Iconella ? meruloides (Nixon, 1965)

Material examined: MALTA, Wied Għollieqa, 29. vii.2016, 1 ♂, emerged from Ceratonia siliqua seed pods infested with larvae of Apomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) ( Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), LF, NMS; Wied Għollieqa, 9.ix.– 1. x.2016, 2 ♂♂ & 1♀, emerged from Ceratonia siliqua seed pods infested with larvae of Apomyelois ceratoniae, LF, NMS [parasitoid determined by Mark Shaw; host determined by Michael Zerafa].

Notes: The material is definitely not atributable to the related Iconella myeloenta (Wilkinson, 1937) although that is a well-known parasitoid of A. ceratoniae . Although smaller and possibly with a slightly longer ovipositor it agrees well with the type of I. meruloides, known as a parasitoid of the unrelated Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller) ( Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) (Nixon, 1976). New record for the Maltese Islands, but its identity is in doubt pending further material. It is a koinobiont endoparasitoid.