Microplitis Förster, 1862

Abdoli, Parisa, Talebi, Ali Asghar, Fernandez-Triana, Jose & Farahani, Samira, 2021, Taxonomic study of the genus Microplitis Förster, 1862 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Iran, European Journal of Taxonomy 744, pp. 83-118 : 86-88

Genus Microplitis Förster, 1862

Microplitis Förster, 1862: 245 (type species: Microgaster sordipes Nees, 1834: 167 (by original designation, holotype ♀, Klugiano Museum)).

Diagnosis

Members of this genus are distinguished by having anteromesoscutum densely sculptured, seldom shining, often with notauli which sometimes are strongly defined; propodeum evenly curved in profile, completely rugose and often with a median longitudinal carina but never with any indication of areola; fore wing always with a closed areolet; vannal lobe of the hind wing convex and setose; metacoxa small, not reaching past the posterior margin of T1; metatibial spurs shorter than one-half of metabasitarsus; mesotibial spurs shorter than mesobasitarsus; T1 of variable shape, from widening to narrowing posteriorly and usually sculptured; T2+ smooth, rarely weakly sculptured and often with a weakly delimited trapezoidal median area; T3 always longer than T2, the transverse groove separating them frequently not, or only poorly, defined; hypopygium usually rather small but sometimes elongated medially, rarely conspicuously so, occasionally truncate or medially emarginated; ovipositor and its sheath usually short ( Mason 1981).

Identification key to the Iranian species of Microplitis Förster, 1862

The following identification key is mostly based on Papp (1984), Tobias (1986) and Kotenko (2007) but modified for Iranian species and including one species newly described in this paper.

1. T1 distinctly broadening posteriorly, T1 length almost equal to its posterior width ( Figs 8F , 9F ); T2 distinctly rugoluse ............................................................................................................................. 2

– T1 parallel- to sub-parallel-sided or weakly broadening posteriorly ( Figs 2F , 3F , 4F , 5F , 6F , 7F , 10F , 11F , 12F , 13F , 14F ), T1 much longer than posterior width; T2 with variable sculptures ................. 4

2. Body mostly reddish yellow, except for black head ( Fig. 8A–F ); vein R1 more than 0.5 × pterostigma length; pterostigma length 2.00 × its width ( Fig. 8D ) ....................... M. ochraceus Szepligeti, 1896

– Body black; other characters variable ............................................................................................... 3

3. Antenna shorter than body; F15 length 1.50 × its width; hypopygium in lateral view strongly developed, with characteristically pointed apex; tegula black ................ M. xanthopus Ruthe, 1860

– Antenna as long as body; F15 length 2.00 × its width; hypopygium normal; tegula yellow or reddish yellow ................................................................................................. M. pallidipennis Tobias, 1964

4. T1 length more than 1.70 × (1.70–3.00) its maximum width, T1 usually parallel-sided or narrowing posteriorly ( Figs 2F , 3F , 7F , 10F , 13F ) .............................................................................................. 5

– T1 length 1.60 × or less (1.40–1.60) its maximum width, T1 more or less broadening posteriorly ( Figs 4F , 5F , 6F , 11F , 12F , 14F ) ...................................................................................................... 14

5. Antenna clearly shorter than body .................................................................................................... 6

– Antenna as long as or longer than body ............................................................................................ 7

6. In dorsal view, head width (between temples) slightly broader than head width (between eyes); tegula yellow to brown; vein R1 0.5 × pterostigma length; vein 1CUb 2.50 × as long as vein 1CUa; vein 1CUb and vein r–m slightly curved; vein r shorter than vein 2RS; T1 weakly broadening posteriorly ................................................................................................. M. aduncus ( Ruthe, 1860)

– In dorsal view, head width (between temples) similar to head width (between eyes) ( Fig. 2B ); tegula black; vein R1 more than 0.5 × pterostigma length; vein 1CUb 2.00 × as long as vein 1CUa; vein 1CUb and vein r–m straight; vein r slightly longer than vein 2RS ( Fig. 2D ); T1 parallel-sided or weakly barrel-shaped ( Fig. 2F ) .......................................... M. alborziensis Abdoli & Talebi sp. nov.

