Ophion idoneus Viereck, 1905

Schwarzfeld, Marla D. & Sperling, Felix A. H., 2014, Species delimitation using morphology, morphometrics, and molecules: definition of the Ophionscutellaris Thomson species group, with descriptions of six new species (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), ZooKeys 462, pp. 59-114 : 80-84

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Ichneumonidae

Ophion idoneus Viereck, 1905 Figures 10b, 11b; Plate 2

Material examined.

Holotype: ♂ USA: Kansas: Douglas Co. ft. 900; May; U. of K., Lot 878, 8ub (SEMC)

Other material: 109 ♀♀, 83 ♂♂, 2 unknown: CAN: AB: 2 ♀♀ (MS12403, MS12405) 11 km NE of Lacombe, J.J. Collett Natural Area, N-facing slope, P. glauca, B. papyrifera, 835m, 52.553 -113.641, 18 vi 2009, UV, C.D. Bird (CNC); 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (MS11824-28) 5km NEE of Dunstable, George Lake Research Station, aspen forest, MT-7, 53.957 -114.130, 25-29 v 2007, Malaise, M. Schwarzfeld (UASM); 11 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂ (MS13317, MS13319-20, MS13322-26, MS13328-36) same data except date is 29 v-6vi 2007 (CNC); 2 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂ (MS12920, MS12922-28) 5km NEE of Dunstable, George Lake Research Station; Black spruce forest; MT-8, 53.957 -114.128, 29 v-6 vi 2007, Malaise, M. Schwarzfeld (UASM); 4 ♀♀ (MS12433-35, MS12444) 8 km NW of Winfield, Bird East Poplar Creek quarter, mixed woods, 900m, 53.01 -114.50, 12 vi 2010, UV, C.D. Bird (CNC); 1 ♂ (MS12335) same data except date is 15 v 2010 (UASM); 1 ♂ (MS11457) same data except date is 16 v 2009 (UASM); 1 ♀ (MS13925) same data except date is 21 v 2011 (UASM); 1 ♀ (MS2261) 8 km SE Sherwood Park, aspen forest, 53.478 -113.229, 12-15 v 2008, MV light, G.R. Pohl (UASM); 1 ♀ (MS7373) Bragg Creek, 50.917 -114.533, 15 viii 2007, at light, F. Sperling (CNC); 1 ♀ (MS4026), Calgary, Edgemont, 51.115 -114.142, 18 v 2010, light, T. Pike (CNC); 3 ♀♀ (MS2275, DNA3910, GenBank KF594486, KF615953; MS2280; MS2274) Edmonton, nr. Fulton Ravine, 53.545 -113.439, 15-16 v 2008, light, G. Anweiler (CNC); 1 ♂ (MS2284) same data except date is 17 v 2008 (UASM); 1 ♀ (MS9688, DNA3974, GenBank KF594547, KF615956) same data except date is 23 v 2009 (CNC); 2 ♀♀ (MS2286, MS2290) same data except date is 24 v 2008 (UASM); 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (MS5632, DNA3933, GenBank KF594507, KF615951; MS4301) same data except date is 26 v 2011 (CNC); 9 ♀♀ (MS13809, MS13811, MS13815, MS13820-22, MS13826-28) same data except date is 27 v 2011 (UASM); 3 ♀♀ (MS12169, MS12171-72) same data except date is 31 v 2009 (UASM); 7 ♀♀ (MS13834-35, MS13842-43, MS13858, MS13862) same data except date is 6-8 vi 2011 (UASM); 5 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ (MS13763-65, MS13767, MS13757, MS13774, MS13782) same data except date is 9-11 vi 2011 (UASM); 2 ♂♂ (MS78, MS80) same data except date is v 2007 (CNC); 2 ♀♀ (MS2879, MS2886) Edmonton, Edith Ravine, 53.510 -113.622, 12 v 2010, UV light, J. Acorn (UASM); 1 ♀ (MS2885) same data except date is 27 v 2010 (UASM); 1 ♀ (MS2234, DNA5552, GenBank KF594576, KF615958) Edmonton, inside building, 53.521 -113.521, J. Dombroskie (CNC); 3 ♂♂ (MS100, MS103, MS107) Edmonton, River Valley at U.Alberta, 53.529 -113.519, 28 v 2007, Sweep, M. Schwarzfeld (CNC); 1 ♀ (MS2770, DNA6551, GenBank KF594763, KF615949) EMEND site, 48 km NW of Dixonville; Decid. forest, uncut, 56.7525 -118.3282, 28 v-10 vi 2008, Malaise, 852-2, M. Schwarzfeld (CNC); 2 ♀♀ (MS12420, MS12423) Erskine, 5 Maple Close, backyard with aspen, 830m, 52.322 -112.883, 19 v 2010, UV, C.D. Bird (UASM); 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (MS9763-64) George Lake Research Site, 53.953 -114.120, 29 v 2007, Sweep, M. Schwarzfeld (UASM); 1 ♂ (MS39) George Lake Research Site, Aspen forest, 53.957 -114.125, 25 v 2007, Sweep, M. Schwarzfeld (UASM); 1 ♀ (MS3613) N. Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park, 50.8366 -113.4347, 31 v 2008, light, T. Pike (UASM); 2 ♀♀ (MS5650, DNA3977, GenBank KF594549, KF615957; MS5651, DNA3950, GenBank KF594524, KF615952) Pigeon Lake, Itaska, 53.072 -114.072 3 vi 2008, UV light, F. Sperling (CNC); 1 ♀ Pigeon Lake, Itaska, May 28, 2006, F.A.H. Sperling coll.; 9 ♀♀ 14 ♂♂ (MS12460, MS12463, MS12472, MS12474-83, MS12485-93, MS12495) Rochon Sands Prov. Park, 15 km N Erskine, 720m, aspen, chokecherry, aspen, 52.46 -112.88, 2 vi 2010, UV, C.D. Bird (UASM); 1 ♂ (MS12197) Spruce Grove, 13 km South, 53.4 -113.9, 28 v-2 vi 1989, Malaise, A.T. Finnamore (CNC); 1 ♀ (MS12265) Summer Village of Gull Lake, 52.460 -113.947, 31 v 2009, UV trap, J.H. Acorn (UASM); 1 ♂ (MS13966) Wintering Hills West, 51.2552 -112.6261, 29 v 2011, net, J. Dupuis (UASM); BC: 1 ♂ (ENT008-002270) Robson, “?” v 1951, H.R. Foxlee, Ex. H.R. Foxlee Collection U.B.C. 1971 (RBCM); 1 ♂ (ENT008-005274) same data except date is 14 v 1954 (RBCM); 1 ♀ (ENT008-002250) same data except date is 15 v 1951 (RBCM); 1 ♂ (ENT008-002274) same data except date is 15 v 1954 (RBCM); 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (ENT008-002252, ENT008-002275) same data except date is 17 v 1954 (RBCM); 1 ♂ (ENT008-002230) same data except date is 29 v 53 (RBCM); 1 ♂ (ENT008-002239) same data except date is 3 v 51 (RBCM); 1 ♂ Robson, 8 v 1954, H.R. Foxlee (UBCZ); MB: 2 ♀♀ 10 mi. S. of Winnipeg, 1 vi 1973, coll. C. Starr, at UV light (SEMC); 2 ♀♀ same data except date is 30 v 73 (SEMC); 1 ♀ Brandon, 29 v 49, Light Trap (NFRC); ON: 4 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ (MS2927, MS2932-34, MS2940, MS2943) Bells Corners, Monaghan Forest, 45.272 -75.808, 18 v 2010, Light, B.C. Schmidt (UASM); 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (MS8020, MS8039) Bells Corners, Stony Swamp, 45.295 -75.830, 25 v 2008, B.C. Schmidt (UASM); 1 ♂ (MS12164) Bells Corners, Stony Swamp, 45.295 -75.830, 3 v 2010, MV light, J. Dombroskie, B.C. Schmidt (UASM); 1 ♀, 1 unknown (MS10755, DNA5554, GenBank KF594578, KF615955; MS10754) Grenadier Is., St. Lawrence Islands Nat. Pk., Carya grove, 44.4 -75.9 10-21 vi 1994, YPT, Coll. CNC Hym Team (CNC); 1 ♀ (MS10710) same data except date is 24 v– 9 vi 1994 (CNC); 7 ♂♂ (MS10713, DNA6552, GenBank KF594764, KF615960; MS10711; MS10716-17; MS10719-21) same data except trap is Malaise, date is 24 v– 9 vi 1994 (CNC); 1 ♀ (MS10751) same data except trap is Malaise, date is 3-13 v 1994 (CNC); 1 ♀ (MS8007, DNA3976, GenBank KF594548, KF615961) Leeds Grenville Co., Long Mtn. 44.487 -76.008, 7 vi 2008, B.D. Schmidt (CNC); 2 ♀♀ (MS10807, MS10813) same data except date is 21 v 2009 (UASM); 5 ♀♀, 22 ♂♂ (MS10793, DNA5717, GenBank KF594635, KF615959; MS10794, DNA5552, GenBank KF594576, KF615958; MS10779, DNA5551, GenBank KF594575, KF615954; MS10768-78, MS10780-92) Ottawa, city garden, 45.356 -75.707, 5 v-5 vi 2008; Malaise, Coll. H. Goulet (CNC); 1 ♂ Waterloo Co., Cambridge, malaise, Skevington & Cannings (RBCM); SK: 1 ♀ S’toon, May 22, 1940, D.R. Foskett (RBCM); USA: MI: 1 ♀ Ag. Coll. Mich 5-23 93 22 (CUIC); 1 ♂ Ag. Coll. Mich 5-23 95 22 (CUIC); NY: 1 ♀, 1 ♂ Ithaca, v 23 1936 (CUIC); 1 unknown Orient, L.I. June 2, 1932, Roy Latham/ Roy Latham Collection (CUIC).

