Calosota metallica (Gahan)

Gary A. P., Gibson, 2010, Calosota Curtis (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Eupelmidae) - review of the New World and European fauna including revision of species from the West Indies and Central and North America, ZooKeys 55, pp. 1-75 : 35-44

Calosota metallica (Gahan) Figs 7224159, 636879, 80

Calosoter metallicus Gahan 1922 (May 25): 16-17. Holotype ♀ (USNM, type no. 24988; examined, antenna mounted on slide), by original designation.

Calosota (Paracalosota) viridis Masi 1922 (November 30): 142-144. Type data: Italy: Tuscany, Giglio Is. Syntypes, ♀ (MCSN; not examined). syn. n.

Calosota metallica ; Packard 1928: 14.

Calosota matritensis Bolívar y Pieltain 1929: 140-142. Type data: Spain: Madrid Prov., Chamartín. Holotype ♀ (MNCN; examined), by original designation. Synonymy with Calosota viridis by Askew and Nieves Aldrey 2006: 95. syn. n.

Calosota coerulea Nikol’skaya, 1952: 483/497. Type data: USSR: Tadzhikistan; parasitic on Harmolita species in wheat stems. Holotype ♀ (ZMAS; not examined), by monotypy. Synonymy with Calosota viridis by Bouček 1970: 79. syn. n.

Description.

FEMALE (Figs 22, 41). Length about 1.5-3.7 mm. Color. Head of small specimens sometimes brownish with variably extensive metallic lusters, but normally (Fig. 7) bright green to blue or purple except usually with dark, nonmetallic or slight coppery band extending from each scrobe dorsally to side of anterior ocellus and sometimes to posterior ocellus and/or sometimes narrowly contiguous around posterior margin of anterior ocellus. Maxillary and labial palpi dark. Antenna dark brown with scape and pedicel usually with similar metallic luster as head, and scape often with extreme base or rarely up to about basal two-thirds yellowish. Mesosoma (Figs 22, 41) similar in color to head, including entire scutellum, the frenal area not differentiated from rest of scutellum by color. Legs usually (Fig. 41) with femora and tibiae extensively dark except knees, tibiae variably extensively apically, and all but one or two apical tarsomeres yellowish-orange to white, but middle and hind legs sometimes more extensively, rarely entirely, yellowish-orange except knees, tibiae apically and tarsi more distinctly white. Fore wing (Fig. 59) hyaline; setae uniformly colored, sometimes white but usually at least slightly yellowish to brown. Metasoma (Figs 22, 41) often similar in color to head and mesosoma but more commonly more or less brown, at least dorsally, with variable metallic lusters.

Structure/setation. Head in dorsal view about 1.7 –2× as wide as long, with IOD about 0.37 –0.47× head width, OOL about 0.5-1.2x, LOL about 1.3-1.8x, and POL about 1.6 –2.5× MPOD; in frontal view about 1.1 –1.2× as wide as high, with dorsal margin of torulus about at level of lower orbits; malar space about 0.56 –0.64× height of eye. Head (Figs 7, 68) more or less uniformly sculptured except for smooth and shiny scrobes and microcoriaceous clypeal region, the frontovertex and often parascrobal region meshlike coriaceous in smaller specimens to distinctly meshlike reticulate or alutaceous-reticulate in larger specimens, and lower face more obliquely coriaceous-alutaceous to alutaceous-reticulate. Head with white setae except for bare scrobal depression. Antenna (Figs 41, 80) with scape about 3.9 –5.5× as long as wide; pedicel about 2 –2.3× as long as wide, at least a little longer than combined length of fu1+fu2 and sometimes about as long as fu1-fu3; flagellum conspicuously clavate, with length of flagellum + pedicel about 1 –1.1× as long as width of head; smaller specimens sometimes with fu1 strongly transverse (ringlike) and fu2 quadrate to only slightly longer than wide, but larger specimens with fu1 quadrate to slightly longer than wide, subsequent funiculars oblong basally and shortened apically to slightly transverse fu8; clava usually quite distinctly bulbous, at least 2.5 × as wide as fu2 even when not compressed, and about as long as apical 3-4 funiculars. Mesoscutum (Figs 22, 79) meshlike reticulate at least medially, usually somewhat more shallowly reticulate to coriaceous laterally on lateral lobes, with variably conspicuous white setae; notauli variably distinct but often obscure, anteroadmedian lines extremely obscure or not apparent, and parapsidal lines more distinct microsculptured regions. Axilla very slender, separated by at least 5 × own width (Fig. 79). Scutellum usually quite conspicuously convex, about 1 –1.2× as long as wide; elongate reticulate to reticulate-strigose except frenal area meshlike reticulate (Fig. 79); with white setae. Mesopleuron with exposed, though sometimes very small and inconspicuous, bare lower mesepimeron; acropleuron sometimes shallowly meshlike reticulate near tegula but more coriaceous-alutaceous anterior to oblique microsculptured region and very finely, longitudinally coriaceous-alutaceous posteriorly. Fore wing (Fig. 59) with cc: mv: stv: pmv about 52-67: 41-50: 10: 10-13; basal cell entirely setose; cubital area bare and open along posterior margin at least to level of posterior margin of basal fold; disc setose except for comparatively broad, oblique bare band contiguous with basal fold and with parastigma to base of marginal vein, though often with one or a few scattered setae within bare region and sometimes closed by setae posteriorly, though usually bare region at least narrowly contiguous with cubital area. Metacoxa setose dorsally and ventrally but broadly bare mediolongitudinally. Propodeum (Fig. 79) with callus setose to posterior margin; usually bare but rarely with single white seta anteriorly between spiracle and foramen (Fig. 79). Gaster (Figs 22, 41) about 1.4 –1.7× as long as mesosoma; with white setae, the setae somewhat denser and more conspicuous laterally than dorsally; posterior margin of penultimate tergum extending to or slightly beyond level of cerci; syntergum a more or less equilateral triangle in dorsal view, about 0.8 –1× transcercal width, uniformly convex, and about 0.7 –0.9× as long as penultimate tergum.

