Gasteruption phragmiticola Saure, 2006

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 : 48-49

Gasteruption phragmiticola Saure, 2006

Figs. 197–206 .

For synonymy see van Achterberg & Talebi (2014).

Diagnosis: A recently described species, body length of females 10–13 mm, males 9–12 mm. Ovipositor length is 8–14 mm. Species with an elongated ovipositor sheath 4.1–6.9× as long as third tibia, with whitish apex 0.4–0.9× as long as third basitarsus. Head slightly elongated behind compound eyes, with occipital carina obsolescent. Head matte with fine sculpture, mesonotum matte, coarsely rugose. Third basitarsus black or dark brown.

Distribution: ( Fig. 206 ): Species known from central and south Europe, recorded from the following countries: Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Russia, Slovakia ( van Achterberg & Talebi 2014; Saure 2006; Bogusch et al. 2018, van Achterberg 2019, and personal records). In Asia from Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan ( van Achterberg & Talebi 2014, Özbek 2020, and personal records).

A rare species of wetland habitats, known within Slovakia from one historical find from Štúrovo in the year 1965. Bogusch et al. (2016) brought the first records from the Czech Republic ( Bohemia). In recent times, it was recorded in multiple localities, which were summarised by Bogusch et al. (2018). It was recorded in the main pond and wetland protected areas, such as Žehuňský rybník, Novozámecký rybník and surrounding localities, Hradec Králové (Na Plachtě Natural Monument), Horní Ředice (Žernov Nature Reserve), Dlouhopolsko National Nature Reserve, Krvavý and Kačležský rybník NNR, Brouskův Mlýn NNR and some others. It was recorded only in Slanisko u Nesytu NNR in Moravia. In Slovakia, it was recorded from a wetland between Virt and Marcelová, Jurský Šúr and Gbelce—Parížske močiare NNR. Nearly all specimens were reared from host nests from galls on common reed ( Phragmites australis ) and not captured in the field.

Biology: Recorded from June to August. This species is a specialised predator-inquiline in the nests of a rare wetland specialised bee Hylaeus pectoralis ( Wall 1994; Saure 2006; Westrich 2008; Bogusch et al. 2018). Records on parasitising in nests of Pemphredon fabricii ( Bogusch et al. 2016, 2018) and Pemphredon rugifer ( Gyorfi & Bajari 1962; Oehlke 1984) are probably erroneous, nests of P. fabricii , from which this species was reared, were probably only in a part of the gall, and the rest was nest of H. pectoralis , which was totally destroyed by larva of G. phragmiticola . Also the record of Ceratina cyanea (Apidae) as a host of this species ( Malyshev 1964) is unlikely because of the differences of habitats of this species and Ceratina bees. Adults visit flowers of Apiaceae .

Conservation: Rare species restricted to wetland habitats, due to the restricted distribution of their hosts. In the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary it occurs in well-preserved wetland meadow-formations and reed beds but is rare. It is difficult to collect this species using active collecting techniques but it has been readily reared from reed galls ( Bogusch et al. 2018). Red List Categories: VU—vulnerable ( Tab. 2).

Figures

FIGURE 206. Distribution map of Gasteruption phragmiticola in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Full circles represent distribution after 1990 and empty circles distribution until 1990.

FIGURES 197–204. Gasteruption phragmiticola Saure, 2006. 197—female, lateral habitus, 198—male, lateral habitus, 199— female, lateral head, 200—female, frontal head, 201—female, dorsal head, 202—female, lateral mesosoma, 203—female, dorsal mesosoma, 204—female, third leg, 205—female, ovipositor apex. Scale bars represent 1 mm.