Meteorus pulchricornis ( Wesmael, 1835 )

Rousse, Pascal & Braet, Yves, 2012, Braconid wasps (Hymenoptera) of Reunion. 1. Euphorinae (including Meteorini): key to species and description of six new species, Zootaxa 3449, pp. 26-46 : 40-42

Meteorus pulchricornis ( Wesmael, 1835)

( Fig. 10 )

Meteorus baicalensis Telenga, 1950: 295 ; Meteorus graeffei Fischer, 1957: 107 ; Meteorus japonicus Ashmead, 1906: 190 ; Meteorus macedonicus Fischer, 1957: 104 ; Meteorus nipponensis Viereck, 1912: 624 ; Meteorus striatus Thomson,1895: 2157 ; Meteorus thomsoni Marshall,1899: 301 ; Meteorus tuberculifer Fischer,1957: 108 ; Perilitus pulchricornis Wesmael, 1835: 42 .

Diagnosis. Dark species with mesosoma mainly blackish and metasoma usually reddish, tergite I always black. Ventral margins of tergite I partially joining, presence of a postero-median area on mesoscutum, face barely wider than high, clypeus densely punctate with short hairs, forewing with 1R1 sessile or subsessile.

Description. Huddleston (1980).

Distribution records. Palearctic and Oriental regions, New Zealand. Introduced into mainland USA. Reunion (new record).

Host records. 67 lepidopteran species ( Arctiidae , Geometridae , Herminiidae , Hesperiidae , Lasiocampidae , Lycaenidae , Lymantriidae , Lyonetiidae , Noctuidae , Nolidae , Nymphalidae , Papilionidae , Plutellidae , Psychidae , Pyralidae , Tineidae and Tortricidae ).

Material examined. 1Ƥ Salazie / Mare à Poule d’Eau, alt. 1300m, VI.2011, coll. Cirad; 1Ƥ Le Tampon / Volcano road, alt. 1950m, VI.2011, coll. T. Ramage; 1Ƥ same locality, alt. 1800m, IV.2011, coll. T. Ramage; 3 Ƥ Le Tampon / Grande Ferme, alt. 1600m, V.2011, coll. GDS (light trap); 2Ƥ St Leu / Le Plate, alt. 650m, V.2011, coll. GDS (light trap); 2Ƥ Etang Salé, alt. 100–600m, V.2011, coll. GDS (light trap); 1Ƥ Le Tampon, alt. 400m, V.2011, coll. GDS (light trap); 2Ƥ Ƥ Trois Bassins / Forêt des Bénares, alt. 1680m, XI., coll. T. Ramage; 1Ƥ Bras Panon / La Caroline, alt. 230m, XII.2010, coll. Cirad; 2Ƥ St Paul / Tan Rouge, alt. 800m, I.2011, coll. Cirad; 1Ƥ Ste Rose / Pas de Bellecombe, alt. 2350m, IV.2008, coll. IDR (light trap); 1Ƥ Petite Ile / Piton Bloc, alt. 850m, V.2007, coll. Cirad; 1Ƥ Cilaos / Ilet des Salazes, alt. 1550m, II.2007, coll. IDR (light trap); 1Ƥ St Denis / La Roche Ecrite, alt. 1200–1700m, I.2003, coll. IDR (light trap); 1Ƥ Ste Suzanne / Forêt Dugain, alt. 860m, XII.2001, coll. Cirad.

Comments. This species shows large intraspecific color variations, especially on metasoma. This is probably related to the wide variety of environments in which it was collected: the darker specimens have been collected at high altitude (> 800m). The identification of specimens from Reunion was confirmed by a molecular analysis on CO1 DNA (J. Stigenberg), though they exhibit significantly shorter antennae (23–26 flagellomeres) than noticed in the Huddleston’s (1980) redescription of the species (29–33 flagellomeres).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael, 1835) habitus. a: commonest form. b: melanic form.