Bracon (Foveobracon) megapterus Wesmael, 1838

Figs 22 A-L, 23A

Braco megapterus Wesmael, 1838: 22 ♀ (type material: 5 ♀♀, seen 4 ♀♀), type locality: “...environs de Charleroi et de Bruxelles ” (Belgium), ♀ lectotype (and three ♀ paralectotypes, present designations) in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels; examined.

Bracon (Orthobracon) biimpressus Telenga, 1936: 176 (in key), 295 (description) (in Russian) and 378 (in key), 402 (description) (in German) ♀ (type material:? ♀), type locality: “Europäischer Teil der UdSSR, ehem. Gouv. Ufa,”.

Bracon megapterus – Szépligeti 1901: 263 (in key, in Hungarian); 1904 (1901): 175 (in key, in German), ♀. Bracon (Lucobracon) megapterus – Fahringer 1927: 248 (in key) and 362 (redescription). — Telenga 1936: as Ipobracon megapterus 94 (in key), 98 (redes-cription) (in Russian) 330 (in key, in German). — Shenefelt 1978: 1621 (literature up to 1957).

Bracon (Foveobracon) biimpressus – Tobias 1961 (in subgenus Foveobracon created by him), 1986: 122 (in key, designation of ♀ lectotype and locality: “Bashkirskaya ASSR, Belebey” (European Russia); examined, syn. nov. — Shenefelt 1978: 1554 (as valid species, literature up to 1961).

Designation of the ♀ lectotype of Bracon megapterus

(first label, printed) “Coll. Wesmael”, (second label, printed) “2047”, (third label, partly handwritten) “ Braco ♀ / megapterus mihi / dét. C. Wesmael”, (fourth label, printed red) “Type”, fifth label is the lectotype card. - Lectotype is in good condition: (1) micropinned, (2) left flagellum missing, right flagellum apically deficient.

Designation of the three ♀ paralectotypes of Bracon megapterus (1 ♀: “var. 1.”)

Labels identical to those of the lectotype except paralectotype cards. Paralectotype are in good condition: (1) micropinned, (2) one ♀ with deficient flagellum, left hind wing glued separately, (3) one ♀ with missing both flagelli and left fore leg (except coxa + trochanter), (4) one ♀ with missing head and left fore leg (except coxa).

Material examined

11 ♀♀ + 3 ♁♁ from seven countries: GERMANY: 2 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from three localities. BOHEMIA: 3 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. POLAND: 1 ♀. SLOVAKIA: 1 ♀. CROATIA: 1 ♀: EUROPEAN RUSSIA: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localties. MONGOLIA: 2 ♀♀ from one locality.

Redescription of the ♀ lectotype of Bracon megapterus (Fig. 22 A-I)

LENGTH. Body 5 mm long.

ANTENNAE. Right antenna apically deficient and with 39 antennomeres (according to the original description “de 39 on 40 articles environ”). First flagellomere 1.4 times as long as broad, further flagellomeres gradually shortening so that 37th flagellomere subcubic, i.e. just longer than broad.

HEAD. In dorsal view less transverse (Fig. 22A), 1.7 times as broad as long, eye one-fourth (or 1.3 times) longer than temple, temple rounded, occiput excavated. Oral opening usual in size, its horizontal diameter somewhat longer than shortest distance between opening and compound eye (Fig. 22B). Head polished, face laterally and clypeus weakly uneven, frons finely granulate.

MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.4 times as long as high, polished. Propodeum polished, lunule unusually protruding and around it with short rugae (Fig. 22C).

LEGS. Hind femur 3.8 times as long as broad medially (Fig. 22D). Claw strongly curved and with fingerlike basal lobe (Fig. 22E).

WINGS. Forewing as long as body. Pterostigma (Fig. 22F) 2.6 times as long as wide and issuing r somewhat proximally from its middle, r short, 0.45 times as long as width of pterostigma; second submarginal cell long, 3-SR 1.75 times as long as 2-SR, SR1 straight, reaching tip of wing and 1.4 times as long as 3-SR; 1-R1 distinctly 1.6 times as long as pterostigma. First discal cell subquadrate, 1-M 1.5 times as long as m-cu, 1-SR-M 1.2 times longer than 1-M (Fig. 22G).

TERGITES. First tergite (Fig. 22H) 1.3 times longer than broad behind, pair of spiracles slightly protruding, beyond spiracles tergite parallel-sided, margin of scutum crenulate, scutum smooth. Second tergite a bit longer than third tergite, antero-medially with a somewhat prominent three-sided areola, lateral margin of areola crenulo-rugulose, tergite laterally with a pair of longitudinal impressions, otherwise together with further tergites polished (Fig. 22H). Suture between tergites 2-3 bisinuate, smooth, fairly deep. Ovipositor sheath as long as hind tibia, posterior end of ovipositor apparatus as in Fig. 22I.

COLOUR. Antenna, head, mesosoma and first tergite black. Eyes with interrupted reddish yellow pattern. Mandible reddish yellow. Palpi proximo-distally black to brown. Coxae + trochanters black, rest of legs blackish brown, fore femur with yellowish pattern. Metasoma (except black first tergite) yellow, areola of second tergite blackish brown. Ovipositor sheath black. Wings dark brownish fumous, pterostigma and veins brown.

Redescription of the three ♀ paralectotypes of Bracon megapterus

Similar to the lectotype. Eye in dorsal view 1.5 times as long as temple (1 ♀). Tergites 3-6 medially with faint brownish maculae.

Variable features of the ♀ (5 ♀♀) (Fig. 22 J-L)

Areola of second tergite laterally more impressed and here with strong crenulo-rugosity, lateral pair of impressions well distinct (Fig. 22J). Hind femur 3.6-3.8 times as long as broad medially (Fig. 22K). Forewing: 3-SR 1.7-1.8 times as long as 2-SR; first discal cell less subquadrate, 1-M twice as long as m-cu (Fig. 22L).

Hosts

COL. Cerambycidae: Molorchus umbellatarum Schreber. — LEP. Thyatiridae: Achlya flavicornis Linnaeus, Polyploca ridens Fabricius.

Distribution:

Belgium, France, Germany, Bohemia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Finland, European Russia, Mongolia. A less frequent to sporadic species.

Taxonomic position

Within the subgenus Foveobracon the species B. (Fo.) megapterus is nearest to B. (Fo.) plugarui Tobias considering their antero-median areola on second tergite and colour of the body; the two species are separated by a few features:

1 (2) Temple in dorsal view rounded (Fig. 22A). Second submarginal cell long, 3-SR 1.7-1.8 times as long as 2-SR, r shorter than widht of pterostigma (Fig. 22F). Second tergite along areola crenulate (Fig. 22H, J). Antenna with 35-37 antennomeres. Femora 2-3 black. Body strongly built. ♀ ♁: 5 mm ....................................................................................................... B. (Fo.) megapterus Wesmael, 1838

2 (1) Temple in dorsal view receded (Fig. 23B). Second submarginal cell less long, 3-SR 1.2-1.3 times as long as 2-SR, r longer than width of pterostigma (Fig. 23C). Second tergite around areola rugorugulose (Fig. 23D). Antenna with 26-27 antennomeres. Femora 2-3 yellow. Body usually built. ♀ ♁: 2 mm ..................................................................................................... B. (Fo.) plugarui Tobias, 1986