. 60); length of eye 1.6 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 61); vertex behind stemmaticum transversely striate; clypeus near lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.4 × length of eye in lateral view; occipital carina complete, fine.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely smooth, punctulate, shiny; prepectal carina complete, rather strong; precoxal area of mesopleuron largely smooth; mesopleuron above precoxal area weakly and sparsely punctate, especially posteriorly; scutellum largely smooth, with striae laterally; propodeum evenly convex, coarsely vermiculate-rugose, only anteriorly with median carina, without tubercles.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.6 × 3-SR (Fig. 54); 1-CU1 horizontal, equal to or slightly longer than 2-CU1; r-m 0.9 × 3-SR; 2^nd submarginal cell comparatively short (Fig. 54); cu-a vertical, slightly curved posteriorly; 1-M straight posteriorly. Hind wing: marginal cell basally slightly and distally strongly widened, its apical width 2.6 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 54); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu indistinct; M+CU:1-M = 5:3; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws with rather slender and medium-sized brownish pecten (Fig. 63); hind coxa largely densely punctate; hind trochantellus medium-sized; length of hind femur and basitarsus 5.1 and 6.0 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.5 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite robust, evenly convex; 1^st and 2^nd tergites rather coarsely obliquely rugose; 1^st tergite and basal half of 2^nd tergite with median carina; 2^nd tergite robust and with striae diverging posteriorly; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite wide triangular, rather short; 2^nd suture rather deep medially; 3^rd tergite largely smooth, except anteriorly with some striae; 4^th and apical half of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath with rather long setae and apically rounded (Fig. 51).

Colour. Black; scapus, pedicellus, tegulae (but humeral plate brownish yellow), base of hind tibia narrowly, apical half of hind tibia, telotarsi, hind tarsus largely, ventral apical half of metasoma, pterostigma and veins (except C+SC+R of fore wing) dark brown; remainder of basal half of antenna and palpi yellowish brown; remainder of legs (but apical two-fifths of hind femur black), 1^st and 2^nd tergites, 3^rd tergite basally and laterally orange brown; remainder of hind tibia pale yellowish; apex of middle femur and wing membrane somewhat infuscate.

Variation. A. apicalis is very variable in colour and the colour patterns are not restricted to certain areas, but in general southern Palaearctic specimens are darker than northern ones (or specimens from high altitudes). The tegula is dark brown or black, and the humeral plate usually paler than the tegula or equally black, but both usually yellowish in southern specimens; the hind tarsus is dark brown or black, but sometimes 3^rd and 4^th segments yellowish; the hind tibia variably reddish to black, but palest at extreme base; the pronotum is very occasionally reddish. The extent of black colouration of the legs is especially variable, and sometimes all legs are entirely black (var. rufoater (Wollaston, 1858)). Antenna, especially in females, can be more or less light reddish brown, especially basally, or dark brown/black throughout. Antennal segments: ♀ 44(1), 46(3), 47(11), 48(20), 49(31), 50(41), 51(19), 52(10), 54(3), 55(1), 57(1); ♂ 46(3), 47(7), 48(17), 49(29), 50(30), 51(32), 52(11), 53(5), 54(1). Males have on average approx. one antennal segment more than females. Apical tergites of ♂ type 4, setosity dense (making the tergites appear concave; Figs 68, 69) and fringe weak.

*Albania, Austria, *Bosnia & Herzegovina, *Bulgaria, *Croatia, Cyprus, *Czech Republic, *France (including Corsica), *Georgia, *Germany, Greece (including Chios, Corfu, Crete, Lesbos, Rhodes), *Hungary, Iran, *Iraq, *Israel, *Italy (including Sardinia, Sicily), *Kazakhstan, *Malta, *Moldova, *Montenegro, *Morocco, *North Macedonia, *Oman, *Portugal (including Madeira), *Romania, *Russia (including Dagestan), *Serbia, *Slovakia, Spain (including Mallorca and Canary Islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura), *Syria, Switzerland, *Tunisia, Turkey, *Turkmenistan.

The synonymy of Rogas rufo-ater Wollaston, 1858, and Rhogas similis Szépligeti, 1903, are based on examination of the types listed above. The lectotype of Rogas bicolor Lucas, 1849 (not Spinola, 1808) and of Rhogas bicolorinus Fahringer, 1932, has been examined by Dr Jenö Papp and we agree with his opinion that it is a synonym of A. ductor auct. (= A. apicalis). The types of Rogas reticulator Nees, 1834, and Rhogas reticulator var. atripes Costa, 1884, are lost or unavailable and their synonymy is based on the original description and the interpretation by later authors.

Figures 50–53. 

Aleiodes apicalis (Brullé), ♀, Greece, Thimiana Chios, but 52 mummies of Autographa gamma (Linnaeus) from Malta and 53 of undetermined plusiine host from Cyprus 50 habitus lateral 51 ovipositor sheath lateral 52 mummy dorsal 53 mummy covered by silk of host.

Figures 54–65. 

Aleiodes apicalis (Brullé), ♀, Bulgaria, Rodopi 54 wings 55 mesosoma lateral 56 mesosoma dorsal 57 1^st –3^rd metasomal tergites dorsal 58 fore femur lateral 59 hind femur lateral 60 head anterior 61 head dorsal 62 head lateral 63 outer hind tarsal claw 64 base of antenna 65 apex of antenna.

Figures 66–71. 

Aleiodes apicalis (Brullé), ♂, Turkey, Sivas 66 habitus lateral 67 head dorsal 68 3^rd –7^th metasomal tergites dorsal 69 3^rd –7^th metasomal tergites lateral 70 head anterior 71 outer hind tarsal claw.

Holotype, ♀ (ZISP) “[Azerbaijan], Kosmoljan, Zuvan, 19.v.[1]936, Arnoldi”, “Holotypus Rogas arnoldii Tobias”.

1 ♂ (RMNH), “Turkey, Hakkâri, Tanin Tanin Pass, 25.vi.1985, 2200 m, C.J. Zwakhals”. Male is provisionally associated with this species; it may belong to a related species.

None.

Unknown. The holotype was collected in May.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4–0.5 × minimum width of face (Fig. 78); clypeus obtuse apically and not protruding in lateral view (Fig. 77); length of malar space of ♀ 0.5–0.6 × height of eye in lateral view; antennal segments of ♀ 35–37 and length of antenna of ♀ 0.8–0.9 × fore wing; OOL sparsely punctate; lateral lobes of mesoscutum largely smooth; posterior half of notauli shallow; precoxal area coarsely vermiculate-rugose medially; head, palpi and part of mesosoma of ♀ yellowish brown; pterostigma dark brown; apex of hind tibia of ♀ yellowish; hind tarsal claws yellowish or brownish setose (Fig. 72); 4^th–6^th tergites of ♂ flat and normally setose, but setae slightly longer than on basal tergites (Fig. 92).

Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 4.4 mm, of body 5.7 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 37, length of antenna 0.85 × fore wing, its subapical segments quadrate; frons with rather coarse curved rugae, shiny, and rugose behind antennal sockets; OOL 2.0 × diameter of posterior ocellus, and finely remotely punctate, interspaces much larger than diameter of punctures; vertex spaced punctate, shiny; face transversely rugose; clypeus finely rugulose and with long setae; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards; width of hypoclypeal depression 0.45 × minimum width of face; length of eye 1.1 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 79); vertex behind stemmaticum rugulose; clypeus near lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.55 × length of eye in lateral view.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely smooth, shiny, sparsely and finely punctate; precoxal area of mesopleuron coarsely rugose, but absent posteriorly; metapleuron remotely punctate, interspaces much wider than diameter of punctures, shiny; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except speculum) punctate and dorsally rugose; scutellum sparsely punctate or punctulate, medio-posteriorly rugulose and with some striae laterally, no carina; propodeum evenly convex and coarsely vermiculate-rugose, medio-longitudinal carina strong in basal 0.6, and without tubercles.

Wings. Fore wing: just reaching apex of metasoma; r 0.35 × 3-SR (Fig. 74); 1-CU1 horizontal, 0.45 × 2-CU1; r-m unsclerotized; 2^nd submarginal cell medium-sized (Fig. 74); cu-a vertical, straight; 1-M nearly straight posteriorly; 1-SR wide. Hind wing: marginal cell linearly widened, its apical width 2.2 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 72); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu distinct, but unsclerotized and as long as cu-a; M+CU:1-M = 15:9; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws subpectinate, with six yellowish medium-sized pectinal bristles; hind coxa obliquely striated dorsally, punctulate laterally; hind trochantellus robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 3.6 and 4.6 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.5 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite rather flattened, as long as wide apically; 1^st and 2^nd tergites coarsely longitudinally and densely rugose, robust and posterior corners of 1^st protruding outside base of 2^nd tergite, with distinct median carina; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite wide and short; 2^nd suture moderately deep and crenulate; basal half of 3^rd tergite longitudinally striate, remainder of metasoma largely smooth, punctulate; 4^th and apical half of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, setose and apically truncate (Fig. 73).

Colour. Yellowish brown; mesosoma (except mesoscutum, scutellum medially, pronotum anteriorly and dorsally), ovipositor sheath, 3^rd tergite (except antero-lateral corners) and following segments black; apical half of antenna, pedicellus, palpi, hind femur apico-dorsally, telotarsi, veins, parastigma basally and pterostigma dark brown; wing membrane rather brownish infuscate.

Variation. Antennal segments of ♀ 37(1). Male is largely black, except for 2^nd tergite and anterior half of 3^rd tergite (Fig. 80).

Azerbaijan, *Turkey.