7. Tegula and metafemur dark brown to black ..................................................................................... 8

– Tegula and metafemur yellow to reddish yellow .............................................................................. 9

8. Pterostigma with large anterior pale spot; T1 medially smooth to uneven, shiny, laterally rugorugulose .......................................................................................................... M. sofron Nixon, 1970

– Pterostigma without or with a small anterior yellow spot; T1 rugose to coriaceous, matte ............... .......................................................................................................................... M. cebes Nixon, 1970

9. Metasoma yellow or reddish yellow, at least last 2–3 segments more or less darkening ................... .............................................................................................................. M. rufiventris Kokujev, 1914

– Metasoma black or dark brown, at least first 2–3 segments lightening .......................................... 10

10. T1 length more than 2.20 × (2.50–3.50) its maximum width; antenna dark, brown to black; tergites black, sometimes T2 and T3 yellow to brown; metacoxa yellow to reddish yellow; in fore wing, vein 1CUb 2.00 × as long as vein 1CUa ( Fig. 13D ); in hind wing, vein 2r–m about 1.75–1.90 × as long as vein 1r–m ( Fig. 13E ) ................................................................. M. tuberculifer ( Wesmael, 1837)

– T1 length 2.00 × (or less) its maximum width, other characters variable .......................................11

11. 6 th sternite distinctly developed, produced beyond apex of metasoma; T1 reddish yellow (sometimes with blackish suffusion) and narrowed toward apex and base ......... M. fulvicornis ( Wesmael, 1837)

– 6 th sternite not produced beyond apex of metasoma; T1 black or dark brown and narrowed toward apex or base .................................................................................................................................... 12

12. Antenna usually light coloured (yellow to brownish yellow), distally darkening; tergites and metacoxa black; in fore wing, vein 1CUb 3.00 × as long as vein 1CUa ( Fig. 7D ); in hind wing, vein 2r–m about 1.40–1.60 × as long as vein 1r–m ( Fig. 7D ) ............... M. mandibularis Thomson, 1895

– Antenna always dark brown or black (scape reddish yellow or black); other characters variable ..... ......................................................................................................................................................... 13

13. T 1 in posterior third sculptured, matte, in basal half smooth; pterostigma entirely dark brown, without anterior pale spot; basal one third of wing with light-coloured veins, the rest with darkened veins; scape reddish yellow, in contrasts with a dark-coloured flagellum; T2 and T3 black ............. .............................................................................................................. M. marshallii Kokujev, 1898

– T1 almost entirely sculptured; pterostigma with anterior pale spot; wing all smoky, with darkened veins; scape dark-coloured, does not contrast in colour with the flagellum; T2 and T3 often light coloured ................................................................................................... M. mediator Haliday, 1834

14. Antenna shorter than body; F15 1.40–1.50 × as long as wide ( Fig. 11A ); pterostigma length 2.30– 2.40 × its width, with light yellow spot anteriorly ( Fig. 11D ); all coxae black to infuscate; metafemur reddish brown, brown to black; tegula dark brown to black .............. M. spectabilis ( Haliday, 1834)

– Antenna longer than body; other characters variable ..................................................................... 15

15. T2 rugulose or sub-rugulose ( Fig. 12E ); frons polished ( Fig. 12D ) .......... M. spinolae ( Nees, 1834)

– T2 smooth, frons not polished (if T2 uneven to shrivelled then frons sculptured) ......................... 16

16. Tegula and metafemur yellow or reddish yellow ............................................................................ 17

– Tegula black and metafemur variable coloured .............................................................................. 19

17. Mesoscutellar disc weakly and dispersedly punctate to smooth, with medio-longitudinal keel anteriorly which is rather short and low; pterostigma without anterior pale spot; T2 rather smooth to polished, though frequently uneven to shrivelled, less frequently rugulose ....................................... ......................................................................................................... M. deprimator ( Fabricius, 1798)

– Mesoscutellar disc coriaceous to rugulose, without keel anteriorly, pterostigma with or without anterior yellow spot ........................................................................................................................ 18

