Gasteruption forticorne Semenov, 1892

Bogusch, Petr, 2021, The genus Gasteruption Latreille, 1796 (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: distribution, checklist, ecology, and conservation status, Zootaxa 4935 (1), pp. 1-63 : 20-21

Gasteruption forticorne Semenov, 1892

Figs. 52–60 .

Syn.: Gasteruption exiguum Szépligeti, 1903

Diagnosis: Larger species, the body length of females is 10–14 mm, ovipositor length very variable between 5.5 and 12 mm. Total lentgh of males is 9–14 mm. Species with a long ovipositor sheath, 2.5–4.5× as long as third tibia, with whitish apex 1.4–2.5× as long as the third basitarsus. It is very similar to G. diversipes but differs by well-developed malar space and a shiny mesopleuron with only several punctures. Male third basitarsus is usually darker than at G. diversipes .

Distribution: ( Fig. 60 ): Palaearctic species with the centre of distribution in southern Europe, occurring in the Middle East and probably also in North Africa. Recorded from the following countries of Europe: Austria, Croatia, France, Hungary, Italy + Sicily, Romania, Slovakia and Spain, in Asia from Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia ( Pagliano & Scaramozzino 2000; Žikić et al. 2014; Madl & Mitroiu 2019, and personal records).

This species was unknown from the Czech Republic and Slovakia ( Šedivý 1958; 1989). In recent times, four specimens were determined from the material from Slovakia: an undated, very old specimen from Turňa nad Bodvou, specimen from 1987 from Nová Baňa, from 2007 from Ľútovský Drieňovec, and from 2017 from Horša. No records are known from the Czech Republic. A new species for Slovakia.

Biology: Recorded from June to August. Hosts and plants of occurrence unknown.

Conservation: This species is very rare everywhere and it is recorded in small numbers of specimens from the countries in south Europe. In Slovakia it seems to be rare, too. Due to the completely unknown biology and a newly confirmed occurrence in Slovakia, we put the species to the category DD—Data Deficient.

Figures

FIGURE 60. Distribution map of Gasteruption forticorne in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Full circles represent distribution after 1990 and empty circles distribution until 1990.

FIGURES 52–59. Gasteruption forticorne Semenov, 1892. 52—female, lateral habitus, 53—male, lateral habitus, 54—female, lateral head, 55—female, frontal head, 56—female, dorsal head, 57—female, lateral mesosoma, 58—female, dorsal mesosoma, 59—female, third leg. Scale bars represent 1 mm.