Aleiodes sibiricus (Kokujev, 1903)

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 sibiricus (Kokujev, 1903) Figs 758-759 , 760-762 , 763-776

Rhogas sibiricus Kokujev, 1903: 286 [examined].

Rogas sibiricus ; Shenefelt 1975: 1250.

Rogas (Rogas) sibiricus ; Tobias 1976: 83, 84, 1986: 76, 78 (transl.: 124, 128; lectotype designation).

Aleiodes (Neorhogas) sibiricus ; Papp 1985a: 150, 153, 162, 1991a: 92; Belokobylskij 1996: 15.

Aleiodes sibiricus ; Papp, 2005: 177.

Rhogas hungaricus Szépligeti, 1906: 616; Papp 1985a: 150, 153, 162 (as synonym of A. sibiricus ; lectotype designation), 2005: 177 (id.); 2004: 216 (id.) [examined].

Rogas hungaricus ; Shenefelt 1975: 133.

Rhogas reinhardi Fahringer, 1931: 221 (description in key only), 1932: 275 (full description; as R. rheinhardi ); Papp 1985a: 153, 162 (as synonym of A. sibiricus ; holotype examined), 2005: 177 (id.).

Type material.

Paralectotype of A. sibiricus , ♀, (ZJUH), "[Russia], Irkutsk, v., I. Jakovlev", "K. Kokujeva", "Paratypus Rogas sibiricus Kokujev", "Rec. in exchange [from] Academy of Science, Leningrad, BM.1963.211", "Ant. 69". Lectotype of A. hungaricus , ♀, (MTMA), "[Hungary], Budapest, Szépligeti”, "Lectotypus Rhogas hungaricus Szépl. 1906, ♀, Papp, 1966", "Hym. Typ. No. 401, Mus. Budapest", " Aleiodes sibiricus Kok., ♀, det. Papp J., 1983/compared with ♀ paralectotype".

Additional material.

Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, North Macedonia, Sweden, Turkey. Specimens in ZJUH, BZL, MTMA, NMS, RMNH, ZSSM.

Molecular data.

MRS310 (Sweden), MRS313 (Sweden), MRS805 (France).

Biology.

Collected in April and May, and presumably univoltine, but 2 ♀ from Sweden: Ångermanland, Lillavammasjon were collected apparently in July in window traps set on the trunks of Betula and Picea . We have examined four males collected in April which suggests spring emergence from the mummy rather than overwintering as an adult. This is corroborated by the data with the single reared specimen examined (MTMA), from the noctuid Noctua comes Hübner collected 7.iv.1961 and emerging on 3.iv.1962 (Germany; [R.] Hinz). The rearer was widely experienced with caterpillars, and the host determination is unlikely to be wrong (the other caterpillar species with which it might conceivably be confused all have similar biology and phenology in any case). This host initiates its overwintering as a small larva, feeding in mild weather through the winter and normally being well-grown by April, by then in its penultimate or final instar. The rearing is of great interest because it shows that A. sibiricus , like A. fortipes (q. v.), not only parasitises a host that has overwintered as a larva, but also must habitually attack late instar hosts. The reared specimen is accompanied by a stout mummy, large but not unduly so for the size of the adult that emerged, lacking its anterior portion to leave a partitioned chamber comprising abdominal segments 4 onwards, which is well lined with silk and would presumably normally form in the soil (Fig. 762 ).

Diagnosis.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.5-0.6 × minimum width of face (Figs 759 , 770 ); antenna of ♀ with 65-72 segments and 5th-10th segments wider than long; anterior part of clypeus short and transverse, its height 0.2-0.3 × height of hypoclypeal depression (Fig. 770 ); ventral margin of clypeus rather thin and slightly protruding in lateral view (Fig. 772 ); mesoscutal lobes densely punctate and interspaces smooth; precoxal area (rather) coarsely vermiculate-rugose medially; length of vein r of fore wing 0.3-0.5 × vein 3-SR (Fig. 763 ); vein 1-CU1 horizontal and 0.2-0.3 × vein 2-CU1; hind tarsus and claws slender and claws with inconspicuous brownish teeth (Fig. 775 ); 4th and 5th metasomal tergites more or less yellowish to reddish brown; head, mesoscutum, scutellum, mesopleuron and apex of metasoma black.

Description.

Paralectotype of A. sibiricus , ♀, length of fore wing 9.1 mm, of body 10.0 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 69, antenna as long as fore wing, its subapical segments medium-sized; frons smooth; OOL 1.1 × diameter of posterior ocellus, and finely coriaceous-rugulose; vertex rugulose and rather dull; clypeus coriaceous and strongly transverse (4-6 × wider than high; Figs 759 , 770 ); ventral margin of clypeus rather thin and slightly protruding forwards (Fig. 772 ); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.5 × minimum width of face (Fig. 770 ); length of eye 1.1 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 771 ); vertex behind stemmaticum rugulose; clypeus near lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.3 × length of eye in lateral view.

