Gasteruption assectator (Linnaeus, 1758)

Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Cornelis van, Wu, Jia-Xuan, Wang, Hang & Zhang, Qi-Jing, 2021, An illustrated key to the species of Gasteruption Latreille (Hymenoptera, Gasteruptiidae) from Palaearctic China, with description of four new species, ZooKeys 1038, pp. 1-103 : 1

Gasteruption assectator (Linnaeus, 1758)

Ichneumon assectator Linnaeus, 1758: 566.

Gasteruption assectator ; Zhao et al. 2012: 24.

Gasteruption margotae Madl, 1987: 225-227. Synonymised with G. assectator (Linnaeus) by Madl (1990b) and with G. boreale (Thomson) by Johansson and van Achterberg (2016).

Distribution.

China (Heilongjiang; Hubei (1800 m alt.), Jilin (740 m alt.), Shanxi (1148-1700 m alt.), Qinghai (3300-4288 m alt.), Tibet (2800 m alt.), Xinjiang (1148-2425 m alt.), Russia (Far East), Europe.

Notes.

The interpretation of the very similar Gasteruption boreale (Thomson, 1883) is problematic because the lectotype is a male and the most reliable differences are found in the setosity of the ovipositor sheath of the female. The somewhat elongated malar space indicates that it belongs to a species of the G. assectator aggregate with entirely adpressed setosity of the ovipositor sheath and the ovipositor sheath is usually somewhat longer than the hind tibia. So far, no females of typical G. boreale are known from China. Gasteruption assectator is easily confused with G. latitibia Zhao, van Achterberg & Xu, 2012; if the head is distinctly convex dorsally and minute pronotal teeth are present, the specimen most likely belongs to the latter species.