287 Euura leucolena (Brischke, 1883)

Figs 302–303, 528–529

Nematus leucolenus Brischke, 1883: 196–197 . Syntypes ♀ ♂, probably destroyed (Blank & Taeger 1998). Type locality: Poland, Gdansk [Danzig].

Pontania unga Kincaid, 1900: 354 . Holotype ♀ (USNMENT00778215, USNM, http://n 2t.net/ ark:/65665/310804fa0-29f1-4aa8-bc3c-6e083e890c90), not examined. Type locality: USA, Alaska, Popof Island .

Pteronidea egeria MacGillivray, 1923c: 161–162 . Holotype ♀ (INHS), not examined. Type locality: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton.

Amauronematus saarineni Lindqvist, 1945: 106 . Lectotype designated below. Syn. nov.

Diagnosis

Delimitation of the species is uncertain. Based on similarities in female, male and larval morphology (green with black dots), we have not split E. leucolena up, despite its large genetic diversity and wide range of host willow species. Large within-species genetic diversity is supported by some specimens having high levels of heterozygosity. The females are nearly completely black to slightly pale (clypeus, pronotum, tegula, metafemur, and tip of abdomen can be extensively pale, which does not clearly correlate with different species of host willow). The mesepisternum is slightly matt, valvula 3 is short, lancet is curved and has 13–17 annuli. Penis valves do not seem to be distinguishable from E. rectiserra, but the valviceps might be less expanded dorso-apically compared to E. malaisei .

Type material examined

Lectotype Amauronematus saarineni, here designated

FINLAND – Häme • ♀; Aitolahti; 61.544° N, 23.888° E; 17 May 1936; A. Saarinen leg.; MZH, http://id.luomus.fi/GL.2458.

Notes

Brischke (1883: 197) described two types of green larvae collected from Salix purpurea (under the name Salix helix), with and without black dots on annuli. The larvae without distinct black dots may belong to E. viduata, while E. leucolena and related species all seem to have distinct rows of black dots on some of the annulets. Best fit to the description of adult leucolenus Brischke is DEI-GISHym12009 (except that the tip of the abdomen is paler).

Host plants

Several species of Salix have been named as host plants, but these all need checking, because of the unclear taxonomy of E. leucolena: S. aurita, S. caprea, S. cinerea (Macek et al. 2020), S. purpurea (Brischke 1883), S. repens (Benson 1948b), S. phylicifolia (Kangas 1985) .

Genetics

COI

Based on 30 specimens, maximum within-species distance is 4.56% and the nearest neighbour, diverging by a minimum of 0%, is Euura malaisei .

Nuclear

Based on 30 specimens, maximum within-species distance is 1.2% (1.19% based on haplotypes of individual females). The nearest neighbour, diverging by a minimum of 0.03%, is Euura viduata group larva ZMUO.063332.

Distribution and material examined

Palaearctic. Specimens studied are from Finland, Germany, and Norway.