18. T2 and T3 yellow or reddish yellow ( Fig. 6F ); pterostigma with anterior yellow spot ( Fig. 6D ) ...... ......................................................................................................................... M. kaszabi Papp, 1980

– T2 and T3 black or brown, sometimes with small yellow areas; pterostigma without anterior pale spot ( Fig. 5D ) ......................................................................................... M. eremitus Reinhard, 1880

19. Metafemur yellow; tergites black, sometimes T2 and T3 ferruginous to red ..................................... ...................................................................................................... M. scrophulariae Szépligeti, 1898

– Metafemur black or dark brown (sometimes with yellowish patterns); tergites black ................... 20

20. Mesoscutellar disc strongly rugose ( Fig. 4C ); scape yellow to reddish yellow, contrasting with dark brown flagellum; pterostigma without anterior pale spot ( Fig. 4D ) .............. M. docilis Nixon, 1970

– Mesoscutellar disc with usual sculpture, finely to densely punctate, matte or shiny; scape black or brown, similar colour to flagellum; pterostigma with or without anterior pale spot ...................... 21

21. Fore wing areolet relatively very large and almost pentagonal; lateral and median lobes of anteromesonotum densely shagreened, dull; pterostigma black, with a small pale spot anteriorly ... ...................................................................................................................... M. decipiens Prell, 1925

– Fore wing areolet relatively smaller and triangular; lateral and median lobes of anteromesonotum rugulose to rugose; pterostigma with or without pale spot anteriorly ............................................ 22

22. Pterostigma with distinct pale spot anteriorly ( Fig. 14D ); F15 length 2.00 × its width; body relatively smaller, its length at most 3.50 mm, usually 2.80–3.50 mm ...................... M. varipes ( Ruthe, 1860)

– Pterostigma evenly brown or with diffusely pale spot anteriorly; F15 length 1.50 × its width; body relatively bigger, usually 4.00– 4.20 mm ..................................................... M. viduus ( Ruthe, 1860)

Figures

Fig. 8. Microplitis ochraceus Szepligeti, 1896, ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0055. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Mesosoma, dorsal view. D. Fore wing. E. Hind wing. F. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 9. Microplitis pallidipennis Tobias, 1964, ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0056. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Mesosoma, dorsal view. D. Fore wing. E. Hind wing. F. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 2. Microplitis alborziensisAbdoli & Talebi sp. nov., holotype, ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0001. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view.C. Mesosoma, dorsal view.D. Fore wing. E. Hind wing.F. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 3. Microplitis cebes Nixon, 1970, ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0007. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Mesosoma, dorsal view. D. Wings. E. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 4. Microplitis docilis Nixon, 1970, ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0013. A. Habitus, lateral view B. Head, dorsal view. C. Mesosoma, dorsal view. D. Fore wing. E. Hind wing. F. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 5. Microplitis eremitus Reinhard, 1880, ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0017. A. Habitus, lateral view.B. Head, dorsal view. C. Mesosoma, dorsal view. D. Fore wing. E. Hind wing. F. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 6. Microplitis kaszabi Papp, 1980, ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0047. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Mesosoma, dorsal view. D. Fore wing. E. Hind wing. F. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 7. Microplitis mandibularis Thomson, 1895, ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0051. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Mesosoma, dorsal view. D. Wings. E. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 10. Microplitis rufiventris Kokujev, 1914, ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0057. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Mesosoma, dorsal view. D. Fore wing. E. Hind wing. F. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 11. Microplitis spectabilis (Haliday, 1834), ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0061. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Mesosoma, dorsal view. D. Fore wing. E. Hind wing. F. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 12. Microplitis spinolae (Nees, 1834), ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0321. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, dorsal view. C. Mesosoma, dorsal view. D. Wings. E. metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 13. Microplitis tuberculifer (Wesmael, 1837), ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0335. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Fore wing. C. Hind wing. D. Head, dorsal view. E. Mesosoma, dorsal view. F. Metasoma, dorsal view.

Fig. 14. Microplitis varipes (Ruthe, 1860), ♀, TMUC-HBMMP0512. A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Fore wing. C. Hind wing. D. Head, dorsal view. E. Mesosoma, dorsal view. F. Metasoma, dorsal view.