Review of Gasteruption Latreille (Hymenoptera, Gasteruptiidae) from Iran and Turkey, with the description of 15 new species

Abstract The genus Gasteruption Latreille, 1796 (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Gasteruptiidae: Gasteruptiinae) from North Iran and Turkey is revised, keyed and fully illustrated for the first time. In total 36 species are treated of which 33 are recorded from Turkey and 23 from Iran. Fifteen species are new for science: Gasteruption aciculatum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption agrenum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption brevibasale van Achterberg & Saure, sp. n., Gasteruption coriacoxale van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption flavimarginatum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption heminitidum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption henseni van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption ischnolaimum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption nigrapiculatum van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption paglianoi van Achterberg & Saure, sp. n., Gasteruption pseudolaticeps van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption punctifrons van Achterberg, sp. n., Gasteruption schmideggeri van Achterberg & Saure, sp. n., Gasteruption scorteum van Achterberg, sp. n. and Gasteruption smitorum van Achterberg, sp. n. Twenty-one species are reported new for Turkey and 16 species new for Iran. Fifteen new synonyms are proposed: Foenus terrestris Tournier, 1877, Gasteruption trifossulatum Kieffer, 1904, and Gasteruption ignoratum Kieffer, 1912, of Gasteruption caucasicum (Guérin-Méneville, 1844); Gasteruption daisyi Alekseev, 1993, of Gasteruption dolichoderum Schletterer, 1889; Gasteruption assectator var. nitidulum Schletterer, 1885, of Gasteruption freyi (Tournier, 1877); Gasteruption schossmannae Madl, 1987, of Gasteruption hastator (Fabricius, 1804); Gasteryption fallaciosum Semenov, 1892, Gasteruption dubiosum Semenov, 1892 and Gasteruption obsoletum Semenov, 1892, of Gasteruption insidiosum Semenov, 1892; Gasteryption schewyrewi Semenov, 1892, of Gasteruption jaculator (Linnaeus, 1758); Gasteruption floreum Szépligeti, 1903, of Gasteruption lugubre Schletterer, 1889; Gasteruption trichotomma Kieffer, 1904, and Gasteruption palaestinum Pic, 1916, of Gasteruption merceti Kieffer, 1904; Gasteryption foveiceps Semenov, 1892, of Gasteruption nigrescens Schletterer, 1885, and Gasteruption libanense Pic, 1916, of Gasteruption syriacum Szépligeti, 1903. Gasteruption lugubre Schletterer, 1889, is recognised as a valid species. Lectotypes are designated for Ichneumon assectator Linnaeus, 1758; Ichneumon jaculator Linnaeus, 1758; Foenus terrestris Tournier, 1877; Foenus freyi Tournier, 1877; Foenus nigripes Tournier, 1877; Foenus goberti Tournier, 1877; Foenus granulithorax Tournier, 1877; Foenus minutus Tournier, 1877; Foenus borealis Thomson, 1883; Faenus diversipes Abeille de Perrin, 1879; Foenus rugulosus Abeille de Perrin, 1879; Faenus obliteratus Abeille de Perrin, 1879; Faenus undulatum Abeille de Perrin, 1879; Faenus variolosus Abeille de Perrin, 1879; Gasteruption distinguendum Schletterer, 1885; Gasteruption laeviceps Schletterer, 1885; Gasteruption thomsonii Schletterer, 1885; Gasteruption foveolatum Schletterer, 1889; Gasteruption sowae Schletterer, 1901; Gasteruption foveolum Szépligeti, 1903; Gasteruption floreum Szépligeti, 1903; Gasteruption caudatum Szépligeti, 1903; Gasteruption syriacum Szépligeti, 1903; Gasteruption merceti Kieffer, 1904 and Gasteruption ignoratum Kieffer, 1912. A neotype is designated for Gasteruption tournieri Schletterer, 1885.


Introduction
The family Gasteruptiidae is a small group of wasps comprising about 500 described species in two subfamilies, Gasteruptiinae (four genera) (Macedo 2009(Macedo , 2011 and Hyptiogastrinae (two genera) (Jennings and Austin 2002). Gasteruptiidae are traditionally classified in the superfamily Evanioidea, together with the Aulacidae and Evaniidae (Jennings and Austin 2000). All three families share the highly inserted metasoma and the mid-coxal articulation. However, the biology of each family is different as are the thoracic musculature, the internal skeletal structure, the antenna cleaner and the shape of the ovipositor. According to these anatomical characters the monophyly of the superfamily has been questioned (Quicke 1997), but recent molecular evidence supports their monophyly (Heraty et al. 2011;Sharkey et al. 2012). Gasteruptiidae are easily recognized from the other apocritan hymenopterans by the elongated "neck" (propleuron) the swollen hind tibiae and the highly attached slender metasoma. Adults are free-living insects feeding on nectar mainly on flowers with easily accessible nectar such are of the families Apiaceae, Asteraceae or Euphorbiaceae, but likely at least some Gasteruption species feed on both nectar and pollen (Jennings and Austin 2004). Gasteruptiidae are also known by their hovering flight during inspection of bee nests ( van Achterberg 2013). The larvae feed on the larval food of solitary bees, after consuming the egg or larva of the bee (Malyshev 1966). They select bees of the subfamilies Apinae, Colletinae and Megachilinae nesting in stems or in wood, and less often in clay banks or other vertical soil substrates ; van Achterberg 2013); as far as known, bees nesting in horizontal soil substrates are far less attacked. In Australia members of the Hyptiogastrinae do attend bee nests in flat ground (Houston 1987). There is only indirect evidence that Gasteruptiinae attack wasp nests, e.g. Crabronidae, Sphecidae and solitary Vespidae (Eumeninae) (Crosskey 1951;

Material and methods
The specimens were collected by hand net or sweep net (Turkey) or in Malaise traps and with sweep net (Iran). The material collected during 2011-2012 is stored in 70% ethanol, prepared using the AXA method ( van Achterberg et al. 2010) and glued on card points; older specimens are collected dry, mounted on card points or pinned. In Iran the present study was carried out in 16 localities in Gilan and Tehran provinces in northern Iran (Fig. 1). Alborz province is the recently renamed western part of the former Tehran province.
The Alborz Mountains separate the subtropical Caspian Sea area (Gilan and Mazandaran) from Tehran province. Gilan (or Guilan) province with an area of 14.042 km² extends along the Caspian Sea and in the northern slopes of the Alborz Moun-tains. Situated between the high mountains of Alborz and the Caspian Sea, Gilan has a humid subtropical climate with heavy annual rainfall of about 1500 mm, moderate temperature and high relative humidity leading to diverse vegetation. The main part of the precipitation is in autumn and winter and October is the rainiest month of the year. The relative humidity is about 80%, which decreases with altitude. The minimum temperature at sea level is +3°C in January. From March on it rises and reaches its maximum of around 30°C in July-August. The Alborz Mountains provide many unique types of vegetation at various altitudes in addition to the Caspian coast flora.
The well-known natural biome of this region is the Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forest but the coastal plains have been nearly entirely converted to urban sites and wet rice fields. As the elevation increases, the flora gradually differentiates and diversifies from humid forests below 700 m a.s.l. to pure Oriental beech or mixed forests at middle altitude (700-1500 m a.s.l.). Shrub lands and steppes occur in the upper mountains and the highest elevations are covered with alpine tundra and meadows (Marvie Mohajer 2006). Tehran province covers an area of 18,909 km² and is located on the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains with various vegetation types and climates. This area receives an average annual rainfall of about 240 mm, which usually starts from October. The maximum precipitation occurs in March with 47 mm and April with 34 mm. The southern part of the province has a semi-arid steppe climate and the northern one a more alpine character. The climate in the mountain regions of northern Tehran is cold and semi-humid and in higher elevations is cold with a long winter. The coldest months of the year are December-February with minus 1-2°C. The spring begins in March and the temperature gradually rises to 30-35°C from mid July to mid September. The province is the most densely populated region in Iran with many different valleys and rivers which makes it very heterogeneous. The specimens were collected during March to November at four locations per province (Tehran (including Alborz) and Gilan). Two Malaise traps were placed in each location. The geographical and main floristic characteristics of each location are presented in Table 3. Sampling procedures were similar at the different locations. Malaise traps were placed in different habitats such as forest, range land or orchards. The specimens were extracted from the Malaise traps and sorted weekly and stored in 70% ethanol.
The antesternal carina ( van Achterberg in Zhao et al. 2012; van Achterberg 2013) is the lamelliform upcurved anterior ridge of the mesopleuron (directly behind the base of the fore coxa; "asc", in Fig. 2A); in many species the anterior ridge is not or only slightly lamelliform and straight (Fig. 2B). The middle of the vertex should be in plane of objective of binocular microscope (Fig. 3A). For the other terminology, see Zhao et al. (2012). Measurements are performed as indicated in Fig. 4 and in van Achterberg (1988). Additional non-exclusive characters in the key are between square brackets. The association of males with the females is based on similarity; in the few cases no males are available distinctive and probably non-sexual characters of the female are tentatively used for the inclusion in the key as far as possible. A new record for the country is indicated by an asterisk. The following abbreviations are used for the depositories: BZL = Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum, Biologiezentrum, Linz; CSC = personal collection of C. Saure     Clypeus with rather large shallow depression (a); meso scutum densely reticulate-rugulose or -rugose (b); hind basitarsus stout (c); head and mesosoma laterally mainly reddish-brown (d), but sometimes black; first discal cell of fore wing glabrous, rarely with a few setae (e) .........G. hastator (Fabricius, 1804) -Clypeus with small depression or depression obsolescent (aa); meso scutum densely coriaceous, rugose or rugulose (bb); hind basitarsus slenderer (cc), rarely similarly stout; head and usually mesosoma laterally black (bb); first discal cell of fore wing usually with some setae (ee -Occipital carina obsolescent, non-lamelliform (aa); hind tibial spurs yellowishbrown, brown (bb) or dark brown; hind tibia more swollen, resulting in a distinctly convex ventral border (cc); hind tibia with ivory subbasal patch (dd) ... 6 6 Meso scutum coarsely rugose, different from very finely aciculate vertex (a) and antero-lateral tooth of pronotum present, protruding anteriorly and rather wide basally (b); hind basitarsus more or less widened basally in dorsal view (c); hind tarsus (except telotarsus) dorsally brownish-yellow to yellowishbrown (d), rarely infuscate; ovipositor sheath 1. -Meso scutum and head similarly coriaceous, at most meso scutum moderately rugulose (aa); antero-lateral tooth of pronotum absent or obsolescent (bb), if present then protruding laterally and narrower basally; hind basitarsus usually parallel-sided basally in dorsal view (cc), but sometimes widened (ccc); hind tarsus dorsally brown, dark brown, ivory or blackish (dd); ovipositor sheath 0.4-1.3 times as long as hind tibia (ee); hind tibial spurs dark brown or brown ( -Antenna dark brown (aa); head directly narrowed behind eyes (bb); at least basal half of hypopygium dark brown (cc); hind femur slightly inflated (dd); hind basitarsus ivory medially (ee); mesosoma 1.5-1.6 times as long as high .. -Occipital carina usually narrower medio-dorsally (aa), if wide then basally thin, basally smooth (bb) and brown (cc); head at most slightly concave medio-posteriorly (dd) and shorter trapezoid or subglobular in dorsal view (ee) ........... 17