Easily confused with A. ruficornis (Herrich-Schäffer); the relative size of the clypeus (wider and somewhat shorter in A. arnoldii than in A. ruficornis) seems to be the main difference in both sexes. In addition, the female of A. arnoldii has the temple ventrally and the malar space yellowish brown (dark brown in A. ruficornis). The male has darker legs and 1^st metasomal tergite than the female (the sexes more similar in A. ruficornis). Also reported from Uzbekistan (Yuldashev, 2006); the record from Poland (Huflejt, 1997) most likely concerns A. ruficornis (Herrich-Schäffer). Aleiodes arnoldii sensu Farahani et al. (2015) concerns a species closely related to A. gasterator (Jurine) but has basal half of 3^rd tergite coarsely longitudinally rugose, antenna of ♀ with 30–35 segments (of ♂ 36), head linearly narrowed ventrally and subbasal antennal segments of ♀ slightly slenderer.

Figures 72, 73. 

Aleiodes arnoldii (Tobias), ♀, holotype 72 habitus lateral 73 ovipositor sheath lateral. Photographs: K. Samartsev.

Figures 74–79. 

Aleiodes arnoldii (Tobias), ♀, holotype 74 wings 75 mesosoma lateral 76 antenna 77 head lateral 78 head anterior 79 head dorsal. Photographs: K. Samartsev.

Figure 80. 

Aleiodes arnoldii (Tobias), ♂, Turkey, Tanin Pass, habitus lateral.

Figures 81–92. 

Aleiodes arnoldii (Tobias), ♂, Turkey, Tanin Pass 81 wings 82 mesosoma lateral 83 mesosoma dorsal 84 metasoma dorsal 85 fore femur lateral 86 hind femur lateral 87 inner hind tarsal claw 88 head anterior 89 head dorsal 90 head lateral 91 base of antenna 92 apex of metasoma lateral.

Lectotype of A. grandis, ♂ (MNHN), “[Austria:] environs de Vienne”. Holotype of R. vicinus (MTMA), ♀, “Yugoslavia, [Serbia:] Vojvonida, Fruška Gora Mts., Sremska Kamenica, 1–2.v.1972, Papp & Horvatovich”, “Holotypus ♀ Rogas vicinus sp. n., Papp, 1977”, “Hym. Typ. No. 2375, Mus. Budapest”; paratype of R. vicinus, ♀ (MTMA), “[Romania:] Transylvania, Szászkezd%, Silbernagel”, “Paratypus ♀ Rogas vicinus sp. n., Papp, 1977”, “Hym. Typ. No. 2376, Mus. Budapest”; 1 ♂ (MTMA), id., but No. 2375.

Austria, Belgium, British Isles (England V.C.s 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 20, 22, 28, 29, 39), Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands (GE: Brummen (Leuvenheim); LI: Epen; ZH: Schoonrewoerd), Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland. Specimens in ZJUH, BZL, CNC, FMNH, HSC, MRC, MSC, MTMA, NMS, OUM, RMNH, SDEI, ZSSM.

MRS024 (UK), MRS147 (UK).

Univoltine, spending ca ten months of the year in the exposed mummy on an aerial twig. Collected from April–June, among broadleaved trees (but see paragraph below). Reared from arboreal Amphipyra spp.: A. pyramidea (Linnaeus) (29; M.G. Bloxham, C. Bystrowski, J. Connell, A.P. Fowles, G.M. Haggett, B.T. Parsons, D.L.J. Quicke, M.R. Shaw); A. berbera (Rungs) (5:1 [5 OUM]; G.C. Varley); Amphipyra sp. (8). Some of the forgoing specimens were reared and labelled in the period before it was known that there are two closely related and sympatric arboreal species of Amphipyra in Britain, and it is possible that British records from A. pyramidea (especially when collected on Quercus; cf. Shaw, 1981) have been overstated at the expense of A. berbera; however, both certainly serve as host. An account of frequency at one site is given by Shaw (1981).

Before becoming mummified the host moves to a narrow twig, to which the mummy will be very strongly glued. In the early stage of the mummification process (Fig. 99), in which the anterior end of the host is particularly contracted, the parasitoid larva strongly protrudes anteriorly to spread the necessary glue (Fig. 101). The resultant almost semi-circularly domed and hard mummy (Fig. 100), in which the parasitoid occupies approximately abdominal segments 4–7 of the host, forms in ca May–June and persists through the remainder of the summer and the following winter until the adult emerges in ca April–May. (The univoltine hosts overwinter in the egg stage.) The swollen part of the mummy, which is moderately densely lined with silk, is externally usually matt chalky buff in colour, but dark brown diamond-shaped patches centred dorsally on intersegmental areas tend to remain (Fig. 97), and sometimes (perhaps especially when the mummy is unable to dry as it forms) these are coalesced to leave a single shiny dark brown patch covering most of the dorsal surface. Some of the mummies examined might be of somewhat stunted final instar hosts, but others are more clearly penultimate instar. The outcomes of an experiment involving six females and cultured A. pyramidea larvae were unfortunately marred by unavoidably high temperatures and then disease overcoming the cultures so that no mummies resulted, but the following observations were made: (i) 2^nd to 5^th instar hosts were potentially attractive; (ii) 2^nd instar hosts were, however, often ignored or else tended to be abandoned after being paralysed with a single jab (i.e., without oviposition subsequently taking place); (iii) 3^rd instar hosts were often ignored, but when attacked seemed the most smoothly parasitised, sometimes with a single paralysing jab being followed, after a short pause, by a single insertion of the ovipositor for presumed oviposition, although the pattern observed for 4^th and 5^th instars also occurred with 3^rd instars; (iv) 4^th and (2 only) 5^th instar hosts were embraced the most enthusiastically, but it required several (3–5) injections to subdue them, and then there were usually several (3–4) separate sequential and lengthy (often as long as 80 seconds) insertions of the ovipositor (which may or may not all have been actual ovipositions), the parasitoid turning between insertions and always grasping the host with all six legs during the insertion; (v) antennation of the host was minimal, and there was no post-oviposition association; (vi) all temporarily paralysed hosts hung from the substrate by one or usually more prolegs until they recovered, presumably preventing their falling from their pabulum; (vii) there is no long-term physiological venom effect. The behaviour of adults observed toward the different instars is intriguing, and the experiment would be well worth repeating under better circumstances.

Although the above is a consistent pattern for this species, it does not account for a small number of specimens (14 ♀, 4♂ in BZL, MRC, MTMA, NMS, SDEI, ZSSM) examined from various localities in central Europe (Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary) and S. Russia. These specimens share small but rather consistent morphological differences from the usual form, in particular tendencies towards: more intense sculpture on the metasomal tergites (T3 being more or less strongly punctate or even rugose-punctate); the hind wing marginal cell parallel-sided in basal three fifths; shorter 3-SR in fore wing; basal cell of fore wing with more, and more evenly distributed, setae; fewer antennal segments; wing membrane slightly brownish. These differences are not absolutely consistent and would be easy to let pass without comment were it not for the fact that they are correlated with an apparently different phenology, as (of the ten specimens with dates recorded) five ♀ were collected in July and one in August, with only three ♀ in May and one in June (none in April). This is in marked contrast with the earlier flight time of the usual form, and the usual hosts (arboreal Amphipyra spp.) are not available after early June. A further ♀ specimen (MTMA) examined and returned in 1997 by MRS but apparently no longer in the main MTMA collection was labelled “Hungaria, Fót, Somlyó-hegy, 30.vii.1958, Ehik”; “Ex Panchrysia deaurata Esp [J. Papp’s handscript]”; “ex Pytometra deautate [sic]”. Unfortunately, no mummy had been preserved, but this plusiine noctuid feeds on Thalictrum (a low plant, not a tree) and it is unlikely for an arboreal Amphipyra, even if fallen from a tree above, to have been mistaken for it. The date, whether referring to collection of the host larva or emergence of the adult parasitoid, is also out of step with arboreal Amphipyra species. We considered but rejected the possibility that these specimens belong to a separate species, and instead conclude that under certain circumstances A. aterrimus can have a partial 2^nd brood (in the southern part of its range) which uses different hosts, and that the morphological variation is merely seasonal. The material (which does not conform to A. sapporensis (Watanabe), see below) is being returned to holding institutions determined as A. aterrimus but with “var: T3 sculpture etc.” appended to facilitate recall if necessary. It should be added that this form has (on account of its heavy metasomal sculpture and extensively parallel-sided marginal cell in the hind wing) sometimes been misidentified as A. rugulosus, but the two species are always easily separated by the sculpture of the mesoscutum and scutellum, as well as by leg colour.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3–0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig. 109); ventral margin of clypeus obtuse apically and not protruding outwards (Fig. 111); OOL of ♀ distinctly longer than diameter of posterior ocellus; mesoscutal lobes densely and finely punctate-coriaceous, rather matt; scutellum densely and finely coriaceous; mesosternal sulcus shallow, obsolescent or absent; vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.2 × vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 102); vein 2-SC+R of hind wing subquadrate or vertical (Fig. 102); hind tarsal claws with conspicuous and robust blackish pecten (Fig. 113); head black; hind tibia largely to completely black; metasoma of both sexes black; 4^th–6^th tergites of ♂ flat and densely short setose, except a narrow glabrous strip centrally.

Dr K. Samartsev (in litt.) kindly brought to the first author’s attention that the East Palaearctic A. sapporensis (Watanabe, 1937) occurs in southern European Russia (Middle and Lower Volga territories). Aleiodes aterrimus and A. sapporensis differ only slightly, mainly by the colour of the extreme base of the hind tibia (completely dark brown in A. sapporensis and usually narrowly pale yellowish in A. aterrimus) and by the shape of temple in dorsal view (roundly narrowed in A. sapporensis and rather linearly narrowed in A. aterrimus). There is also a slight difference in the proportions of the face (A. sapporensis has facial width 1.50–1.60 × medial height including clypeus and A. aterrimus 1.65–1.75 ×). A. sapporensis seems to have the lateral carinae of propodeum more protruding and has 58–66 antennal segments.

