Meteorus hirsutipes Huddleston, 1980

Stigenberg, Julia & Ronquist, Fredrik, 2011, Revision of the Western Palearctic Meteorini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), with a molecular characterization of hidden Fennoscandian species diversity 3084, Zootaxa 3084 (1), pp. 1-95 : 55-56

Meteorus hirsutipes Huddleston

Fig. 21 , 67 , 99

Meteorus hirsutipes Huddleston, 1980:34 . Holotype ♀ Finland: Valamo , Ladoga, NE. of monastery Hainwald 24.viii.1935 (Kerrich) (BMNH, London) examined.

Paratypes. Germany: 1 ♀ Bavaria, Schliersee , 28.vii.1958 (Townes) ( CNC, Ottawa) . Ireland: 1 ♀, Co. Wicklow, Deputy’s Pass , 7.viii.1932 (Stelfox) ( USNM, Washington) .

Diagnosis: Meteorus hirsutipes is an easily diagnosed species. It is a rather large species with an unusually wide face. The colour is black except for the prothorax and legs, which are testaceous. Above all, however, the species is characterized by the very long, sickle-shaped claws.

Studied material: ~ 20 specimens.

Description: Size about 4.5–6mm. Antennal articles 28–30, thin. Head strongly narrowed behind eyes, occiput concave. Ocelli small, OOL=3. Eyes protuberant, slightly convergent. Face about twice as broad as high, not strongly protuberant. Clypeus not strongly protuberant, as broad as face. Mandible very large, stout and not twisted. Precoxal sulcus deep, foveolate. Propodeum with strong longitudinal and transverse carinae. Petiolar tergum with longitudinal striae, joining to form a transverse rugose area; medial part of petiolar tergum anteriorly reticulate- rugose. Ovipositor 2.5 times length of petiolar tergum, straight. Hind coxa punctate or reticulate-punctate; tarsi with long setae, the longest of which at the apices of the tarsal segment are at least twice the maximum breadth of the segment. Tarsal claws simple, very long, sickle-shaped. Colour black, prothorax and legs testaceous.

Distribution: Western and Eastern Pelearctic. Country records: China; Croatia; Finland; Germany; Ireland; Japan; Norway; Switzerland; Sweden; United Kingdom.

Biology: We found 5 specimens within the SMTP and they were all caught in August in a mixed forest.

Figures

FIGURES 18–25. Characters used in key to species. 18) dorsal view of the petiolar tergum of M. filator, 19) dorsal view of the petiolar tergum of M. rubens, 20) ventral view of the petiolar tergum of M. colon, 21) dorsal view of the petiolar tergum of M. hirsutipes, 22) ventral view of the petiolar tergum of M. pendulus, 23) dorsal view of the head of M. pulchricornis, 24) dorsal view of the head of M. filator, 25) ventral view of the petiolar tergum of M. rubens.

FIGURES 65–72. Characters used in key to species. 65) lateral view of metasomal part with ovipositor of M. salicorniae, 66) lateral view of the head of M. obfuscatus, 67) habitus of M. hirsutipes, 68) lateral view of mesosoma of M. eklundi sp.nov. 69) lateral view of mesosoma of M. subtilisulcus sp.nov., 70) lateral view of petiolar tergum of M. ictericus, 71) dorso-lateral view of the pit in front of the anterior ocelli of M. ictericus, 72) lateral view of petiolar tergum of M. pendulus.

FIGURES 80–133. Anterior view of the head of Meteorus species (except for M. politutele, which is depicted in lateral view).