16
Occipital carina widely collar-shaped (a), often partly brown and area in front of carina more or less aciculate or crenulate (b); length of ovipositor sheath 2.5-3.1 (but rarely up to 4.3) times as long as hind tibia and 0.8-0.9 (rarely up to 1.2) times as long as metasoma (c); apical half of hind tibia with pale yellowish setae and more or less reddish or yellowish brown (d); [stout species; lateral lobe of meso scutum largely coarsely punctate to reticulate; mandible often yellowish or orange brown basally, but sometimes dark brown; fifth and sixth sternites yellowish brown or -Occipital carina rather narrow medio-dorsally (aa); apex of ovipositor sheath distinctly white or ivory (bb); meso scutum with some fine punctures (cc); [ovipositor sheath 3.6-3.8 times as long as hind tibia and 0.7 times as long as body; lateral lobe of meso scutum and scutellum finely and densely rugulose or rugose; vertex slightly depressed medio-posteriorly; mandible black or dark

28
Propleuron narrower and 0.9-1.1 times as long as distance between tegulae and anterior border of meso scutum (a); meso scutum antero-dorsally with more or less separate punctures; (b); hind basitarsus usually largely or completely dark brown or brown (c), but sometimes with distinct ivory band or dorsal patch; pronotal side more elongate (d Diagnosis. Head flattened dorsally, in front of occipital carina with small and shallow medio-posterior depression (Fig. 12); face moderately wide (Fig. 11); frons and vertex rather matt and densely and very finely transverse aciculate (Fig. 12); occipital carina narrowly lamelliform and dark brown; vertex without punctures; mandible dark brown basally; propleuron stout, coriaceous and 0.7 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae; antesternal carina narrow and non-lamelliform; middle lobe of meso scutum transversely rugose, without punctures and with satin sheen, lateral lobe regularly transversely rugulose with fine coriaceous interspaces and medio-posteriorly irregularly reticulate-rugose (Fig. 8); scutellum superficially coriaceous, weakly transversely rugulose and with satin sheen; ventral half of mesopleuron and metapleuron silvery pilose (Fig. 7); hind basitarsus dark brown basally, apical half largely ivory; hind tibia moderately slender and with subbasal ivory patch (Fig. 13); ovipositor sheath 0.9 times as long as body, 1.4 times as long as metasoma, 2.6 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.2 times hind tibia; white apical part of ovipositor sheath 2.1 times as long as hind basitarsus; length of body 11 mm.
Description. Female, length of body 11.2 mm (of fore wing 5.5 mm).
Head. Head flattened dorsally, in front of occipital carina with small and shallow medio-posterior depression (Fig. 12); face anteriorly conspicuously silvery pilose; occipital carina narrowly lamelliform, dark brown (Figs 5,7,12); third and fourth antennal segments 1.6 and 2.2 times as long as second segment, apical segment 1.9 times as long as penultimate segment; face moderately wide (Fig. 11); frons and vertex rather matt and densely and very finely transverse aciculate (Fig. 12); ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, malar space 0.3 times length of pedicellus.
Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 0.9 times as long as body, 1.4 times as long as metasoma, 2.6 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.2 times hind tibia; white apical part of ovipositor sheath 2.1 times as long as hind basitarsus (Fig. 10).
Colour. Black; mandible, antenna from fourth segment, tegulae, palpi, pterostigma, fore and middle femora and tibiae (except ivory base and apex of tibiae), telotarsi, hind tarsus (except apical ivory part of basitarsus and apices of second-fourth segments), metasoma (but second-fourth tergites apically and apical half of hypopygium and apices of other sternites yellowish brown), more or less dark brown; hind tibia subbasally and apical half of hind basitarsus ivory; hind tibial spurs dark brown and slightly paler than base of hind basitarsus; remainder of tarsi yellowish brown; apex of ovipositor sheath white; wing membrane slightly infuscate.
Male. Unknown. Distribution. Turkey. Biology. Unknown. Collected in July. Etymology. Named "aciculatum", because of the very finely aciculate frons and vertex.  (Fig. 14), in front of occipital carina without medio-posterior depression; face medium-sized (Fig. 18); frons and vertex shiny and superficially finely punctulate mixed with some fine punctures (Fig. 19); occipital carina narrow, non-lamelliform; propleuron 0.8 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae and large smooth and shiny; pronotal side mainly punctate and shiny ventrally (Fig. 15); antesternal carina narrow and non-lamelliform; middle and lateral lobe of meso scutum coarsely transversely reticulate-rugose and shiny (Fig. 16); mesopleuron and metapleuron conspicuously white pilose (Fig. 15); middle lobe rounded antero-laterally (Fig. 16); fore coxa close to mesopleuron (Fig. 15); hind basitarsus entirely dark brown; hind tibia rather swollen and entirely dark brown (Fig.  17); fifth sternite of female orange brown (Fig. 21); apical 0.4-0.5 of hypopygium of female incised; ovipositor sheath 1.1-1.2 times as long as body, 1.6-1.8 times as long as metasoma, 5.0-5.7 times as long as hind tibia and 3.7-4.3 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined; pale brown or ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 0.2-0.5 times as long as hind basitarsus; paramere of male black apically (Fig. 25); third antennal segment of male 1.3 times as long as second segment, fourth segment 1.8 times third segment and as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment as long as fourth segment (Fig. 28); hind tibia of both sexes entirely dark brown or blackish; length of body 10-17 mm. Some of the paratypes has been identified as G. psilomma Kieffer or G. schlettereri. The new species disagrees from G. schlettereri by the length of the short pale apical part of the ovipositor sheath (long in G. schlettereri), smaller ocelli (larger), hind basitarsus dark brown (partly ivory), propleuron largely smooth (distinctly sculptured) and sternites (except hypopygium) orange or reddish brown (dark brown). The interpretation of the Spanish G. psilomma Kieffer, 1904, is problematical. The male holotype of G. psilomma from Spain (Ribas, Catalonia) could not be found in the Mercet Collection (Madrid), as reported before by . According to his redescription G. psilomma is close to G. trichotomma from which it could be separated according to Kieffer (1904a) by having the ovipositor slightly longer than the metasoma and the distance between the posterior ocelli equal to the distance from the ocelli to the eyes. However, in 1904 Kieffer did not mention the ovipositor in the description; he had only the male holotype! For the interpretation of G. psilomma is better to examine carefully Spanish male specimens which agree with the original description. Most striking in the original description is the combination of red second and third metasomal tergites with a black hind leg, a short third antennal segment (1.3 times as long as second segment) and a shiny line in front of the anterior ocellus. Males of G. forticorne Semenov, 1892, fit well and, therefore, we synonymise G. psilomma with G. forticorne (syn. n.). The new species differs by the short malar space (distinctly developed in G. forticorne), the reticulate meso scutum (transversely rugose), the short pale apical part of the ovipositor sheath (medium-sized) and dark brown hind basitarsus (partly ivory). Among the East Palaearctic species the new species is rather similar to G. argentatum Semenov & Kostylev, 1928. The new species has the temple distinctly shorter than the eyes in dorsal view (about as long in G. argentatum), the meso scutum coarsely reticulate, sparsely setose and no smooth interspaces (punctate, densely setose and with smooth interspaces), the hind basitarsus 0.8 times as long as remainder of tarsus without claws (about of equal length) and length of ovipositor sheath 1.1-1.2 times as long as body and 5.0-5.7 times as long as hind tibia (0.7-0.8 times as long as body and 3.1-3.3 times as long as hind tibia). Description. Female, length of body 13.0 mm (of fore wing 6.1 mm). Head. Head moderately convex dorsally in lateral view, in front of occipital carina without medio-posterior depression; face, frons anteriorly and temples conspicuously silvery pilose; occipital carina non-lamelliform (Fig. 14); third and fourth antennal segments 1.7 and 2.5 times as long as second segment; face medium-sized (Fig. 18); frons and vertex shiny and superficially finely punctulate mixed with some fine punctures; temples gradually narrowed behind eyes (Fig. 19); ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, malar space 0.2 times length of pedicellus.
Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.7 times its height; propleuron 0.8 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae, stout and shiny, with long silvery setae and some punctures; pronotal side mainly punctate and shiny ventrally, remainder reticulatepunctate but with nearly smooth patch, sparsely setose except long setae dorsally and posteriorly; side of pronotum with a distinct acute tooth antero-ventrally; antesternal carina narrow lamelliform; middle and lateral lobe of meso scutum coarsely transversely reticulate-rugose and shiny (Fig. 16); scutellum coarsely transversely rugose and with some coarse punctures; mesopleuron and metapleuron conspicuously silvery pilose (Fig. 15); propodeum without distinct median carina.
Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 1.1 times as long as body, 1.8 times as long as metasoma, 5.7 times as long as hind tibia and 3.6 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined; dark ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 0.3 times as long as hind basitarsus.
Male. Very similar to female, but mandible and sternites medially dark brown or black. Third antennal segment 1.6 times as long as second segment, fourth segment twice as long as third segment and 1.2 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment 0.9 times as long as fourth segment (Fig. 28); hind tibia and basitarsus entirely dark brown or blackish; apex of paramere black (Fig. 24).
Variation. Length of body of ♀ 12.5-17.3 mm (of ♂ 10.3-14.1 mm); mandible yellowish or orange brown or dark brown basally; mesosoma entirely black to anterior half largely orange brown; ovipositor sheath 1.1-1.2 times as long as body, 1.6-1.8 times as long as metasoma, 5.0-5.7 times as long as hind tibia and 3.6-4.3 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined; pale brown or ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 0.2-0.5 times as long as hind basitarsus.
Notes. Examined from Turkey a pale specimen with frons and vertex with satin sheen, hind tibia subbasally and hind basitarsus largely ivory, ovipositor sheath about 4 times as long as hind tibia and middle and hind coxae reddish brown which may belong to this species.
Note. The Nearctic synonyms as given by Smith (1996) are not repeated here and need reconfirmation.
Distribution. Holarctic, Turkey, Iran. New for the fauna of Iran. Biology. Predator-inquiline of Hylaeus spp. and small Megachilinae. Collected in June-August. ; temple 0.9 times as long as eye in dorsal view; fourth and fifth antennal segments of ♀ 1.2 and 1.1 times as long as third segment, respectively; fourth segment of ♀ 0.7 times as long as second and third segments combined; apical antennal segment 1.8 times as long as penultimate segment; head not protruding below eyes and malar space 0.3 times length of second antennal segment and 0.2 times basal width of mandible and mandibular condylus close to lower level of eyes (Fig. 53); mandible dark brown and with deep basal depression; eye setose; propleuron stout, with satin sheen, 0.7 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae and coriaceous (Fig. 49); antero-lateral teeth of pronotum absent; meso scutum stout and inconspicuously setose (Fig. 50), anteriorly truncate, matt and largely finely and densely coriaceous; hind femur short and widened (Fig. 55), ventrobasally slightly depressed (Figs 57, 60, 62); hind coxa matt and coriaceous (but rugulose postero-dorsally); hind tibia inflated, its basal petiolar part short and wide in dorsal view (Figs 58, 59, 61); ovipositor sheath 0.4 times as long as metasoma, 0.7 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 1.0-1.2 times as long as hind tibia; apex of ovipositor sheath dark brown; length of body 9-10 mm. The new species shares with G. paglianoi the widened hind femur and apically yellowish brown antenna; the new species has the hypopygium (except apically) dark brown (entirely pale yellowish brown in G. paglianoi), the hind femur slightly depressed ventro-basally (slightly convex) and the short and widened basal petiolar part of the hind tibia (medium-sized and narrower).
Head. Vertex and frons matt, finely and densely coriaceous and in front of occipital carina without medial depression (Fig. 54), in lateral view slightly convex and occipital carina narrow medio-dorsally and non-lamelliform (Fig. 48); head subquadrate and gradually narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view, convex laterally (Fig. 54); temple 0.9 times as long as eye in dorsal view; fifth antennal segment 1.1 times as long as third segment; clypeus nearly flat medially and only near ventral margin impressed; head not protruding below eyes and malar space 0.3 times as long as second antennal segment (Fig. 53).