MALE (based on only 4 individuals). Similar to female except as follows. Length about 2.2-2.8 mm. Color. Head and body quite bright green to bluish-purple except for legs; legs with femora and tibiae extensively dark, but knees and apices of tibiae distinctly yellow and tarsi mostly yellow.

Structure/setation. Scape more robust, about 3.5 –3.6× as long as wide; pedicel shorter, about 1.5 –2× as long as wide; combined length of flagellum + pedicel about 1.2 × as long as width of head; flagellum (Fig. 63) robust-filiform, with differentiated clava but at most only very slightly widened distally (clava sometimes appearing distinctly wider than flagellum if collapsed and compressed), and conspicuously, densely setose with curved setae much shorter than width of flagellomere; fu1 strongly transverse (ringlike); fu2 sometimes only about as long as wide but at least twice as long as fu1; subsequent funiculars usually all clearly longer than wide but one or two apical funiculars sometimes subquadrate; clava almost as long as combined length of apical 3 funiculars. Fore wing with cc: mv: stv: pmv about 47-56: 35-40: 10: 09-12. Propodeal callus setose anteriorly only to level about equal with posterior margin of spiracle.

Biology.

A primary parasitoid of Cecidomyiidae ( Diptera ), including the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say) ( Gahan 1933), and species of Tetramesa ( Hymenoptera : Eurytomidae ), including the wheat strawworm, Tetramesa grandis (Riley) and the wheat jointworm, Tetramesa tritici (Fitch), or a secondary parasitoid through Eurytoma parva Phillips ( Eurytomidae ) and Ditropinotus aureoviridis Crawford ( Hymenoptera : Torymidae ) ( Chamberlin 1941) in Poaceae and Tamaricaceae ( Noyes 2003). Based on comparison of the number of males seen relative to females, the species appears to be primarily parthenogenetic in North America but not in Europe.

The strawberry leaf roller, Ancylis comptana ( Frölich), and the oblique banded leaf roller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) ( Lepidoptera : Tortricidae ) were also listed as hosts in Noyes (2003), but both of these are incorrect. The records are based on Peck (1963) who cited Knowlton and Harmston (1939) as the source, but these authors listed only "wheat jointworms" as the host of Calosota metallica and the former two host names were listed for Catolaccus aeneoviridis (Girault) ( Pteromalidae ), which follows Calosota metallica in their list of chalcid species.

