Gasteruption subtile Thomson, 1883

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 : 50-51

Gasteruption subtile Thomson, 1883

Figs. 207–216 .

For synonymy see van Achterberg (2019).

Diagnosis: Body length of females is 12–16 mm, ovipositor length is 10–13 mm. Body length of males is 12–15 mm. Larger species with an elongated ovipositor 3.5–5× as long as third tibia, ovipositor sheath with whitish apex 1.3–1.8× as long as third basitarsus. Head elongated behind compound eyes, matte, with occipital carina obsolescent. Mesonotum matte, finely rugose with a transverse rugose pattern posteriorly. Antesternal carina is small.

Distribution: ( Fig. 216 ): Palaearctic species. A rare species found in mountain ranges in Europe and Asia. Recorded from Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland, also from China and Mongolia in Asia ( Ferrière 1946; Hedqvist 1973; Madl 1989; Pagliano & Scaramozzino 2000; Strumia & Pagliano 2014; Žikić et al. 2014; van Achterberg 2019; Madl & Mitroiu 2019, Wiśniowski 2020, and personal records).

Šedivý (1958) recorded only one non-localised specimen in the collections of National Museum , Prague (the specimen is still preserved there), and supposed it to be collected in the former Czechoslovakia. Only one old specimen from Bohemia from Černčice from the year 1953 and one very old specimen from Moravia from Komorní Lhotka from the year 1907 were recorded, whilst no recent records are known. In Slovakia , one undated old specimen from Bardejov is known. In recent years, several individuals were captured using Malaise traps in High Tatras ( Tatranská Lomnica , Nová Polianka and Tichá dolina from 2008 and Stará Lesná from 2011) ( Tab. 2). This species is rare and restricted with its distribution to high altitudes of mountain ranges and probably also other types of colder regions. It is likely that it also occurs in the Czech Republic but the capturing of this species is expected to be hard and it occurs in habitats where insect studies are uncommon (except studies of bark beetle calamities). A new species for the Czech Republic (Bohemia and Moravia) and Slovakia.

Biology: Recorded from the end of May to August. Hosts unknown, this species probably parasitises nests of some mountainous species of Hylaeus (e.g. Hylaeus annulatus ) or smaller megachilid bees ( Osmia parietina Curtis or Chelostoma foveolatum (Morawitz) . Adults visit flowers of Apiaceae and were recorded on Paliurus spinachristi (Rhamnaceae) a Caucalis daucoides (Apiaceae) ( Wall 1994).

Conservation: A very rare species with its distribution restricted to mountains and cold regions. There is not much known about its biology, habitats and hosts, thus we cannot state how endangered it is and what are the main factors, on which it is dependent. It is necessary to provide further research in protected landscape areas and national parks in mountain ranges across Europe. Red List Categories: RE—regionally extinct ( Czech Republic), VU—vul-nerable ( Slovakia) ( Tab. 2).

Figures

FIGURE 216. Distribution map of Gasteruption subtile in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Full circles represent distribution after 1990 and empty circles distribution until 1990.

FIGURES 207–215. Gasteruption subtile Thomson, 1883. 207—female, lateral habitus, 208—male, lateral habitus, 209—female, lateral head, 210—female, frontal head, 211—female, dorsal head, 212—female, lateral mesosoma, 213—female, dorsal mesosoma, 214—female, third leg, 215—male, third leg. Scale bars represent 1 mm.