Pediobius elasmi (Ashmead, 1904)

Cao, Huan-Xi, Salle, John La & Zhu, Chao-Dong, 2017, Chinese species of Pediobius Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Zootaxa 4240 (1), pp. 1-71 : 21-23

7. Pediobius elasmi (Ashmead, 1904)

( Fig. 7 )

Asecodes elasmi Ashmead, 1904b: 138 ; ♂. Lectotype ♂, USNM, not examined; designated by Kerrich, 1973: 166 –167. Pleurotropis lividiscutum Gahan, 1922: 49 ; ♀. Holotype ♀, USNM, not examined. Synonymized by Kerrich, 1973: 116. Pediobius lividiscutum ( Gahan, 1922) , Sankaran & Syed, 1972: 1, 6, 7, 9.

Pleurotropis elasmi (Ashmead, 1904) , Gahan, 1951: 170.

Pediobius elasmi (Ashmead, 1904) , Baltazar, 1966: 116.

Diagnosis. Pediobius elasmi is extremely similar to P. crassicornis , thus only some distinctive characters are emphasized to separate these two species here as follows. MLM with longitudinal striation diverging around the raised part before the posterior margin of MLM; the anterior smooth area on scutellum seems large, nearly reaching half length or more of scutellum, and the sculpture of posterior remaining median part evanescent; apex of dorsellum strikingly protruding medially ( Figs 7 a, 7c).

Material examined. CHINA, Fujian: 2♀, Shanghang, Buyun , 19.IX.1996, coll. Hui Xiao ; 1♀, Longyan, Shanghang, Buyun , 20.IX.1996, coll. Hui Xiao ; 5♀, Shanghang, Gutian , 11.IX.1996, coll. Hui Xiao ; 1♀ 1♂, Shanghang, Gutian , 14.IX.1996, coll. Hui Xiao ; Guangdong: 1♀, Guangzhou, 1988, coll. Wei-Guang Liang ; Guangxi: 1♀ 1♂, Pingxiang, Youyiguan , 24.III.1998, coll. Chao-Dong Zhu ; 1♀, Napo, Baihe , 09.IV.1998, coll. Chao-Dong Zhu ; 1♀, Napo, Pingmeng? Beidou , 10.IV.1998, coll. Chao-Dong Zhu ; 1♀, Jingxi , 01.IV.1998, coll. Chao-Dong Zhu ; Guizhou: 1♀, Guiyang, Huaxi , 10.X.1983, coll. Chang-Fang Li ; Hainan: 1♀, Ledong, Jianfengling , 25.VI.1998, coll. Chao-Dong Zhu ; 1♀, Haikou , 03.IV.2002, coll. Yan-Zhou Zhang ; 1♂, Qiongzhong , 31.III.2002, coll. Yan-Zhou Zhang ; 1♀, Liingshui, Diaoluo Mountains , 15.IV.1984, coll. Chang-Fang Li ; 3♀, Sanya , 08.IX.1981, coll. Ruo-Qian Yao ; 1♀, Wuzhi Mountains , 31.III.2002, coll. Yan-Zhou Zhang ; Hubei: 1♀, Yingshan, Taohuachong Forest Park, 27.VI.2014, coll. Qin-Li ; 11♀, Weidong, Xinkuang , 09.VIII.1981, coll. Chun-An Lai, ex. Braconidae sp. ; 2♀, Hubei, 21.IX.1980, coll. Xian-Wen Liu ; 3♂, Shennongjia, Songluo , 30.VIII.1981, coll. Han ; Hunan: 2♂, Yuanjiang , 15.VIII.1989, coll. Da-Wei Huang ; 3♀, QingXian, coll. Xin- Wang Tong; Jiangsu: 1♂, Dantu, Shiqiao , 18.VIII.1999, coll. Chao-Dong Zhu ; Jiangxi: 4♀, Nanchang, Meiling , 05-10.X.1985, coll. Feng-Xia Zhao, ex. Basiprionota sp. ; 1♂, Dexing , X.1984, coll. Mei-Ying Zhang, ex. Basiprionota sp. ; Shaanxi: 1♀, Liuba, Shibandian , 02.VII.1999, coll. Chao-Dong Zhu ; Tibet: 1♀, Motuo , 14.I.1983, coll. Yin-Heng Han ; Yunnan: 2♀, Wenshan, Funing , Bo-AI, 13.IV.1998, coll. Chao-Dong Zhu . Determined specimens compared ( ANIC): 1♀, QLD Batavia Downs (12.41S, 142.41E), 23.VIII.1992, coll. J. Cardale & P. Zborowski, det. C. J. Burwell ; 1♀, MALAYSIA Johor POR M Res'. stn. N, 10.III.1992, coll. K. Norman, det. John La Salle .

Biology. Pediobius elasmi has been recorded as a primary as well as a secondary parasitoid ( Noyes 2016). In China, five females were reared from Basiprionota sp. ( Coleoptera : Hispidae ) as a primary parasitoid, and three females were reared from Braconidae sp. ( Hymenoptera ) as a secondary parasitoid.

Distribution in China. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Tibet, Yunnan.

Remarks. For specimens of P. elasmi in IZCAS, the size of anterior median smooth area on scutellum and sculpture on the posterior part of scutellum may vary with populations. See also remarks under P. crassicornis and P. pupariae .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Pediobius elasmi (Ashmead, 1904). a: female, body in dorsal view; b: female, mesosoma + metasoma in lateral view; c: male, body in dorsal view; d: male, body in lateral view; e: female, fore wing; f: female, hind leg; g: female, antenna; h: male, antenna. Scale bar: a – d, 0.5 mm; e, 0.4 mm; f – h, 0.2 mm.