Regional material examined

(Map 4). CANADA. British Columbia: 10 mi. E Osoyoos, 30.VII.80, G. Gibson, sweeping Pinus ponderosa forest meadow (1♀ CNC). USA. Arizona: Cochise Co., Huachuca Mts, 5354 Ash Cyn Rd, 5 m. NW Hwy 92, 5100', 1-30.VI.94, N. McFarland (1♀ CNC); Entrance to Pinery Cyn, Chiricahua Mts, 4500', 22.VIII.83, M. Sharkey (1♀ CNC, CNC SEM 2009-30). Pima Co., Madera Cyn, Bog Springs Campground, 28.VIII.82, J. LaSalle (1♀ UCRC); Santa Catalina Mtns., Molino Basin, 4300', 2-4.VIII.82, G.A.P. Gibson (1♀ CNC). Santa Cruz Co., Pena Blanca Lk., 1.0 mi. S, 4100', 6.VIII.82, G.A.P. Gibson (8♀ CNC), 9 mi. W, 4100', 12.VIII.83, R. Anderson (3♀ CNC); Sycamore Cyn, Hank and Yank Springs, 4200', 7-8.VIII.82, G.A.P. Gibson (38♀ CNC, 2♀ BMNH, 5♀ AEIC). California: Alameda Co., Sunol, 5.VI.93, R.L. Zuparko, swept from low vegetation (2♀ RLZC); Oakland, Anthony Chabot Regional Pk near Parkridge Gate, 12.VII.02, R.L. Zuparko, ex Umbellularia californica (1♀ RLZC). Contra Costa Co., Bear Creek Rd at Happy Valley Rd, 17.VI.93, R.L. Zuparko, swept from grass and low vegetation (5♀ RLZC); E of Clayton, Morgan Territory Rd at Shale Cliff Court, 26.V.03, R.L. Zuparko, ex. grass and low forbs (1♀ RLZC); Concord, 9, 20.VII.19 (2♀ USNM), 31.VII.19 (1♀ paratype of Calosota metallica ), ex. Mayetiola destructor Say, M.C. Lane; Estrella, 12.VII.16 [other data same as holotype] (♂ allotype of Calosota metallica ); Moraga, 14.I, 19.VII, 30.VIII.80 (8♀ CNC), D.C. Denning; Moraga, 19.VI.93, R.L. Zuparko, swept from grass and low vegetation (6♀ RLZC); Tilden Reg. Pk, 15.VIII.82, J.B. Whitfield (1♀ EMEC); Walnut Cr., 5 mi. SE, 3.VIII.60, J. Powell, Foeniculum vulgare (1♀ EMEC). Glenn Co., 5 mi. N Elk Creek, 7.VI.84, J.D. Pinto (1♀ UCRC). Humboldt Co., Garberville, 3.VI.87, R.H. Velton (1♀ CNC). Inyo Co., Eureka Valley, Joshua Flat, 24.V.94, S.L. Heydon, off Encoelia (1♀ UCDC); 31 km. ENE Big Pine, 25.V.94, S.L. Heydon off Encoelia (1♀ UCDC); Saline Valley, Lake, 1060 ', 7.VII.76, D. Giuliani (1♀ LACM). Los Angeles Co., Altadena, 22.VIII.89, R.H. Crandall (1♀ LACM). Mendocino Co., 1 mi. W Willits, 1.VIII.92, L.S. & R.B. Kimsey (1♀ UCDC). Napa Co., Lake Hennessey, 11 km. ESE St. Helena, 27.X.90, S. Heydon (1♀ CNC, CNC Photo 2009-29), 10 km. E St. Helena, 7.IX.91, S.L. Heydon, off Heracleum (2♀ UCDC); 6 mi. S of Napa, Duhig Rd, 13.V.81, M.E. Schauff, sweeping streamside veg. (1♀ USNM); Pope Valley, 0.25 km. S Aetana Springs, 5-15.VIII.93, L.S. Kimsey (1♀ USDC); 0.5 km. S Aetna Springs, 26. IX– 10.X, 3-14.X.93, L.S. Kimsey, blue oak woods (6♀ UCDC). Orange Co., Laguna Cyn., 12.VII.83 (2♀ UCRC), 31.VII.84 (4♀ UCRC), H. Anderson; Orange City, ElToro Rd, 2 mi. E 133, H. Anderson (1♀ UCRC). Sacramento