Diagnosis.

Smallest species within the species group; MLC fused immediately apically of ASu, therefore appears Y-shaped; ramellus usually absent or extremely short; Wing L: 8.4-11.5 mm, Flag: 51-57.

Description.

Head: Eyes weakly convergent in frontal view; stemmaticum very weakly raised, sulci not complete; IOD/OL: 0.58-1.25, OOD/OL: 0.25-0.43 (♀), 0.35-0.92 (♂); occipital carina rounded, often very slightly rippled or wavy, usually with a small peak at centre, OC/OL: 0.58-0.95; temple receding, approximately equal to eye width in lateral view; clypeus convex in lateral view and distinctly separated from face, coriaceous, with small regular shallow punctures only slightly larger than on face, separated by approximately their diameter, CH/CAW: 0.57-0.70; face subpolished to very weakly coriaceous, with small shallow punctures separated by approximately their diameter, slightly more dense on sides; FW/FH: 1.28-1.45; antennae with 51-57 flagellomeres, F1: 2.93-4.00; F20: 1.33-2.00; MS/MW: 0.50-0.82; GI/MW: 0.46-0.73.

Mesosoma: Mesoscutum subpolished with very small to minute regular punctures separated by approximately 2 × their diameter; mesopleuron weakly coriaceous, strongly closely punctate, punctures separated by their diameter ore less, above mesopleural fovea subpolished with small punctures separated by 1 –3× their diameter; metapleuron slightly more coriaceous, punctures similar in size to those of mesopleuron, only slightly less dense; epicnemial carina with pleurosternal angle obtuse; scutellum with lateral carina strong along most of length, SL/SW: 1.21-1.69.

Propodeum: ATC strong, weakly arched above ASu; PTC weak to obsolete along ASu, raised into small crests where intersects with MLC, absent along AD, strong along AJC; MLC obsolete and weakly convergent along ASu, strongly convergent just apical to ASu, so that the carinae fuse into one stronger carina for most of AP; LLC almost absent, short carina in AJC may be remnant of this carina; PC strong, not connected to spiracle; spiracular area slightly sloping, nearly horizontal, subpolished with shallow minute indistinct punctures, separated by 2 –3× their diameter; posterior area wavy-wrinkled with very shallow indistinct punctures basally, more wrinkled apically.

Wings: Wing L: 8.4-11.5 mm, CI: 0.48-0.84, AI: 1.95-3.31, SDI: 1.03-1.29, ICI: 0.44-0.80; wings with veins dark brown, stigma light brown with apex whitish-gray, ramellus completely absent or represented by a minute vestigial stub, rarely somewhat long, fenestra not extending below prestigma.

Legs: CL/CW: 1.41-1.85, FL/FW: 6.31-7.85, MT1/MT2: 2.09-2.50; MTS: 0.71-0.89.

Metasoma: Expansion from petiole to postpetiole gradual.

Colour: Reddish-orange, mandibles, palps and legs slightly paler; orbits, tegula and dorsal part of mesepimeron yellowish.

Seasonality.

All collection records are from May and June, with the exception of a single specimen collected on Aug 15 from Bragg Creek, Alberta.

Remarks.

Common and wide-spread early-season species. Most small dark reddish individuals, lacking yellow notauli, collected in May will be this species, at least in the northern Nearctic region. The original description ( Viereck 1905) for this species is quite detailed, and is sufficient to identify this species; I have re-described it here so that the description is consistent with the other members of the species group. I excluded characters from the original description that apply to the species group as a whole, and focused on characters that distinguish it from other species within the group.