Bortesia similis (Riek, 1966)

Boehmova, Julie, Rasplus, Jean-Yves, Taylor, Gary S. & Jansta, Petr, 2022, Description of two new Australian genera of Megastigmidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) with notes on the biology of the genus Bortesia, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 90, pp. 75-99 : 75

Bortesia similis (Riek, 1966)

Figs 6A-G , 7A-B

Material.

Australia • 1 ♀; South Australia, Mount Lofty ; 34.97539°S, 138.70528°E; 21 Jan. 2019; P. Janšta, J. Böhmová leg.; sweeping Hakea rostrata ; CUPC (JBOH0032_0101 (CUPC000164)) • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; SAMA (CUPC000198-199) • 8 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; SAMA (CUPC000200-207) • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; em. from Hakea rostrata twigs (Jan.-Feb. 2019); CUPC (CUPC000165-166, 217) • 3 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; em. from Hakea rostrata twigs (Jan.-Feb. 2019); CUPC (CUPC000167-168, 218) • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; em. from Hakea rostrata buds (Jan.-Feb. 2019); CUPC (CUPC000208) • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; em. from Hakea rostrata buds (Jan.-Feb. 2019); CUPC (CUPC000209) • 8 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 34.97538°S, 138.71064°E; 20 Jan. 2019; swept from Hakea rostrata ; CUPC (CUPC000169-176) • 9 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; CUPC (CUPC000177-185) • 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; SAMA (CUPC000186-189) • 8 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; SAMA (CUPC000190-197) • 5 ♀♀; South Australia, Kangaroo Island, Flinders Chase NP, Gosse lands; 35.93625°S, 136.93204°E; 12 Jan. 2019; P. Janšta, J. Böhmová leg.; sweeping; CUPC (CUPC000210, 219-222) .

Male recognition. We have reared and swept several males of B. similis during our survey in Mt. Lofty which is the first male record for this species. Face and dorsal thorax pilosity, sculpture of dorsal mesosoma and wing venation are similar to those of females (Fig. 6A-C ). Males of B. similis can be easily recognized from males of B. mirostigmus by their coloration. They have the entire lower face, lower part of upper face, lateral panel of pronotum, prepectus, acropleuron, fore- and midlegs and hind femur, tibia and tarsi yellow. Upper part of upper face, rest of metasoma dorsally and laterally, and hind coxa are metallic green to blue green. Dorsal and lateral metasoma is brown to bright brown with blue green metallic reflections dorsally (Fig. 6D-G ). In contrast, males of B. mirostigmus are darker with more extensive coloration ( Riek 1966).

Distribution.

Australia: NSW: Strahorn state forest ( Riek 1966); SA: Adelaide, Mount Lofty; Kangaroo Isl. (new records).

Host.

Hakea leucoptera ( Riek 1966) and H. rostrata (new record).

Remarks on the biology of B. similis .

While Riek (1966) reared B. similis from “pineapple” (bud) galls on Hakea leucoptera , we observed females of this species ovipositing into the buds, but also into the twigs of Hakea rostrata . Subsequently, several specimens were reared from the twigs, leaves and slightly enlarged buds of H. rostrata (Fig. 7A ) sampled in the same locality. The twigs and the leaves show no sign of swellings, but the leaves from which Bortesia emerged appeared to be dry apically (Fig. 7B ).

Together with Bortesia specimens, we also reared several individuals of Megastigmus sp. from the sampled organs of H. rostrata . Because no native Australian species of Megastigmus is known to be a gall-maker or phytophagous on Hakea , and because no other insects emerged from our samples, we considered Megastigmus sp. to be a parasitoid of B. similis .

Figures

Figure 6. Bortesia similis A female habitus, lateral view B female head, antennae and mesosoma, frontal / dorsal view C female fore wing, dorsal view D male habitus, dorsal view E male habitus, lateral view F male head, frontal view G male antenna, lateral view. Scale bars: 200 µm.

Figure 7. Hakea rostrata with emergence holes of Bortesia similis A enlarged bud (indicated by arrow) B leaf (emergence hole indicated by arrow).