Redescribed ♀ (RMNH) from England (Pamber Forest). Length of fore wing 7.3 mm, of body 8.6 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 59, length of antenna 1.1 × fore wing, its subapical segments rather robust; frons largely superficially granulate; OOL 1.8 × diameter of posterior ocellus, and superficially rugulose-granulate and shiny; vertex superficially rugulose-granulate, rather shiny; clypeus with some punctures; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards (Fig. 111); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3 × minimum width of face (Fig. 109); length of eye 1.3 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 110); vertex behind stemmaticum superficially granulate-rugulose; clypeus near lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.4 × length of eye in lateral view.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes densely and finely punctate-coriaceous, rather matt; precoxal area of mesopleuron largely smooth medially, densely punctate anteriorly and posteriorly; metapleuron densely punctate; metanotum with nearly complete median carina; scutellum punctate-coriaceous; propodeum rather convex and coarsely reticulate-rugose, medio-longitudinal carina nearly complete, and with slightly protruding carinae laterally.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.4 × 3-SR (Fig. 102); 1-CU1 slightly oblique, 0.2 × 2-CU1; r-m 0.6 × 3-SR; 2^nd submarginal cell medium-sized (Fig. 102); cu-a inclivous, straight; 1-M nearly straight posteriorly; 1-SR wide; surroundings of M+CU1, 1-M and 1-CU1 largely glabrous. Hind wing: marginal cell linearly widened, its apical width 2.0 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 103); 2-SC+R short and vertical; m-cu absent; M+CU:1-M = 12:11; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws with conspicuous and robust blackish pecten (Fig. 113); hind coxa largely densely punctate; hind trochantellus rather robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 4.7 and 6.5 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.4 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite evenly convex, as long as wide apically; 1^st and 2^nd tergites with medio-longitudinal carina and coarsely longitudinally rugose, but posterior quarter of 2^nd tergite irregularly rugose and no median carina; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite triangular and rather distinct (Fig. 106); 2^nd suture deep and narrow; basal half of 3^rd tergite finely punctate-rugose, remainder of metasoma superficially micro-sculptured; 4^th and apical half of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, with long setae and apically truncate (Fig. 95).

Colour. Black; antenna (except scapus and pedicellus), palpi, tegulae, fore and middle telotarsi, veins and pterostigma dark brown; coxae, trochanters and trochantelli, apical third of hind femur (ventrally extended to its apical two-thirds), hind tibia (except pale yellowish basal ring) and hind tarsus black, remainder of legs yellowish brown; wing membrane subhyaline.

Variation. Hind femur usually only apically dark brown, but sometimes entirely dark brown; coxae black or sometimes largely yellowish brown. Two females (both NMS, from different localities) have vein r-m of fore wing absent. Males are very similar, apical tergites type 3, with fringe very weak to negligible; hind femur often only apically blackish, but sometimes up to apical 0.6 darkened. Antennal segments: ♀ 57(3), 58(1), 59(5), 60(7), 61(3), 62(6), 63(5), 64(1); ♂ 51(1), 52(1), 53(3), 54(1), 55(5), 56(7), 57(6), 58(5), 59(3), 60(1), 62(2); females have on average ca four more antennal segments than males. The antennal segments for the specimens of the abnormal series (see above) are scored separately here: ♀ 54(2), 55(1), 56(2), 57(3), 58(3), 60(1); ♂ 54(1).

Austria, *Belgium, British Isles (England), Czech Republic, *Finland, Germany, Hungary, *Netherlands, Poland, *Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, *Switzerland.

The synonymy of Rogas vicinus Papp, 1977, with Aleiodes aterrimus (Ratzeburg, 1852) is based on the examination of the types listed above. The differences between R. vicinus and R. grandis (= A. aterrimus) listed in the original description (head less constricted posteriorly, apical antennal segments more robust, 1^st metasomal tergite less robust and 2^nd tergite somewhat longer) fall within the normal variation of A. aterrimus.

Figures 93–97. 

Aleiodes aterrimus (Ratzeburg), ♀, England, Pamber Forest 93 habitus lateral 94 detail of fore wing with arrow indicating lost vein r-m 95 ovipositor sheath lateral 96, 97 mummies of Amphipyra sp. showing variation in markings.

Figures 98–100. 

Aleiodes aterrimus (Ratzeburg), ♀, England, Pamber Forest 98 parasitised caterpillar of Amphipyra sp. 99 early stage of mummy 100 later stage of mummy.

Figure 101. 

Larva of Aleiodes aterrimus (Ratzeburg) mummifying Amphipyra pyramidea (Linnaeus), with its anterior (indicated by the arrow) projecting from the ventral opening in the host to spread adhesive over a wide area.

Figures 102–115. 

Aleiodes aterrimus (Ratzeburg), ♀, England, Pamber Forest, but 102 from Austria, Wien 102 fore wing 103 hind wing 104 mesosoma lateral 105 mesosoma dorsal 106 metasoma dorsal 107 fore femur lateral 108 hind femur lateral 109 head anterior 110 head dorsal 111 head lateral 112 hind tibia and tarsus lateral 113 outer hind tarsal claw 114 base of antenna 115 apex of antenna.

Lectotype of A. carbonarius, ♂ (MNHN), “Hunga[ry]”, “2”, “Hungaria”, “Neusiedlersee/teste Papp J., 1979”, “Lectotypus”, “Aleiodes carbonarius Gir., 1857, ♂, Papp, 1979”. Paralectotype ♂ (MNHN) from Austria (near Vienna).

3 ♀ (NMS), “Hungary: Veszprém, nr Tótvázsony, larva coll. 21.v.2001, Tholera decimalis, mum. c. 12.vi.[20]01, em. 19.v., 24.v. and 25.v.[20]02, M.R. Shaw”; 1 ♂ (MSC), “A[ustria], Oberösterreich, Wels, Flughaven, 48°10'N, 14°2'E, 30.iv.2012, M. & J. Schwarz”; 1 ♂ (MTMA), “Hungaria, Csákvár”, “Vértes Hgs., Hajduvágás”, “12.v.1961, Sólymosné”, “Rogas carbonarius Gir. ♂, det. Papp, 1979 / compared with lectotype ♂”; 1 ♂ (NMS), “[Hungaria,] P. Szt. Lelek, Ujhelyi”, “Rogas morio Reinh. ♂, det. Szépligeti”, “Rogas carbonarius Gir. ♂, det. Papp, 1979”; 1 ♂ (MTMA), id., but Budapest, Svabhegy; 2 ♂ (MRC) “Russia, E. Siberia Lake Baikal, Biakalo-Lenskiy res. 20.vi. and 19.vii. [19]05, leg. Berlov”; 1 ♂ (BZL), “CSR [Czech Rep.], envir. Prague, 1968, Dr. Pádr”. This species appears to be sporadic in central and eastern Europe. The specimens from which Morley (1937) recorded this species as new to Britain have been examined and belong to A. carbonaroides sp. nov.

MRS162 (Hungary), MRS163 (Hungary), MRS 164 (Hungary).

Adults of this lowland species have been collected from the very end of April to July (see also Papp, 1999), and it is found in grassland habitats. Reared from the noctuid Tholera decimalis (Poda) (3:1; M.R. Shaw/Hungary). The decidedly large mummy is very similar to that of A. grassator and forms underground (Fig. 118). Univoltine, overwintering in the mummy.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4–0.5 × minimum width of face (Fig. 126); OOL of ♀ ca 2.6 × as long as diameter of posterior ocellus (Fig. 127) and distinctly rugose; length of 4^th antennal segment of ♀ ca 0.9 × its width (Fig. 129; in ♂ 0.9–1.0 times; Fig. 135); clypeus thick apically and not protruding anteriorly (Fig. 128); lobes of mesoscutum densely punctate, interspaces superficially granulate and with satin sheen; precoxal area coarsely vermiculate-rugose medially; marginal cell of fore wing of ♀ ending near level of apex of vein 3-M (Fig. 119); vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.4–0.5 × as long as vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 119); vein 3-SR of ♀ 1.7–2.0 × as long as vein 2-SR; vein 3-SR ca 0.7 × vein SR1 (Fig. 119; of ♂ ca 0.5×); hind tarsal claws yellowish or brownish bristly setose (Fig. 131); inner side of hind tibia of ♀ yellowish; tegulae yellowish brown; 4^th and 5^th tergites black. Probably a lowland species in C. Europe.

Redescribed ♀ (NMS) from Hungary (Veszprém). Length of fore wing 4.1 mm, of body ca 6.0 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 46, 4^th segment 0.9 × longer than wide (Fig. 129); length of antenna 1.15 × fore wing, its subapical segments robust (Fig. 130); frons with coarse curved rugae and rather shiny; OOL 2.6 × diameter of posterior ocellus and rugulose; vertex rugose and shiny; clypeus coarsely punctate; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards (Fig. 128); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig. 126); length of eye 1.4 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 127); vertex behind stemmaticum rugose; clypeus distinctly below lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.7 × length of eye in lateral view (Fig. 128).

