Omphale acuminata Gijswijt

Hansson, Christer & Shevtsova, Ekaterina, 2012, Revision of the European species of Omphale Haliday (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae), ZooKeys 232, pp. 1-157 : 26-28

Omphale acuminata Gijswijt Figures 839 –4273– 77506539

Omphale acuminata Gijswijt, 1976:79. Holotype female in RMNH, examined.

Omphale acuminata Gijswijt, Askew (2003).

Material.

Type material.Holotype female in RMNH. Additional material. 86♀: Germany 1♀ (RMNH), Russia 69♀ (BMNH, CH, LUZM), Sweden 13♀ (BMNH, CH, LUZM), United Kingdom 3♀ (BMNH).

Diagnosis.

Coxae yellowish white to yellowish brown (Fig. 73); forewing short and high (Fig. 76) with 2-5 admarginal setae and a long radial cell; mesepisternum yellowish brown with metallic tinges (Fig. 73); scutellum frequently with pale and weakly metallic parts; female flagellomeres 2-4 ventrally with one set of setae attached subbasally and reaching beyond apex of flagellomere attached to (Fig. 40). Very similar to Omphale theana , differs only in the length of 7th gastral tergite in female, which is shorter in Omphale acuminata (ratio length/width at base= 0.6-1.1, average= 0.9, n= 59), see above under "Morphometric analyses …” and in having a different WIP - forewing with two large areas with different colours in Omphale acuminata (Fig. 77), but with a single colour in Omphale theana (Fig. 129).

Description.

Female. Length of body 1.2-2.0 mm. Antenna with scape pale brown with base yellowish white and dorsal edge dark brown, to yellowish brown with apical ¼ and dorsal edge dark brown; pedicel and flagellum dark brown; pedicel + flagellum 2.1 × as long as distance between eyes; first flagellomere 1.0 × as long and 1.3 × as wide as second flagellomere (Fig. 40); flagellomeres 2-4 ventrally with one set of setae attached subbasally and reaching beyond apex of flagellomere attached to; longitudinal sensilla on flagellomeres about as long as flagellomere attached to; clava 2-segmented. Face bluish green metallic (Fig. 74), strigose (Fig. 41); clypeus bluish green metallic, smooth, trapezoid, 1.3 × as wide as high; gena pale brown with metallic tinges, to dark brown with green metallic tinges; lower frons bluish green metallic with parts close to eyes and antennal scrobes purple metallic, with engraved strong reticulation, subtorular area smooth; interscrobal area brown with metallic tinges, smooth; antennal scrobes join on frontal suture; frontal suture V-shaped; upper frons golden with engraved weak reticulation; vertex golden green with blue tinges, with engraved very weak reticulation (Fig. 42). Occipital margin rounded (Fig. 42).

Mesoscutum bluish green metallic with golden tinges (Fig. 75), with engraved reticulation (Fig. 39), midlobe with one pair (posterior pair) of setae; anterior ½ of notauli as wide grooves and posterior ½ as indistinct impressions. Scutellum golden with green metallic tinges (Fig. 75), with engraved reticulation (Fig. 39), or dark brown metallic with sides and anterior margin yellowish brown with metallic tinges; 1.2 × as long as wide, with anterior margin smoothly curved forwards. Axillae golden (Fig. 75). Dorsellum golden purple (Fig. 75), smooth and slightly convex (Fig. 39), 0.4 × as long as wide, and 0.7 × as long as length of median propodeum. Lateral pronotum brown with metallic tinges (Fig. 73); prepectus yellowish brown to brown with metallic tinges; mesepisternum yellowish brown with metallic tinges; transepimeral sulcus weakly curved forwards. Propodeum dark brown with golden green tinges (Fig. 75), median part with purple metallic tinges, smooth (Fig. 39); propodeal callus with two setae. Coxae yellowish white to yellowish brown (Fig. 73), hind coxae with base brown with metallic tinges; fore- and midfemora yellowish white, hind femur yellowish brown; tibiae yellowish white; tarsi yellowish white to yellowish brown with 4th tarsomere darker; midleg with first tarsomere 0.4 × as long as length of tarsus. Forewing transparent, veins yellowish brown and setae dark brown (Fig. 76); speculum closed; admarginal setae 2-5, arising from marginal vein; radial cell bare and long, 2.4 × as long as length of postmarginal vein; postmarginal vein 1.0 –1.2× as long as stigmal vein; stigmal vein very narrow at base, expanding rapidly from base. Hind wing transparent, apex pointed (Fig. 76). Forewing WIP (Fig. 77) with apical ½ magenta and basal ½ yellow.

Petiole yellowish brown. Gaster with tergites 1-6 yellowish brown with posterior margin brown, 7th tergite brown to dark brown; gaster elongate and 1.6 –1.8× as long as length of mesosoma; 7th tergite 0.6 –1.1× as long as its basal width.

Male. Unknown.

Host.

Unknown.

Distribution.

France ( Askew 2003), Germany (new record), Greece ( Gijswijt 1976), Russia (new record), Sweden ( Hansson 1991), United Kingdom ( Askew 2003) (Fig. 506).

Remarks.

Males are not known for Omphale acuminata and as species group classification relies heavily on characters in male genitalia the placement of Omphale acuminata in the salicis group is provisional. However, the female of Omphale acuminata is very similar to the female of Omphale theana and until males are found Omphale acuminata is best placed in the salicis group.