Peristenus Foerster, 1862

Goulet, Henri & Mason, Peter G., 2006, Review of the Nearctic species of Leiophron and Peristenus (Hymenoptera Braconidae: Euphorinae) parasitizing Lygus (Hemiptera: Miridae: Mirini:), Zootaxa 1323 (1), pp. 1-118 : 32

Peristenus Foerster

Diagnosis: Head with medial carina between antennal socket and median ocellus ( Fig. 79 ). Metasomal tergum 2 sharply folded above spiracle, separating tergum into medio­ and laterotergites (the fold caused by break in the cuticle not only by a change in cuticle thickness) ( Figs. 4–9 , 77, 78 ). Hind wing subbasal cell large: vein 1M 0.9–1.7 times as long as vein cu­a ( Fig. 66 ).

The following characters apply to specimens of almost all species. Metasomal tergum 1 with lateral margins meeting ventrally in basal 0.1–0.5 ( Fig. 70 ). Fore wing with radial cell more than 0.5 times maximum width of stigma ( Figs. 52, 57–63 ), and wing densely pubescent ( Figs. 52, 54 ).

The occipital carina development mentioned in Shaw (1997) is variable and is not used further.

This is a large worldwide genus. All reared specimens are from Miridae .

Peristenus digoneutis group. Adults show a wide range of colour patterns, but all have the occipital carina widely interrupted dorsally (this character may be hidden in some specimens with the head inclined upward) ( Fig. 32 ). The three included species, P. digoneutis , P. relictus (Ruthe) and P. rubricollis (Thomson) , were intentionally introduced and established for biological control of Lygus and Adelphocoris plant bugs.

Figures

FIGURES 79–87. 79–80. Frontal view of head (MnEy­Ey = minimum eye distance). 81–82. Lateral view of head (GL = genal length, EyL = eye length, EyH = eye height). 83–84. Dorsal view of head (LOL lateral ocelli length, POL posterior ocelli length, OOL ocellar ocular length, MxHdW = maximum head width, MxGW = maximum genal width). 85. Radial cell and stigma of forewing (RcL = radial cell length, StW = stigma width). 86. Lateral view of seven last flagellomeres (L= length, W = width). 87. Dorsal view of metasomal tergum 1 (L = length, MxW = maximum width, MnW = minimum width).

FIGURES 1–5. Habitus with frontal view of head. Codes: “a” clypeal colour; “b” metatibial colour; “c” metacoxal colour; “d” forewing colour; “e” mesoscutal colour.

FIGURES 6–12. 6–9. Habitus with frontal view of head. Codes: “a” clypeal colour; “c” metacoxal colour; “f” metafemoral colour; “g” facial colour; “h” genal spot. 10–12. Lateral view of metatibia.

FIGURES 67–78. 67–68. Dorsal view of metasomal tergum 1. 69–70. Ventral view of metasomal segment 1. 71–72. Lateral view of seven last flagellomeres. 73–74. Lateral view of first three flagellomeres. 75–76. Dorsal view of protarsus. 77–78. Lateral view of metasoma.

FIGURES 59–66. 59–63. Radial cell and stigma of forewing. 64. Hind wing. 65–66. Basal and subbasal cells of hind wing.

FIGURES 50–58. 50–52. Forewing. 53–54. Basal and subbasal cells of forewing. 55–58. Radial cell and stigma of forewing.

FIGURES 25–36. 25–27. Dorsal view of head with insert to show sculpture. 28–31. Lateral view of head. 32–33. Posteroir view of head. Code: “a” dorsal end of occipital carina. 34. lateral view of antenna. 35–36. Last five flagellomeres in lateral view.