Variation. Length of body of ♀ 9.0-9.8 mm; length of ovipositor sheath 1.0-1.2 times as long as hind tibia; apical 0.3-0.7 of antenna yellowish brown; coxae dark brown or black.
Close to G. schlettereri Magretti, but the new species has the antesternal carina non-lamelliform (rather narrow lamelliform in G. schlettereri), the frons with mediumsized punctures (absent), the hypopygium pale brown apically (dark brown) and the hind basitarsus tricoloured (uni-and bicoloured of males and females, respectively).
Similar to the East Palaearctic G. gracilis Alekseev, 1995, andG. dimidiatum Semenov, 1892. The new species has the meso scutum with small punctures anteriorly and with transverse rugae medio-posteriorly (entirely very finely coriaceous in G. gracilis and with large isolated punctures in G. dimidiatum), the hypopygium of female is black (orange-brown in G. dimidiatum), the pronotal side is at least partly conspicuously setose (inconspicuously shortly setose in G. gracilis) and the apex of the ovipositor sheath ivory (dark brown or yellowish-brown in G. dimidiatum). Resembles the Central Asian G. praestans Semenov & Kostylev, 1928, but the new species has the occipital carina non-lamelliform (narrow lamelliform in G. praestans), the apex of the ovipositor sheath ivory (dark brown) and the head rather slender (rather wide). Specimens with rather long parallel-sided head may be easily confused with the European G. phragmiticola Saure, 2006. The new species has the hind coxa coriaceous or finely rugulose dorsally (distinctly rugose (male) or rugulose (female) in G. phragmiticola), the face narrower (rather wide), the propleuron in ventral view slightly slenderer (less slender), and part of the punctures of the middle lobe of meso scutum separated from rugulae or punctures obsolescent (punctures as far as differentiated connected to rugae). The head in dorsal view is subparallel-sided in G. phragmiticola and usually more narrowed in the new species, but sometimes also subparallel-sided in the new species.
Description. Female, length of body 7.5 mm (of fore wing 3.7 mm).
Head. Head evenly convex dorsally, without medio-posterior depression; face, frons anteriorly and temples inconspicuously pilose; occipital carina non-lamelliform, dark brown (Fig. 80); third and fourth antennal segments 1.3 and 1.8 times as long as second segment, apical segment 1.7 times as long as penultimate segment; face rather narrow (Fig. 84); frons and vertex superficially coriaceous and with satin sheen (Fig. 85), frons with separate punctures; ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view (Fig. 84), malar space short, 0.3 times as long as second antennal segment.
Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 0.9 times as long as body, 1.4 times as long as metasoma, 2.8 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.8 times hind tibia; ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 0.2 times as long as hind basitarsus; apical half of hypopygium incised.
Colour. Dark brown or blackish brown; mandible dark brown basally; trochantelli, palpi, tegulae, hind tibia basally and hind tarsus, brown; fore and middle tarsi pale brown; bases of fore and middle tibiae and apex of ovipositor sheath ivory; apex of second tergite of metasoma yellowish brown, apex of hypopygium dark brown; wing membrane subhyaline.
Male. Very similar to female, but middle lobe of meso scutum rugulose with some punctures to mainly rugose (Figs 90,96), pronotal side with some rugulae ventrally, hind coxa usually rugulose dorsally and malar space nearly absent (Fig. 89). Third antennal segment 1.5-1.6 times as long as second segment, fourth segment 1.6-1.8 times third segment and 0.9-1.0 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment about as long as fourth segment (Figs 92, 97); hind tibia dark brown and with wide subbasal white or ivory band, only ventrally white and dorsally ivory or pale brown (Figs 91,98), rarely (as in holotype) brown subbasally; hind tibia usually dark brown ventrally (except subbasally), but more or less yellowish brown in pale specimens (Fig. 98); mandible usually dark brown basally, but sometimes yellowish basally; hind tarsus brown or dark brown; apex of paramere dark brown (Fig. 94).
Variation. Length of body of ♀ 7.5-13.4 mm (of ♂ 7.6-9.8 mm); variable in colour: dark forms (as holotype) have metasoma and mandible dark brown and hind tibia subbasally brown or rarely dark brown; pale forms have second-fourth tergites largely and fifth tergite partly orange brown and hind tibia ivory subbasally; most of specimens are intermediate, either mainly dark brown or black, some pale specimens have also the mandible yellowish brown basally and males have the hind tibia more or less yellowish-brown ventrally ( Fig. 98). Vertex matt or with satin sheen; meso scutum often with some large but shallow punctures medially; ovipositor sheath 0.9-1.2 times as long as body, 1.4-1.7 times as long as metasoma and 4.8-6.5 times hind tibia; white or ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 0.2-0.7 (rarely 1.0) times as long as hind basitarsus; palpi brown or dark brown.
Notes. Especially small specimens are darker than large specimens and have usually a shorter ovipositor sheath.
Distribution. Europe, Iran, Turkey. Biology. Unknown. Collected in July-September. Notes. Gasteruption diversipes was reported by Yildirim et al. (2004) from Turkey and by Samin and Bagriacik (2012) from NW. Iran (West Azarbaijan, Ourmiech, 1426 m); but it may concern the similar and more common G. schlettereri Magretti.
Distribution. Southeast Europe, *Turkey, *Jordan, *Iran, Central Asia. New for the fauna of Iran. Jordan and Turkey.
Biology. Unknown. Collected in May-September. Notes. One small female from Shahriar (22-28.ix.2010; fore wing 3.0 mm and body 7.0 mm; Figs 125-133) has the head in dorsal view slightly curved laterally, the first subdiscal cell of fore wing narrow triangular (rarely found also in other specimens), the wing membrane subhyaline, the pronotal side only coriaceous ventrally and the hind tibia slightly slenderer than other specimens from Iran. Body is often more or less reddish-brown; a female from Jordan (RMNH) and Kyrgyzstan (BZL) have the body (including head) nearly entirely reddish-brown. The African G. ifan Berland, 1950, is very similar (e.g. by the shape of the head and the shortened antennal segments), but G. dolichoderum has wider hind tibia (as in G. assectator; slenderer in G. ifan), meso scutum sparsely setose (densely setose) and head more narrowed posteriorly in dorsal view (less narrowed). Diagnosis. Head in front of occipital carina without depression (Fig. 148), in lateral view nearly flat dorsally and occipital carina narrow medio-dorsally and nonlamelliform (Fig. 143); vertex and frons matt, finely and densely coriaceous; antesternal carina narrow and non-lamelliform, antesternal carina and prepectal carina medioventrally similarly developed; head trapezoid and linearly narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view (Fig. 148); temple 0.7 times as long as eye in dorsal view; fourth and fifth antennal segments of ♀ 1.2 and 1.1 times as long as third segment, respectively; fourth segment of ♀ 0.8 times as long as second and third segments combined; apical antennal segment 2.4 times as long as penultimate segment; head not protruding below eyes and malar space 0.3 times length of second antennal segment and 0.2 times basal width of mandible and mandibular condylus close to lower level of eyes (Fig.  147); mandible yellow and with obsolescent or shallow basal depression; eye largely glabrous; propleuron stout, with satin sheen, 0.7 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae and coriaceous (Fig. 144); antero-lateral teeth of pronotum absent; mesoscutum stout and inconspicuously setose (Fig. 145), anteriorly truncate, with satin sheen and largely finely and densely rugulose; hind femur medium-sized and slender (Fig. 149); hind coxa with satin sheen and coriaceous (but rugulose postero-dorsally); hind tibia inflated and with medium-sized basal petiolus; ovipositor sheath 0.3 times as long as metasoma, 0.6 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and as long as hind tibia; apex of ovipositor sheath dark brown; length of body 8.5-11.5 mm. Male has third antennal segment 1.6 times as long as second segment, fourth segment 1.4 times third segment and 0.9 times as long as second and third segments combined   . 155); paramere narrowly ivory apically (Fig. 154). The new species shares with West Palaearctic G. paglianoi and the mainly Oriental G. brevicuspis Kieffer, 1911, the yellow mandible, but the new species has apical 0.7 of the antenna dark brown (yellowish brown in G. paglianoi), the head narrowed behind the eyes (parallel-sided), basal 0.6 of the hypopygium dark brown (pale yellowish brown) and the hind femur slenderer (distinctly inflated). It differs from G. brevicuspis by having head shorter and less directly narrowed in dorsal view (longer and directly narrowed in G. brevicuspis), the metasoma with distinct yellowish pattern (largely absent) and the head nearly flat dorsally in lateral view (moderately convex).
Head. Vertex and frons matt, finely and densely coriaceous and in front of occipital carina without medial depression (Fig. 148), in lateral view nearly flat and occipital carina narrow medio-dorsally and non-lamelliform (Fig. 143); head trapezoid and linearly narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view (Fig. 148); temple 0.7 times as long as eye in dorsal view; fifth antennal segment 1.1 times as long as third segment; clypeus slightly impressed medio-ventrally; head not protruding below eyes and malar space 0.3 times as long as second antennal segment (Fig. 147); mandible with obsolescent basal depression.
Legs. Hind coxa with satin sheen and coriaceous (but rugulose postero-dorsally); hind femur rather slender; hind tibia inflated, with short pale bristles and with medium-sized basal petiolus (Figs 149, 162); length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 4.3, 3.5 and 3.8 times their width, respectively; hind basitarsus widened basally in dorsal view and as long as remainder of tarsus; pale hind tibial spurs similar to brown base of hind basitarsus.
Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 0.3 times as long as metasoma, 0.6 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and as long as hind tibia; hypopygium shallowly incised (Fig. 146).
Male. Very similar to female; two basal antennal segments and mesosoma black and only sometimes pedicellus pale apically. Third antennal segment 1.6 times as long as second segment, fourth segment 1.4 times third segment and 0.9 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment 0.9 times as long as fourth segment (Fig. 155); pronotal side partly rugulose ventrally; meso scutum regularly transversely rugulose and shiny; colour and shape of hind leg as of female, but coxa black and basitarsus largely dark brown; apex of paramere ivory apically (Fig. 154).
Variation. Length of body of ♀ 7.0-11.5 mm (of ♂ 6.8-10.3 mm); pronotal side usually largely finely rugulose ventrally; length of ovipositor sheath 0.8-1.0 times as long as hind tibia; mesosoma and coxa entirely black or partly yellowish brown; apex of ovipositor sheath dark brown or brown; hind basitarsus of C. Asian specimens only basally ivory or pale brownish, of Chinese and Mongolian specimens entirely dark brown and slenderer than of holotype.
Notes. The series from Mongolia is excluded from the type series because the head is somewhat protruding below the eyes and the malar space is 0.5 times length of the second antennal segment and 0.4 times basal width of the mandible and the mandibular condylus is below lower level of the eyes.
Diagnosis. Apex of ovipositor sheath white or ivory and about 1.2 times as long as hind basitarsus; head with middle and lateral depressions in front of occipital carina deep and interconnected (Figs 179, 180, 185); occipital carina distinctly lamelliform and very wide, more or less concave medio-dorsally (Fig. 180); antesternal carina narrow and non-lamelliform or nearly so, not or slightly elevated above mesosternum (Fig. 175); fourth and fifth antennal segments of female 1.4-1.5 and 1.1-1.2 times as long as third segment, respectively; frons sparsely punctulate and with distinct interspaces or very finely and densely punctulate; vertex more or less finely punctulate and distinctly shiny; face narrow (Fig. 179); temples rather gradually roundly narrowed behind eyes (Fig. 180); propleuron 0.8 times as long as meso scutum up to tegulae (Fig.   Figures 182-186. Gasteruption goberti (Tournier), male, paralectotype of G. sowae. 182 mesonotum dorsal 183 hind leg 184 basal antennal segments 185 head dorsal 186 head dorso-lateral. 175); lateral lobes of meso scutum rugose and partly punctate (Fig. 176); anterior half of meso scutum largely coarsely reticulate-rugose (Fig. 182); outer side of hind tibia subbasally and apical half of hind basitarsus dark brown (Fig. 181); fore and middle legs mainly reddish-brown and without white or ivory markings; ovipositor about 1.2 times as long as body; body rather stout. Male has third antennal segment 1.5 times longer than second segment and fourth and fifth segments 2.0 and 1.5-1.7 times as long as third segment, respectively (Fig. 184).

