Diadegma mollipla ( Holmgren, 1868 )

Rousse, Pascal & Villemant, Claire, 2012, Ichneumons in Reunion Island: a catalogue of the local Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) species, including 15 new taxa and a key to species, Zootaxa 3278, pp. 1-57 : 13-14

Diadegma mollipla ( Holmgren, 1868)

( Figs 6 b–d and 8a)

Limnerium iratum Cameron, 1905a: 309 ; Limnerium longiceps Cameron, 1906a: 100 ; Limneria mollipla Holmgren, 1868: 417 ; Limnerium stellenbosche Cameron, 1905b: 200

Diagnosis. Diadegma mollipla is characterized in Africa and Indian Ocean islands by the open areolet on fore wing or, when closed, by the occipital carina which is incomplete in 90% of the specimens.

Description. Azidah et al. (2000).

Biological notes. Solitary larvo-pupal enparasitoid of Plutella xylostella (L.) ( Lepidoptera : Plutellidae ) and Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) ( Lepidoptera : Gelechiidae ).

Comments. Diadegma mollipla is a well known parasitoid of the diamondback moth ( P. xylostella ) and the potato tuber moth ( P. operculella ). Surprisingly, its host range appears to be restricted to these two unrelated species. The determination of Diadegma species is quite delicate as D. mollipla is morphologically variable (areolet more or less closed, for example) and numerous sibling Diadegma species develop also on P. xylostella ( Azidah et al. 2000) .

Distribution records. Reunion ( Vayssières et al. 2001). Widely distributed throughout subsaharan Africa, including Mauritius ( Azidah et al. 2000).

Material examined. 1Ƥ St Paul / Tan Rouge, alt. 800m, V.2011, leg. Cirad; 13 same locality, I. 2011; 1Ƥ St Pierre / Bassin Martin, alt. 290m, XII.2010, leg. Cirad; 1Ƥ same locality, IX.2010, leg. Cirad; 1Ƥ Le Tampon / Pont d’Yves, alt. 820m, III.2003, leg. P. Rousse; 1Ƥ ( MNHSD 2815) Le Tampon / Plaine des Cafres, X.1963, leg. Pointel.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Diadegma spp. details. a: D. semiclausum, head, dorsal. b: D. mollipla, head, dorsal. c-d: D. mollipla, propodeum, dorsal. e: D. insulare, propodeum, dorsal. f: D. semiclausum, propodeum, dorsal. g: D. insulare, apex of metasoma, dorsal. h: D. semiclausum, apex of metasoma, dorsal (Azidah et al. 2000).