Euxiphydria potanini (Jakovlev)

Smith, David R. & Shinohara, Akihiko, 2011, Review of the Asian wood-boring genus Euxiphydria (Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Xiphydriidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 23, pp. 1-22 : 4-10

Euxiphydria potanini (Jakovlev) Figs 13 22

Xiphydria Potanini Jakovlev 1891: 3, 15-16.

Euxiphydria potanini : Semenov & Gussakovskij, 1935: 117.

Xiphydria ruficeps Mocsáry 1909: 39. Synonymy by Semenov 1921: 83.

Euxiphydria ruficeps : Semenov & Gussakovskij, 1935: 117.

Xiphydria ruficeps Matsumura 1912: 210, pl. 54, fig. 22. Preoccupied by Xiphydria ruficeps Mocsáry, 1909. Synonymy by Takeuchi 1936: 54.

Xiphydria akazui Matsumura 1932: 31, 44, pl. 8, fig. 9. New name for Xiphydria ruficeps Matsumura (see below). Synonymy by Takeuchi 1936: 54.

Xiphydria Maidli Zirngiebl 1937: 342. Synonymy by Takeuchi 1938: 183.

Euxiphydria subtrifida Maa 1944: 33. new synonymy. For other subsequent references, see Smith (1978).

Diagnosis.

Length, 10.0-20.0 mm. Black, head bright orange on genae and vertex behind ocelli ( Figs 16-18). Wings darkly infuscate, more hyaline apical to stigma ( Fig. 16 ). Frons densely rugose to reticulate, reticulations extending behind ocelli onto anterior part of vertex ( Fig. 18 ) and onto lower half of genae ( Fig. 19 ). Antenna with 13-16 antennomeres; length of first four antennomeres as 1.0:0.3:0.8:0.4.. Malar space between eye and antennal groove broad, equal to length of groove ( Fig. 18 ). Head from above slightly broadened behind eyes, distance behind eyes longer than eye length ( Fig. 17 ). Axilla and mesoscutellum entirely densely, reticulately sculptured ( Fig. 15 ). Mesepimeron with short, irregular carinae ( Fig. 14 ). Hind basitarsomere shorter than length of remaining tarsomeres combined, as 0.7:1.0. Length of sheath slightly shorter than length of basal plate. Male similar to female; genitalia as in Figs 21, 22 .

Types.

Xiphydria potanini was described from a single female from "Chinae prov. Gan-ssu." Semenov and Gussakovskij (1935) stated that the type is at the Institute of Zoology, Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Mocsáry (1909) described Xiphydria ruficeps from "Sibiria orientalis: Ussuri (Kasakewitsch)." He did not state the number of specimens. Two females labeled as types are in the HNHM. One is labeled "Ussuri, Kasakewitsch, 1907, Korb," "Typus 1909 Xiphydria ruficeps Mocs.," "DEI - GISHym 10948" and the other “Ussuri,” "Typu s 1909 Xiphydria ruficeps Mocs.," "DEI - GISHym 10949." The specimen with “Kasakewitsch” on the label is here designated lectotype; the other specimen labeled only “Ussuri” is a paralectotype.

The lectotype of Xiphydria ruficeps Matsumura, described from "Hokkaido (Sapporo)" is at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. The number of specimens was not given by Matsumura, but the treatment of Matsumra’s xiphydriid types by Watanabe (1956) serves as a lectotype designation.

Xiphydria akazui first appeared in Matsumura (1932) wherein Matsumura cited it as "Xiphydria akazui (X. ruficeps Mats.)" in the Japanese section (p. 31), although only "Xiphydria akazui" was given in the English part of the book (p. 44). In the footnote on page 44, Matsumura mentioned "This may be a form of X. ruficeps Mocz [sic]." Matsumura may have recognized that his name Xiphydria ruficeps was preoccupied by Xiphydria ruficeps Mocsáry, and thus merely proposed a replacement name, Xiphydria akazui , for his species rather than intending to describe a new species. He did not specifically state that Xiphydria akazui was a new species or that it was a proposal of a new name, but he follows with a brief description. Xiphydria akazui is entered in the catalogs by Smith (1978) and Taeger et al. (2010) as a new species, not a replacement name. If regarded as a new species, the type specimen of Xiphydria akazui , may be the same specimen as the type of Xiphydria ruficeps Matsumura. Indications supporting that Matsumura (1932) proposed a new name and did not intend Xiphydria akazui to be a new species are that Watanabe (1956) did not give it in his list of Matsumura’s type specimens of Xiphydriidae . Matsumura always indicated that taxa were new when describing them, and there are no specimens of xiphydriids labeled Xiphydria akazui in Matsumura’s collection at the University of Hokkaido; there is only one specimen with a red label and Watanabe’s identification label of Xiphydria ruficeps (Ohara, pers. comm.).

