Trichrysis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758)

Rosa, Paolo, Wei, Na-sen, Feng, Jun & Xu, Zai-fu, 2016, Revision of the genus Trichrysis Lichtenstein, 1876 from China, with description of three new species (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 63 (1), pp. 109-136 : 112-114

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Chrysididae

Trichrysis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758) Figs 7-12, 13-18, 97

Sphex cyanea Linnaeus, 1758: 572. Lectotype, ♂, designated by Morgan 1984: 10; Europe (LS) (examined).

Chrysis (Trichrysis) cyanea (Linnaeus): Lichtenstein 1876: 27; Tsuneki 1947: 55; 1950: 70; 1953a: 25; 1953b: 58; Linsenmaier 1959: 169.

Trichrysis (Trichrysis) cyanea (Linnaeus): Kimsey and Bohart 1980: 77.

Trichrysis cyanea (Linnaeus): Kimsey and Bohart 1991: 571; Rosa 2006: 323; Ha et al. 2008: 73; Rosa et al. 2014: 75.

Material examined.

“EUROPE”: Lectotype / Lectotype ♂ Sphex cyanea L., det. D. Morgan 1983 / ♂ Trichrysis cyanea (L.) det. D. Morgan 1983. CHINA: 1♀, Ningxia, Liupanshan Forest Park (34°22'N 106°18'E), 21. VI– 14.VII.2008, leg. J-m. Yao (SCAU); 1♀, Ningxia, Liupanshan Forest Park, 3-4.VII.2009, leg. H-y. Chen (SCAU); 1♂, Liaoning, Laotuziding Nature Reserve (41°19 ’7” N 124°52 ’27” E), 18.VII.2011, leg. K-x. Zhao (SCAU); 1♀, Gansu, Xiahe, Labrang, 1-15.VI.1998, leg. V. Major (PRC); 1♀, Hebei, Mt. Xiaowutai, Yangjiapin, 20.VIII.2005, leg. M. Shi (SCAU); 1♀, Hunan, Mt. Huping, Nianzigou (29°55 ’38” N 110°48 ’48” E), 9.VII.2009, leg. Y-l. Tang et al. (SCAU); 2♀♀, Yunnan, Dali, Shimen (25°41 ’26” N 100°10 ’13” E), 3.V.2006, leg. H-s. Wang (SCAU); 3♀♀, Yunnan, Lincang, Fengxiang (23°52 ’37” N 100°5 ’15” E), 5.X.2004, leg. J-x. Liu (SCAU); 1♀, Yunnan, Jingdong, Jinping (24°27 ’14” N 100°50 ’4” E), 28.IV.2005, leg. H-s. Wang (SCAU); 1♀, Yunnan, Lincang (23°52 ’37” N 100°4 ’46” E), 5.X.2005, leg. K. Wu (SCAU).

Diagnosis.

Trichrysis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758) is similar to Trichrysis secernenda ( Mocsáry, 1912) and Trichrysis triacantha . However it can be separated from Trichrysis secernenda by small and fused black spots on S2 (Fig. 97) (large and separated in Trichrysis secernenda ); it can be separated from Trichrysis triacantha by angle-shaped lateral teeth on T3 (sharp in Trichrysis triacantha ) and single TFC, without branches (raised with or without distinct branches in Trichrysis triacantha ).

Description.

Female. Body length 4.2-7.0 mm.

Head. Scapal basin deep, densely punctate (Fig. 8). TFC single, straight or slightly inverted V-shape. Frons between TFC and scapal basin not raised. Relative length of P:F1:F2:F3=1.0:1.5 –1.8:0.8–1.0:0.6– 0.8; F1 l/w=3.3; OOL=1.8-2.4 MOD; BOL=1.5 MOD; POL=2.0-2.4 MOD; MS=1.0 MOD; clypeus slightly concave medially.

Mesosoma. Pronotal groove deep, almost extending to posterior margin (Fig. 9); sublateral carina distinct and usually complete Punctuation on pronotum, mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with uniform punctures subequally interspaced; interspaces usually punctate. Metanotum with large foveate punctures, contiguous without interspaces. Episternal sulcus and scrobal sulcus with large transversal foveae.

Metasoma. Punctures on T1 and T2 distinctly geminate, micropunctate on interspaces (Fig. 11). T2 and T3 usually without median carina. T3 prepit bulge slightly convex, especially medially; pit row distinct, with large, round and close pits, not fused. Apex of T3 with three distinct teeth similar in size, in dorsal view (Fig. 12); lateral teeth angle-shaped, in lateral view; interval between median tooth and lateral tooth variable, from straight to slightly convex. S2 black spots diamond shaped, medially fused.

Colouration. Body colouration variable, usually light blue to dark blue, or green to dark green with darker areas dorsally. Scape and pedicel metallic blue, flagellum black. Tegula usually brown, without metallic reflection. Legs metallic blue, with tarsi black.

Male. Body length 4.6-5.5 mm. Male differs from female as follows: apex of T3 with teeth shorter (Fig. 18), sometimes only median tooth is distinctly visible; pre pit row area not bulged (Fig. 18); interval between median tooth and lateral tooth straight; body usually more greenish than that of female, and with blackish area dorsally (Figs 13, 18).

Biology.

Collected from April to October, possibly with more than one generation. In the West Palaearctic it is known as a parasitoid of crabronid wasps ( Tormos et al. 1996; Gathmann and Tscharntke 1999; Rosa 2006; Pärn et al. 2014).

Variation.

Trichrysis cyanea (Linnaeus, 1758) is a variable species due to its wide distribution through Palaearctic and Oriental Regions. Some differences can be observed between the Chinese specimens and western Palaearctic specimens. For example, western Palaearctic specimens have scapal basin striate medially, sometimes with small aligned punctures within striae (densely punctate in Chinese specimens); pronotum with weak pronotal carina and tegula usually brown, without or with weak metallic reflections (metallic in some Chinese specimens from Yunnan). Nevertheless, in Yunnan more specimens have been collected with and without metallic colouration on tegulae, therefore we consider this character as variable in this species. For other Trichrysis species (as already observed by Bohart (1987)), the colouration of tegulae seems to be a fix and reliable diagnostic character.

Distribution.

China (Liaoning, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, Hebei, Hunan, Yunnan); widespread in the Holarctic Region ( Kimsey and Bohart 1991; Ha et al. 2008: 73; Rosa et al. 2013, 2014).