Biology. Predator-inquiline of Osmia and Hylaeus spp. in Rubus stems and of Systropha nests. Collected in May-August.
Notes. One specimen from Iran is exceptionally large (length of body 13.8 mm and fore wing 5.5 mm) but agrees in other aspects with typical specimens. First species of Gasteruption reported from Turkey (by Semenov (1892) from "Tauria"). Diagnosis. Head weakly convex dorsally, in front of occipital carina without medio-posterior depression; face moderately wide (Fig. 209); frons with satin sheen and densely finely punctulate; occipital carina narrowly lamelliform and dark brown; vertex rather shiny and moderately spaced finely punctulate; mandible yellowish brown basally, but partly darkened dorso-basally; propleuron 0.9 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae; antesternal carina medium-sized lamelliform, directed posteriorly;  meso scutum shiny, coarsely punctate, and with smooth interspaces, medio-posteriorly reticulate-punctate (Fig. 207); scutellum shiny, partly smooth and with transverse rugae; mesosoma laterally (except pronotal side medially and ventrally) silvery pilose (Fig. 206); middle lobe protuberant (Fig. 207); hind basitarsus entirely dark brown, darker than yellowish brown hind tibial spurs (Fig. 208); hind tibia slender, outer side with punctures and short pale bristles and with large subbasal ivory patch (Fig. 208); ovipositor sheath 0.9-1.0 times as long as body, 1.4-1.6 times as long as metasoma, 2.8-3.1 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.0-5.1 times hind tibia; apex of ovipositor sheath dark brown or brown; length of body 8-11 mm; paramere dark brown or black apically (Fig. 216). Similar to G. saharense Benoit considering its sculpture, but the new species has the ovipositor sheath 1.4-1.6 times as long as metasoma (ovipositor sheath about as long as metasoma in G. saharense), pronotal side medially and dorsally sculptured (largely smooth), the occipital and antesternal carinae moderately lamelliform (non-lamelliform or nearly so), the scapus and mesosoma black (largely yellowish brown) and pterostigma dark brown (brown). Close to Central Asian G. dimidiatum Semenov, but the new species has the head trapezoid in dorsal view (subglobular in G. dimidiatum), the occipital carina wider (narrow), the head slightly emarginate medio-posteriorly (distinctly emarginate), the metasoma black (largely orange or yellowish brown), the hind tibia of male yellowish brown or brown ventrally (black) and third antennal segment of male dissimilar to second segment and 1.2-1.5 times as long as second segment (similar and 1.1-1.2 times longer).
Description. Female, length of body 9.4 mm (of fore wing 4.4 mm).
Head. Head weakly convex dorsally, posteriorly gradually narrowed, without medio-posterior depression; face and frons conspicuously silvery pilose; occipital carina narrowly lamelliform, dark brown (Fig. 205); third and fourth antennal segments 1.7 and 2.6 times as long as second segment, apical segment 1.7 times as long as penultimate segment; face moderately wide (Fig. 209); frons with satin sheen and densely finely punctulate; vertex rather shiny and moderately spaced finely punctulate; ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, malar space 0.3 times length of pedicellus.
Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath as long as body, 1.5 times as long as metasoma, 2.9 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.5 times hind tibia.
Colour. Black; metasoma dark brown, but basally and apically darker than medially; mandible (but dorsally basally darkened) and tegulae yellowish brown; fore and middle tibiae basally and basitarsi and hind tibia subbasally ivory; remainder of legs (except coxae) largely dark brown; palpi, pterostigma and hind basitarsus entirely dark brown; hind tibial spurs yellowish brown, paler than base of hind basitarsus; apex of ovipositor sheath dark brown; wing membrane subhyaline.
Male. Very similar to female. Third antennal segment 1.2-1.5 times as long as second segment, fourth segment 1.7-1.8 times third segment and as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment 0.8-0.9 times as long as fourth segment (Fig.  218); mandible yellowish brown; scutellum often largely smooth and meso scutum densely punctate; antesternal carina medium-sized; hind tibia dark brown and with subbasal ivory band; hind tibial spurs similarly coloured as outer side of basitarsus; hind tarsus dark brown; hind tibia yellowish brown or brown ventrally, dorsally mainly dark brown and its base entirely ivory or basally narrowly brown as in female; hind coxa transversely rugose dorsally; apex of paramere black or dark brown (Fig. 216).
Variation. Length of body of ♀ 8.3-11.3 mm (of ♂ 7.7-10.4 mm); meso scutum often more densely punctate than in holotype; hind basitarsus entirely dark brown or apically ivory as two following segments; apical half of hypopygium dark brown or largely yellowish brown; ovipositor sheath 0.9-1.0 times as long as body, 1.4-1.6 times as long as metasoma, 2.8-3.1 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.0-5.1 times hind tibia.
Distribution. Iran. Biology. Unknown. Collected in June-July. Etymology. Name derived from "hemi", (Greek for "half") and "nitidus", (Latin for "shining") because of the partly smooth and shiny meso scutum. Diagnosis. Head evenly convex dorsally, in front of occipital carina without medio-posterior depression; face wide ( Fig. 225); frons and vertex with satin sheen and densely coriaceous-punctulate (Fig. 226); occipital carina narrowly lamelliform and dark brown (Fig. 220); mandible yellowish brown, but basally brown; propleuron 0.7 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae and stout; antesternal carina narrow and non-lamelliform; middle lobe of meso scutum with coarse punctures connected to rugulae, with satin sheen and interspaces largely smooth, lateral lobe similar but medially superficially coriaceous (Fig. 222); scutellum mainly transversely rugose; laterally mesosoma largely silvery pilose (Fig. 221); middle lobe slightly protuberant (Fig. 222); hind basitarsus dark brown basally, apically narrowly brown and remainder white or ivory; hind tibia distinctly swollen and with subbasal ivory ring (Fig. 227); hind basitarsus stout and 0.8 times as long as remainder of tarsus (without claws); ovipositor sheath 0.8 times as long as body, 1.3 times as long as metasoma, 2.1 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 3.4 times hind tibia; white or ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 1.6-1.8 times as long as hind basitarsus; length of body 9-12 mm; hypopygium largely yellowish brown (Fig. 228); paramere broadly ivory apically (Fig. 231). Close to G. schlettereri Magretti, but the new species has the antesternal carina non-lamelliform (rather narrow lamelliform in G. schlettereri), the hind tibia distinctly swollen (slenderer), the hypopygium yellowish brown apically (dark brown) and the hind basitarsus tricoloured and shorter than remainder of tarsus without claws (uni-and bicoloured of males and females, respectively, and about as long as remainder of tarsus).
Description. Female, length of body 9.8 mm (of fore wing 4.9 mm). Head. Head evenly convex dorsally, without medio-posterior depression; face, frons laterally and temples distinctly pilose; occipital carina narrowly lamelliform, dark brown (Fig. 220); third and fourth antennal segments 1.5 and 2.2 times as long as second segment, apical segment twice as long as penultimate segment; face wide (Fig. 225); frons and vertex with satin sheen and densely coriaceous-punctulate (Fig. 226); ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, malar space 0.3 times as ,long as second antennal segment.
Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.6 times its height; propleuron 0.7 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae, stout; ventrally pronotal side coriaceous with some large punctures and only posteriorly with pilosity, with a small blunt tooth anteroventrally; antesternal carina non-lamelliform and narrow; middle lobe of meso scutum with coarse punctures connected to rugulae, with satin sheen and interspaces largely smooth, lateral lobe similar but medially superficially coriaceous (Fig. 222); scutellum mainly transversely rugose; middle lobe slightly protuberant (Fig. 222).
Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 0.8 times as long as body, 1.3 times as long as metasoma, 2.1 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 3.4 times hind tibia; white or ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 1.7 times as long as hind basitarsus.
Colour. Black; mandible (but dorsally basally brown) yellowish-brown; trochantelli, base of hind femur, fore and middle tibia (except ivory base) and tarsi, tegulae, sternites apically and hypopygium (except dark brown base) yellowish brown; bases of fore and middle tibiae, subbasal ring of hind tibia and hind basitarsus (except dark brown basal third and narrowly brown apex) ivory; apex of ovipositor sheath ivory; palpi, pterostigma, remainder of legs and veins dark brown; metasoma laterally orange brown; wing membrane hyaline.
Male. Similarly stout as female, but frons and vertex coarser coriaceous-rugulose; pronotal side rugulose ventrally and meso scutum more coarsely sculptured. Third antennal segment 1.2 times as long as second segment, fourth segment 1.8 times third segment and as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment nearly as long as fourth segment (Fig. 234); hind tibia dark brown, but ventrally largely brown except for subbasal ivory band; hind tarsus brown, but basitarsus with ivory dorsal patch and laterally mainly pale brown; apex of paramere broadly pale yellowish or ivory (Fig. 231).
Variation. Length of body of both sexes 9.5-12.2 mm; length of ovipositor sheath 3.3-3.4 times as long as hind tibia and 1.1-1.3 times as long as metasoma and ivory apex 1.6-1.8 times as long as hind basitarsus; hind tibia of female 3.8-4.1 times as long as wide.

