Gasteruption varipes (Westwood, 1851)

Zhao, Ke-xin, Achterberg, Cornelis van & Xu, Zai-fu, 2012, A revision of the Chinese Gasteruptiidae (Hymenoptera, Evanioidea), ZooKeys 237, pp. 1-123 : 89-94

Gasteruption varipes (Westwood, 1851) Figs 317333

Foenus varipes Westwood, 1851: 220.

Gasteruption varipes ; Schletterer, 1885: 289, 325, 1890: 383, 434; Kieffer 1912: 231, 269; Hedicke 1939: 26-27; Pasteels 1958: 186-188.

Type material.

Holotype of Gasteruption varipes , ♂ (BMNH), "Type, H.T.", "China/45 65", "B.M. Type Hym. 3.a.177", "varipes Westw.", "B.M. Type Hym. Foenus varipes Westwood, 1851".

Additional material.

7 ♂ (ZJUH, RMNH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, 22.VIII.1988, Xiu-fu Zhao"; 1 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, 20.VI.1988, Sa-ping Yi"; 1 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, 1.VIII.1988, Xiu-fu Zhao"; 1 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, 2.VIII.1988"; 1 ♀ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, 3.VII.1990, Nai-quan Lin"; 1 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, 11.IX.1990, Chang-ming Liu"; 1 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China] Fujian, Fuzhou, Jinshan, 18.VII.1986, Nai-quan Lin"; 1 ♀ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, Jinshan, 6.VI.1984, Yu-hua Xia"; 1 ♀ + 1 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, Jinshan, 3-9.V.1990, Xiu-fu Zhao"; 1 ♀ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, Jinshan, 6.VI.1989, Xiu-fu Zhao"; 2 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, Jinshan, 20.VI.1990, Xiu-fu Zhao"; 1 ♀ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, Jinshan, 10-15.V.1990, Xiu-fu Zhao"; 1 ♀ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Fuzhou, Meifeng, 14.VII.1965, Wen-lan Xu"; 1 ♀ (RMNH), "[China:] Fujian, Shaxian, 20.VII.1980, Zhen-yong Mei"; 1 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Mt. Wuyi, 29.V.1990, Chang-ming Liu"; 1 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Jianyang, Chengguan, 23.VIII.1980"; 3 ♀ (ZJUH), "[China:] Fujian, Jiangle, Mt. Longqi, 1.VII.1991, Chang-ming Liu"; 1 ♀ (TARI), "[China] Taiwan, Airyo, Heito, 10.X.1926, J. Sonan"; 1 ♀ (CSCU), "[China:] Hainan, Mt. Jianfengling, 18.III.1999, Mei-cai Wei & Hai-yan Nie"; 1 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China:] Hainan, Baisha, Mt. Yinggeling, 1-2.V.2008, Jing-xian Liu"; 1 ♀ (ZJUH), "[China:] Hainan, Mt. Yinggeling, 23.V.2007, Jing-xian Liu"; 1 ♂ (ZJUH), "[China:] Hainan, Mt. Wuzhi, 15.V.2008, Jing-xian Liu"; 1 ♀ (ZJUH), "[China:] Yunnan, Jinggu, Weiyuan, 4.X.2004, Jing-xian Liu".

Diagnosis.

Head without a depression in front of occipital carina; antesternal carina non-lamelliform and narrow (Figs 318, 326); propleuron 0.9-1.1 times as long as mesoscutum in front of tegulae and rather robust (Figs 318, 326); occipital carina obsolescent medio-dorsally (Figs 317, 325, 332); head roundly narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view (Figs 322, 331); temple longer than eye in dorsal view; third antennal segment of ♀ 1.2-1.5 times as long as second segment, fourth antennal segment 1.0-1.2 times as long as third segment, fifth antennal segment 0.9-1.1 times as long as third segment, of ♂ fourth segment 1.1 times as long as third segment and 0.6 times as long as second and third segments combined, fifth antennal segment as long as third segment (Figs 324, 333) and penultimate segments unknown; third antennal segment of ♂ normal, 1.5 times as long as second segment (Figs 324, 333); vertex largely smooth and with satin sheen; malar space short (Figs 317, 325); antero-lateral teeth of pronotum absent or indistinct; mesoscutum robust (Figs 319, 327) and very coarsely reticulate-rugose, without separate punctures; marginal cell of fore wing elongate (Figs 323, 328); hind coxa rather slender and transversely rugose; hind coxa black; pronotal side dark red-brown; hind basitarsus of male black-brown (but basally some what brown) and hind tibia bicoloured (dorsally dark brown, ventrally with large ivory subbasal patch (Fig. 329); female tibia unknown; apical half of paramere light brown; [ovipositor sheath 0.8-1.2 times as long as body, 1.4-1.7 times as long as metasoma and 4.0-6.0 times as long as hind tibia].

Description.

Holotype, male, body length 16.7 mm.

