Aleiodes apicalis ( Brulle , 1832)

van Achterberg, Cornelis, Shaw, Mark R. & Quicke, Donald L. J., 2020, Revision of the western Palaearctic species of Aleiodes Wesmael (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Rogadinae). Part 2: Revision of the A. apicalis group, ZooKeys 919, pp. 1-259 : 1

Aleiodes apicalis ( Brulle, 1832) Figs 50-53 , 54-65 , 66-71

Bracon apicalis Brullé, 1832: 381 [examined].

Rhogas apicalis ; Fahringer 1932: 317-318.

Rogas apicalis ; Shenefelt 1975: 1218.

Aleiodes apicalis ; Shaw et al., 1998: 63; Fortier and Shaw 1999: 227; Zaldívar-Riverón et al. 2004: 234, 2008: figs 2-6.

Aleiodes (Chelonorhogas) apicalis ; Falco et al. 1997: 60; Farahani et al. 2015: 240-242; Abdolalizadeh et al. 2017: 36.

Rogas reticulator Nees, 1834: 211; Shenefelt 1975 (as synonym of A. ductor ); Papp 2005: 176 (id.). Syn. nov.

Aleiodes reticulator ; Papp, 1991a: 70 (as synonym of A. ductor ).

Rogas bicolor Lucas, 1849: 336-337 (not Spinola 1808); Shenefelt 1975: 1219; Papp 1985a: 157 (lectotype designation), 2005: 176 (as synonym of A. ductor ). Syn. nov.

Rogas rufo-ater Wollaston, 1858: 24; Shenefelt 1975: 1247; Papp 1990: 90 (as synonym of A. ductor ) [examined]. Syn. nov.

Rhogas rufoater ; Fahringer 1934: 321.

Rhogas bicolorinus Fahringer, 1932: 318 (replacement name for Rogas bicolor Lucas). Syn. nov.

Rhogas reticulator var. atripes Costa, 1884: 13; Papp 1990: 90 (as synonym of R. rufoater ). Syn. nov.

Rhogas ductor var. atripes ; Fahringer 1932: 244.

Aleiodes (Neorhogas) ductor var. atripes ; Papp 1985a: 157.

Rhogas similis Szépligeti, 1903: 114 (not Curtis 1834); Papp 1985a: 157-158 (lectotype designation and as synonym of A. ductor ), 2005: 176 (id.). Syn. nov.

Rhogas ductor var. similis ; Fahringer 1932: 245.

Rogas ductor auct. p.p.; Shenefelt, 1975: 1226-1227; Zaykov 1980a: 112; Tobias 1976: 85, 1986: 80 (transl.: 133); Samartsev and Belokobylskij 2013: 765.

Aleiodes ductor auct. p.p.; Bergamasco et al. 1995: 5.

Type material.

Holotype of B. apicalis , ♂ (MNHN) "[Greece], Morée, Muséum Paris, Brullé 4187-33", “Type”, " Bracon apicalis Brullé, Type". Lectotype of R. similis, ♂ (MTMA) "[Hungary], Kecskemét, Szépligeti”, "Hym. Typ. No. 7021, Mus. Budapest", “Lectotypus”, " Rhogas similis Szépl. 1903 ♂, Papp, 1984", " Rhogas reticulator var. similis Sz., det. Szépligeti, 1906", " Aleiodes ductor Thunbg., det. Papp, J., 1983". Holotype of R. rufo-ater, ♂ (ZJUH) "[Portugal], Madeira, Wollaston, 55.7", " Rogas rufo-ater, W.", Type, H.T.", "B.M. Type Hym., 3.c.241".

Additional material.

Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France (including Corsica), Germany, Greece (including Chios, Corfu, Crete, Lesbos, Rhodes), Hungary, Italy (including Sardinia, Sicily), Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Portugal (including Madeira), Romania, Russia (including Dagestan), Serbia, Slovakia, Spain (including Mallorca and Canary Islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura), Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, [Georgia, Kazakhstan, Oman, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Turkmenistan]. Specimens in ZJUH, BZL, CMIM, CNC, HSC, MRC, MSC, MTMA, NMS, RMNH, SDEI, UNS, ZISP, ZSSM. This is a mainly Mediterranean species, extending into Central Europe and West Asia, and one of the commonest species of the group in the Mediterranean area. One surprising female from Sweden ( Skåne, Käseberga, MV light 17-vii-14.ix.2013, N. Ryrholm & C. Källander, in NMS) is presumed, like two British specimens (England, V.C. 3, S. Devon, Slapton Ley 7-14.vi.1932, H.St.J. Donisthorpe, in ZJUH; V.C. 22, Berkshire, Beale Park, 25-27.vii.2018, Rothamsted trap, in coll. A.C. Galsworthy destined for ZJUH) and one specimen from Netherlands (Lexmond, ZH, 10.viii.2004, C. Gielis in RMNH) to have been deposited there by winds from southern Europe or N. Africa rather than representing an established breeding population. Whether or not A. apicalis can eventually establish permanent populations, i.e., with winter survival, in these relatively northerly parts of Europe may depend on whether its host can do likewise.