Biology. Unknown. Collected in July.
Etymology. Named after the collector of the holotype, the hymenopterist Raymond Hensen (Amsterdam).
Close to G. erythrostomum (Dahlbom) but this species has the apical half of the hind tibia black or dark brown ventrally and with brown setae (more or less reddish brown and with pale yellowish setae (Fig. 238) in G. insidiosum), the ovipositor sheath shorter (1.7-2.6 times as long as hind tibia, 0.6-0.8 times metasoma, 1.1-1.6 times hind tibia and tarsus combined versus 2.5-3.1 times as long as hind tibia, 0.8-0.9 times metasoma and 1.7-1.9 times hind tibia and tarsus combined in G. insidiosum), the meso scutum of female (especially lateral lobe) mainly coriaceous with at most small superficial punctures and rather shiny antero-dorsally (punctures deep, medium-sized and more or less finely crater-like and mixed with fine punctures between punctures, rarely only coarsely punctate) and matt antero-dorsally; mesoscutum of male transversely rugulose or moderately rugose, more coarsely punctate in G. insidiosum), the hind tibia black ventrally (usually partly reddish brown ventrally, rarely black), the occipital carina less collar-shaped and straight medio-dorsally (wide collar-shaped and more or less sinuate medio-dorsally) and the meso scutum hardly setose (rather setose). Also similar to G. nigrescens Schletterer, 1885, but G. insidiosum has the ovipositor sheath 0.5-0.6 times as long as body and 2.6-2.9 times hind tibia (0.8-1.0 times body and 3.5-4.7 times hind tibia in G. nigrescens), the meso scutum more crater-like punctate, the occipital carina wide (usually narrower in G. nigrescens) and the hind tibia wider and ventral half often partly dark brown (slenderer and black).
Distribution. East Europe, Iran, Turkey. Biology. Unknown. Collected in June-July. Notes. The occurrence of G. erythrostomum in Iran and Turkey is questionable. The reported specimens most likely belong to the similar G. insidiosum Semenov. Diagnosis. Head distinctly convex dorsally in lateral view, in front of occipital carina with obsolescent medio-posterior depression; face wide (Fig. 255); frons and vertex with satin sheen and densely punctulate, vertex anteriorly with some fine punctures between punctulation and posteriorly somewhat coriaceous; occipital carina medium-sized lamelliform, smooth and largely dark brown (Fig. 250); propleuron 0.9 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae and laterally largely coriaceous and with satin sheen; pronotal side finely coriaceous except rather narrow crenulate groove; antesternal carina narrow and slightly lamelliform; middle lobe of meso scutum finely coriaceous with medium-sized superficial punctures and with satin sheen, lateral lobe and scutellum coriaceous with fine superficial punctures (Fig. 252); mesosoma laterally white pilose except pronotal side medially and largely ventrally (Fig. 251); fore coxa close to mesopleuron; hind basitarsus entirely dark brown; hind tibia slender and with ivory subbasal patch (Fig. 257); fifth and sixth sternites of female dark brown; apical 0.5 of hypopygium of female incised; ovipositor sheath 0.8-0.9 times as long as body, 1.1-1.3 times as long as metasoma, 3.6-3.8 times as long as hind tibia and 2.2-2.4 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined; ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 0.4-0.7 times as long as hind basitarsus (Fig. 254); length of body 11-12 mm.
Head. Head distinctly convex dorsally in lateral view, in front of occipital carina with obsolescent medio-posterior depression; face wide (Fig. 255); face and frons anteriorly silvery pilose; occipital carina medium-sized lamelliform and smooth (Fig.  Figures 250-258. Gasteruption ischnolaimum sp. n., female, holotype. 250 head lateral 251 mesosoma lateral 252 mesonotum dorsal 253 fore wing 254 apex of ovipositor sheath 255 head anterior 256 head dorsal 257 hind leg 258 hypopygium ventral. 250); third and fourth antennal segments 1.6 and 2.0 times as long as second segment, apical segment 1.2 times as long as penultimate segment; frons and vertex with satin sheen and densely punctulate, vertex anteriorly with some fine punctures between punctulation and posteriorly somewhat coriaceous; temples gradually narrowed behind eyes and resulting in trapezoid head in dorsal view (Fig. 256); ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, malar space 0.2 times length of pedicellus; mandible dark reddish brown; tibial spurs nearly as dark as hind basitarsus; inner tooth of mandible minute.
Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma twice its height; propleuron 0.9 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae, laterally coriaceous, stout and with satin sheen; pronotal side finely coriaceous except rather narrow crenulate groove; side of pronotum with minute tooth antero-ventrally; antesternal carina narrow and slightly lamelliform; middle lobe of meso scutum finely coriaceous with medium-sized superficial punctures and with satin sheen, lateral lobe and scutellum coriaceous with fine superficial punctures; medio-posteriorly with some rugae (Fig. 256); notauli distinctly impressed; mesosoma laterally white pilose except pronotal side medially and largely ventrally (Fig. 251); propodeum with complete median carina.
Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 0.9 times as long as body, 1.3 times as long as metasoma, 3.8 times as long as hind tibia and 2.4 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined; ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 0.4 times as long as hind basitarsus (Fig. 254).
Colour. Black; mandible, tegulae and hind tibial spurs dark reddish brown; bases of fore and middle tibiae and subbasal patch of hind tibia ivory; second and third segments orange brown; remainder of legs and metasoma dark brown or blackish brown; pterostigma and veins dark brown; wing membrane subhyaline.
Male. Unknown. Variation. Length of body of ♀ 10.5-11.6 mm; pronotal side entirely coriaceous or with some rugulae; paratype from Iran has middle lobe of meso scutum mainly finely transversely rugulose and meso scutum medio-posteriorly extensively rugose; ovipositor sheath 0.8-0.9 times as long as body, 1.1-1.3 times as long as metasoma, 3.6-3;8 times as long as hind tibia and 2.2-2.4 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined; ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 0.4-0.7 times as long as hind basitarsus.
Distribution. Iran, Turkey. Biology. Unknown. Collected in June and August. Etymology. Named after the collector of the holotype and specialist of Ichneumonidae for his contribution to our knowledge of Ichneumonidae and for 50 years collecting of parasitoid Hymenoptera. "Ischnolaimum", is from "ischnos", (Greek for "weak") and "laimos", (Greek for "throat, neck") and is a translation of the name "Zwakhals".
[18]78", "Museum Paris, coll. Abeille de Perrin, 1919", "Lectotypus, des. Madl, 1987", "Gasteruption jaculator L., ♀, det. Madl, 1987";according  Diagnosis. Apex of ovipositor sheath with a distinct white or ivory band, 1.5-2.7 times as long as hind basitarsus (up to 3.0 times in N. African specimens); head flat in front of occipital carina, without any depression; occipital carina strongly lamelliform and somewhat shorter than diameter of posterior ocellus (Figs 259, 269); fifth antennal segment of female 1.0-1.4 times as long as third segment; vertex rather matt and very finely aciculate; malar space short; antesternal carina narrow; length of propleuron 0.8-0.9 times distance between tegulae and anterior border of meso-  (Fig. 260); meso scutum coarsely punctate-rugose anteriorly and interspaces more or less smooth, lateral lobes more or less coriaceous, contrasting with middle lobe (Figs 261, 267); hind tibia rather swollen (Fig. 265); hind tibia and basitarsus more or less ivory or white subbasally; ovipositor sheath 1.0-1.2 times as long as body and 1.5-1.7 times as long as metasoma (but only 1.4 times metasoma in N. African specimens). Males have shape of third antennal segment similar to second segment, rather short and usually 1.1-1.3 times as long as second segment and fourth antennal segment distinctly longer than (about 1.2 times as long as) second and third segments combined.

Biology. Predator-inquiline of Colletinae (Colletes and Hylaeus spp.). Collected in May-August.
Notes. The specimens from Mazandaran have the middle lobe of the meso scutum more dominantly punctate than European and Turkish specimens and lack the transverse rugulosity, but a female from Gaznasara has superficial punctures on the meso-scutum between the transverse rugulosity and a second female has the meso scutum mainly strongly punctate. Two males seen from slight impression near occipital carina medio-dorsally and considered to be an unknown species.