Co., Citrus Heights, 14.VI.67, A.D. & G.J. Keuter (1♀ EMEC). San Benito Co., Tres Pinos, 23.V.18, wheat containing Mayetiola destructor (1♂ USNM). San Bernardino Co., Adelanto, 3.X.33, C.N. Ainslie (1♀ USNM); 1 mi. N Helendale, 13.VI.79, J. LaSalle (1♀ UCRC); Oak Glen, 5-15.VIII.85, R.E. Wagner (1♀ UCRC); San Bernardino, Mts, 23.V.82, J. Huber (1♀ CNC, CNC Photo 2009-28, CNC SEM 2009-31). San Diego Co., 1 mi. W Bonsall, 8.VIII.79, J. LaSalle (1♀ UCRC); Warner Springs, Agua Caliente Cr., 3100', 26-28.VIII.80, M. Wasbauer & P. Adams (1♀ CDFA). San Luis Obispo Co., Old Creek Rd, 2.3 mi. E Hwy 1, 30.IV.96, H. Anderson, grasses (3♀ UCRC); San Miguel, 1, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26.VII, 8.VIII.16, C.M. Packard, reared from wheat stems containing Isosoma sp., 1, 8, 13 (holotype), 17, 26.VII, 8.VIII.16, Webster No. 13368, Pasadena No. 16135 (♀ holotype, 6♀ paratypes of Calosota metallica ). Santa Barbara Co., 45 km. NW Santa Barbara, Sedgewick Ranch Res., 34°44'N; 120°02'W, 14, 21, 24.V, 24. VI– 8.VIII, 13.VIII, 19.IX, 1.X.97, R. Schlinger (17♀ UCDC). Solano Co., Birds Landing, 4.VIII.19, M.C. Lane (1♀ USNM); 21.VI.24, M. Marshall, wheat containing Phytophaga destructor (1♀ USNM); Cold Cyn Rsrv., 11 km. W Winters, 7-17.VI, 20. VI– 4.VII, 4-18.VII, 30. VIII– 12.IX.90, 29. V– 12.VI, 11-24.VII.91, 29. VI– 10.VII.92, D. Carmean (20♀ UCDC, CNC Photo 2009-41), 1-15.VIII.94, L.S. Kimsey, live oak woods (1♀ UCDC), 18, 22.VIII.90, 15.V, 24. VII– 5.VIII, 2-18.X.91, 17.VII.93, S.L. Heydon (8♀ UCDC), 17.VII.93, S.L. Heydon, Dacus (1♀ UCDC), 13.VIII.91, S.L. Heydon, ex. Dacus pusillus (2♀ UCDC), 15.V, 13, 17.VII.91, 17.V.92, S.L. Heydon, sweeping Dacus pusillus (2♀, 3♂ UCDC, CNC Photo 2009-34), Spring '96, S.L. Heydon, ex. dead grass (2♀ UCDC); Rio Vista, 20.IX.20, B.G. Thompson, ex. Isosoma grandis (1 ♀ USNM). Sutter Co., 30 km. N Sacramento, Babelaine Audubon Sanct., Feather R., 38°57'N; 121°35'W, 15.VII.98, L.S. Kimsey (1♀ UCDC). Tulare Co., Ash. Mtn. Pwr. Sta., 18.X.83, J.A. Halstead (2♀ CNC). Idaho: Latah Co., Moscow, 3.IX.39, T.A. Bradley (1♀ USNM). Oregon: Clackamas Co., Mollala, 27.VII.27, Forest Grove No. 26-31Q, T.R. Chamberlin, ex. Harmolita tritici gall (1♀ USNM). Douglas Co., 20 mi. NE Tiller, Umpqua Falls, 16.VII.88, J. LaSalle (1♀ CNC, CNC Photo 2009-27, CNC SEM 2009-32). Utah: Emery Co., Buckskin Spring, nr Goblin Valley, 26.VIII.81, E.E. Grissell, vegetation at spring (1♀ USNM); 3 mi. N Goblin Valley, 30.VIII.81, pondside vegetation (2♀ USNM). Tooele Co., Lake Point, Spring 1930, ex. Harmolita , G.F. Knowlton & M.J. Janes (6♀ USNM). Washington: Klickitat Co., Goldendale, 21.VII.88, J.D. Pinto (2♀ CNC). Pullman, 1908, G.I. Reeves (1♀ USNM).