Molecular data.

MRS008 (Turkey), MRS111 (Turkey), MRS112 (Turkey), MRS181 (Russia), MRS869 (Sweden).

Biology.

Time of flight varies according to harshness of summer. In its more temperate sites plurivoltine April-September(October), overwintering in the mummy, but in Cyprus (and presumably other places with extremely hot dry summers) it appears to be most active from autumn to spring (October-May), with a prolonged summer diapause (June-October or later) in the mummy (reared series ex " Plusia " in ZJUH and NMS, W.R. Ingram, six with mummification dates recorded in May or June and adult emergence in the following October-December, further specimens in the series have only one date, which is ambiguous). Reared from Noctuidae : Autographa gamma (Linnaeus) (6 [4 ZISP/Moldova, 1 HSC/Germany, 1 NMS/Malta]; J.L. Gregory, H. Schnee), indet. Plusiinae (14). There is no reason to suppose that the hosts recorded as indet. Plusiinae are anything except A. gamma . A further specimen labelled as ex Peribroma [sic] saucia is accompanied by a clearly Plusiinae mummy (Sicily, NMS). Also, one labelled as from Anarsia lineatella Zeller ( Gelechiidae ) (Ukraine, ZISP), but without a mummy and clearly in error on grounds of size alone. Another specimen labelled as "ex Sesamia pupa" (Iran, ZJUH) lacks its mummy but accompanies two individuals of A. aestuosus (q. v.) from the same source, and the remarks made under that species apply also to this record - but with the added objection that the small hypoclypeal opening and flat clypeus of A. apicalis strongly suggest that its hosts do not mummify in deep concealment. The mummy (Fig. 52 ) is of a pale chalky buff colour, and the cocoon occupies approx. abdominal segments 4-7 of the host larva. Several of the mummies examined, all of which seem to be penultimate instar, have been formed in a more or less curled leaf beneath a web (Fig. 53 ) that the host had been induced to spin before being mummified, and were weakly stuck to the substrate.

Diagnosis.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3-0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig. 60 ); antennal segments of ♀ 44-51 and flagellar segments moderately robust (Figs 64 , 65 ); ventral margin of clypeus thick and obtuse apically and clypeus not protruding outwards (Fig. 62 ); vertex, mesoscutum, metapleuron and scutellum normally shiny and without dense granulation, at most with some superficial micro-sculpture; frons (and more or less vertex) with striae (Fig. 61 ) or rugae; scutellum largely smooth and shiny; mesopleuron largely smooth; vein 2-CU1 of fore wing approx. as long as vein 1-CU1 (Fig. 54 ); vein M+CU of hind wing distinctly longer than vein 1-M (Fig. 54 ); hind tarsal claws of ♀ with rather slender and brownish pecten (Fig. 63 ); basal half of hind tibia (largely) pale yellowish, or if black (var. rufoater ) then also fore femur black; 3rd tergite (except basally) largely smooth; medially 4th-6th tergites of ♂ slightly concave and with dense band of medium-sized setae (Figs 68 , 69 ); head, mesoscutum and scutellum black; 2nd tergite yellowish or reddish.

Description.

Redescribed ♀ (RMNH) from Hungary (Budapest), length of fore wing 5.1 mm, of body 6.7 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ more than 40, but apical segments missing (length of antenna of ♀ from Lesbos 1.4 × fore wing and its subapical segments robust); frons with coarse curved rugae, shiny; OOL 1.5 × diameter of posterior ocellus, and distinctly striate; vertex transversely striate, rather weak; clypeus normal, punctulate and convex; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards; width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3 × minimum width of face (Fig. 60 ); length of eye 1.6 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 61 ); vertex behind stemmaticum transversely striate; clypeus near lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.4 × length of eye in lateral view; occipital carina complete, fine.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely smooth, punctulate, shiny; prepectal carina complete, rather strong; precoxal area of mesopleuron largely smooth; mesopleuron above precoxal area weakly and sparsely punctate, especially posteriorly; scutellum largely smooth, with striae laterally; propodeum evenly convex, coarsely vermiculate-rugose, only anteriorly with median carina, without tubercles.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.6 × 3-SR (Fig. 54 ); 1-CU1 horizontal, equal to or slightly longer than 2-CU1; r-m 0.9 × 3-SR; 2nd submarginal cell comparatively short (Fig. 54 ); cu-a vertical, slightly curved posteriorly; 1-M straight posteriorly. Hind wing: marginal cell basally slightly and distally strongly widened, its apical width 2.6 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 54 ); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu indistinct; M+CU:1-M = 5:3; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws with rather slender and medium-sized brownish pecten (Fig. 63 ); hind coxa largely densely punctate; hind trochantellus medium-sized; length of hind femur and basitarsus 5.1 and 6.0 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.5 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite robust, evenly convex; 1st and 2nd tergites rather coarsely obliquely rugose; 1st tergite and basal half of 2nd tergite with median carina; 2nd tergite robust and with striae diverging posteriorly; medio-basal area of 2nd tergite wide triangular, rather short; 2nd suture rather deep medially; 3rd tergite largely smooth, except anteriorly with some striae; 4th and apical half of 3rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath with rather long setae and apically rounded (Fig. 51 ).