Diagnosis.
Apex of ovipositor sheath with a distinct white or ivory band, 1.2-1.3 times as long as hind basitarsus; head with middle depression in front of occipital carina moderately deep and nearly round and no lateral depressions (Figs 277,278,283); occipital carina distinctly lamelliform and medium-sized to wide (Figs 272,278); antesternal carina rather wide and lamelliform, distinctly elevated above mesosternum (Fig. 273); frons densely punctulate or densely very finely aciculate and without distinct interspaces; vertex more or less finely transversely aciculate and with satin sheen; head in dorsal view moderately narrowed (Figs 277,283); propleuron with satin sheen, smooth, coriaceous or finely rugulose; ovipositor sheath 1.0-1.1 times as long as body and about 1.6 times as long as metasoma; pterostigma dark brown medially. Males have fourth antennal segment 0.8-0.9 times as long as second and third segments combined and apical antennal segment about as long as fourth segment (Fig. 282).
Distribution. Europe, Iran, Turkey. New for the fauna of Turkey. Biology. Uncertain, according to Malyshev (1965) predator-inquiline of Hylaeus nests. Collected from mid-May till early September.
Notes. Especially males may have the medio-posterior depression of the vertex shallowly impressed (Fig. 283) or nearly absent.
Type material. Holotype of G. lugubre, ♀ (ETHZ) "799", [according to original description from Switzerland, Wallis], "G. lugubre n. sp., Typ.", "Gasteruption assectator (Linnaeus), ♀, C. Saure, det. 1999 Diagnosis. Apex of ovipositor sheath with a distinct white or ivory band, 1.5-1.9 times as long as hind basitarsus; dorsally head in front of occipital carina with minute medial depression (Fig. 290), in lateral view flat and occipital carina very narrow mediodorsally and non-lamelliform (Fig. 284) or narrowly lamelliform; antesternal carina with narrow lamelliform rim, antesternal carina and prepectal carina medio-ventrally similarly developed (Fig. 295); head ventrally elongate below eyes (Figs 289, 298), gradually narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view and temples slightly convex (Fig. 290); temple about half as long as eye in dorsal view; fourth and fifth antennal segments of ♀ 1.6-1.7 and 1.4-1.6 times as long as third segment, respectively; fourth segment of ♀ 1.0-1.1 times as long as second and third segments combined; head parallel-sided below eyes and malar space about 0.9 times as long as second antennal segment (= pedicellus); vertex and frons rather matt, finely and densely aciculate-rugulose; propleuron with satin sheen, 0.8 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae, densely rugose or rugulose and stout (Fig.  286); pronotal side largely rugulose; antero-lateral teeth of pronotum small and rather acutely angled; meso scutum slender and sparsely setose (Fig. 286), with satin sheen and largely finely and densely transversely rugulose, without separate punctures and medioposteriorly rugose; hind femur narrow and nearly parallel-sided (Fig. 291); hind coxa mainly granulate, but rugulose dorsally (Fig. 297); ovipositor sheath 0.8-1.0 times as long as body, 1.2-1.3 times as long as metasoma and 3.7-3.9 times as long as hind tibia; hind coxa and pronotal side dark brown or blackish; hind basitarsus dark brown or black (dark form) or partly ivory (pale form); length of body 8-11 mm. Male has third antennal segment twice as long as second segment, fourth segment 1.6 times as long as third segment and as long as second and third segments combined (Fig. 302); malar space slightly longer than basal width of third antennal segment.
Distribution. Mountainous parts of C. Europe and Turkey. New for the fauna of Turkey.

Gasteruption merceti
Distribution. Central and South Europe, N. Africa, Israel, Turkey, Iran. New for the fauna of Iran.
Biology. Predator-inquiline of Ceratina spp. Collected in April-July and September.  Notes. Sometimes the mesosoma is anteriorly (male from Kerman, Iran) or largely reddish brown. Eastern populations have the occipital carina lamelliform but narrower (width of carina medio-dorsally 0.2-0.4 times transverse diameter of posterior ocellus) than in European populations (0.5-0.6 times transverse diameter of posterior ocellus); the differences are clinal.

Foenus borealis
Diagnosis. Apex of ovipositor sheath blackish or slightly brownish, if rather pale apically then pale part distinctly shorter than hind basitarsus; ovipositor sheath 0.5-0.9 times as long as hind tibia and 0.3-0.6 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined; occipital carina obsolescent (Figs 315, 323) and hardly protruding ventroposteriorly; head in anterior view protruding below lower level of eyes by about basal width of mandible and mandibular condylus distinctly below lower level of eyes (Figs 320, 327), either subparallel (= typical form) or narrowed ventrally (f. boreale)); in lateral view condylar incision of malar space remains far removed from eye (Fig. 329); antesternal carina narrow; head, mesosoma laterally and scapus black; clypeus with small depression or depression obsolescent; apical antennal segment at most 1.2 times as long as third antennal segment and its colour similar to colour of medial segments; antenna of ♀ slightly shiny and blackish or dark brown; meso scutum and head similarly coriaceous, at most meso scutum superficially rugulose; hind coxa very densely and finely sculptured dorsally; hind tibia stout, with a distinct subbasal ivory ring and swollen, resulting in a distinctly convex ventral border (Fig. 322); hind basitarsus stout to slender (Figs 322, 325); hind tibial spurs yellowish-brown or brown; hind tarsus brown, dark brown or blackish; incision of hypopygium shallow. Males have third antennal segment usually rather long, significantly longer than second segment (Fig.  326) and fourth antennal segment shorter than second and third segments combined.  Distribution. Europe, Iran, Turkey. New for the fauna of Iran and Turkey. Biology. Probably predator-inquiline of Hylaeus nests (Wall, 1994). Collected from end of May till early August. Diagnosis. Head weakly convex dorsally, in front of occipital carina without medio-posterior depression; face moderately wide (Fig. 335); frons with satin sheen and densely finely punctulate; occipital carina narrowly lamelliform and dark brown; vertex rather shiny and transversely finely aciculate, anteriorly punctulate and without punctures; mandible yellowish brown basally, but somewhat darkened dorso-basally; propleuron 0.8 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae; antesternal carina medium-sized lamelliform, directed posteriorly; middle lobe of meso scutum shiny, densely transversely rugulose, without smooth interspaces, medio-posteriorly reticulate-rugose, lateral lobe shiny, densely obliquely rugulose and medially irregularly punctate (Fig. 333); scutellum shiny, partly smooth medially and with indistinct transverse rugulae and anteriorly punctate-rugulose; mesosoma laterally (except pronotal side ventrally) silvery pilose (Fig. 332); middle lobe rather protuberant (Fig. 333); hind basitarsus entirely dark brown, darker than yellowish brown hind tibial spurs (Fig. 334); hind tibia rather slender, outer side with punctures and short dark bristles and with large subbasal ivory patch (Fig. 334); ovipositor sheath 0.9 times as long as body, 1.3-1.4 times as long as metasoma, 2.5-2.7 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.1 times hind tibia; apex of ovipositor sheath dark brown or brown; length of body 9-11 mm; paramere ivory apically (Fig. 345).
Head. Head weakly convex dorsally, posteriorly rather directly narrowed, without medio-posterior depression; face and anteriorly frons conspicuously silvery pilose; occipital carina narrowly lamelliform, dark brown (Figs 331, 337); third and fourth antennal segments 1.6 and 2.3 times as long as second segment, apical segment 1.5 times as long as penultimate segment; face moderately wide (Fig. 335); frons with satin sheen and densely finely punctulate; vertex rather shiny and transversely finely aciculate, anteriorly punctulate and without punctures; ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, malar space 0.2 times length of pedicellus.
Legs. Length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 5.1, 4.7 and 5.2 times their width, respectively; hind tibia rather slender (Fig. 334); fore coxa close to mesopleuron; hind coxa shiny and rugulose dorsally; hind basitarsus moderately slender, as long as remainder of tarsus and distinctly widened in dorsal view.
Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 0.9 times as long as body, 1.4 times as long as metasoma, 2.7 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.1 times as long as hind tibia.
Colour. Black; metasoma dark brown, but second-sixth tergites yellowish brown apically and ventrally and sternites basally and apically brown, but apical half of hypopygium largely brown; mandible (but dorso-basally darkened) and tegulae yellowish brown; fore and middle femora apically and tibiae basally and basitarsi and hind tibia subbasally ivory; remainder of legs (except coxae) largely dark brown; palpi, pterostigma and hind basitarsus entirely dark brown; hind tibial spurs yellowish brown and paler than base of hind basitarsus; apex of ovipositor sheath dark brown; wing membrane subhyaline.
Male. Third antennal segment 1.2 times as long as second segment, fourth segment 2.3 times as long as third segment and 1.2 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment as long as fourth segment (Fig. 342); mandible yellowish brown; scutellum partly smooth and shiny medially and meso scutum irregularly rugose; antesternal carina medium-sized; hind tibia dark brown ventrally and with subbasal ivory band; hind tibial spurs paler than base of basitarsus; hind tarsus dark brown; hind coxa transversely rugulose dorsally; apex of paramere ivory (Fig. 345).
Variation. Length of body of ♀ 9.1-11.4 mm (of ♂ 9.5 mm); meso scutum in paratype somewhat coarser sculptured than in holotype; apical half of hypopygium dark brown or largely yellowish brown; ovipositor sheath 0.9 times as long as body, 1.3-1.4 times as long as metasoma, 2.5-2.7 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.1 times hind tibia.

Gasteruption foveiceps;
Diagnosis. Apex of ovipositor sheath dark brown, light brown (Fig. 350) or ivory, pale part 0.1-0.9 times as long as hind basitarsus; vertex slightly impressed or flattened medio-posteriorly in front of occipital carina; antesternal carina usually narrow; length of propleuron 0.8-0.9 times distance between tegulae and anterior border of meso scutum (Fig. 347); occipital carina rather wide. but narrower than diameter of posterior ocellus (Figs 346,352,360); vertex medio-basally in front of occipital carina flat, without impression; third and fourth antennal segments rather stout; third antennal segment of female 1.5-1.7 times as long as second segment; segments of apical half of antenna rather long and ventrally black; frons more or less coriaceous, without discrete fine punctation; antero-lateral teeth of pronotum small; meso scutum mainly coriaceous and anterior half of meso scutum with large punctures or densely crater-like punctate, medio-posteriorly with coarse reticulation, its lateral lobes more or less sculptured as middle lobe; dorsally hind coxa mainly coriaceous; hind tibial  spurs blackish or dark brown; ovipositor sheath 2.4-4.3 times as long as hind tibia and 0.9-1.1 times as long as body. Males have third antennal segment usually rather long and significantly longer than second segment (Fig. 358); paramere black or brown apically (Fig. 361).

