Limerodes WESMAEL, 1845

A. M, 2011, Illustrated key to the genera of the subtribe Amblytelina of Palaearctic (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae, Ichneumonini), Linzer biologische Beiträge 43 (1), pp. 597-711 : 626-627

1. Limerodes WESMAEL

Limerodes WESMAEL 1884 - Mem. Acad. Bruxelles 18: 111.

Type species: ( Ichneumon ophioniventris WESMAEL ) = arctiventris BOIE.

Limerodes: RASNITSYN 1981 - Opr. Faun. SSSR, 3 (3): 565, 623.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Palaearctic.

I n t r o d u c t i o n:

Clypeus with denticle on front margin, abdomen strongly compressed from sides, like by shape to abdomen of ichneumon flies of ophionoid complex with atrophied gastrocoeli and thyridia with polished surface are characteristic for the genus. Propodeum is without apophysises and teeth, convex in profile with external carina of area dentipara that parallel to carina metapleuralis. Flagellum of females is long and thin, longer than front wing, coiled of dried samples; of males it is not ribbed (very slightly ribbed) with narrow tyloides.

M o r p h o l o g y:

F l a g e l l u m: Long, slender, strongly attenuated and pointed toward apex, behind middle not widened; flagellum longer than the front wing. Of males not ribbed ventrally (very slightly ribbed) with narrow light tyloides.

H e a d: Head contour from front rather slightly narrowed downwards; vertex from lateral almost straightly oblique behind ocelli; temples from above slightly roundly narrowed behind eyes, long; mandibles normal, theirs considerable part almost parallelsided, upper tooth distinctly longer than lower one; clypeus with sharpened slightly emarginated front margin and median denticle; middle field of face distinctly convex and separated from clypeus and lateral fields by broad impressions.

T h o r a x: Mesonotum slightly convex, longer than width, notauli only just marked at base, surface of mesonotum densely punctured, with slight shine; sternauli in a form of slight impressions up to middle of mesopleurae; axillary tongue not expressed; scutellum of females slightly elevated above postscutellum, from above almost flat, laterally not carinated, of males more high elevated. Hind margin of metanotum with projections. Propodeum convex in profile, without sharp break with complete set of carinae; horizontal part of propodeum sorter than area posteromedia in middle; area superomedia indistinctly hexagonal, slightly elongated, narrowed and often rounded in front; areae dentiparae at apices without apophysises or teeth; external carina of area dentipara parallel to carina metapleuralis; spiracles long and narrow.

L e g s: Long and slender. Hind coxae of females without scopa.

W i n g s: Areolet very big, pentagonal, symmetrical; nervulus postfurcal; radius slightly sinuous.

A b d o m e n From above narrow, strongly compressed from sides, amblypygous, polished. Postpetiolus smooth, rounded from above, without expressed middle field. Gastrocoeli only in a form of slight longitudinal impression more distinctly expressed at males, thyridia practically not expressed, only at times in a form of slight punctiform impression; surface of tergites very delicately superficially punctured, polished. Sternites 2-4 strongly unsclerotized; hypopygium of females strongly compressed from sides with sharply pointed apex, at males from below with short apical process.

C o l o r a t i o n: Apical light pattern of abdomen absent. Tergites 1-3 (of males 1-4) and most part of legs red.

S i z e: Body length 10-13,5 mm

B i o l o g y a n d e c o l o g y:

H o s t s: For a single species of genus L. arctiventris (BOIE) from the literature there are data on its breeding from 3 species of Noctuidae – Oligia literosa HW., Photedes elymi TR. and Ph. minima HW. (RASNITSYN 1981) .

S p e c i e s c o m p o s i t i o n a n d a b u n d a n c e: Genusispresentedbya single species – L. arctiventris . By abundance in collections, genus occupies 8th place among Amblytelina and 47th place among genera of Ichneumoninae St. in the region (10 individuals / 1 species of genus).

B i o t o p i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n: Limerodes prefers open ecosystems. From forest ecosystems it is noted only in the nettle alder forests (Alnetum urticosum).

S e a s o n a l a c t i v i t y a n d h i b e r n a t i o n: Activity of females is registered only in September-October, of males – in July-September. Hibernating females are not found. Probably, the species has one generation during a season with hibernating females.