Eupelmus vesicularis

Fusu, Lucian, 2017, An integrative taxonomic study of European Eupelmus (Macroneura) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eupelmidae), with a molecular and cytogenetic analysis of Eupelmus (Macroneura) vesicularis: several species hiding under one name for 240 years, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 181 (3), pp. 519-603 : 560-561

EUPELMUS VESICULARIS COMPLEX

The E. vesicularis complex includes those species of E. ( Macroneura ) that due to an extremely similar morphology were all formerly included in one polymorphic species: E. vesicularis . The complex can be characterized by the following combination of characters in females. Fore wing rudiment with basal cell densely setose dorsally and wing apex rounded. Frontovertex at least slightly roughened, coriaceous-imbricate to reticulate. Pronotal ridge with a line of erect setae. Mesoscutal plate evenly and comparatively densely setose except anteriorly and posteriorly narrowly asetose, with strong metallic luster at least posteriorly. Scutellum and axillae weakly convex, not carinate and with sparse, uniformly distributed, hair-like setae ( Fig. 95 ). Acropleuron imbricate to slightly reticulate, with microsculptured region medially ( Fig. 90 ). Mesotarsus with numerous dark pegs, with asymmetrical peg pattern on basitarsus. Ovipositor sheaths with a pale median band or spot and gaster extending at most to apex of second valvifer. Of all these characters, only the structure and setation of the fore wing and a setose mesoscutal plate with strong metallic luster at least posteriorly are unique within the subgenus.

From this complex of very similar species, I formally recognize here four species: Eupelmus (Macroneura) vesicularis , E. (M.) messene , E. (M.) barai sp. nov., and E. (M.) balcanicus sp. nov. All these species were previously treated under E. vesicularis . For the first three species, the taxonomic hypotheses are also confirmed by molecular data and for E. (M.) barai also by cytogenetic data. Eupelmus (M.) balcanicus is recognized as a distinct species based on its peculiar morphological characters and a 28S sequence distinct from sympatric specimens of E. barai . Beside these four taxa, known to me from a few old specimens from N Africa and S-W Europe are probably other undescribed species, but fresh material is needed for a molecular analysis and an accurate estimation of morphological variability. Eupelmus rameli sp. nov., although superficially similar to E. messene and mixed in the past with E. vesicularis s.l., is not part of the complex . It is close morphologically to E. aseculatus and E. seculatus , as also suggested by the molecular analyses.

The differences between the four included species are subtle as they approach truly cryptic species, and although care has been taken to provide the best characters to separate them, very small specimens (about 1 mm in length) or old faded specimens cannot be identified with confidence. A synthetic table ( Table 3) summarizes the main characters useful in separating the species of the complex that are discussed in details under comparative diagnosis for each species.

Figures

Figures 88–95. Mesosoma in lateral view and scutellar-axillar complex in females of: Eupelmus aseculatus (88), holotype of E. rameli (89, 94), E. barai (90), E. muellneri (91), E. falcatus (92), E. impennis (93), E. vesicularis clade B (95). Scale bars – 0.2 mm for 88–91 and 50 µm for 92–95.