Biology. Unknown. Collected in June-August in Turkey and Iran.
Notes. Close to G. erythrostomum (Dahlbom) but this species has the ovipositor sheath shorter (1.7-2.6 times as long as hind tibia, 0.6-0.8 times metasoma, 1.1-1.6 times hind tibia and tarsus combined versus 2.7-4.3 (rarely 2.4-2.6) times as long as hind tibia, 0.9-1.3 (rarely 0.8) times metasoma and 1.7-2.7 times hind tibia and tarsus combined in G. nigrescens), the meso scutum of female mainly coriaceous with at most small superficial punctures and rather shiny antero-dorsally (punctures deep, medium-sized and more or less finely crater-like and mixed with fine punctures between punctures, rarely only coarsely punctate) and matt anterodorsally; of male transversely rugulose or moderately rugose (more coarsely punctate in G. nigrescens), the hind tibia of male black or dark brown ventrally (usually partly yellowish brown ventrally, rarely black), the occipital carina narrower collar-shaped and at most slightly sinuate (wider collar-shaped and often distinctly sinuate) and the meso scutum hardly setose (rather setose) and the anterior half of pronotal side usually coriaceous ventrally, sometimes partly rugulose (mainly rugulose). G. foveiceps is synonymized despite that the head is more directly narrowed in dorsal view, the area between the antesternal carina and prepectal carina smooth or largely so, the occipital carina less widened, the meso scutum usually more shiny and densely transversely rugulose or coriaceous-rugulose and its lateral lobes rugulose or rugose. However, this was not enough to separate G. foveiceps as a distinct taxon because intermediates were examined from Turkey.
Description. Female, length of body 7.5 mm (of fore wing 4.0 mm). Head. Head weakly convex dorsally, without medio-posterior depression and subparallel-sided behind eyes; face, frons anteriorly and temples inconspicuously pilose; clypeus distinctly concave ventrally, but without medio-ventral depression; occipital carina narrow and non-lamelliform, dark brown (Fig. 380); third and fourth antennal segments 1.2 and 1.4 times as long as second segment, apical segment 1.8 times as long as penultimate segment; face rather wide (Fig. 385); vertex and frons matt and densely punctulate, of frons less fine than of vertex; ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, width of malar space 0.3 times length of second antennal segment.
Legs. Length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 2.9, 3.4 and 4.4 times their width, respectively; hind femur rather swollen and trochantellus short; hind tibia narrow basally (also in dorsal view), stout and ventrally curved (Fig. 387); fore coxa close to mesopleuron; hind coxa coriaceous dorsally; hind basitarsus rather stout dorsally and slightly widened basally.  Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 0.2 times as long as body, 0.4 times as long as metasoma and 1.1 times as long as hind tibia; apical emargination of hypopygium shallow; apically ovipositor sheath dark brown.
Colour. Black; mandible pale yellow; trochantelli, apices and bases of femora narrowly brownish yellow; bases of fore and middle tibiae and subbasal ring of hind tibia ivory; tegulae, fore and middle tarsi pale brown; antenna (except four basal dark brown segments), hind tibia ventrally, hind tarsus, second-fifth tergites of metasoma apically, metasomal sternites (including hypopygium) and most of palpi yellowish brown; apex of ovipositor sheath dark brown; remainder of legs dark brown; pterostigma brown medially and dark brown laterally; wing membrane subhyaline.
Male. Very similar to female; three basal antennal segments blackish or dark brown and remainder of antenna brown but more or less darkened (Figs 392,395). Third antennal segment 1.3 times as long as second segment, fourth segment 1.6 times third segment and 0.9 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment about as long as fourth segment (Fig. 395); colour and shape of hind leg as of female, but femur slightly less widened (Fig. 391); apex of paramere dark brown (Fig. 394).
Variation. Length of body of both sexes 6.2-8.0 mm; ovipositor sheath 1.1-1.2 times as long as hind tibia; hind femur more widened in females from Turkey than in holotype, but less so in males from Turkey (about similar to males of G. assectator); first discal cell of fore wing glabrous and strongly narrowed apically or cell parallelsided; metasomal sternites (except hypopygium) entirely brownish yellow or largely dark brown; pronotum laterally black or dark brown.
Distribution. Cyprus, Greece, Turkey. Biology. Unknown. Collected in April-August. Etymology. Named after its collector and after Dr Guido Pagliano (Turin) who reviewed the Italian Gasteruptiidae.
Diagnosis. Apex of ovipositor sheath more or less pale apically, pale part 0.4-0.9 times as long as hind basitarsus; ovipositor sheath 0.9-1.2 times as long as body and 5.1-6.3 times as long as hind tibia; vertex hardly convex in lateral view, finely aciculate and matt; occipital carina narrow, hardly protruding (Figs 397,404,407); head slightly narrowed behind eyes (Figs 404,410); temple at most moderately elongate (Fig. 407), about 0.8 times as long as eye in dorsal view; malar space short; mandible dark brown or blackish; pronotal side matt and largely sculptured (Fig. 399); mesoscutum coarsely transversely rugose and mixed with large punctures, without smooth and shiny spaces between coarse punctures and laterally black, its lateral lobe with some medium-sized punctures and rugulae; first metasomal tergite reddish-brown; incision of hypopygium deep, slit-like (Fig. 406); fore and middle coxae black. Males have third antennal segment usually rather long, significantly longer than second segment (Fig. 409) and fourth antennal segment about as long as second and third segments combined; paramere dark brown apically (Fig. 411).  ?Gasteruption foveolum; Tirgari, 1975: 57 (Tehran).
Description. Female, length of body 12.9 mm (of fore wing 5.8 mm). Head. Head slightly convex dorsally, but in front of occipital carina with a rather shallow medio-posterior depression (Figs 419, 422, 427); face, frons anteriorly and temples densely pilose; occipital carina moderately lamelliform (Fig. 413); third and fourth antennal segments 1.6 and 2.4 times as long as second segment; face rather narrow (Fig. 418); frons shiny and finely punctulate; vertex shiny and punctulate; ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, malar space 0.3 times length of pedicellus.

Metasoma.
Ovipositor sheath as long as body, 1.5 times as long as metasoma, 3.1 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.8 times hind tibia; white apical part of ovipositor sheath 1.9 times as long as hind basitarsus.
Colour. Black; mandible (including base), tegulae, trochantelli, apices and bases of femora narrowly yellowish-brown; bases of fore and middle tibiae and a stripe anteriorly, middle basitarsus (except apically). subbasal ring of hind tibia, hind basitarsus (except basal quarter) and apex of ovipositor sheath white; metasoma brown, but base and apex dark brown; remainder of fore and middle legs, and pterostigma dark brown; wing membrane subhyaline.
Male. Very similar to female, but meso scutum more coarsely reticulate-rugose or densely rugulose than in female. Third antennal segment 1.2-1.4 times as long as second segment, fourth segment twice third segment and 1.2 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment as long as fourth segment (Fig. 424); hind tibia dark brown and with subbasal ivory patch; hind basitarsus entirely dark brown or blackish or with small dorsal ivory patch (Figs 425,426); apex of paramere ivory (Fig. 430).
Variation. Length of body of ♀ 6.5-12.3 mm (of ♂ 6.0-10.0 mm) and of fore wing 2.9-5.8 mm (of ♂ 3.1-4.5 mm); occipital carina narrow to moderately lamelliform, especially in Central Asian specimens reduced; vertex sometimes with some small punctures; meso scutum of ♀ coarsely and densely punctate and medio-posteriorly rugose or rugulose; scutellum rather densely and coarsely punctate; ovipositor sheath 1.0-1.1 times as long as body, 1.5 times as long as metasoma, 3.1-3.5 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.1-5.6 times hind tibia; white apical part of ovipositor sheath 1.8-2.5 times as long as hind basitarsus; fore and middle basitarsi (except apex) white; hind basitarsus of ♀ with distinct ivory band or largely blackish, with only a small dorsal ivory patch, rarely entirely dark brown or blackish as in ♂. Especially males and both sexes of Central Asian specimens may have the medioposterior depression of the vertex nearly absent. Central Asian specimens have either dark brown or yellowish mandibles. The females from Morocco are excluded from the type series because they have a shallow medio-posterior depression of vertex, the head more narrowed posteriorly, the vertex and frons with small punctures between dense punctulation and the setae of the pronotal side shorter.
Distribution. Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, ?Morocco. In Northwest Iran the most common species in Malaise traps.
Biology. Unknown. Collected in April-September. Notes. The record of G. foveolum by Tirgari (1975) may concern the new species, because the latter is more common and very similar. The development of the medioposterior depression of the vertex and the width of the occipital carina is correlated and clinal. Western populations have the medio-posterior depression distinct and the carina rather wide medio-dorsally, eastern populations have the depression shallow or obsolescent and the carina narrow.
Description. Female, length of body 12.5 mm (of fore wing 5.0 mm). Head. Head weakly convex dorsally, without medio-posterior depression; face and frons anteriorly conspicuously silvery pilose; occipital carina narrowly lamelliform, dark brown (Fig. 431); third and fourth antennal segments 1.8 and 2.5 times as long as second segment, apical segment 2.6 times as long as penultimate segment; face moderately narrow (Fig. 435); frons and vertex rather matt and densely finely punctulate, mixed with spaced small punctures; ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, malar space 0.3 times length of pedicellus.
Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 0.9 times as long as body, 1.3 times as long as metasoma, 2.9 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 5.0 times hind tibia; white apical part of ovipositor sheath 2.2 times as long as hind basitarsus.
Male. Very similar to female. Third antennal segment 1.3 times as long as second segment, fourth segment 1.8-1.9 times third segment and 1.0-1.1 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment 0.9-1.0 times as long as fourth segment (Fig. 442); mandible yellowish brown or dark brown; occipital carina nonlamelliform medio-dorsally or very narrowly lamelliform; hind tibia dark brown and with subbasal ivory band; hind tarsus brown, but basitarsus with pale brown or ivory dorsal and lateral patch or complete band, sometimes largely yellowish brown (Cyprus); apex of paramere narrowly pale brown or ivory (Fig. 445).
Variation. Length of body of ♀ 9.0-13.7 mm (of ♂ 8.9-13.3 mm); vertex rather matt or with satin sheen; mesosoma and coxae normally black, but sometimes largely reddish brown, or only laterally mainly reddish brown; ovipositor sheath 0.9-1.1 times as long as body, 1.3-1.6 times as long as metasoma, 2.9-3.4 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.8-5.4 times hind tibia; white or ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 1.8-2.6 times as long as hind basitarsus; female from Syria has meso scutum and pronotal side partly coriaceous and ivory parts of hind tibia and basitarsus less developed.