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes densely punctate, interspaces superficially granulate and with satin sheen; precoxal area of mesopleuron coarsely rugose medially and punctate posteriorly; remainder of mesopleuron mainly coarsely punctate; scutellum flat, sparsely finely punctate and with lateral carina; propodeum coarsely rugose, medio-longitudinal carina indistinct, rounded posteriorly and dorsal part rather short.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.4 × 3-SR; marginal cell ends near level of apex of 3-M (Fig. 119); 1-CU1 horizontal and slightly widened, 0.45 × 2-CU1; r-m 0.3 × 3-SR; 2^nd submarginal cell elongate (Fig. 119), 3-SR twice as long as 2-SR; cu-a vertical, straight; 1-M nearly straight posteriorly; 1-SR slender and medium-sized; surroundings of M+CU1, 1-M and 1-CU1 setose. Hind wing: marginal cell linearly widened, its apical width 2.0 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 120); 2-SC+R slightly longer than wide; m-cu short, postfurcal; M+CU:1-M = 61:36; 1r-m 0.75 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws robust and with only brownish bristly setae (Fig. 131); hind coxa largely rather densely punctate; hind trochantellus robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 3.6 and 4.5 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.5 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite rather flattened, 0.9 × as long as wide apically; 1^st and 2^nd tergites with medio-longitudinal carina and coarsely longitudinally rugose, but posterior quarter of 2^nd tergite irregularly rugose and no median carina; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite triangular and short (Fig. 123); 2^nd suture deep and crenulate; basal third of 3^rd tergite finely longitudinally striate, remainder of metasoma superficially micro-sculptured; 4^th and apical half of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, with long setae and apically truncate (Fig. 117).

Colour. Dark orange brown; apical two-thirds of antenna, patch on hind femur dorso-apically, and telotarsi, dark brown; temple ventrally, malar space, mesosternum, mesopleuron, metapleuron, propodeum, pair of patches on 2^nd tergite and most of apical 0.4 of tergite, and 3^rd–7^th tergites black; palpi (especially labial palp), veins and pterostigma dark brown, basal third of antenna (but scapus dorsally blackish) rather pale yellowish brown; tegulae and remainder of legs; yellowish brown; wings strongly infuscate.

Variation. Antennal segments: ♀ 46(2), 49(1); ♂ 47(1), 50(1), 52(1), 54(1), 56(1), 57(1); length of fore wing of ♀ ca two-thirds of body length (0.8 × in ♂); males always darker than females; mainly black with legs mainly dark brown or blackish, but male from Austria has basal half of metasoma orange brown and legs partly yellowish brown. Males have 2^nd submarginal cell distinctly shorter than in females (as in A. grassator), antenna 0.9 × length of body and slightly less robust subapically, temple and face long setose and malar space 0.5–0.7 × length of eye in lateral view; metasoma black or 1–2 basal tergites reddish and apical tergites type 1, fringe not observed (Fig. 132).

Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, *Russia (Lake Baikal).

Very similar to A. grassator (Thunberg), and especially A. carbonaroides; males of A. carbonarius and carbonaroides are normally black but males with partly orange brown metasoma occur. The three species exhibit sexual dimorphism of the 2^nd submarginal cell (less robust (and also longer in A. carbonarius) in female than in male). Giraud (1857) gave an incomplete description of the only two males he possessed, but clearly indicated that the antenna is slightly shorter than the body. The female of this species is reported for the first time.

Figures 116–118. 

Aleiodes carbonarius Giraud, ♀, Hungary, Veszprém 116 habitus lateral 117 ovipositor sheath lateral 118 mummy of Tholera decimalis (Poda).

Figures 119–131. 

Aleiodes carbonarius Giraud, ♀, Hungary, Veszprém 119 fore wing 120 hind wing 121 mesosoma lateral 122 mesosoma dorsal 123 metasoma dorsal 124 fore femur lateral 125 hind femur lateral 126 head anterior 127 head dorsal 128 head lateral 129 base of antenna 130 apex of antenna 131 inner hind tarsal claw.

Figures 132–137. 

Aleiodes carbonarius Giraud, ♂, Hungary, Csákvár 132 habitus lateral 133 head dorsal 134 wings 135 base of antenna 136 apex of antenna 137 head anterior.

Holotype, ♀ (NMS), “[Netherlands: Friesland], Holland [sic!], Schiermonnikoog, em. 20.v.[19]82”, “ex Cerapteryx graminis larva”. Paratypes: 2 ♀ (NMS, RMNH), 3 ♂ (NMS, RMNH), topotypic and from same host, em. 19 or 20.v.1982; 1 ♂ (ZSSM) “[Germany], Münehey, 26.iv.[18]85 R7”, “1-653”; 2 ♂ (CMIM) “[England] 25.v.[19]22, Bdn. [= Brandon, Suffolk] HF”, “Named by Claude Morley 2 Rhogas carbonarius Giraud. NEW TO BRIT. CM V.22”; 1 ♂ (ZJUH) “[England], Totternhoe, [Bedfordshire], 30.v.[19]64 [V.H. Chambers]”. Sporadic in western Europe.

None.

Adults of this lowland species have been collected in April and May. The two paratypes from Suffolk were swept from Breck grassland (Morley, 1937, misidentified as A. carbonarius). Reared from the grass-feeding noctuid Cerapteryx graminis (Linnaeus) (6 [2 are RMNH]; K.P. Carl/Netherlands). If it is a specialist, it is presumably univoltine and overwinters in the mummy (the univoltine known host overwinters in the egg stage). Mummy similar to that of the closely related A. carbonarius and A. grassator, but slightly smaller.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4–0.5 × minimum width of face (Fig. 149); OOL of ♀ 1.8–2.0 × as long as diameter of posterior ocellus (Fig. 150) and distinctly rugose or rugulose; length of 4^th antennal segment of ♀ 0.7–0.9 × its width (Fig. 152; in ♂ up to 1.0 times); clypeus thick apically and not protruding anteriorly (Fig. 151); lobes of mesoscutum punctate, interspaces largely coriaceous and superficially coriaceous; precoxal area coarsely vermiculate-rugose medially; marginal cell of fore wing of ♀ ending rather removed from wing apex (Fig. 142); vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.5–0.6 × as long as vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 142); 2^nd submarginal cell of fore wing medium-sized (Fig. 142); hind tarsal claws slender and yellowish or brownish bristly setose; hind femur at least apico-dorsally dark brown or black; inner side of hind tibia of ♀ yellowish; head and mesoscutum of ♀ reddish; palpi and tegulae of ♀ brownish yellow; males entirely black, with palpi, tegulae and antenna dark brown or blackish.

Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 4.2 mm, of body 7.1 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 45, 4^th segment 0.9 × longer than wide (Fig. 152); length of antenna 1.1 × fore wing, its subapical segments robust (Fig. 153) and scapus oblique apically; frons with coarse curved rugae and shiny; OOL 1.8 × diameter of posterior ocellus and rugulose; vertex rugose and shiny; clypeus coarsely punctate; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards (Fig. 151); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig. 149); length of eye 1.2 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 150); vertex behind stemmaticum rugose; clypeus below lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.6 × length of eye in lateral view.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes moderately punctate, interspaces superficially granulate-coriaceous and with satin sheen; precoxal area of mesopleuron coarsely rugose medially, but largely smooth posteriorly; remainder of mesopleuron mainly punctate; scutellum flat, sparsely finely punctate and with irregular lateral carina; propodeum coarsely rugose, medio-longitudinal carina complete, rounded posteriorly and dorsal part approx. as long as posterior part.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.4 × 3-SR (Fig. 142); marginal cell ends basad of level of apex of 3-M; 1-CU1 horizontal, 0.5 × 2-CU1; r-m 0.5 × 3-SR; 2^nd submarginal cell robust (Fig. 142), 3-SR 1.4 × as long as 2-SR; cu-a vertical, straight; 1-M slightly curved posteriorly; 1-SR similar to 1-M and medium-sized; surroundings of M+CU1, 1-M and 1-CU1 setose. Hind wing: marginal cell linearly widened, its apical width 1.7 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 143); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu short; M+CU:1-M = 27:15; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws robust and with only brownish bristly setae (Fig. 140); hind coxa largely rugulose dorsally; hind trochantellus robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 3.2 and 4.6 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.4 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite rather flattened, 0.7 × as long as wide apically; 1^st and 2^nd tergites with medio-longitudinal carina and coarsely longitudinally rugose, but posterior quarter of 2^nd tergite without medio-longitudinal carina; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite triangular and short; 2^nd suture deep and crenulate; basal half of 3^rd tergite finely longitudinally rugose, remainder of metasoma superficially micro-sculptured; 4^th and apical third of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, with long setae and apically truncate (Fig. 139).

Colour. Dark orange brown; apical half of antenna, patch on hind femur dorso-apically, and telotarsi apically, dark brown; mesosternum, mesopleuron (except dorsally and postero-ventrally), metapleuron (except medio-dorsally), propodeum (except pair of posterior patches), 3^rd–7^th tergites (except antero-lateral corners of 3^rd tergite) black; palpi, basal half of antenna, tegulae and remainder of legs rather pale yellowish brown; veins and pterostigma dark brown; wings strongly infuscate but hind wing less than fore wing.

Variation. Basal third or half of antenna of ♀ pale yellowish brown; vein 3-SR 1.4–1.6 × as long as vein 2-SR; hind femur of ♀ 3.2–3.5 × longer than wide; 1^st metasomal tergite 0.7–0.8 × its apical width; temple and occiput ventrally, and malar space ventrally orange brown or black. Antennal segments: ♀ 43(1), 45(1); ♂ 48(1), 49(2), 51(1), 50(1), 53(2); males clearly have many more antennal segments than females. Males are much darker than females; body black with palpi and legs mainly dark brown or blackish (Fig. 154). Males have 2^nd submarginal cell slightly smaller than females (Fig. 158), temple and face long setose, malar space 0.5–0.7 × length of eye in lateral view, and apical tergites type 1 and fringe not observed (Fig. 154); sometimes superficial granulosity of 3^rd tergite and of mesoscutum are absent.

Germany, Netherlands, U.K.

The suffix “-oides” indicates similar to; in this case the high similarity to A. carbonarius Giraud.

Figures 138–141. 

Aleiodes carbonaroides sp. nov., ♀, holotype 138 habitus lateral 139 ovipositor sheath lateral 140 outer hind tarsal claw lateral 141 mummy of Cerapteryx graminis (Linnaeus).

