Gasteruption variolosum (Abeille de Perrin, 1879)

Bogusch, Petr, 2021, The genus Gasteruption Latreille, 1796 (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: distribution, checklist, ecology, and conservation status, Zootaxa 4935 (1), pp. 1-63 : 56-57

Gasteruption variolosum (Abeille de Perrin, 1879)

Figs. 236–244 .

For synonymy see van Achterberg & Talebi (2014).

Diagnosis: Body length of both sexes is 10–13 mm, ovipositor length is 4.3–5.2 mm. Ovipositor sheath relatively short, 1.8–2× as long as third tibia, with dark apex. Species similar in general appearance to G. merceti but the head is wider than long and more elongated behind compound eyes, where it is typically bulging (especially in females). Female ovipositor shorter, usually less than twice as long as third tibia. Third legs are completely black.

Distribution: Mediterranean species. Rare species occurring in southern Europe, Middle East and North Africa. Recorded from the following countries in Europe: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece + Crete, Italy + Sardinia and Sicily, and Switzerland ( Ferrière 1946; Pagliano & Scaramozzino 2000; Strumia & Pagliano 2014; van Achterberg & Talebi 2014; Žikić et al. 2014; Madl & Mitroiu 2019, and personal records). In Asia it is recorded from Iran, Jordan, Syria and Turkey, in North Africa from Morocco ( Özbek 2020, and personal records). Not recorded from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Although this species was recorded in Austria, no records are known from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Though records from central Europe are old, it is unlikely that this rare species can be recorded in the Czech Republic and/or Slovakia.

Biology: The host record of Pemphredon lethifer (Crabronidae) from Grandi (1954) is unlikely to be correct. Newly it was recorded to be a predator-inquiline of Ceratina (Apidae) , which corresponds with its morphological similarity and certain near phylogenetic relationship with G. merceti (P. Bogusch, unpublished records). Visited plants unknown.

Conservation: None, not a member of fauna of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Figures

FIGURES 236–244. Gasteruption variolosum (Abeille de Perrin, 1879). 236—female, lateral habitus, 237—male, lateral habitus, 238—female, lateral head, 239—female, frontal head, 240—female, dorsal head, 241—female, lateral mesosoma, 242—female, dorsal mesosoma, 243—female, third leg, 244—male, third leg. Scale bars represent 1 mm.