Gasteruption schlettereri Magretti, 1890 Figs 446-461
Gasteruption schlettereri Magretti, 1890: 529;: 1072Szépligeti, 1903: 369;Kieffer, 1904aKieffer, : 650, 1912Hedicke, 1939: 21;Madl, 1990a: 129;Wall, 1994 Diagnosis. Apex of ovipositor sheath with a distinct white or ivory band, 1.7-2.5 times as long as hind basitarsus (Fig. 453); head flat in front of occipital carina, without any depression; antesternal carina of female narrow lamelliform and hardly or not curved up, narrow, somewhat wider than prepectal carina and area between carinae coarsely transversely rugose, but sometimes smooth, of male moderately lamelliform; propleuron 0.8-0.9 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae and rather slender (Fig. 447); occipital carina narrow lamelliform medio-dorsally, distinct (Figs 446,452,458); head distinctly narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view (Fig. 452); third antennal segment of female 1.6-1.9 times as long as second segment, fourth segment of female 1.5-1.8 times as long as third segment and subequal or somewhat longer than second and third segments combined; fifth antennal segment of female 1.2-1.5 times as long as third segment and penultimate segments rather short; malar space about 0.2 times as long as second antennal segment (= pedicellus); vertex punctate-coriaceous; antero-lateral teeth of pronotum small; meso scutum moderately stout (Fig. 448), entirely coarsely reticulate-transversely rugose and shiny, without separate punctures (Figs 448,455; at most punctate-reticulate); hind coxa finely and densely regularly transversely striate; ovipositor sheath 0.8-0.9 times as long as body, 1.0-1.4 times  as long as metasoma and 3.0-4.6 times as long as hind tibia; hind coxa and pronotal side yellowish-brown, dark brown or blackish; mesosoma and coxae usually black but sometimes reddish brown, except for dark brown patch on mesoscutal lobes; hind tibia of female dark brown or black and with ivory subbasal ring; hind basitarsus of female largely ivory (except its dark basal third), but sometimes largely dark brown (Fig. 454); mandible of female orange or yellowish brown basally, in male similar or dark brown; length of body 7-12 mm. Males have fourth antennal segment 3.3 times as long as third segment; shape of third antennal segment similar to second segment, stout (Fig.  457) and about 1.1 times as long as second segment; fourth antennal segment about 1.2 times as long as second and third segments combined; hind tibia of male usually yellowish brown ventrally (Fig. 460); paramere widely ivory apically (Fig. 461).
Distribution. SE Europe, Syria, Iran, Turkey. New for the fauna of Iran and Turkey. Biology. Unknown. Collected in May-September. Notes. Females may be confused with G. punctifrons, but G. schlettereri is a more sculptured and shinier species (e.g. meso scutum and scutellum) with hind tibial spurs and base of hind basitarsus similarly coloured. Diagnosis. Head evenly convex dorsally in lateral view, in front of occipital carina without medio-posterior depression; face wide (Fig. 467); frons and vertex with satin sheen and densely very finely punctulate, anteriorly vertex with some additional superficial punctures; occipital carina narrow lamelliform and smooth; propleuron 0.8 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae and large coriaceous and with satin sheen; pronotal side coriaceous dorsally and postero-ventrally, mainly rugulose antero-ventrally and grooves distinctly crenulate; antesternal carina narrow and nonlamelliform; middle lobe of meso scutum transversely punctate-rugulose and lateral lobe coarsely punctate dorsally and coriaceous with some punctures (Fig. 464); only mesopleuron conspicuously white pilose; hind basitarsus entirely dark brown or partly ivory or pale brown dorsally (as second and sometimes third segment), in dorsal view widened basally; hind tibia moderately slender and with ivory subbasal ring (Fig. 469); fifth sternite of female dark brown; apical half of hypopygium of female incised; ovipositor sheath 0.8-1.0 times as long as body, 1.1-1.4 times as long as metasoma, 3.7-4.6 times as long as hind tibia and 2.3-3.0 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined; ovipositor sheath dark brown to pale brown apically, at most pale brown apical part of 0.5 times as long as hind basitarsus; paramere of male black or blackish brown apically (Fig. 477); third antennal segment of male 1.1 times as long as second segment, fourth segment twice as long as third segment and 1.1 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment nearly as long as fourth segment (Fig.  476); mandible brownish or orange yellow basally; hind tibia of male with subbasal ivory ring; paramere dark brown or black apically; length of body 8-13 mm. Close to G. smitorum sp. n., but this species has the hind tibia of the male largely black ventrally and dark brown subbasally (brown or dark brown ventrally and ivory subbasally in G. schmideggeri), the head in dorsal view is more globular (trapezoid), the meso scutum more shiny (rather matt), the ivory part of the ovipositor sheath longer and the mandible dark brown or black basally (brownish yellow basally).
Description. Female, length of body 9.6 mm (of fore wing 4.4 mm).
Head. Head evenly convex dorsally in lateral view, in front of occipital carina without medio-posterior depression; frons anteriorly and temples inconspicuously pilose; occipital carina narrow lamelliform and smooth (Figs 462,468); pedicellus rather slender; third and fourth antennal segments 1.4 and 1.9 times as long as second segment; face wide (Fig. 467); frons and vertex with satin sheen and superficially finely punctulate, vertex with some superficial punctures between dense punctulation (Fig. 468); stemmaticum partly finely punctate; temples subparallel-sided behind eyes and head rather trapezoid in dorsal view (Fig. 468); ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, malar space 0.1 times length of pedicellus; inner tooth of mandible medium-sized.
Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath 0.8 times as long as body, 1.1 times as long as metasoma, 3.7 times as long as hind tibia and 2.3 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined; brown apical part of ovipositor sheath 0.5 times as long as hind basitarsus.
Colour. Black; mandible brownish yellow basally; tegulae brown; bases of fore and middle tibiae and subbasal ring of hind tibia ivory; remainder of fore and middle legs (except dark brown coxae) brown; remainder of hind leg, pterostigma, metasoma basally and most of its apical half dark brown; second and third metasomal segments orange brown; wing membrane subhyaline.  Male. Very similar to female, but head shorter in dorsal view and vertex, meso scutum and scutellum more coarsely sculptured. Third antennal segment 1.4 times as long as second segment, fourth segment twice as long as third segment and 0.8 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment 0.9 times as long as fourth segment (Fig.  476); hind tibia and basitarsus as in female; apex of paramere blackish brown (Fig. 477).
Variation. Length of body of ♀ 7.7-13.0 mm (of ♂ 8.4-10.7 mm); antero-lateral tooth of pronotum minute to medium-sized; meso scutum of ♀ more or less coarsely and densely crater-like punctate and medio-posteriorly rugose or rugulose; scutellum rather densely and coarsely punctate; hind tibial spurs dark brown as base of hind basitarsus, but sometimes paler; hind basitarsus entirely dark brown or partly ivory or pale brown dorsally (as second and sometimes third segment); ovipositor sheath 0.8-1.0 times as long as body, 1.1-1.4 times as long as metasoma, 3.7-4.6 times as long as hind tibia and 2.3-3.0 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined; pale brown apical part of ovipositor sheath 0.1-0.5 times as long as hind basitarsus or sheath apically dark brown; pronotal side sometimes mainly coriaceous antero-ventrally; pale setae of hind tibia inconspicuous; wing membrane subhyaline or moderately infuscate.
Distribution. Greece, Jordan, Syria, Turkey. Biology. Unknown. Collected in May-July, September. Etymology. Named after the collector of the holotype, Dr Christian Schmid-Egger (Berlin) for his contribution to enlarge and popularise our knowledge of Hymenoptera.
Biology. Unknown. Collected in April, June-July. Etymology. Named after "scorteus", (Latin for "leathern") and is used because of the very fine coriaceous meso scutum.
Diagnosis. Head slightly convex dorsally, in front of occipital carina without medio-posterior depression; face moderately wide (Fig. 497); frons and vertex with satin sheen and densely and finely punctulate (Figs 497, 498); occipital carina narrowly lamelliform and dark brown (Fig. 493); vertex with some obsolescent punctures between punctulation (Fig. 498); mandible dark brown basally; propleuron stout, coriaceous and 0.8 times as long as meso scutum in front of tegulae; antesternal carina narrow and non-lamelliform; meso scutum coarsely spaced punctate, with punctulate interspaces and with distinct satin sheen, medioposteriorly densely coarsely punctate (Fig. 495); scutellum punctulate, with some punctures and with satin sheen; mesosoma laterally (except pronotal side medially and ventrally) silvery pilose (Fig. 494); hind basitarsus blackish brown; hind tibia slender and dark brown subbasally (Fig. 496); ovipositor sheath 0.9 times as long as body, 1.5 times as long as metasoma, 2.5 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.2 times hind tibia; ivory apical part of ovipositor sheath 1.0-1.4 times as long as hind basitarsus; length of body 10-13 mm. Very similar to Central European G. hungaricum, but G. smitorum lacks the steep medio-posterior part of the vertex, the meso scutum is somewhat less shiny and the hind femur and tibia are slenderer. Also similar to the East Palaearctic G. sinarum Kieffer, 1911, but differs as follows: the head less narrowed in dorsal view (more trapezoid in G. sinarum), the meso scutum with separate punctures medio-posteriorly (reticulatepunctate), the hind femur black (dark brown) and the lateral lobe of the mesoscutum distinctly convex in lateral view (rather flat). Differs from the North and Central European and East Palaearctic G. subtile (Thomson, 1883) by the rather shiny vertex and meso scutum (matt in G. subtile), the meso scutum with separate punctures medio-posteriorly (reticulate-punctate), the pronotum largely rugulose antero-ventrally and largely smooth (except some punctures) postero-ventrally (mainly densely coriaceous) and the hind tibia and basitarsus black or dark brown (partly white or ivory).

Gasteruption syriacum
Additional material. Diagnosis. Apex of ovipositor sheath with a distinct white or ivory band, 1.7-3.0 times as long as hind basitarsus; head with shallow middle depression in front of occipital carina (Fig. 527), but rather frequently reduced and rarely absent; occipital carina distinctly lamelliform and medium-sized to wide, more or less concave medio-dorsally (Figs 522,527,533); antesternal carina narrow and non-lamelliform or nearly so, not or slightly elevated above mesosternum (Fig. 523); fourth and fifth antennal segments of female 1.5-2.1 and 1.3-2.0 times as long as third segment, respectively; frons sparsely punctulate and with distinct interspaces or very finely and densely punctulate; vertex more or less finely punctulate and distinctly shiny (Fig. 527); face moderately wide (Fig. 526); temples linearly narrowed behind eyes (Fig. 527); propleuron slightly longer than meso scutum up to tegulae (Fig. 523); lateral lobes of meso scutum rugulose-coriaceous; anterior half of meso scutum moderately punctate-rugose (Fig. 524); subbasally outer side of hind tibia and apical half of hind basitarsus ivory (Fig. 525); fore and middle legs to variable extend white, ivory and brown; body slender ( Fig.  523). Males have third antennal segment about as long as second segment, fourth and fifth segments 3 and 2.5 times as long as third segment, respectively; fifth antennal segment distinctly wider than third segment (Fig. 532). Distribution. South and Central Europe, Turkey, Iran. G. tournieri was recently reported from north-western Iran (East Azerbaijan, Arasbaran, 746 m) by Samin and Bagriacik (2012).
Biology. Unknown. Collected from early June till late September. Notes. One female in NMW identified as G. tournieri by Schletterer and labelled as "Typus", belongs to G. jaculator (Linnaeus). Males have rather frequently no depression in front of the occipital carina and the head is more or less densely finely aciculate.