Aleiodes carbonaroides van Achterberg & Shaw, 2020

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 carbonaroides van Achterberg & Shaw sp. nov. Figs 138-141 , 142-153 , 154-160

Type material.

Holotype, ♀ (NMS), "[Netherlands: Friesland], Holland [sic!], Schiermonnikoog, em. 20.v.[19]82", "ex Cerapteryx graminis larva". Paratypes: 2 ♀ (NMS, RMNH), 3 ♂ (NMS, RMNH), topotypic and from same host, em. 19 or 20.v.1982; 1 ♂ (ZSSM) "[Germany], Münehey, 26.iv.[18]85 R7", “1-653”; 2 ♂ (CMIM) "[England] 25.v.[19]22, Bdn. [= Brandon, Suffolk] HF", "Named by Claude Morley 2 Rhogas carbonarius Giraud. NEW TO BRIT. CM V.22"; 1 ♂ (ZJUH) "[England], Totternhoe, [Bedfordshire], 30.v.[19]64 [V.H. Chambers]". Sporadic in western Europe.

Molecular data.

None.

Biology.

Adults of this lowland species have been collected in April and May. The two paratypes from Suffolk were swept from Breck grassland (Morley, 1937, misidentified as A. carbonarius ). Reared from the grass-feeding noctuid Cerapteryx graminis (Linnaeus) (6 [2 are RMNH]; K.P. Carl/Netherlands). If it is a specialist, it is presumably univoltine and overwinters in the mummy (the univoltine known host overwinters in the egg stage). Mummy similar to that of the closely related A. carbonarius and A. grassator , but slightly smaller.

Diagnosis.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4-0.5 × minimum width of face (Fig. 149 ); OOL of ♀ 1.8-2.0 × as long as diameter of posterior ocellus (Fig. 150 ) and distinctly rugose or rugulose; length of 4th antennal segment of ♀ 0.7-0.9 × its width (Fig. 152 ; in ♂ up to 1.0 times); clypeus thick apically and not protruding anteriorly (Fig. 151 ); lobes of mesoscutum punctate, interspaces largely coriaceous and superficially coriaceous; precoxal area coarsely vermiculate-rugose medially; marginal cell of fore wing of ♀ ending rather removed from wing apex (Fig. 142 ); vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.5-0.6 × as long as vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 142 ); 2nd submarginal cell of fore wing medium-sized (Fig. 142 ); hind tarsal claws slender and yellowish or brownish bristly setose; hind femur at least apico-dorsally dark brown or black; inner side of hind tibia of ♀ yellowish; head and mesoscutum of ♀ reddish; palpi and tegulae of ♀ brownish yellow; males entirely black, with palpi, tegulae and antenna dark brown or blackish.

Description.

Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 4.2 mm, of body 7.1 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 45, 4th segment 0.9 × longer than wide (Fig. 152 ); length of antenna 1.1 × fore wing, its subapical segments robust (Fig. 153 ) and scapus oblique apically; frons with coarse curved rugae and shiny; OOL 1.8 × diameter of posterior ocellus and rugulose; vertex rugose and shiny; clypeus coarsely punctate; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards (Fig. 151 ); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig. 149 ); length of eye 1.2 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 150 ); vertex behind stemmaticum rugose; clypeus below lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.6 × length of eye in lateral view.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes moderately punctate, interspaces superficially granulate-coriaceous and with satin sheen; precoxal area of mesopleuron coarsely rugose medially, but largely smooth posteriorly; remainder of mesopleuron mainly punctate; scutellum flat, sparsely finely punctate and with irregular lateral carina; propodeum coarsely rugose, medio-longitudinal carina complete, rounded posteriorly and dorsal part approx. as long as posterior part.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.4 × 3-SR (Fig. 142 ); marginal cell ends basad of level of apex of 3-M; 1-CU1 horizontal, 0.5 × 2-CU1; r-m 0.5 × 3-SR; 2nd submarginal cell robust (Fig. 142 ), 3-SR 1.4 × as long as 2-SR; cu-a vertical, straight; 1-M slightly curved posteriorly; 1-SR similar to 1-M and medium-sized; surroundings of M+CU1, 1-M and 1-CU1 setose. Hind wing: marginal cell linearly widened, its apical width 1.7 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 143 ); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu short; M+CU:1-M = 27:15; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws robust and with only brownish bristly setae (Fig. 140 ); hind coxa largely rugulose dorsally; hind trochantellus robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 3.2 and 4.6 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.4 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite rather flattened, 0.7 × as long as wide apically; 1st and 2nd tergites with medio-longitudinal carina and coarsely longitudinally rugose, but posterior quarter of 2nd tergite without medio-longitudinal carina; medio-basal area of 2nd tergite triangular and short; 2nd suture deep and crenulate; basal half of 3rd tergite finely longitudinally rugose, remainder of metasoma superficially micro-sculptured; 4th and apical third of 3rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, with long setae and apically truncate (Fig. 139 ).

Colour. Dark orange brown; apical half of antenna, patch on hind femur dorso-apically, and telotarsi apically, dark brown; mesosternum, mesopleuron (except dorsally and postero-ventrally), metapleuron (except medio-dorsally), propodeum (except pair of posterior patches), 3rd-7th tergites (except antero-lateral corners of 3rd tergite) black; palpi, basal half of antenna, tegulae and remainder of legs rather pale yellowish brown; veins and pterostigma dark brown; wings strongly infuscate but hind wing less than fore wing.

Variation. Basal third or half of antenna of ♀ pale yellowish brown; vein 3-SR 1.4-1.6 × as long as vein 2-SR; hind femur of ♀ 3.2-3.5 × longer than wide; 1st metasomal tergite 0.7-0.8 × its apical width; temple and occiput ventrally, and malar space ventrally orange brown or black. Antennal segments: ♀ 43(1), 45(1); ♂ 48(1), 49(2), 51(1), 50(1), 53(2); males clearly have many more antennal segments than females. Males are much darker than females; body black with palpi and legs mainly dark brown or blackish (Fig. 154 ). Males have 2nd submarginal cell slightly smaller than females (Fig. 158 ), temple and face long setose, malar space 0.5-0.7 × length of eye in lateral view, and apical tergites type 1 and fringe not observed (Fig. 154 ); sometimes superficial granulosity of 3rd tergite and of mesoscutum are absent.

Distribution.

Germany, Netherlands, U.K.

Etymology.

The suffix “-oides” indicates similar to; in this case the high similarity to A. carbonarius Giraud.

Figures

Figures 138 - 141. Aleiodes carbonaroides sp. nov., ♀, holotype 138 habitus lateral 139 ovipositor sheath lateral 140 outer hind tarsal claw lateral 141 mummy of Cerapteryx graminis (Linnaeus).

Figures 142 - 153. Aleiodes carbonaroides sp. nov., ♀, holotype 142 fore wing 143 hind wing 144 mesosoma lateral 145 mesosoma dorsal 146 metasoma dorsal 147 fore femur lateral 148 hind femur lateral 149 head anterior 150 head dorsal 151 head lateral 152 base of antenna 153 apex of antenna.

Figures 154 - 160. Aleiodes carbonaroides sp. nov., ♂, paratype 154 habitus lateral 155 apex of antenna 156 antenna 157 base of antenna 158 wings lateral 159 head anterior 160 head dorsal.