Figures 142–153. 

Aleiodes carbonaroides sp. nov., ♀, holotype 142 fore wing 143 hind wing 144 mesosoma lateral 145 mesosoma dorsal 146 metasoma dorsal 147 fore femur lateral 148 hind femur lateral 149 head anterior 150 head dorsal 151 head lateral 152 base of antenna 153 apex of antenna.

Figures 154–160. 

Aleiodes carbonaroides sp. nov., ♂, paratype 154 habitus lateral 155 apex of antenna 156 antenna 157 base of antenna 158 wings lateral 159 head anterior 160 head dorsal.

Holotype, ♀ (ZISP), “[Russia], Sotchi, Lazarevskoe [terras], 26.iv.[1]973, V. Tobias”, “Holotypus Rogas caucasicus Tobias”; 2 ♀, paratype (MTMA), id., but 29.iv.1973.

Figured ♀ (NMS), “[Russia], Sotchi, Lazarevskoe terras. Sklony, les [= forest], 25.iv.1988, V. Tobias”, “Rogas caucasicus Tob.”, “Aleiodes caucasicus (Tobias), det. Belokobylskij, 2005. ♀ Ant. 40”; 2 ♀ (ALC, RMNH), id., but 7.v.1975; 1 ♀ (MTMA), “Bulgaria”, “Rhodopi, St[ara] Zagora, 17.iv.1977, J. Kolarov”, “Rogas sp. n.?, det. Zaykov, 1983”, “Aleiodes fortipes Rh. ♀, det. Papp J., 1985”.

None.

Unknown. Specimens collected in April-May and flight time probably April–May. We have not seen reared material. Probably, like A. fortipes, it will be found to be univoltine, overwintering in the mummy, but direct evidence is lacking.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression approx. 0.3 × minimum width of face (Fig. 171); antenna of ♀ with 38–41 segments and 2^nd – 10^th antennal segments yellowish, contrasting with remaining segments; OOL coarsely transversely striate; clypeus obtuse apically and not protruding in lateral view (Fig. 173); precoxal area finely striate (Fig. 166); tegulae yellow; lobes of mesoscutum finely coriaceous-granulate and rather dull, with satin sheen; vein 1-CU1 of fore wing much shorter than vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 164); posteriorly vein m-cu of fore wing diverging from anterior half of vein 1-M; length of hind femur 3.6–3.8 × its maximum width (Fig. 170); hind tarsal claws brownish setose (Fig. 177); length of fore wing 3.7–5.0 mm. Very similar to A. fortipes (Reinhard) and differs mainly by its body colour and sculpture of mesopleuron.

Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 3.7 mm, of body 4.6 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 41, length of antenna 1.3 × fore wing, its subapical segments rather robust; frons largely finely rugulose medially; OOL 2.2 × diameter of posterior ocellus, and coarsely transversely striate; vertex transversely striate and rather shiny; clypeus rugulose, but ventrally depressed and smooth; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards (Fig. 173); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3 × minimum width of face (Fig. 171); length of eye twice temple in dorsal view (Fig. 172); vertex behind stemmaticum rugulose; clypeus below lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.6 × length of eye in lateral view; occipital carina largely absent dorsally and weakly developed ventrally.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely rugulose-granulate, rather matt; precoxal area of mesopleuron transversely striate medially, distinctly rugose antero-dorsally and remainder largely punctulate; pleural sulcus moderately crenulate (Fig. 166); ventral half of metapleuron rugose; metanotum with nearly complete median carina; scutellum coriaceous; propodeum densely and finely granulate-rugose and medio-longitudinal carina medium-sized.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.6 × 3-SR; 1-CU1 horizontal, 0.5 × 2-CU1; r-m unsclerotized and 0.7 × 3-SR; 2^nd submarginal cell medium-sized (Fig. 164); cu-a vertical, straight and rather short; 1-M slightly curved posteriorly; posteriorly vein m-cu diverging from anterior half of vein 1-M. Hind wing: marginal cell linearly widened, its apical width 2.0 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 165); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu absent; M+CU:1-M = 5:3; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws robust and with brownish bristles (Fig. 177); hind coxa densely rugulose and rather dull; hind trochantellus robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 3.6 and 5.0 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.4 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite evenly convex, 0.9 × longer than wide apically; 1^st and 2^nd tergites with indistinct medio-longitudinal carina and coarsely longitudinally rugose, but posterior quarter of 2^nd tergite irregularly rugose and no median carina; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite triangular and rather distinct (Fig. 168); 2^nd suture rather shallow and crenulate; medio-basally 3^rd tergite striate, remainder of metasoma superficially micro-sculptured; 4^th and apical half of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, with long setae and apically truncate (Fig. 162).

Colour. Orange brown; head, 3^rd tergite (except antero-laterally) and subsequent tergites black; scapus, pedicellus basally, 11^th and following antennal segments, palpi, veins, parastigma, pterostigma and femora apico-dorsally, tibia and tarsal segments apically, ventral half of metasoma and ovipositor sheath dark brown; tegulae, 3^rd–10^th antennal segments brownish yellow; wing membrane subhyaline.

Variation. Head black or mainly dark brown, specimen from Bulgaria also anterior half of mesosoma; antenna of ♀ with 38 or 41 segments according to the original description; 11^th and 12^th antennal segments of ♀ dark brown or brownish yellow; hind femur 3.6–3.8 × as long as wide. The male is unknown, or possibly has not been distinguished from that of A. fortipes.

*Bulgaria, Russia (SW).

It remains unclear whether this predominantly rather yellowish orange species is distinct from A. fortipes, which in its more western localities is a much darker insect. Females intermediate in colour (and included in A. fortipes) seem to predominate in eastern Europe. More material (preferably with biological data) is needed to clarify the status of A. caucasicus.

Figures 161–163. 

Aleiodes caucasicus (Tobias), ♀, Russia, Sotchi 161 habitus lateral 162 ovipositor sheath lateral 163 apex of antenna (of paratype).

Figures 164–177. 

Aleiodes caucasicus (Tobias), ♀, Russia, Sotchi 164 fore wing 165 hind wing 166 mesosoma lateral 167 mesosoma dorsal 168 metasoma dorsal 169 fore femur lateral 170 hind femur lateral 171 head anterior 172 head dorsal 173 head lateral 174 base of antenna 175 antenna 176 hind tibia and tarsus lateral 177 outer hind tarsal claw.

Holotype, ♀ (NMS), “Sweden: Hr, Sveg, Duybergshammaren, 17.vii.2004, N. Ryholm, NMSZ 2004.167”, “MRS Aleiodes DNA 377”, “COI worked”. Paratypes: 1 ♂ (NMS), same label data as holotype; 1 ♀ (RMNH), “Sweden: Ås. Lilla, Vammasj. Window trap on Betula F2, 8, vii.2003, J. Hilszczanski”, “MRS Aleiodes DNA 311”, “COI worked”.

MRS311 (Sweden), MRS377 (Sweden).

Unknown. The available specimens were collected in July, and it is almost certainly univoltine, but we have not seen reared material.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression approx. 0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig. 186); OOL of ♀ 0.9–1.1 × as long as diameter of posterior ocellus (Fig. 187), and rugulose-coriaceous or only coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus rather thin or blunt and not protruding forwards (Fig. 188); vertex mainly coriaceous and rather dull; mesoscutal lobes coriaceous and largely matt; scutellum remotely punctate; area of precoxal sulcus largely smooth, with some punctulation; length of vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.3–0.4 × vein 2-CU1 and 0.4–0.5 × vein m-cu; marginal and 2^nd submarginal cells of fore wing elongate (Fig. 180); tarsal claws with robust apical tooth and with medium-sized dark brown pecten (Fig. 190); hind femur and basitarsus slender (Figs 178, 185); 1^st metasomal tergite comparatively steep anteriorly (Fig. 178); basal half of 3^rd tergite with posteriorly diverging rugulae; head black; dorsal half of hind femur largely black dorsally; basal half of hind tibia largely dark brown; fore and middle trochanters and trochantelli infuscate or dark brown; 2^nd tergite yellowish or reddish and rather slender (Fig. 183); 5^th–7^th tergites of ♂ medially glabrous and convex, and laterally with long setae (Figs 194, 195). Closely related to A. rufipes (Thomson) and differs mainly by the sculpture of the mesoscutum (matt instead of rather shiny), darker colour of legs, different COI and less robust 2^nd and 3^rd metasomal tergites.

Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 6.1 mm, of body 6.7 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 54, antenna 1.1 × as long as fore wing, its basal segments robust, subapical segments medium-sized and apical segment with spine; frons largely smooth, except for some micro-sculpture; OOL 0.9 × diameter of posterior ocellus, rugulose-coriaceous and rather dull, groove beside posterior ocellus deep and smooth; vertex coriaceous with some rugulae, rather dull; face transversely rugose; clypeus densely rugulose; ventral margin of clypeus thin and not protruding forwards (Fig. 188); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig. 186); length of eye 2.1 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 187); vertex behind stemmaticum coriaceous; clypeus partly above lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.3 × length of eye in lateral view.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely coriaceous and matt; precoxal area of mesopleuron partly remotely punctulate and superficially micro-sculptured; medio-longitudinal carina of metanotum distinct posteriorly; scutellum punctate and with lateral carina; propodeum convex and rugose, medio-longitudinal carina absent posteriorly, and without protruding carinae laterally.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.35 × 3-SR (Fig. 180); 1-CU1 slightly oblique, 0.35 × 2-CU1; r-m 0.4 × 3-SR; 2^nd submarginal cell long (Fig. 180); cu-a slightly inclivous, straight but posteriorly slightly curved; 1-M nearly straight posteriorly; 1-SR widened; surroundings of M+CU1, 1-M and 1-CU1 densely setose. Hind wing: marginal cell linearly widened, its apical width 2.3 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 180); 2-SC+R slightly longer than wide; m-cu absent; M+CU:1-M = 50:46; 1r-m 0.6 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws with rather conspicuous and medium-sized dark brown pecten (Fig. 189); hind coxa (except depression) coriaceous and with some rugulae dorsally; hind trochantellus robust and with long setae; length of hind femur and basitarsus 4.5 and 5.8 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.5 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite convex and basally rather steep, as long as wide apically; 1^st and 2^nd tergites with medio-longitudinal carina and longitudinally rugose; maximum width of 2^nd tergite 1.5 × its median length; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite medium-sized triangular and rather short (Fig. 183); 2^nd suture distinct and moderately crenulate; basal half of 3^rd tergite finely rugulose and rugulae diverging posteriorly, remainder of metasoma nearly smooth; 4^th and apical half of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, with long setae and apically truncate (Fig. 179).