Colour. Black; scapus, pedicellus, tegulae (but humeral plate brownish yellow), base of hind tibia narrowly, apical half of hind tibia, telotarsi, hind tarsus largely, ventral apical half of metasoma, pterostigma and veins (except C+SC+R of fore wing) dark brown; remainder of basal half of antenna and palpi yellowish brown; remainder of legs (but apical two-fifths of hind femur black), 1st and 2nd tergites, 3rd tergite basally and laterally orange brown; remainder of hind tibia pale yellowish; apex of middle femur and wing membrane somewhat infuscate.

Variation. A. apicalis is very variable in colour and the colour patterns are not restricted to certain areas, but in general southern Palaearctic specimens are darker than northern ones (or specimens from high altitudes). The tegula is dark brown or black, and the humeral plate usually paler than the tegula or equally black, but both usually yellowish in southern specimens; the hind tarsus is dark brown or black, but sometimes 3rd and 4th segments yellowish; the hind tibia variably reddish to black, but palest at extreme base; the pronotum is very occasionally reddish. The extent of black colouration of the legs is especially variable, and sometimes all legs are entirely black (var. rufoater (Wollaston, 1858)). Antenna, especially in females, can be more or less light reddish brown, especially basally, or dark brown/black throughout. Antennal segments: ♀ 44(1), 46(3), 47(11), 48(20), 49(31), 50(41), 51(19), 52(10), 54(3), 55(1), 57(1); ♂ 46(3), 47(7), 48(17), 49(29), 50(30), 51(32), 52(11), 53(5), 54(1). Males have on average approx. one antennal segment more than females. Apical tergites of ♂ type 4, setosity dense (making the tergites appear concave; Figs 68 , 69 ) and fringe weak.

Distribution.

*Albania, Austria, *Bosnia & Herzegovina, *Bulgaria, *Croatia, Cyprus, *Czech Republic, *France (including Corsica), *Georgia, *Germany, Greece (including Chios, Corfu, Crete, Lesbos, Rhodes), *Hungary, Iran, *Iraq, *Israel, *Italy (including Sardinia, Sicily), *Kazakhstan, *Malta, *Moldova, *Montenegro, *Morocco, *North Macedonia, *Oman, *Portugal (including Madeira), *Romania, *Russia (including Dagestan), *Serbia, *Slovakia, Spain (including Mallorca and Canary Islands: Tenerife, Fuerteventura), *Syria, Switzerland, *Tunisia, Turkey, *Turkmenistan.

New synonymy.

The synonymy of Rogas rufo-ater Wollaston, 1858, and Rhogas similis Szépligeti, 1903, are based on examination of the types listed above. The lectotype of Rogas bicolor Lucas, 1849 (not Spinola, 1808) and of Rhogas bicolorinus Fahringer, 1932, has been examined by Dr Jenö Papp and we agree with his opinion that it is a synonym of A. ductor auct. (= A. apicalis ). The types of Rogas reticulator Nees, 1834, and Rhogas reticulator var. atripes Costa, 1884, are lost or unavailable and their synonymy is based on the original description and the interpretation by later authors.

Figures

Figures 50 - 53. Aleiodes apicalis (Brulle), ♀, Greece, Thimiana Chios, but 52 mummies of Autographa gamma (Linnaeus) from Malta and 53 of undetermined plusiine host from Cyprus 50 habitus lateral 51 ovipositor sheath lateral 52 mummy dorsal 53 mummy covered by silk of host.

Figures 54 - 65. Aleiodes apicalis (Brulle), ♀, Bulgaria, Rodopi 54 wings 55 mesosoma lateral 56 mesosoma dorsal 57 1 st - 3 rd metasomal tergites dorsal 58 fore femur lateral 59 hind femur lateral 60 head anterior 61 head dorsal 62 head lateral 63 outer hind tarsal claw 64 base of antenna 65 apex of antenna.

Figures 66 - 71. Aleiodes apicalis (Brulle), ♂, Turkey, Sivas 66 habitus lateral 67 head dorsal 68 3 rd - 7 th metasomal tergites dorsal 69 3 rd - 7 th metasomal tergites lateral 70 head anterior 71 outer hind tarsal claw.