Xiphydria maidli was described by Zirngiebl (1937) from "Ostsibirien (Ajetachka-Krasnaja bei Chabarowska)." The holotype is in the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria, and a paratype female from "Japan (Nopporo)" is in the Zoologische Staatssammlung, Munich, Germany. Blank (1996) regarded the two specimens as syntypes and unnecessarily designated a lectotype for this species. S. M. Blank (pers. comm.) pointed out that Zirngiebl stated “Typ” in the singular for the Siberian specimen, which therefore is the holotype. The other specimen from Japan would be a paratype.

In the introduction to his 1944 paper, Maa stated that the types of species "when not specially mentioned, are deposited in author’s collection." Under type specimens for Euxiphydria subtrifida , he stated "Mao-Shan, Lungchien Hsien, SW, Chekiang, 3-5.vii.1939 (H. C. Yao), 5 males. Further paratopotypes in the collection of the Provincial Institute for Agricultural Improvement, Sungyang, Chekiang." A holotype was not designated, and therefore the five males are considered syntypes. We assume they are in the “author’s collection," since he stated that the additional specimens are in Chekiang. This was verified by the junior author, who made note that the syntypes are in the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute Wufeng near Taichung ( Shinohara 1988).

Distribution.

CHINA: Heilongjiang and Tibet ( Xiao et al. 1992); Henan ( Wei et al. 2008); Fujian ( Wei and Nie 2003, as subtrifida); Gansu (type locality, Jakovlev 1891); Hunan; Jilin (=Kirin); Zhejiang (=Chekiang, Maa 1944). JAPAN: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku. NORTH KOREA: Mt. Geumgangsan. RUSSIA: Amur, Primorskii Krai, Sakhalin ( Semenov and Gussakovkij 1935). SOUTH KOREA: Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do ( Smith et al. 2011). Distributions and additional specific localities covering the countries listed are given in ( Matsumura (1927, 1930, 1931, 1932), Semenov and Gusakovskij (1935), Smith et al. (2011), ( Takeuchi (1937a, 1937b), ( Togashi (1973, 1974), Watanabe (1956), Wei et al. (2008), Xiao et al. (1992) and Yano (1917).

Specimens examined.