Colour. Black; mesoscutum posteriorly, legs (but fore and middle telotarsi, fore and middle femora basally and apically, fore and middle trochanters and trochantelli, hind tarsus dark brown or infuscate, posterior half of hind femur dorsally and hind tibia largely blackish), propodeum and 1^st –3^rd metasomal tergites (but posterior half of 3^rd tergite blackish posteriorly) reddish brown; tegulae brownish yellow, but humeral plate largely dark brown; palpi, pterostigma and veins dark brown; wing membrane slightly infuscate.

Variation. Antennal segments: ♀ 52(1), 54(1); ♂ 53(1). Length of fore wing 5.3–6.1 mm. Male is very similar to female (Figs 195–195). Apical tergites of male type 1–2, and fringe scarcely visible in the single male seen.

Sweden.

Coriaceus is Latin for leathery, because of the coriaceous sculpture of vertex and mesoscutum.

Figures 178, 179. 

Aleiodes coriaceus sp. nov., ♀, holotype 178 habitus lateral 179 ovipositor sheath lateral.

Figures 180–191. 

Aleiodes coriaceus sp. nov., ♀, holotype 180 wings 181 mesosoma lateral 182 mesosoma dorsal 183 propodeum and 1^st–3^rd metasomal tergites dorsal 184 fore femur lateral 185 hind femur lateral 186 head anterior 187 head dorsal 188 head lateral 189 outer hind tarsal claw 190 base of antenna 191 apex of antenna.

Figures 192–195. 

Aleiodes coriaceus sp. nov., ♂, paratype 192 habitus lateral 193 inner hind claw lateral 194 3^rd–7^th metasomal tergites dorsal 195 3^rd –7^th metasomal tergites lateral.

Neotype of A. affinis here designated, ♀ (RMNH), “Museum Leiden, Nederland, Melissant (ZH), [at light], 10.viii.1980, K.J. Huisman”. It is important for nomenclatorial stability to fix our interpretation of A. affinis because the types of Braconidae described by Herrich-Schäffer are lost (Horn and Kahle 1935–37; the first author could not find any specimen in ZMB), the original description is rudimentary and there are very similar species in Europe. The specimen from Netherlands is selected because it fits best the original description, Netherlands is relatively close to the probable German (but unknown) type location and it is in good condition. Another complication is that the neotype of A. cruentus by Papp (1985) is an old male from uncertain origin in the Gravenhorst Collection (Wroclaw).

Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy (including Sicily), Moldova, Netherlands (FR: Ried, GE: Beusichem; Heerde; Voorst (Twello), LI: Thorn, NB: Eindhoven; Tilburg (Kaaistoep), OV: Buurse; Hasselt, ZH: Lexmond; Melissant; Middelharnis; Oostvoorne, ZL: Oostkapelle), Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, [Mongolia]. Specimens in ZJUH, BZL, FMNH, HSC, IKC, MSC, MTMA, NMS, NRS, RMNH, SDEI, ZSSM. Widespread in the region but rather sporadic. The specimen (CMIM) from which Morley (1915) recorded this species as new to Britain has been examined and proves to be A. alternator (Nees). A further specimen in CMIM recorded by Lyle (1919) as A. cruentus has been examined and belongs to A. diversus (Szépligeti), q. v., as do another three British specimens in ZJUH and one in NMS, and there is no evidence that A. cruentus has ever occurred in Britain.

Probably univoltine, certainly overwintering as a mummy. Collected June-August, often at light and including around Dianthus barbatus harbouring larvae of the noctuid Hadena confusa (Hufnagel) (H. Schnee/Germany). In Austria it has been collected up to 2000 m. Only one reared specimen seen, from H. confusa [FMNH], the adult emerging in June in the year following host mummification. Extensive rearings of this host in various parts of Britain in recent years by one of us (MRS) has not produced A. cruentus, strengthening the view that it does not occur in Britain. The predominantly dark mummy seen (Fig. 198) is stout, rather short and weakly swollen dorsally, and has a paler and moderately strong lateral keel. The cocoon is substantially silk-lined and occupies most of the host’s abdomen (approx. 2^nd–7^th abdominal segments). The mummy probably forms underground, albeit from penultimate instar hosts, and the somewhat reflexed and sideways twisted head suggests that it is not or scarcely stuck down; the caudal segments are also somewhat recurved ventrally. Although oviposition has not been witnessed, the somewhat laterally compressed apex of the female’s metasoma appears to be an adaptation for attacking the host at rest or feeding within the seed capsules of its food plants (Dianthus, Silene, etc.).

MRS558 (France), MRS624 (Germany), MRS625 (Germany).

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression (0.5–)0.6–0.7 × minimum width of face (Fig. 206); OOL of ♀ coarsely punctate and 0.5–0.8(–1.0) × diameter of posterior ocellus; ventral margin of clypeus (rather) obtuse apically and not protruding (Fig. 208), but sometimes intermediate; length of eye 1.5–1.9 × temple in dorsal view; lobes of mesoscutum densely finely punctate, with interspaces approx. equal to diameter of punctures; precoxal area with some rugae medially; vein cu-a of fore wing vertical; surroundings of veins M+CU1 and 1-+2-CU1 largely glabrous; vein r of fore wing 0.3–0.4 × vein 3-SR (Fig. 199); vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.8–1.1 × vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 199), rarely shorter; hind tarsal claws with conspicuous dark brown pecten (Fig. 205); 1^st tergite widened apically; 2^nd tergite 0.7–0.9 × as long as wide (Fig. 202), its colour variable, often reddish; head black; vein 1-M of fore wing brownish; wing membrane subhyaline; 4^th–6^th tergites of ♂ with long setae, but flattened and narrowly glabrous medially.

Neotype of A. affinis, ♀, length of fore wing 7.3 mm, of body 10.2 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 61, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments rather robust; frons largely smooth and shiny, but rugulose near stemmaticum; OOL 0.6 × diameter of posterior ocellus, and coarsely punctate, interspaces approx. equal to diameter of punctures; vertex mainly densely punctate, shiny; clypeus coarsely punctate-rugose; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards (Fig. 208); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.6 × minimum width of face (Fig. 206); length of eye 1.9 × temple in dorsal view and temple rather long and densely setose (Fig. 207); vertex behind stemmaticum punctate-rugose; clypeus near lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.2 × length of eye in lateral view (Fig. 208).

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes densely and finely punctate, with satin sheen; precoxal area of mesopleuron with some rugae medially, rather densely punctate anteriorly and posteriorly; metapleuron mainly sparsely punctate, shiny; scutellum rather weakly punctate and slightly convex; propodeum evenly convex and coarsely rugose, medio-longitudinal carina complete and straight.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.4 × 3-SR (Fig. 199); 1-CU1 horizontal, as long as 2-CU1; r-m 0.7 × 3-SR; 2^nd submarginal cell rather short (Fig. 199); cu-a vertical, straight; 1-M slightly curved posteriorly; 1-SR wide; anterior half of subbasal and of subdiscal cells largely glabrous. Hind wing: basal half of marginal cell slightly widened, but apical half wide, apical width of cell 2.5 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 199); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu short and obsolescent; surroundings of M+CU and 1-M glabrous; M+CU:1-M = 75:47; 1r-m 0.8 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws with conspicuous and robust dark brown pecten (Fig. 205); hind coxa largely punctate; hind trochantellus robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 4.3 and 5.2 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.5 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite rather flattened, as long as wide apically; 1^st and 2^nd tergites with medio-longitudinal carina and largely coarsely longitudinally rugose, but posterior quarter of 2^nd tergite irregularly rugose and no median carina; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite triangular and rather distinct (Fig. 202); 2^nd suture deep medially, shallow laterally and crenulate; 2^nd tergite 0.7 × as long as wide (Fig. 202); anterior 0.7 of 3^rd tergite densely and finely punctate, remainder of metasoma largely smooth; 4^th and apical half of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, with rather long setae and apically rather rounded (Fig. 197).

Colour. Black; posterior half of mesoscutum, scutellum largely, apical rim of 1^st tergite and basal rim of 2^nd tergite reddish brown; fore coxa, bases of middle and hind coxae blackish; apex of hind tibia, telotarsi, hind tarsus, palpi, veins and pterostigma dark brown; tegulae and remainder of hind tibia pale yellowish; remainder of legs reddish brown; wing membrane subhyaline.

