Gasteruption pseudolaticeps van Achterberg

van Achterberg, Cornelis & Talebi, Ali Asghar, 2014, Review of Gasteruption Latreille (Hymenoptera, Gasteruptiidae) from Iran and Turkey, with the description of 15 new species, ZooKeys 458, pp. 1-187 : 103-107

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Gasteruptiidae

Gasteruption pseudolaticeps van Achterberg sp. n. Figs 413-430

Gasteruption foveolum ?; Tirgari 1975: 57 (Tehran).

Type material.

Holotype, ♀ (RMNH), 1 ♀, "N. Iran: Qazvin: Zereshk Road, MT 6, 22.vi-6.vii.2011, A. Nadimi, RMNH’12”. Paratypes (47 ♀ + 87 ♂; RMNH, TMUT unless otherwise indicated): 1 ♀, same label data as holotype; 3 ♂, id., but 17. viii– 4.ix.2011, S. Farahani; 3 ♂, id., but 7-26.vii.2011; 1 ♀ + 2 ♂, id., but MT 3, 22. vi– 6.vii.2011, A. Mohammadi; 1 ♂, id., but 7-22.vi.2011; 1 ♂, id., but 26.v-9.vii.2011; 1 ♀ + 2 ♂, id., but MT 5, 5-27.ix.2011; 1 ♀, id., but MT3; 1 ♂, id., but MT 3, 10-25.v.2011, M. Khayrandish; 1 ♀ + 8 ♂, id., but MT 5, 28. vii– 18.viii.2011; 3 ♂, id., but MT 5, 7-22.vi.2011; 3 ♂, id., but MT 6, 25.vii-16.viii.2011; 2 ♀ + 1 ♂, "N. Iran: Alborz: Shahriar, MT 25, 11-18.v.2010, M. Khayrandish, RMNH’12”; 1 ♂, id., but 13-20.iv.2010; 2 ♀, id., but 15.v-1.vi.2010; 1 ♀, id., but MT 24, 15-22.vi.2010, A. Nadimi; 1 ♂, id., but 29.vi.-6.vii.2010; 1 ♀, id., but MT 25, 18-25.v.2010; 3 ♂, id., but 1-8.vi.2010; 1 ♂, id., but 4-11.v.2010; 1 ♀, id., but 7-14.ix.2010; 1 ♂, id., but 22-28.ix.2010; 2 ♀, id., but MT 24, 18-25.v.2010, A. Mohammadi; 2 ♂, "N. Iran: Alborz, Sarziarat, Chalous Road, MT 29, 8-15.vi.2010, S. Farahani, RMNH’12”; 2 ♀, "N. Iran: Alborz, Shahrestanak, Chalous Road, MT 29, 15-22.vi.2010, S. Farahani, RMNH’12”; 1 ♀ + 2 ♂, id., but 1-8.vi.2010; 2 ♀ + 4 ♂, "N. Iran: Alborz, Karaj, MT 27, 18-25.v.2010, M. Khayrandish, RMNH’12”; 2 ♂, id., but 11-18.v.2010; 4 ♂, id., but 1-8.vi.2010; 1 ♀, id., but 28.vi-6.vii.2010; 1 ♂, id., but 22-28.vi.2010; 1 ♂, id., but 6-14.vii.2010, A. Nadimi; 1 ♂, id., but 9-16.viii.2010; 1 ♂, "N. Iran: Tehran, Peykanshahr, Bot. Garden, MT 33, 4-13.v.2010, S. Farahani, RMNH’12”; 2 ♀, id., but 18.v-18.vi.2010; 1 ♀ (MZL), "Iran (Teher[an]), Kamalabad, 28.viii.1958, F. Schmid"; 1 ♂ (BZL), Iran, Golestan prov., 70 km E [of] Minudasht, N37°26', E55°99', 1050 m, 12.vi.2010, M. Halada"; 1 ♀ (BZL), "Kazakhstan mer., Issik 3 km S, 22-23.vi.1992, K. Denes"; 1 ♀ (BZL), "Kasakhstan ridge Malaysari, 144 km N Alma-Ata, 21.vi.[19]92, Jirousek"; 2 ♀ (BZL), "Kazakhstan, Talas Mt. R., 3 km W Dzhabagly, 42°26'N, 69°58'E, 5.viii.2000, Makogonova"; 1 ♂ (BZL), "Kirg. [= Kyrgyzstan], Kirghisky Mt. R., 1700 m, Alamedin riv., viii.2000, V. Gurko"; 1 ♂ (BZL), "Kirg - Ferhgansky Mt. R., Toskool-Ala, Pistacea forest, viii.