Distribution.

Noyes recorded Calosota viridis from North Africa and several countries in the Palaearctic region; I saw specimens that I identify as Calosota metallica from Bulgaria (BMNH, NMPC), Corsica (ZSMC), Cyprus (USNM), France (BMNH, CNC), Hungary (HNHM), Iran (CNC), Italy (BMNH, CNC, NMPC), Kyrgyzstan (UCRC), Romania (CNC), Sardinia (BMNH, NMPC), Slovakia (NMPC), Spain (BMNH, MNCN, NMPC) and Turkey (CNC). In North America, Calosota metallica occurs in southernmost British Columbia and throughout the USA west of the Rocky Mountains (Map 4), but undoubtedly extends also into northern Mexico. Its restricted distribution west of the Rocky Mountains and apparent close relationship with mo rphologically similar species in Europe (see below) suggest that it is of European origin and is not naturally Holarctic. Rather, its distribution and biology suggest that it likely was introduced accidentally into the USA, possibly California, by early settlers in straw.

Recognition.

Calosota metallica is easily distinguished from other regional species based on its color and the presence of a large, broad, fore wing speculum that is completely bare or has at most a few widely separated setae within an obviously broad bare region that extends to the basal fold and parastigma (Fig. 59).

The apparent similarity between Calosota metallica and Calosota viridis was first noted by Bouček (1970) when he synonymized Calosota coerulea under Calosota viridis after examining type material of the latter two names. The synonymy of Calosota metallica and Calosota viridis was also proposed to me by Dr. Lucian Fusu, Faculty of Biology, "Al. I. Cuza" University, Iasi, Romania, who sent me a female from Romania that he had identified as Calosota viridis . Although I have not examined the syntypic series of Calosota viridis I am confident in formally synonymizing Calosota viridis under Calosota metallica syn. n. based on the original description and figure of the fore wing given for Calosota viridis by Masi (1922, fig. 1), which shows the characteristic broad speculum of Calosota metallica . My synonymy of Calosota coerulea under Calosota metallica syn. n. follows Bouček (1970).

Askew and Nieves-Aldry (2006) synonymized Calosota modesta and Calosota matritensis Bolívar y Pieltain, both described from Spain, under Calosota viridis . Calosota modesta was based on a unique male holotype, which I examined (MNCN Cat. No. 42574), whereas Calosota matritensis was based on a female holotype and male allotype collected in Chamartín and seven female paratypes collected in Vaciamadrid. Askew and Nieves-Aldry (2006) stated that they located the holotype, allotype, and six paratypes of Calosota matritensis in MNCN, but Martín Albaladejo and Izquierdo Moya (2006) reported only two female paratypes remained in MNCN. The MNCN curator of entomology was also able to find only two paratype females in response to my request to examine type material of Calosota matritensis (Mercedes Paris, personal communication). These two paratypes (MNCN Cat. No. 42521 and 42522) and the male holotype of Calosota modesta bear identical data labels with "Vaciamadrid, G. Mercet". Female Calosota matritensis paratype 42522 is about 2.1 mm in length and has a broad fore wing speculum typical of Calosota metallica . It also has quite a bulbous clava that is about 1.6 × as long as wide, about twice as wide as fu8, and about 3.2 × as wide as fu2; fu2 is quadrate and the combined length of fu1 + fu2 is only slightly more than 0.6 × the length of the pedicel. The second paratype (no. 42521) is slightly larger, about 2.3 mm in length, and has a more or less uniformly tapered (lanceolate) clava that is about twice as long as wide, about 1.4 × as wide as fu8, and only about 2.3 × as wide as fu2 (measurements taken from uncollapsed left clava); fu2 is about 1.3 × as long as wide and the combined length of fu1 + fu2 is about 0.9 × the length of the pedicel. This paratype also has the discal setae extending to the parastigma and basal fold, though this is not obvious because the setae below the submarginal vein are lighter in color than more apically and both fore wings beyond the level of the basal cell are glued to the card along with the ventrally mounted specimen. Otherwise, the two paratypes closely resemble each other and typical Calosota metallica females, including having a finely sculptured acropleuron (though largely concealed by glue and overhanging wings), about the apical one-fifth of the metatibiae yellowish, and the scape brownish-violaceous with the violaceous luster varying in strength depending on the angle of light.

Similar to Calosota matritensis female paratype 42521, the male holotype of Calosota modesta (Fig. 26) and another MNCN male with the same data but slightly different label than the holotype lack a broad fore wing speculum. The discal setae are yellowish-white and more difficult to differentiate below the submarginal vein, but they extend virtually to the basal cell with only quite a slender lunate bare region along the basal fold and extreme base of the mediocubital fold (Fig. 25). The metatibiae are more widely yellowish in the holotype of Calosota modesta (Fig. 26) than in the non-type male or two Calosota matritensis paratypes. Askew and Nieves-Aldry (2006: 95) noted that the male holotype of Calosota modesta has "unusually coarse mesoscutal sculpture and rather dark coloration" compared to typical Calosota viridis males.

