Pediobius pupariae Yang, 2015

Cao, Huan-Xi, Salle, John La & Zhu, Chao-Dong, 2017, Chinese species of Pediobius Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Zootaxa 4240 (1), pp. 1-71 : 23

8. Pediobius pupariae Yang, 2015

Pediobius pupariae Yang, in Yang et al. 2015: 119 –122; ♀♂. Holotype ♀, CAFB, examined.

Pediobius pupariae was described in very detail by Yang et al. (2015). This species is extremely similar to P. crassicornis . Based on our observations of the type specimens of P. pupariae , the most significant difference between them is that P. pupariae with a median carina on propodeum, while P. crassicornis without a median carina on propodeum.

Material examined. Holotype ♀, Shandong, Yantai, Zhifu District , 25.III.1998, coll. Zhong-Qi Yang & Chuan-Zhen Wang ( CAFB), ex. Hyphantria cunea (Drury) . Paratypes 10♀ 1♂, same data as the holotype ; other material: 10♀ 3♂, Liaoning, Dalian, Zhuanghe, 06.IV.2001, coll. Zhong-Qi Yang ( IZCAS), ex. Hyphantria cunea (Drury) .

Biology. This species has been largely reared from Hyphantria cunea (Drury) ( Lepidoptera : Arctiidae ). Besides, as a secondary parasitoid, it has been reared occasionally from Exorista japonica (Townsend) ( Diptera : Tachinidae ) and Coccygominus dispar (Viereck) ( Hymenoptera : Ichneumonidae ), which both of the latter two parasites also attack its primary host, H. cunea ( Yang et al., 2015) .

Distribution in China. Hebei, Liaoning, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Tianjin. It probably has a wide distribution in the north of China.

Remarks. Yang et al. (2015) stated that P. pupariae was similar to P. elasmi by the sculpture of mesosoma. We found P. pupariae is closer to P. crassicornis by the sculpture of mesosoma, as MLM of both species lacking longitudinal striation beside notaular depressions and dorsellum weakly protruding apically. Based on our observations and the original description of Yang et al. (2015), the most significant difference between them is that P. pupariae has a median carina on propodeum, while P. crassicornis lacks a median carina on propodeum. By examining the type specimens of P. pupariae , besides the features given in the key, we couldn't figure out more significant difference between them. But because they are morphologically distinct in propodeum, we treat them as separate species before we get more evidence. Its validity and relationships with P. crassicornis and P. elasmi require more evidence and potential testing with additional freshly reared specimens and molecular analyses.