[20]00, Gurko"; 1 ♀ (BZL), id., but 29.vii.2000, 1500 m; 1 ♀ (BZL), "Kirg - Fergan. Mt. R., Alash-Too Mts., Alash forest, viii.[20]00, Gurko"; 2 ♀ + 3 ♂ (BZL, RMNH), "Kirgizia mer.-west, Kizil-kiya, 40,2N 72,1E, 15.v.[19]94, Ma. Halada"; 1 ♂ (BZL), "Kirgisistan, Oshkaya, distrikt Uzgen, Seren-Berge, Tchanget-Pass, zw. Tchanget u. Irisu, ca. 20-25 km N Uzgen, 40°58'N, 73°20'E, 1550 m, 19.vi.1996, H. Rausch"; 1 ♀ + 1 ♂ (BZL), "Turkey east, 20 km NW [of] Igdir, 29.vi.1997, Ma. Halada"; 1 ♀ (BZL), "Turkey east, 20 km W [of] Agri, 4.vii.1997, Ma. Halada"; 1 ♀ (RMNH), "Turkey east, 10 km S [of] Ahlat, 24.vi.1997, Ma. Halada"; 6 ♀ + 4 ♂ (BZL, RMNH), "TR, Burdur, 20 km SW [of] Burdur, N37°37', E30°9', 940 m, 7.vii.2006, M. Halada"; 1 ♂ (BZL), "Turkey, Hakkari prov., Akcali, 35 km S [of] Hakkari, N37°71', E44°3', 1700 m, 21.vi.2010, M. Halada"; 1 ♀ (BZL), "TR or., 29.vi.[19]93, Gevas, Van Gölü, K. Deneš”; 1 ♂ (BZL), "TR - Man[s]isa, 40 km NW [of] Salihli, N38°40', E27°45', 150 m, 28.vi.2006, J. Halada"; 1 ♂ (BZL), "TR - Isparta, Egirdir Gölu, 5 km N [of] Akkecili, 920 m, N38°06', E30°46', 10.vii.2006, J. Halada"; 1 ♀ (BZL), "TR - Isparta, 8 km NE [of] Isparta, 1020 m, N37°52', E30°40', 9.vii.2006, M. Kadlecova"; 4 ♂ (CSC), “Türkei, S. Ägäis, Bodrum, Salmakis, Bupleurum ?, 21.vii.2001, F. Burger"; 1 ♂ (CSEC). "TR, Kayseri, Göreme, 1000 m, NN, 9.vii.[19]88, [C.] Schmid-Egger"; 1 ♀ (RMNH), "Turkey; Nevsehir, 5 km S of Avanos, Zelve, 1000 m, 22.vi.1987, R. Hensen"; 1 ♀ (RMNH), "Turkey; Van, Van, 1800 m, 13.vii.1987, R. Hensen"; 1 ♂ (RMNH), "Turkey; Urfa, Halfeti, 400 m, 18.vi.1987, R. Hensen"; 1 ♀ (BZL), "Turkey, 30 km E [of] Malatya, Kale, 27.viii.2000, M. Halada"; 1 ♀ (BZL), "Tajikistan, Varzob riv., VI., Zogar-Varzob, viii.[20]00, V. Gurko"; 1 ♀ (RMNH), "U.S.S.R.: Tadzhikistan, 30 km N Dushambe, n[ea]r Varzab, Kondara, VI.1991, P. Schoorl, RMNH’91”; 1 ♀ (RMNH), "U.S.S.R.: Tadzhikistan, E[ast] of Dushambe, n[ea]r Nurek, Zordolu, 1-2.VII.1991, at light, P. Schoorl, RMNH’91”; 7 ♀ + 21 ♂ (BZL. RMNH), "Uzbekistan, Samarkand env., 19-21.v.1994, Ma. Halada"; 1 ♀ (BZL), "Uzbekistan, Hissar Mt. R., foothills n[ea]r Yakkabagh, 30°56'N, 66°53'E, 21.vii.1999, Makogonova"; 3 ♂ (BZL. RMNH), "Uzbekistan or., Aktaš, 41,2'N, 69,4'E, 70 km NO Tachkent, 27.v.[19]94, Ma. Halada"; 1 ♀ + 1 ♂ (BZL), "Uzbekistan or., Yangikichlak, 40,3'N, 66,9'E, 100 km NW Ddjizak, 25.v.[19]94, Ma. Halada"; 1 ♀ + 1 ♂ (BZL), "Uzbekistan or., Czirczik, 41,1'N, 69,1'E, 28.v.[19]94, Ma. Halada".