I saw 62 females from the European countries listed above that I assign to Calosota metallica based on a distinct fore wing speculum and other features typical for the species, though a few have the scape yellowish basally near the radicle and seven females collected from four different localities in Spain in 1973 and 1974 (NMPC) have a mostly yellowish scape that is slightly darkened only apically. The females I identify as Calosota metallica range in length from about 2−3.3 mm and all have quite a distinctly bulbous clava varying from about 1.4−1.9 × as long as wide, about 1.6−2.3 × as wide as the basal width of fu8, and about 2.8−3.8 × as wide as fu2, and usually also have the apical subsegment angled to form quite a distinct oblique ventroapical margin compared to a more uniformly convex dorsal margin (Fig. 80). Furthermore, fu2 is about 1−1.3 × as long as wide and the combined length of fu1 + fu2 is about 0.6−0.8 × the length of the pedicel. Consequently, Calosota matritensis paratype 52522 falls within the range of what I identify as Calosota metallica from Europe. Another 13 females from Hungary (5♀ HNHM), Portugal (1♀ BMNH), Spain (1♀ BMNH, 1♀ MNCN), Sardinia (4♀ BMNH) and Yugoslavia (USNM) with a finely sculptured (coriaceous-alutaceous) acropleuron similar to Calosota metallica more closely resemble Calosota matritensis paratype 42521 because they have the discal setae extending variably conspicuously to the basal fold and parastigma. Individuals vary in length from about 3.2−5 mm and five of the 13 have at least the basal half of the scape yellowish. The five females with a broadly yellow scape vary in length from about 2.75−5 mm, and four of the five have entirely hyaline fore wings. Seven of the females have an entirely dark scape, including Calosota lixobia Erdös (1946) paralectotype no. 6581 (Fig. 24) and 6583 (var. hyperparasita) (HNHM) that I examined. Females with a dark scape are about 4−5.8 mm in length and have the fore wing disc partially infuscate. The remaining female, the smallest (about 2.5 mm), has the outer surface of the scape dark but the inner surface more obviously brownish-yellow basally and the fore wings hyaline. The different females typically have uniformly yellowish to brown discal setae, though often the setae are at least partly whitish below the submarginal vein or at least the parastigma (Fig. 24). These females are usually much larger and/or have a darker body than those of Calosota metallica (cf. Figs 22, 24), and sometimes have at least the basal half of the scape yellow and/or variably extensively infuscate fore wings (Fig. 24), but other than lacking a distinct fore wing speculum the only feature that appears to differentiate them consistently from Calosota metallica is flagellar structure. The clava ranges from about 1.5−1.9 × as long as wide, but is less distinctly clavate than for Calosota metallica females, being about 1.2−1.5 × as wide as fu8 and only about 1.5−2.4 × as wide as fu2. Furthermore, fu2 ranges from about 1.3−1.8 × as long as wide and the combined length of fu1 + fu2 is about 0.9−1.7 × as long as the pedicel. Relative to smaller females, larger females tend to have the length of fu2 and the combined length of fu1 + fu2 compared to the pedicel longer. Except for its comparatively slender clava, most relative antennal dimensions for Calosota matritensis paratype 42521 are intermediate between that of typical Calosota metallica and the other larger females discussed above, which likely is correlated with its relatively small body size.

I also saw 23 European males (BMNH, MNCN, UCRC) that I assign to Calosota metallica because they have an obvious fore wing speculum. The visibility of the bare region is partly because it is quite broad but also because the discal setae are yellowish to brown rather than white. Another 16 males from Bulgaria, Sardinia, Yugoslavia (BMNH), Hungary (HNHM), and Spain (BMNH, MNCN) are similar to these males, including having the acropleuron finely sculptured, the scape entirely dark, the propodeal callus setose only anteriorly, and the flagellum robust-filiform (cf. Fig. 63). However, they have the discal setae extending variably densely to the basal fold and most have white (hyaline) and therefore comparatively inconspicuous fore wing setae.

In describing Calosota matritensis , Bolívar y Pieltain (1929) did not mention size of the specimens or the presence of a bare region below the base of the marginal vein and parastigma, but did describe fu1 (anellus) as being about two-thirds as long as fu2, fu2 about 1.25 × as long as wide, the ultimate funicular almost quadrangular, and the clava distinctly wider than the funicle and slightly more than 1.5 × as long as wide. All of these features are attributable to females of Calosota metallica and I therefore follow the conclusion of Askew and Nieves-Aldry’s (2006), who purportedly examined the holotype, that Calosota matritensis is a junior synonym of Calosota viridis and hence Calosota metallica syn. n. However, I believe that Calosota matritensis female paratype 42521 is the opposite sex of the male holotype of Calosota modesta and remove Calosota modesta from under synonymy with Calosota viridis stat. rev. Additional specimens collected in Spain and throughout Europe are needed to determine whether quite conspicuous differences in size, scape color, and other features of the 13 females discussed above represent intra- or interspecific variation and whether Calosota modesta and Calosota lixobia are conspecific or represent distinct species.