Variation. Vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.8–1.1 × as long as 2-CU1; mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, 1^st and 2^nd metasomal tergites are most often entirely reddish or orange brown but variably partly blackish, in particular 1^st tergite sometimes with dark medial patch; pronotum and mesopleuron black or reddish dorsally; parastigma narrowly dark brown or yellowish brown; coxae entirely reddish to entirely dark brown. Antennal segments: ♀ 53(1), 55(1), 56(3), 57(5), 58(9), 59(9), 60(10), 61(9), 62(3), 63(1), 65(2), 67(1). ♂ 60(6), 61(7), 62(2), 63(5), 64(3), 65(1), 66(1), 67(5), 69(1). The males have on average approx. three more antennal segments than females. Males are very similar but often darker than females, 2^nd tergite 0.9–1.0 × as long as basal width of tergite and apical tergites type 1 and (usually) type 2, with fringe present in the latter (Fig. 215); hind femur at most apically blackish, and hind tibial spurs sometimes blunt.

*Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, *Greece, Italy, *Moldova, Mongolia, *Netherlands, Norway, *Romania, Slovakia, *Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine.

An examined female (NMS) from Albania (Mt Mali me Gropa, above Shengiergi, 1400 m, 13.viii.2019, MV light, C.W. Plant) has a CO1 sequence (MRS940) 3 % different from A. cruentus (19 differences in 626 bp of overlap) and although superficially similar in colour is clearly distinct in having OOL shorter (0.5 × lateral ocellus), a smaller hypoclypeal depression (0.5 × width of face), slenderer hind femur (5 × as long as wide), and several other differences. It may be A. parvicauda (Tobias, 1985) described from Afghanistan, but it has more (64; 58–60 in type series) and somewhat more elongate antennal segments than described for A. parvicauda, as well as other small deviations. Additional material as well as comparison with the type series of A. parvicauda are needed to settle the status of the Albanian species.

Figures 196–198. 

Aleiodes cruentus (Nees), ♀, Germany, Markkleeberg, but 198 from Finland, Mäntyharju 196 habitus lateral 197 ovipositor sheath lateral 198 mummy of Hadena confusa (Hufnagel).

Figures 199–211. 

Aleiodes cruentus (Nees), ♀, Germany, Markkleeberg 199 wings 200 mesosoma lateral 201 mesosoma dorsal 202 metasoma dorsal 203 fore femur lateral 204 hind femur lateral 205 outer hind tarsal claw 206 head anterior 207 head dorsal 208 head lateral 209 base of antenna 210 apex of antenna 211 hind tarsus lateral.

Figures 212–216. 

Aleiodes cruentus (Nees), ♂, Hungary, Hársbokorhegy, but 213–215 from Germany, Markkleeberg 212 habitus lateral 213 1^st–3^rd metasomal tergites dorsal 214 4^th–7^th metasomal tergites lateral 215 id. dorsal 216 basal antennal segments.

Lectotype, ♀ (ZISP), “[Uzbekistan:] Khiva, 30.iv.[1]927, V. Gussakovskij/ S.Kh.Op.Ot., at light”, “Lectotypus Rogas desertus Tel., design. [V.I.] Tobias, 1980”. Paralectotypes: 1 ♀ (ZISP), “[Turkmenistan:] Ashkhabad [= Ashgabat], 25.iii.[1]905, S. Ahnger”, “Paralectotypus Rogas desertus Tel., design. [V.I.] Tobias, 1980”; 1 ♀ (ZJUH, figured), “Khiva, Rabat, 3.v.[1]927, V. Gussakovskij/collected at light”, “Paratypus Rogas desertus Telenga”, “Rec[eived] in exchange Academy of Science, Leningrad, B.M.1963-211”.

None.

Unknown. It seems to fly in spring (March–May) and may be univoltine.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.9–1.0 × minimum width of face; anterior part of clypeus very narrow, most of clypeus depressed (Fig. 229); OOL approx. 0.9 × diameter of posterior ocellus and remotely punctate; mandible massive triangular, coarsely punctate and with thick ventral lamella (Figs 229, 231); face largely transversely rugose; malar space 0.15 × as long as height of eye and 0.27 × basal width of mandible; area of precoxal sulcus (but posteriorly superficially) and anteriorly area above it distinctly rugose; lateral lobes of mesoscutum largely smooth, strongly shiny and glabrous, middle lobe remotely punctulate and with satin sheen; basal half of wings (except anteriorly) largely glabrous and remainder of wing inconspicuously setose; vein r of fore wing 0.7–0.8 × vein 3-SR (Fig. 221) vein 1-CU1 0.1 × as long as 2-CU1, narrow and oblique; tarsal claws long, slender, hardly bent and simple (Fig. 232); tarsal segments (except telotarsus) with four apical spines; 1^st and base of 2^nd tergite aciculate-rugulose, 3^rd tergite micro-sculptured and matt, remainder of metasoma shiny and rather smooth; head and mesosoma (except prothorax anteriorly and mesoscutum posteriorly) black; pterostigma dark brown; legs and palpi pale yellowish. According to original description antenna of ♀ with 50–52 segments, but ZJUH paralectotype has 63 segments.

Lectotype, ♀, length of fore wing 7.5 mm, of body 8.2 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ more than 45, but apical segments missing, length of antenna of paralectotype 1.1 × body and its subapical segments moderately slender; frons rugose, shiny; OOL 0.9 × diameter of posterior ocellus; OOL and vertex remotely punctate, shiny; anterior part of clypeus 9 × wider than high, coarsely punctate and rather convex; clypeus above lower level of eyes; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards; width of hypoclypeal depression 0.9 × minimum width of face (Fig. 229); length of eye 1.7 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 230); vertex behind stemmaticum convex and sparsely punctate; length of malar space 0.15 × length of eye in lateral view; mandible massive triangular, coarsely punctate and with thick ventral lamella (Figs 229, 231); occipital carina nearly complete, fine and ventrally strongly curved.

Mesosoma. Lateral lobes of mesoscutum largely smooth, strongly shiny and glabrous, middle lobe remotely punctulate and with satin sheen; prepectal carina complete and lamelliform; precoxal area of mesopleuron widely rugose, but posterior 0.2 narrowly striate; mesopleuron above precoxal area anteriorly rugose and remainder weakly and sparsely punctate, shiny; axilla crenulate but posteriorly densely and coarsely rugose; scutellum largely smooth, with some punctures; propodeum evenly convex, finely rugose and with strong medio-longitudinal carina, without tubercles.

Wings. Fore wing: basal half largely glabrous; r 0.7 × 3-SR (Fig. 219); 1-CU1 oblique, 0.1 × as long as 2-CU1; r-m nearly as long as 3-SR; 2^nd submarginal cell comparatively short (Fig. 221); cu-a inclivous; 1-M nearly straight posteriorly. Hind wing: basal 0.4 of marginal cell slightly widened and distally strongly widened, its apical width 2.7 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 222); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu indistinct; M+CU:1-M = 3:2; 1r-m 0.8 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws slender, slightly curved and only setose (Fig. 232); hind coxa partly obliquely striate dorsally; tarsi slender, segments (except telotarsus) with long apical spines; length of hind femur and basitarsus 5.0 and 6.8 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.3 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite robust, 0.9 × longer than wide apically, strongly narrowed anteriorly (Fig. 225) and rather flat posteriorly; 1^st and 2^nd tergites finely longitudinally striate-rugulose; medio-longitudinal carina of 1^st and 2^nd tergites indistinct; 2^nd tergite 0.6 × longer than its basal width; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite wide triangular, rather short; 2^nd suture shallow and narrow; 3^rd tergite matt and micro-sculptured, anteriorly finely striate; 4^th and apical half of 3^rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath with rather short setae and apically truncate (Fig. 220).

Colour. Black; mesoscutum posteriorly partly chestnut brown; antenna, clypeus, malar space ventrally, mandible, pronotum and propleuron anteriorly and metasoma, brownish yellow; tegulae, legs and palpi pale yellowish; pterostigma and ovipositor sheath dark brown; veins of fore wing (but pale in basal 0.3 of fore wing) brown; wing membrane hyaline.

Variation. Length of body 7.0–8.2 mm, of fore wing 7.5–7.9 mm; temple punctate to smooth; precoxal sulcus area finely to rather coarsely rugose; pronotal side largely black (except ventrally) black or brownish yellow; lateral lobes of mesoscutum entirely dark chestnut brown or only posteriorly so, or mesoscutum largely yellowish brown posteriorly and prolonged to base of notauli; first tergite usually entirely brownish yellow, but sometimes dark brown and only posteriorly and laterally yellowish; pterostigma dark brown or brown. Antennal segments: ♀ 63(1).

Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

We have included this extralimital species from Central Asia because we suspect it may occur in Turkey. It should not be confused with Rogas aestuosus var. desertus Telenga, 1941, described from China in the same paper. The latter is an unavailable name (a primary homonym) and most likely a colour variety of R. aestuosus.

Figures 217–220. 

Aleiodes desertus (Telenga), ♀, paralectotype 217 habitus lateral 218 antenna lateral 219 detail of fore wing 220 ovipositor sheath lateral.

Figures 221–233. 

Aleiodes desertus (Telenga), ♀, paralectotype, but 224 and 230 of lectotype 221 fore wing 222 hind wing 223 mesosoma lateral 224 mesosoma dorsal 225 metasoma dorsal 226 fore femur lateral 227 hind femur lateral 228 apex of antenna 229 head anterior 230 head dorsal 231 head lateral 232 outer hind tarsal claw 233 base of antenna.

Holotype of A. aestivalis, ♀ (RMNH), “[Netherlands], Haag [= near The Hague], 6 [= June], v.Voll.”. According to the original description the ♂ holotype of R. dissector from Germany should be in the Gravenhorst collection (Museum of Natural History, University of Wrocław, Wrocław), but so far it has not been found.

Austria, British Isles (England: V.C.s 15, 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 30, 31, 34, 37, 58; Scotland: V.C.s 73, 88, 89, 95, 96, 97, 107), Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Montenegro, Italy, Netherlands (FL: Lelystad, GE: Barneveld, OV: Raalte (Heino), ZH: Wassenaar), Norway, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Ukraine, [Armenia]. Specimens in ZJUH, BZL, CNC, IKC, MRC, MSC, MSNV, MTMA, NMS, OUM, RMNH, SDEI, UNS, UWIM, ZSSM.