Other material. 1 ♀ (BZL), "Marocco SE, 45 km N Er Rachidia, Oued Ziz, 14.v.2003, M. Snizek"; 1 ♀ (BZL), "Marocco SW, Taroudant env., 11.v.2003, M. Halada".

Diagnosis.

Head slightly convex dorsally, in front of occipital carina with a rather shallow medio-posterior depression (shallower in Central Asian specimens than in Iranian and Turkish specimens); face rather narrow (Fig. 418); frons shiny and finely punctulate; occipital carina moderately to widely lamelliform (Fig. 413; narrower in Central Asian specimens than in Iranian and Turkish specimens); vertex shiny and punctulate; mandible pale yellowish brown basally (but dark brown in part of Central Asian specimens); propleuron 0.8 times as long as mesoscutum in front of tegulae; antesternal carina moderately wide lamelliform; middle and lateral lobe of mesoscutum mainly coarsely punctate and with shiny smooth interspaces (Fig. 415); scutellum only punctate antero-laterally; mesosoma conspicuously white pilose laterally (Fig. 414); middle lobe slightly protuberant (Fig. 415); fore coxa distinctly removed from mesopleuron (Fig. 414); hind basitarsus dark brown basally and remainder white; hind tibia rather swollen and with subbasal ivory patch (Fig. 416); ovipositor sheath 1.0-1.1 times as long as body, 1.5 times as long as metasoma, 3.1-3.5 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.1-5.6 times hind tibia; white apical part of ovipositor sheath 1.8-2.5 times as long as hind basitarsus (Fig. 417); length of body 6-13 mm; paramere distinctly ivory apically (Fig. 430).

Close to Gasteruption laticeps (Tournier, 1877), but this species has the mesoscutum sparsely setose (rather densely setose in Gasteruption pseudolaticeps , but sometimes secondarily lost), the mandible dark brown or reddish brown basally (pale yellowish brown, but darker in part of Central Asian specimens), the vertex densely micro-sculptured and rather dull (superficially punctulate and shiny), the mesopleuron rather sparsely setose (largely densely silvery pilose, but sometimes (?secondarily) sparsely setose), the head in anterior view rather wide (narrower), the antesternal carina curved up and wider medio-ventrally (especially in males less curved up and narrower), the paramere of the male dark brown or blackish apically (ivory apically) and area behind the antesternal carina more or less coarsely transversely striate (often largely smooth except for some rugulae or rugae). Also similar to Gasteruption diversiceps , but Gasteruption pseudolaticeps has the vertex less sculptured (more sculptured in Gasteruption diversiceps ), the hind tibia more widened (less widened), the mesosoma conspicuously white pilose laterally (less conspicuous setose) and the vertex weakly depressed medio-posteriorly (absent). Runs in the key by Pasteels (1958) to Gasteruption belutchistanense Cameron, 1906, and Gasteruption sericeipes Kieffer, 1911, but both differs by having the hind tibia rather slender (wider in Gasteruption pseudolaticeps ), the antesternal carina narrow (antesternal carina widened), the head of female more elongate in lateral view (less elongate) and the spaces between punctures of the mesoscutum wider than the punctures and coriaceous (narrower and smooth). Also similar to the enigmatic N. African Gasteruption ocellatum Benoit, 1984; Gasteruption ocellatum has the vertex convex and without medio-posterior depression, the antesternal carina narrow and hardly lamelliform, the lateral lobes of the mesoscutum mainly punctulate and with some separate punctures and hind tibia (except subbasal ivory patch) dark brown.

Description.

Female, length of body 12.9 mm (of fore wing 5.8 mm).

