Halticoptera, Spinola, 1811

Mitroiu, Mircea-Dan, 2005, A review of the Romanian Halticoptera Spinola (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae), with description of three new species, Zootaxa 1090 (1), pp. 35-49 : 36-38

Key to Romanian species of Halticoptera

[modified after Graham (1969) and Askew (1972)]

1 Females ......................................................................................................................... 2

­ Males .......................................................................................................................... 11

2 Propodeum with entire median area with distinctly raised reticulation ... .................... 3

­ Propodeum with most of the median area smooth or with only some alutaceous sculpturing; occasionally only the sides of the median area with some reticulation............. 5

3 Malar space about equal to transverse diameter of eye; vertex slightly elevated in middle, behind ocelli; temples about half as long as eyes; gastral petiole as long as or slightly longer than broad ............................................................... flavicornis Spinola

­ Malar space at least slightly less than transverse diameter of eye; vertex not elevated in middle; temples most often distinctly less than half as long as eyes, if nearly half as long, then gastral petiole strongly transverse ............................................................... 4

4 Gastral petiole slightly longer then broad, reticulate, with parallel sides, with 3–6 hairs on each side .................................................................................... patellana (Dalman)

­ Gastral petiole (FIG. 12) very transverse, reticulate, in dorsal view width about 5X apparent length, with only some very short hairs normally hidden under propodeum .. .................................................................................................................. askewi sp. n.

5 Gastral petiole clearly transverse, distinctly shorter than the median length of propodeum ....................................................................................................................................... 6

­ Gastral petiole quadrate or slightly longer than broad, not or hardly shorter than the median length of the propodeum.................................................................................. 7

6 Gaster with pygostylar bristles subequal in length; smaller species (1.8–2.2 mm). ...... .............................................................................................................. polita (Walker)

­ Usually one bristle of each pygostyle is longer than the others; larger species(2.5–3.3mm) ........................................................................................................ dimidiata (Förster)

7 Pronotum with a broad shining posterior strip, weakly margined anteriorly; petiole length about 1.5X width; basal cell of fore wing with 10–21 hairs........ aenea (Walker)

­ Pronotum with only a narrow shining posterior strip, not margined anteriorly; petiole only slightly longer than broad; basal cell of fore wing with at most 9 hairs ............... 8

8 Propodeum with plicae extending beyond spiracles; body more elongate, thorax in profile only slightly arched; body bronze green to dark blue­green; fore wings rather narrow, usually 2.3–2.4 times as long as broad; femora dark ........ circulus (Walker)

­ Propodeum with plicae not extending beyond spiracles; body more stout, thorax in profile clearly arched; body bright green to blue­green; fore wings normal, usually 2.1–2.2 times as long as broad; femora metallic or yellow .......................................... 9

9 Propodeum (FIG. 13) with most of the median area with alutaceous sculpture, but on sides, near plicae, with distinct reticulation; median carina mostly irregular; larger species (3.1 mm) ................................................................................ semireticulata sp. n.

­ Propodeum with median area virtually smooth, or with only traces of alutaceous sculpture, but never with distinct reticulation near plicae; median carina straight; smaller species (11.8 mm)........................................................................................................ 10

10 All femora strongly metallic; gastral petiole quadrate; larger species (1.5–1.8 mm) .... ................................................................................................................ crius (Walker)

­ All femora bright reddish; gastral petiole (FIG. 10) about 1.2 times as long as broad; smaller species (1–1.4 mm) ................................................................ andriescui sp. n.

11 Propodeum with median area with distinctly raised reticulation ... ............................ 12

­ Propodeum with median area smooth or with only some alutaceous reticulation ..... 14

12 Malar space slightly greater than transverse diameter of eye; vertex slightly elevated in middle, behind ocelli; maxillary stipites very large, maxillary palpi with the two terminal segments subglobose ................................................................. flavicornis Spinola

­ Malar space at least slightly less than transverse diameter of eye; vertex not elevated in middle; maxillary stipites small ................................................................................. 13

13 Gastral petiole slightly longer then broad, reticulate, with parallel sides, with 3–6 hairs on each side ................................................................................. patellana (Dalman)

­ Gastral petiole very transverse but clearly reticulate, in dorsal view width about 3X apparent length, without visible hairs ...................................................... askewi sp. n.

14 Gastral petiole clearly transverse, distinctly shorter than the median length of the propodeum ........................................................................................................................15

­ Gastral petiole quadrate or slightly longer than broad, not or hardly shorter than the median length of the propodeum ................................................................................ 16

15 Smaller species (1.8–2.2 mm); the sac formed by the two terminal segments of the maxillary palpi subglobose .................................................................. polita (Walker)

­ Larger species (2.2–3 mm); the sac formed by the two terminal segments of the maxillary palpi about twice as long as broad .......................................... dimidiata (Förster)

16 Maxillary stipites small, not extending on the lateral sides of foramen magnum; fore wings rather narrow, usually 2.3–2.4 times as long as broad ......... circulus (Walker)

­ Maxillary stipites very large, reaching at least to middle of foramen magnum; fore wings normal, usually 2.1–2.2 times as long as broad ............................................... 17

17 Pronotum with a broad shining posterior strip, weakly margined anteriorly; petiole about 1.5 times as long as broad; basal cell of fore wing with 9–20 hairs ..................... .............................................................................................................. aenea (Walker)

­ Pronotum with only a narrow shining posterior strip, not margined anteriorly; petiole only slightly longer than broad; basal cell of fore wing with at most 8 hairs ............. 18

18 Inflated part of maxillary palp very large, distinctly longer than length of an eye; hind femora usually broadly metallic ............................................................ crius (Walker)

­ Inflated part of maxillary palp (FIG. 15) very small, only slightly modified, much shorter than length of an eye; all femora entirely bright reddish ....... andriescui sp. n.