Head. Vertex with satin sheen and largely smooth, densely setose, distinctly convex and without depression medio-posteriorly; head gradually narrowed behind eyes; temple 1.1 times as long as eye in dorsal view (Fig. 331); fourth antennal segment 1.1 times as long as third segment and 0.6 times longer than second and third segments combined, fifth antennal segment as long as third segment (Fig. 333), third antennal segment long and 1.5 times as long as second segment; occipital carina non-lamelliform and obsolescent medio-dorsally (Fig. 325); ocelli small, OOL 1.8 times as long as diameter of posterior ocellus; face narrow (♀ Fig. 321, Fig. 330); malar space 0.2 times as long as second antennal segment (= pedicellus).

Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.6 times its height; pronotal side normal and mainly reticulate-rugose, including ventrally; mesoscutum slightly protruding anteriorly; propleuron 1.1 times as long as mesoscutum in front of tegulae; antesternal carina narrow and hardly lamelliform; middle and lateral lobes of mesoscutum shiny and very coarsely reticulate-rugose, without separate punctures (Fig. 327); scutellum coarsely reticulate-rugose; propodeum coarsely reticulate-rugose, without median carina; entire mesopleuron coarsely reticulate-rugose.

Wings. First discal cell elongate triangular, slightly narrowed and no distal posterior corner (Fig. 328).

Legs. Hind coxa with satin sheen, coriaceous but transversely rugose dorsally; length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 4.2, 4.4 and 5.6 times their width, respectively (Fig. 329).

Metasoma. Apical half of paramere light brown.

Colour. Black or dark brown (including mandible); pronotal side, mesoscutum laterally and mesopleuron dark red-brown; base and apical patch of fore and middle tibiae, fore and middle basitarsi largely and ventrally hind tibia with large subbasal patch ivory; hind tibial spurs dark brown; pterostigma dark brown.

Female (described after a female from Yunnan, Jinggu). Body length 14.0 mm.

Head. Head at most slightly emarginate medio-posteriorly, gradually narrowed behind eyes and weakly curved laterally (Fig. 322); temple 0.8 times as long as eye in dorsal view; vertex and frons with satin sheen and coriaceous; vertex without depression medio-posteriorly; occipical carina non-lamelliform and obsolescent medio-dorsally (Fig. 317); third antennal segment 1.5 times as long as second segment, fourth antennal segment 1.1 times as long as third segment, fifth antennal segment 0.9 times as long as third segment (Fig. 324); eye setose; OOL 1.7 times as long as diameter of posterior ocellus; minimum width of malar space 0.2 times as long as second antennal segment; clypeus with indistinct triangular depression.

Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.8 times as long as its height; propleuron with punctate and coriaceous, 1.1 times as long as mesoscutum in front of tegulae (Fig. 318); side of pronotum rugose and interspaces coriaceous, with a distinct medio-lateral tooth; mesopleuron coarsely vermiculate-rugose; mesoscutum with coarsely broadly transversely rugose, laterally and posteriorly coarsely reticulate- rugose (Fig. 319); scutellum rugulose; propodeum densely rugose, medio-longitudinal carina indistinct.

Wings. Fore wing: first discal cell parallel-sided and with outer posterior corner rounded (Fig. 323).

Legs. Hind coxa with satin sheen, moderately slender and dorsally transversely striae; length of hind femur, tibia and basitausus 4.1, 4.6 and 5.5 times as long as their width, respectively (Fig. 320); middle tarsus 1.1 times as long as middle tibia; hind tibia 3.0 mm.

Metasoma. Ovipositor sheath about 1.1 times as long as body, 1.7 times as long as metasoma and 5.0 times as long as hind tibia; hypopygium slit-shaped incised apically.

Colour. Black; mandible dark brown; pronotal side, mesoscutum antero-laterally and mesopleuron red-brown; fore and middle legs (except coxae black) dark brown to brown, but basal portion of tibiae pale, base of middle basitarsi ivory; hind legs (except coxae black) dark brown, subbasal portion of tibia pale; metasoma dark brown; ovipositor sheath entirely black.

Variation. Female: body length 14.0-15.5 mm, ovipositor sheath 0.8-1.2 times as long as body, 1.4-1.7 times as long as metasoma, 4.3-6.0 times as long as hind tibia; temple 0.8-1.0 times as long as eye in dorsal view; third antennal segment 1.2-1.5 times as long as second segment, fourth antennal segment 1.0-1.2 times as long as third segment, fifth antennal segment 0.9-1.1 times as long as third segment; length of mesosoma 1.8-1.9 times as long as its height; propleuron 0.9-1.1 times as long as mesoscutum in front of tegulae; mesoscutum coarsely reticulate-rugose; propodeum coarsely irregularly rugose, medio-longitudinal carina indistinct; mandible apically red-brown; pronotum, mesopleuron, mesosternum and apical of mesoscutum red-brown; metasoma black or dark brown, in some species second-third metasomal tergites red-brown.Male: body length 11.5-16.0 mm.

Distribution.

Oriental China (Fujian, Taiwan, Hainan, Yunnan). According to Pasteels (1958) Gasteruption varipes occurs also in South India, but this may be based on a misidentification.

Biology.

Unknown. Collected in March, May–October.