Head. Head slightly convex dorsally, but in front of occipital carina with a rather shallow medio-posterior depression (Figs 419, 422, 427); face, frons anteriorly and temples densely pilose; occipital carina moderately lamelliform (Fig. 413); third and fourth antennal segments 1.6 and 2.4 times as long as second segment; face rather narrow (Fig. 418); frons shiny and finely punctulate; vertex shiny and punctulate; ventrally head not enlarged in anterior view, malar space 0.3 times length of pedicellus.

Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 2.1 times its height; propleuron 0.8 times as long as mesoscutum in front of tegulae, stout; pronotum laterally coarsely crenulate medially and subposteriorly, coriaceous dorsally and ventrally largely smooth and shiny and with coarse punctures, densely pilose except ventrally; side of pronotum with a distinct tooth antero-ventrally; antesternal carina moderately wide lamelliform and upcurved; middle and lateral lobe of mesoscutum mainly coarsely punctate and with shiny smooth interspaces (Fig. 415), medially with some transverse rugae and medio-posteriorly coarsely reticulate-punctate; scutellum largely smooth and with some fine punctures; mesosoma conspicuously white pilose laterally (Fig. 414); middle lobe slightly protuberant (Fig. 415).

Legs. Length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 4.8, 4.4 and 5.1 times their width, respectively; hind tibia rather swollen and ventrally curved (Fig. 416); fore coxa distinctly removed from mesopleuron (Fig. 414); hind coxa transversely striate dorsally (except basally) and remainder coriaceous; hind basitarsus moderately slender (Fig. 416).

Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath as long as body, 1.5 times as long as metasoma, 3.1 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.8 times hind tibia; white apical part of ovipositor sheath 1.9 times as long as hind basitarsus.

Colour. Black; mandible (including base), tegulae, trochantelli, apices and bases of femora narrowly yellowish-brown; bases of fore and middle tibiae and a stripe anteriorly, middle basitarsus (except apically). subbasal ring of hind tibia, hind basitarsus (except basal quarter) and apex of ovipositor sheath white; metasoma brown, but base and apex dark brown; remainder of fore and middle legs, and pterostigma dark brown; wing membrane subhyaline.

Male. Very similar to female, but mesoscutum more coarsely reticulate-rugose or densely rugulose than in female. Third antennal segment 1.2-1.4 times as long as second segment, fourth segment twice third segment and 1.2 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth segment as long as fourth segment (Fig. 424); hind tibia dark brown and with subbasal ivory patch; hind basitarsus entirely dark brown or blackish or with small dorsal ivory patch (Figs 425, 426); apex of paramere ivory (Fig. 430).

Variation. Length of body of ♀ 6.5-12.3 mm (of ♂ 6.0-10.0 mm) and of fore wing 2.9-5.8 mm (of ♂ 3.1-4.5 mm); occipital carina narrow to moderately lamelliform, especially in Central Asian specimens reduced; vertex sometimes with some small punctures; mesoscutum of ♀ coarsely and densely punctate and medio-posteriorly rugose or rugulose; scutellum rather densely and coarsely punctate; ovipositor sheath 1.0-1.1 times as long as body, 1.5 times as long as metasoma, 3.1-3.5 times as long as hind tibia and tarsus combined and 4.1-5.6 times hind tibia; white apical part of ovipositor sheath 1.8-2.5 times as long as hind basitarsus; fore and middle basitarsi (except apex) white; hind basitarsus of ♀ with distinct ivory band or largely blackish, with only a small dorsal ivory patch, rarely entirely dark brown or blackish as in ♂. Especially males and both sexes of Central Asian specimens may have the medio-posterior depression of the vertex nearly absent. Central Asian specimens have either dark brown or yellowish mandibles. The females from Morocco are excluded from the type series because they have a shallow medio-posterior depression of vertex, the head more narrowed posteriorly, the vertex and frons with small punctures between dense punctulation and the setae of the pronotal side shorter.

Distribution.

Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan,?Morocco. In Northwest Iran the most common species in Malaise traps.

Biology.

Unknown. Collected in April-September.

Notes.

The record of Gasteruption foveolum by Tirgari (1975) may concern the new species, because the latter is more common and very similar. The development of the medio-posterior depression of the vertex and the width of the occipital carina is correlated and clinal. Western populations have the medio-posterior depression distinct and the carina rather wide medio-dorsally, eastern populations have the depression shallow or obsolescent and the carina narrow.

Etymology.

Named “pseudolaticeps”, because of its similarity of this species with the mainly European Gasteruption laticeps .