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes densely punctate and interspaces smooth, rather matt; precoxal area of mesopleuron rugose medially and anteriorly, its surroundings moderately punctate; scutellum sparsely punctate and no lateral carina; propodeum rather convex and densely and finely rugose, medio-longitudinal carina complete and no protruding carinae laterally.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.3 × 3-SR (Fig. 763 ); 1-CU1 horizontal, 0.2 × 2-CU1; r-m unsclerotized, 0.7 × 3-SR; 2nd submarginal cell rather short (Fig. 763 ); cu-a inclivous, straight; 1-M nearly straight posteriorly; 1-SR wide; surroundings of M+CU1, 1-M and 1-CU1 setose. Hind wing: basal half of marginal cell slightly widened, but apical half distinctly linearly widened, its apical width 2.5 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 764 ); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu slightly indicated; M+CU:1-M = 51:38; 1r-m 0.7 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws with four inconspicuous brownish pecten-teeth (Fig. 775 ); hind coxa punctulate; hind trochantellus robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 4.1 and 6.0 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.4 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite rather flattened, 0.8 × longer than wide apically; 1st and 2nd tergites with weak medio-longitudinal carina and densely finely rugose, but posterior quarter of 2nd tergite irregularly rugose and no median carina; medio-basal area of 2nd tergite wide and short (Fig. 767 ); 2nd suture deep, rather wide medially and finely crenulate; basal half of 3rd tergite finely rugose, remainder of metasoma superficially micro-sculptured; 4th and apical half of 3rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, with long setae and apically truncate (Fig. 761 ).

Colour. Black; palpi and tegulae pale yellowish; legs (except black coxae; apex of hind femur dorsally, inner side of hind tibia apically (not outer side!) and telotarsi infuscated), apex of first tergite, 2nd-5th tergites and metasoma ventrally, yellowish brown; ovipositor sheath largely, pterostigma and most veins dark brown; vein 1-R1 of fore wing yellowish brown; wing membrane subhyaline.

Variation. Face, clypeus, mesoscutum, propleuron, upper part of mesopleuron, and first tergite partly, or rarely entirely, reddish brown. Usually in males and rarely in females mesoscutum wholly black; vein r of fore wing 0.3-0.5 × vein 3-SR; clypeus flattened and subparallel-sided or convex and ventrally concave; pterostigma medially dark brown or yellowish brown. Antennal segments ♀: 65(4), 66(8), 67(6), 68(4), 69(2), 70(5), 71(2), 72(2); ♂ 66(1), 71(1). Male apical tergites of type 1 and fringe not observed.

Distribution.

*Albania, *Austria, *Bulgaria, *France, Germany, *Greece, Hungary, Italy (main), *North Macedonia, Russia (Siberia), *Sweden, *Turkey.

Notes.

The holotype of A. reinhardi (Fahringer, 1931) from Bolzano (N Italy) was examined by Papp (1985a) and directly compared with the lectotype of A. hungaricus . Unfortunately, the holotype could not be located in NHMW, but there is no obvious reason not to follow the synonymy with A. sibiricus (Kokujev) proposed by Papp (1985a). Aleiodes agilis (Telenga, 1941) from China, Iran, and Caucasus is very similar to A. sibiricus , but A. agilis has antenna of ♀ with ca 48 segments (69-72 segments in A. sibiricus ), 2nd tergite narrowly smooth posteriorly (finely sculptured), pronotum largely yellow (black), clypeus not protruding in lateral view (somewhat protruding) and is often smaller (body length 7-8 mm vs 7-11 mm).

Figures

Figures 758, 759. Aleiodes sibiricus (Kokujev), ♀, lectotype 758 habitus lateral 759 head anterior. Photographs: K. Samartsev.

Figures 760 - 762. Aleiodes sibiricus (Kokujev), ♀, Hungary, Heves, but 762 Germany, Freiburg 760 habitus lateral 761 ovipositor sheath lateral 762 mummy of Noctua comes Huebner.

Figures 763 - 776. Aleiodes sibiricus (Kokujev), ♀, Hungary, Heves 763 fore wing 764 hind wing 765 mesosoma lateral 766 mesosoma dorsal 767 metasoma dorsal 768 fore femur lateral 769 hind femur lateral 770 head anterior 771 head dorsal 772 head lateral 773 base of antenna 774 apex of antenna 775 outer hind tarsal claw 776 antenna.