Askew and Nieves-Aldrey (2006) synonymized Calosota lixobia under Calosota obscura Ruschka (1921) after examining the lectotype of the former name. In their key to females they differentiated Calosota obscura and Calosota dusmeti Bolívar y Pieltain (1929) from Calosota viridis partly by females having a "relatively strongly reticulately sculptured" acropleuron. As noted above, the acropleuron appears to be finely sculptured in the two female paratypes of Calosota lixobia that I examined, though the acropleura are largely concealed by the wings and glue on the card-mounted specimens (Fig. 24). A minutien-pinned male paralectotype (no. 6585) of Calosota lixobia I examined has both acropleura completely exposed and they are very shallowly reticulate to reticulate-coriaceous anterior to the microsculptured region and elongate coriaceous-alutaceous without any reticulations posteriorly (Fig. 57). I did not examine the remaining fragmentary type of Calosota dusmeti (MNCN) or that of Calosota obscura (NHMW), but was sent a dorsolateral habitus image of the holotype of Calosota obscura . I saw 15 females from France (CNC), Hungary (CNC, HNHM), Italy (BMNH), Spain (MNCN), and South Korea (CNC) that I identify as Calosota obscura based on absence of a fore wing speculum and presence of a meshlike reticulate acropleuron, including posterior to the microsculptured region (Fig. 56), as well as a completely dark scape and almost completely dark legs excluding the tarsi (knees and apices of at least pro- and metatibiae very narrowly yellow). Another 16 females from Italy (BMNH), Hungary (BMNH, HNHM), Libya (BMNH), Portugal (BMNH), Sardinia (BMNH), and Spain (BMNH, MNCN) are similar except for usually having the scape yellowish or at least quite obviously brownish basally rather than entirely dark, and the knees distinctly yellow if not the metatibia and often the mesotibia extensively light colored. The latter females would key to Calosota dusmeti using Askew and Nieves-Aldrey (2006). Similar to the females discussed above with a finely sculptured acropleuron, those with a more reticulate acropleuron and dark or partly yellowish scape can have entirely hyaline or partly infuscate fore wings. In addition to the females I saw 27 males from Bulgaria, France, Italy, Sardinia (BMNH) and Spain (BMNH, MNCN) that have the acropleuron finely reticulate anteriorly and meshlike reticulate-coriaceous posteriorly, and at least some of the flagellomeres noticeably separated by a short pedicel as keyed by Askew and Nieves-Aldry (2006) for males of Calosota obscura . All the males have a dark scape and I was unable to satisfactorily differentiate more than one species based on males. Askew and Nieves-Aldrey (2006) suggested that Calosota dusmeti might be nothing more than a color form of Calosota obscura . The color variation observed for females, and all males being quite similar may support this hypothesis. If the "light colored" morphotype is a separate species from Calosota obscura , then its senior synonym likely is Calosota violascens Masi (1922) rather than Calosota dusmeti based on the original description of Calosota violascens .

Interestingly, females of both the coriaceous and reticulate acropleuron morphotypes discussed above that resemble Calosota metallica to greater or lesser extent except for the absence of a broad speculum vary quite conspicuously in size and can have an entirely yellow to entirely dark scape and hyaline or partly infuscate fore wings. A comprehensive revision of Palaearctic Calosota is required to determine whether color and/or acropleural sculptural differences reflect intra- or interspecific variation and establish correct nomenclature. Because of acropleural sculpture I suspect that Calosota lixobia is not a synonym of Calosota obscura as proposed by Askew and Nieves Aldrey (2006), but I do not reestablish Calosota lixobia because I did not examine the lectotype of Calosota lixobia or the holotype of Calosota obscura and because the validity of acropleural sculpture as opposed to color differences for differentiating species within the complex requires further study. Certainly, more than one species in a Calosota lixobia , Calosota modesta , Calosota violascens , Calosota dusmeti , Calosota obscura complex is indicated. For example, I saw three females from Greece (CNC) that have a coriaceous-alutaceous acropleuron and a basally yellow scape, but which have the propodeum very densely setose laterally and behind the spiracle to its inner margin so that the cuticle is largely obscured. Females discussed above with either a finely sculptured or reticulate acropleuron, regardless of scape color, have the propodeum setose ventrolaterally only to about the outer margin of the spiracle and more sparsely setose so that the cuticle is clearly visible. Four males from Cyprus (BMNH) likely represent the opposite sex of the females from Greece because they also have the propodeum quite densely setose to the posterior margin of the callus and medially to the level of the inner margin of the spiracle, whereas Calosota lixobia and Calosota obscura males are similar to those of Calosota metallica in having the callus less densely setose and only over about its anterior half to two-thirds. However, one of the females I identify questionably as Calosota lixobia from Spain (BMNH) has the propodeal callus quite densely setose, though only to the outer margin of the spiracle.