CHINA: "Mandchourie, Prov.: Kirin, Kao-lin-tze," “20.IV.40” (1 ♀, USNM, det by Maa 1948); "Manchukuo, Koolingtze, 13.7.40, Alin" (MNHU); Hunan, Mt. Yunshan, 1200 m, nr. Wugang, 4.V.2009, A. Shinohara (1 ♀, 5 ♂, NSMT, USNM), same except 10.V.2009 (4 ♂, NSMT), same except 5.V.2009 (1 ♂, NSMT). JAPAN: Ikutawara, Engaru, Hokkaido, 28. VII. 1981, T. Kinoshita (2 ♀, NSMT); same except 30. VII. 1982 (4 ♀, NSMT, USNM); Akkeshi, Kushiro, Hokkaido, 19. VII. 2002, A. Shinohara (1 ♀, NSMT); Horoka, Tokachi, Hokkaido, 25, VII. 1974, A. Watanabe (1 ♀, NSMT); Horoka-Mitsumata, Tokachi, Hokkaido, 20-21, VI. 1998, H. Hara (1 ♀, NSMT); Sounkyo, Kamikawa, Hokkaido, 18. VII. 1971, A. Shinohara (1 ♀, NSMT); same locality, 2. VII. 1984, R. Kano (1 ♀, NSMT); Arashiyama, Asahigawa, Hokkaido, 26. VII. 1987, H. Matsuura (1 ♀, NSMT); Ichinosawa, nr. Jozankei, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 26. VI. 1984, A. Shinohara (1 ♀, NSMT); Meguro-Chattsunai, Erimo, Hidaka, Hokkaido, 28. VII. 1984, M. Tomokuni (1 ♀, NSMT); Tashiro, Miyako, Iwate Pref., 15. VI. 1986, K. Emoto (1 ♀, NSMT); Akane-rindo, Yokote, Haranomachi, Fukushima Pref., 6. VI. 1980, T. Shimomura (1 ♀, NSMT); same locality, 8. VI. 1980, S. Tsuyuki (1 ♀, NSMT); same locality, 24. VI. 1984, S. Ohmomo (1 ♀, NSMT); Hodosan, Nagatoro, Saitama Pref., 18. VI. 1994, K, Emoto (1 ♀, NSMT); Kamiange, Mt. Jinbayama, Tokyo Met., 7. V. 1998, A. Shinohara (1 ♀, NSMT); Hikagezawa, Mt. Takaosan, Tokyo Met., 20. V. 1990, S. Ueno (1 ♀, NSMT); Nippara, Okutama, Tokyo Met., 24. V. 1964, T. Nakamura (1 ♀, NSMT); Aikawamachi, Kanagawa Pref., 16. VI. 1984, T. Kinoshita (2 ♀, NSMT); Miyagase, Sagami, Kanagawa Pref., 28.V. 1955, S. Asahina (1 ♀, NSMT); Mt. Daibosatsu, Yamanashi Pref., 27. VI. 1976, K. Mizuno (1 ♀, NSMT); Koganezawa, Otsuki, Yamanashi Pref., 26. V. 1974, K. Kimura (2 ♀, NSMT); Doisokoiso-Mitsuzawa, Shimobe, Minobumachi, Yamanashi Pref., 8. VI. 2005, S. Tsuyuki (1 ♀, NSMT); Azusayama, Kawakami, Nagano Pref., 5. VII. 1980, Y. Kurosawa (1 ♀, NSMT); Omi, Ohara, Sakyoku, Kyoto Pref., 16. VI. 1984, W. Suzuki (2 ♀, NSMT); "Aidake, Torigoe-Mura, Ishikawa Pref., 27.V.1973, I. Togashi (1 ♀, USNM, det by Togashi, 1974); "105, Col. Kumamoto, Ibukisan (Shiga), 22.VI.1980 (1 ♂, SDEI). NORTH KOREA: Mt. Kongo, [= Mt. Geumgangsan,], Chosen, July 28, 1924, Coll. Y. Kurisue (1 ♀, NSMT). RUSSIA: Ussuri, Kasakewitsch (types of Xiphydria ruficeps , HNHM); Szahalin, Csehovo-hegy, Z. Szklon, 15.VI.1995, Ermolenko (1 ♀, HNHM). SOUTH KOREA: Gyeonggi-do, Hakwanggyo-dong, Suwon, 8.VI.2009, A. Shinohara (1 ♀, NSMT); Gangwon-do, Odaesan, Pyeongchang-gun, Yeonggam-sa, alt. 800 m, 9.VI.2003, P. Tripotin (1♀, PT); Gangwon-do, Samcheok-si, Hegang-myeon, Gajeon-ri, N. 37 22', E128 33', 6 Malaise traps, 5-18-VI-2007, Tripotin rec. (1 ♀, PT).

Host.

Acer mono Maxim. ( Aceraceae ) is the only recorded host for this species (Krivolutskaya & Stroganova 1966, Stroganova 1968).

Discussion.

Although we do not have access to types of all species, we have examined a good number of specimens and can now give a better idea of variation and distribution of this species in Asia.

