Gasteruption assectator (Linnaeus, 1758) sensu stricto

Johansson, Niklas & van Achterberg, Cornelis, 2016, Revision of the Palaearctic Gasteruptionassectator aggregate, with special reference to Sweden (Hymenoptera, Gasteruptiidae), ZooKeys 615, pp. 73-94 : 73-75

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Gasteruptiidae

Gasteruption assectator (Linnaeus, 1758) sensu stricto Figs 1-3, 25, 26, 28

Ichneumon assectator Linnaeus, 1758: 566, 1761: 407, 1767: 937; Scopoli 1763: 287; Fabricius 1775: 340, 1781: 435, 1787: 268; Gmelin 1790: 2696; Villers 1789: 174; Rossi 1790: 90; Christ 1791: 375; Petagna 1792: 365; Cederhjelm 1798: 163; Schrank 1802: 263; Hentschius 1804: 112; Illiger 1807: 74; Roman 1932: 2; Hedqvist 1973: 182; Fitton 1978: 376.

Foenus assectator ; Fabricius 1798: 240; Walckenaer 1802: 75; Latreille 1805: 195; Dahlbom 1831: 77; Curtis 1832: 423; Nees 1834: 308; Stephens 1835: 121; Labram and Imhoff 1836: 24; Zetterstedt 1840: 408; Westwood 1843: 255; Taschenberg 1866: 93; Tournier 1877: ix (as affectator ); Thomson 1883: 849.

Foenus affectator ; Abeille de Perrin 1879: 265, 266, 277.

Gasteruption assectator ; Schletterer 1885: 276, 316, 1889: 384, 393, 395, 397; Dalla Torre 1902: 1063; Szépligeti 1903: 370 (as affectator ); Kieffer 1912: 256 (id.); Lindemans 1921: 298 (id.); Roman 1932: 2; Schmiedeknecht 1930: 380, 383 (as affectator ); Hedicke 1939: 5 (id.); Ferrière 1946: 235, 238, 240 (id.); Leclercq 1948: 75; Hellén 1950: 4; Townes 1950: 123-128; Šedivý 1958: 36, 37; Györfi and Bajári 1962: 48, 51; Schmidt 1969: 293; Hedqvist 1973: 181; Fitton 1978: 376; Dolfuss 1982: 22; Oehlke 1984: 169, 171, 175; Ortega and Baez 1985: 509, 515; Madl 1987a: 401, 1987b: 21, 1988: 37, 1989a: 159, 1989b: 41, 1990a: 127, 1990b: 480; Kozlov 1988: 245, 247; Kofler and Madl 1990: 320; Narolsky and Shcherbal 1991: 23, 24; Wall 1994: 150; Scaramozzino 1995: 3; Smith 1996: 492; Peeters 1996: 134; Neumayer et al. 1999: 220; Pagliano and Scaramozzino 2000: 11, 19; Saure 2001: 29; Yildirim et al. 2004: 1350; Turrisi 2004: 84; Westrich 2008: 7-8; van der Smissen 2010: 372; Zhao et al. 2012: 23-27; van Achterberg 2013: 82; van Achterberg and Talebi 2014: 57-61.

Gasteruption affectator ; Semenov 1892: 200.

Ichneumon annularis Geoffroy in Fourcroy 1785: 398; Hedicke 1939: 7; Wall 1994: 148 (type lost). Synonymized by with Gasteruption assectator (Linnaeus) by Olivier (1792).

Type material.

High resolution photos of the lectotype female of Gasteruption assectator in the Linnaean collection coll. no 2652- "49 assectator " (Figs 1-3) designated by van Achterberg and Talebi (2014) was studied. The specimen has an unusually short ovipositor and the pilosity of the sheath is longer than average, but within the variation of the species. The holotype female of Gasteruption brevicauda (Figs 4-7) from Algeria ( Orléansville) was examined and the specimen, with its strongly sculptured mesoscutum, the strong antero-lateral teeth of the pronotum aswell as the orange hind tarsus clearly belongs to Gasteruption undulatum (Abeille de Perrin, 1879). The synonymisation with Gasteruption assectator made by Madl (1987a) is here rejected and Gasteruption brevicauda Kieffer, 1904, is a new synonym of Gasteruption undulatum (Abeille de Perrin, 1879) syn. n.

Additional material.

Sweden ( Skåne: Åhus, Blekinge; Halland: Breared; Småland: Repperda, Bäckebo, Hälleskog, Tvärskog, Robacken, Igersdela, Skillingaryd, Södra Vi, Korsberga; Gotland: Ardre, Stora Karlsö, Fårö, Mullvalds; Öland: Halltorp, Ekerum, Glömminge; Östergötland: Simonstorp, Borensberg)

Diagnosis.

Temples in dorsal view less parallel-sided and usually shorter than of Gasteruption boreale , head in dorsal view transverse, mostly distinctly wider than long. Occipital carina indistinct and not reflexed. Face mostly slightly narrower than that of Gasteruption boreale . Hypostomal bridge narrow, at most 0.5 times mandibular base (Fig. 25). Mesoscutum in most cases distinctly reticulate-coriaceous and without satin sheen (Fig. 26), medio-posteriorly in front of scutellum distinctly rugose. Mesosoma and head silvery pilose. Mesosomal surface with a fatty gloss, quite distinct from the more opaque satin sheen in Gasteruption boreale . Antenna slightly longer than in Gasteruption boreale , with sixth segment about 1.8 times longer than wide and subapical segment about 1.5 times longer than wide. Hind coxa dorsally striate-rugose. Hind tibia and basitarsus with white ring which might be interrupted ventrally. Metasoma mainly black with lateral orange patches on tergites 2-4 often merged. Fore and middle tibiae with small, but quite distinct white or yellow patch basally. Ovipositor sheath black or brown, 1.0-1.3 times as long as hind tibia and without prominent bristles but with thinner adpressed pubescence, appearing nearly naked (Fig. 28). The pilosity of equal intensity all over the surface not becoming scarcer towards the tip. In some specimens, especially when the sheath parts are twisted as in the lectotype female, the pilosity might be slightly raised. The species is closely related to Gasteruption boreale (Thomson, 1883) and Gasteruption nigritarse (Thomson, 1883), but the female can be distinguished by the slightly longer ovipositor without conspicuous bristles. The male is distinguishable by its slightly shorter head in dorsal view and the often more distinctly reticulate-rugose mesoscutum without satin sheen.

Distribution.

Gasteruption assectator is the most widespread and common species of the assectator aggregate in Europe. Towards its northern distribution limits in northern Scandinavia it seems to be confined to coastal areas with more favorable climate than inland areas.

Biology.

Gasteruption assectator occurs in a wide variety of habitats, varying from agricultural landscapes to deciduous forests and gardens. Most probably Hylaeus spp. are used as hosts.