Although Askew and Nieves-Aldrey (2006) did not formally synonymize the names, in the list of synonymy for Calosota viridis they included Calosota grylli Erdös (1955) as a questionable synonym. Calosota grylli was described and subsequently keyed by Erdös (1960) as having a fore wing speculum similar to Calosota viridis , but the gaster almost twice as long as the combined length of the head and mesosoma ( “3:5” according to original description) as compared to only slightly longer than the head and mesosoma in Calosota viridis . Because they considered relative gastral length to be variable, Askew and Nieves-Aldrey (2006) listed Calosota grylli as a questionable synonym. I examined the lectotype female of Calosota grylli (NMPC, Fig. 23)plus 12 other females that I identify as this species from Bulgaria and Yugoslavia (5 BMNH, 7 NMPC). Females of Calosota grylli are differentiated from those of Calosota metallica by having the metasoma about 1.9 –2.1× as long as mesosoma, the syntergum obviously longer than wide (about 1.2 –1.7× transcercal width) and, as noted by Erdös (1960), have white setae on the fore wing so that the setation is inconspicuous (cf. Figs 22, 23).Females of Calosota metallica typically have more obvious setation because the setae usually are yellowish to brown, though rarely white. Furthermore, females of Calosota grylli differ quite conspicuously from those of Calosota metallica by having a yellowish tegula and quite a deep and distinct, circular pit within the scrobal depression at the dorsal level of the interantennal region (Fig. 8) (normally concealed by the scapes). Females of Calosota metallica have at most a very shallow, vertical depression on the upper face (Figs 7, 68). I also saw eight males from Bulgaria and Yugoslavia (1 BMNH, 7 NMPC) that I identify as Calosota grylli . These males have dark tegulae and the propodeal callus setose only anteriorly similar to those of Calosota metallica , but similar to Calosota grylli females have a circular depression on the upper face and white discal setae. Furthermore, the flagellum is quite distinctly clavate (Fig. 64), widening toward an obviously wider clava, with both fu1 and fu2 slightly longer than wide and fu8 somewhat transverse, and with the funiculars less conspicuously setose with less strongly curved setae than for males of Calosota metallica (cf. Figs 63, 64),as originally illustrated for the male paralectotype of Calosota grylli by Erdös (1955, fig. 4e).

Within the European material I examined I also saw 11 females from Spain (10 BMNH, 1 NMPC) that have a broad fore wing speculum, lack a pit on the upper face, and have a comparatively short gaster and syntergum similar to Calosota metallica . However, similar to Calosota grylli they have white discal setae and the tegula comparatively bright yel low except brown apically. The females also have at least the extreme base of the scape, but usually about its basal quarter and sometimes up to about its basal half yellow, and differ from both Calosota metallica and Calosota grylli in having the mesoscutum quite densely and conspicuously setose (setae slightly lanceolate) compared to the scutellum, the head comparatively transverse (about twice as wide as long), the ocelli forming a more or less equilateral triangle (POL and LOL subequal), and the length of the flagellum + pedicel slightly shorter or at most equal to the width of the head. Females of Calosota metallica and Calosota grylli have a somewhat more transverse quadrangular head (about 1.75 –1.9× as wide as long), a flatter ocellar triangle (POL about 1.4 –1.5× LOL) and a slightly longer flagellum + pedicle (about 1 –1.1× width of the head). I also saw five males from Spain collected at the same time and place as some of the unidentified females. These males are similar to those of Calosota grylli in having white and therefore comparatively inconspicuous discal setae. However, unlike either Calosota metallica or Calosota grylli males, the propodeal callus is setose to its posterior margin at least laterally and at least about the basal half of the tegula is bright yellow. The flagellum is also only about 0.9 × the width of head, fu1 and fu2 are both slightly transverse and of similar length, and fu8 is slightly but obviously transverse (Fig. 65). I consider these males as the opposite sex of this apparently undescribed species. Unlike females, the males do not have a basally yellow scape and though the mesoscutum is not as conspicuously setose as females the slightly lanceolate setae are more conspicuous than for males I identify as Calosota metallica and Calosota grylli.