Two described species were placed in Euxiphydria by Semenov and Gussakovskij (1935) when they described the genus, Xiphydria potanini , known from a single specimen, and Xiphydria ruficeps Mocsáry recorded from the eastern coast of Russia (Ussuri and Vladivostok areas, Sakhalin), Japan, and China (Kirin, Manchuria). The two were kept separate by their size ( Euxiphydria potanini 10 mm and Euxiphydria ruficeps 12-17 mm), different number of antennomeres (13 in Euxiphydria potanini , 14 in Euxiphydria ruficeps ), shape of the radial cell in the forewing (more narrowly rounded in Euxiphydria potanini ), position of crossvein 1m-cu in the forewing (interstitial with 2r-m in Euxiphydria potanini , meeting M apical to 2r-m in Euxiphydria ruficeps ), length vs. width of cell 1CU in the forewing (longer in Euxiphydria potanini ), wing color (less infuscated in Euxiphydria potanini ) and mesopleural sculpturation (denser in Euxiphydria potanini ). Gussakovskij (1935) retained these characters, separating the same two species. Takeuchi (1938) considered these characters variable and considered Xiphydria potanini , Xiphydria ruficeps Mocsáry, Xiphydria ruficeps Matsumura, Xiphydria akazui , and Xiphydria maidli (as a new synonym) synonymous. Maa (1944), however, retained Euxiphydria potanini and Euxiphydria ruficeps as distinct species and added another, Euxiphydria subtrifida . In 1949, Maa, being quite cautious, kept Euxiphydria potanini , Euxiphydria ruficeps , Euxiphydria subtrifida , and Euxiphydria maidli as separate species, even though he pointed out the variability of the characters used to separate them. He regarded it essential to see more material to resolve their systematic status. Watanabe (1956) also treated Euxiphydria potanini and Euxiphydria ruficeps Mocsáry as separate species; Euxiphydria potanini from China and Hokkaido (a new record), and Euxiphydria ruficeps from Japan, Siberia, Manchuria, and Sakhalin. Subsequently, Stroganova (1968), Smith (1978) and Taeger et al (2010) have considered all as a single, variable species, accepting Takeuchi’s (1938) classification.

We have not examined the holotype of Xiphydria potanini Jakovlev. Based on the description ( Jakovlev 1891), especially the black and red color of the head and black legs, it cannot be the other species treated here. The description is sufficient to place Xiphydria potanini as the widespread species treated here.

We conclude that all species listed in the synonymy are conspecific and that characters previously used to separate them are variable, agreeing with Takeuchi (1938) and Maa’s (1949) study of variation. Size does not mean much in xiphydriids where the same species can vary considerably in length. We have checked about 48 females and males, and they are 10-20 mm long. Number of antennomeres in multiarticulated species can vary. Of 30 specimens, 56 antennae were intact, and they have 13 antennomeres (13 antennae), 14 (34), 15 (7), and 16 (2). Of the 26 specimens with both antennae intact, five specimens have different number of antennomeres (13 and 14 in all cases) on each antenna. Watanabe (1956) also noted that number of antennomeres can vary from 13-15. The wing color and sculpture of the mesopleuron can vary slightly, the latter sometimes slightly denser in smaller individuals. Wing venation can vary in xiphydriids, as pointed out by Smith (2008), and shapes of the cells as pointed out by Semenov and Gussakovskij (1935) are rather vague.

Matsumura’s species, Xiphydria ruficeps (and Xiphydria akazui if not considered a replacement name), is with little doubt synonymous with Euxiphydria potanini . The descriptions are brief, but compare well with Euxiphydria potanini , and the specimens are from Hokkaido and Honshu where nothing else can be confused with Xiphydria potanini .

Zirngiebl (1937) described Euxiphydria maidli from eastern Siberia. There is nothing in this area that can be confused with Euxiphydria potanini . Zirngiebl’s description agrees with Euxiphydria potanini , and comparison with images of the paratype (S. Schmidt, pers. comm.) confirmed its synonymy.

Euxiphydria subtrifida was described from males from Chekiang, China. Even Maa (1949) had reservations about its validity, stating that it was probably inseparable from Euxiphydria ruficeps . Males we have seen of Euxiphydria potanini from China agree with Maa’s description, and we therefore propose its synonymy under Euxiphydria potanini .

Figures

Figures 13 - 15. Euxiphydria potanini 13 Lateral view 14 Thorax, lateral view 15 Thorax, dorsal view.

Figures 21 - 22. Euxiphydria potanini, male genitalia 21 Dorsal view 22 Ventral view.

Figures 16 - 20. Euxiphydria potanini 16 Dorsal view 17 Head, dorsal view 18 Head, front view 19 Head, lateral view 20 Mouthparts (labial palpi above, maxillary palpi below).