MRS007 (Turkey), MRS025 (Turkey), MRS145 (UK), MRS146 (UK).

Univoltine, collected in May and June in deciduous scrub and woodland. In Britain it is widespread but particularly common in birch-dominated woodland in upland Scotland. Reared from the noctuids Orthosia incerta (Hufnagel) (17, M.R. Shaw), O. gothica (Linnaeus) (1, J.L. Yela) and Orthosia sp. (3), overwintering in the concealed mummy. An additional specimen, lacking a mummy but labelled as reared doubtfully from the sesiid Paranthrene tabaniformis (Rottemburg) (RMNH), which normally feeds under Populus bark at ground level or below, can be discounted as a probable substrate rearing in which the mummy of the true host was overlooked. Parasitised host larvae in their penultimate instar leave their feeding sites and enter the soil or other site of moderate concealment (including below loose bark), where they prepare a chamber as though to pupate. At this time the parasitoid larva within the strongly retarded host (Fig. 234) is around half its final length, and the host lies quiescent for approx. a week until the parasitoid has completed its feeding (Fig. 235). During mummification (Figs 236, 237) the caudal end of the host recurves ventrally as the host’s body becomes weakly retracted. A ventral opening at the head end is made, but the head (as with the caudal segments) is usually tucked downwards rather than becoming raised, and so the resulting expelled fluid (Fig. 237) usually dries without the mummy becoming stuck down. The eventual outcome is a rather distinctive (Fig. 238) elongate and curved dark brown structure with a paler and weakly raised lateral keel. The parasitoid’s pupation chamber occupies ca 2^nd–8^th abdominal segments of the host, which are moderately strongly lined with silk (Fig. 239).

The moderately large hypoclypeal opening and protruding sharp-rimmed clypeus of A. dissector is seen in some other species (e.g., A. modestus (Reinhard), treated in part 1 of this work) whose hosts also pupate in shallow soil. In culture experiments A. dissector was found to prefer hosts in the early to middle part of the 3^rd instar, although late 2^nd instar host were often also acceptable. Oviposition into suitable hosts was rapid (1–2 seconds) and accomplished with a single insertion of the ovipositor, following only brief antennation and no use of the legs. There was no clear temporary paralysis. Experimental rearings from O. incerta (6:107\85\\75+10) and O. gothica (6:61\49\\34+15) were comparable (given that some insertions of less than a full second might have been scored as ovipositions incorrectly; and furthermore that some failures to oviposit into these hosts might be ascribed to temporary egg depletion, as the protocol of normally ceasing to offer hosts to a particular female after four apparent ovipositions on the day had not been developed until after the experiments were undertaken), and clearly demonstrated the suitability of both species as hosts. In contrast, no parasitoids developed (and indeed possibly no ovipositions occurred) in the other species of Orthosia tested, which were all found to be clearly outside the host range: O. cerasi (Fabricius) (3:32\?3\\0+3); O. cruda (Denis & Schiffermüller) (2:12\0\\-); O. munda (Denis & Schiffermüller) (3:10\0\\-); O. gracilis (Denis & Schiffermüller) (2:11\?1\\0+1). Of these four, only O. gracilis is not fully arboreal. There is no adverse venom effect on host development.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.6–0.7 × minimum width of face (Fig. 251); OOL of ♀ 0.6–0.7 × diameter of posterior ocellus (Fig. 252) and sparsely punctate; ventral margin of anterior part of clypeus comparatively sharp and more or less protruding outwards (Fig. 253); length of malar space 0.2 × length of eye in lateral view (Fig. 253); head transverse in dorsal view and eye 1.5–2.0 × as long as temple in dorsal view (Fig. 252); lobes of mesoscutum punctulate, with interspaces smooth to superficially micro-sculptured; precoxal area completely smooth or nearly so; vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.2–0.3 × vein 2-CU1 and horizontal (Fig. 243); hind tarsal claws with conspicuous dark brown pecten close to apical tooth (Fig. 250); 1^st tergite rounded antero-laterally and 1.0–1.1 × as long as wide apically; basal half of metasoma black and weakly sculptured; 3^rd tergite smooth; head black; palpi yellowish; basal half of hind tibia pale yellowish, but in some males almost uniformly dark; 4^th–6^th tergites of males depressed medially and conspicuously setose (Fig. 258).

Redescribed ♀ (RMNH) from Austria (Burgenland, Winden am See). Length of fore wing 8.5 mm, of body 9.0 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 60, antenna as long as fore wing, its subapical segments rather slender, slightly longer than wide; frons largely smooth; OOL 0.7× diameter of posterior ocellus, sparsely punctate, shiny and with deep groove near posterior ocellus (Fig. 252); vertex sparsely punctate, rather shiny; clypeus coarsely punctate; ventral margin of clypeus rather thin and forward protruding (Fig. 253); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.7 × minimum width of face (Fig. 251); length of eye 1.5 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 252); vertex behind stemmaticum superficially rugose-punctate; clypeus near lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.2 × length of eye in lateral view.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes punctulate with interspaces superficially micro-sculptured and shiny; precoxal area of mesopleuron smooth except some punctulation, mesopleuron punctulate anteriorly and posteriorly; metapleuron densely punctate; metanotum with nearly complete median carina; scutellum flat (but with rugulose depression medio-posteriorly), remainder punctulate and with weak lateral carinae; propodeum evenly convex and coarsely rugose, and medio-longitudinal carina absent posteriorly.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.4 × 3-SR; 1-CU1 horizontal, 0.3 × 2-CU1; r-m 0.3 × 3-SR; 2^nd submarginal cell medium-sized (Fig. 243); cu-a inclivous, straight; 1-M straight posteriorly; 1-SR medium-sized; surroundings of M+CU1, 1-M and 1-CU1 largely setose. Hind wing: marginal cell rather narrow basally, apical half gradually widened, its apical width 3.1 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 244); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu absent; M+CU:1-M = 35:33; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws with conspicuous and robust dark brown pecten (Fig. 250); hind coxa distinctly punctate and with some oblique striae postero-dorsally; hind trochantellus robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 3.8 and 5.3 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.45 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite flattened, basally narrowed, as long as wide apically; 1^st and 2^nd tergites with medio-longitudinal carina and largely finely punctate-rugose, but posterior quarter of 2^nd tergite irregularly rugose and no median carina; medio-basal area of 2^nd tergite wide and triangular, distinct (Fig. 247); 2^nd suture rather deep and micro-sculptured; 3^rd and subsequent tergites largely smooth; apical half of 3^rd and 4^th tergites without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, with long and medium-sized setae and apically truncate (Fig. 241).

Colour. Black; apical half of hind tibia and hind tarsus blackish; basal half of hind tibia pale yellowish; remainder of legs, palpi and tegulae yellowish brown; most veins and pterostigma dark brown; wing membrane slightly yellowish basally and remainder slightly infuscate.

Variation. Interspaces between punctulation of mesoscutum smooth to superficially micro-sculptured; medio-longitudinal carina of propodeum complete or absent posteriorly; 3^rd metasomal tergite largely finely sculptured (except posteriorly) to largely smooth; mesopleuron black or with brownish longitudinal stripe; hind tibia usually ivory or pale yellowish basally. Antennal segments: ♀ 51(2), 55(2), 56(7), 57(4), 58(7), 59(12), 60(14), 61(18), 62(6), 63(4); ♂ 51(1), 53(2), 54(2), 55(4), 56(8), 57(29), 58(29), 59(27), 60(15), 61(4), 62(4), 63(2), 64(2). Females have on average ca one to two more antennal segments than males. Males are very similar but hind femur more or less blackish and, in some males, hind tibia almost uniformly dark, OOL approx. as long as diameter of posterior ocellus (Fig. 257) and apical tergites type 3–4 with fringe long and strong (Figs 258, 260).

*Armenia, *Austria, British Isles (England, Scotland), Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, *Greece, Hungary, *Montenegro, *Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, *Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine.

Figures 234–239. 

Aleiodes dissector (Nees), U.K., Scotland (in culture) parasitising Orthosia incerta (Hufnagel) 234 pre-mummy, removed from its hideaway, with unparasitised control from the same egg batch (below) 235 pre-mummy 236 early mummification 237 mummy with ventral ooze 238 three fully hard mummies 239 emerged mummy, cut open to expose silken lining.

Figures 240–242. 

Aleiodes dissector (Nees), ♀, Switzerland, Tessin, but 242 from Scotland (culture) 240 habitus lateral 241 ovipositor sheath lateral 242 mummy of Orthosia incerta (Hufnagel).

Figures 243–255. 

Aleiodes dissector (Nees), ♀, Switzerland, Tessin 243 fore wing 244 hind wing 245 mesosoma lateral 246 mesosoma dorsal 247 propodeum and 1^st –4^th metasomal tergites dorsal 248 fore femur lateral 249 hind femur lateral 250 outer hind tarsal claw 251 head anterior 252 head dorsal 253 head lateral 254 base of antenna 255 apex of antenna.

Figures 256–263. 

Aleiodes dissector (Nees), ♂, Austria, Kärnten 256 habitus lateral 257 head dorsal 258 3^rd–7^th tergites lateral 259 mesosoma dorsal 260 1^st–6^th metasomal tergites dorsal 261 fore femur lateral 262 head anterior 263 hind femur lateral.

Lectotype, ♀ (MTMA), “Croatia, Buccari [= Bakar], 1893, Pavel”, “Lectotypus, ♀”, Rogas (s. str.) diversus Szépligeti, 1906 [sic!], Papp, 1968”, “Hym. Typ. No. 1011, Mus. Budapest”.