Pristiphora gerula (Konow, 1904) Figs 118, 122, 161, 286

Lygaeonematus gerulus Konow, 1904a: 194, 199-200. Lectotype ♂ (GBIF-GISHym3898; here designated) in SDEI, examined. Type locality: Kalkhorst, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

Similar species.

The most similar species is P. saxesenii, valvula 3 of which possesses a small scopa in posterior view (completely absent in P. gerula) and which usually has a dark brown pterostigma (usually pale in P. gerula). Males are best recognised by examining penis valves (see the Key).

Genetic data.

Based on COI barcode sequences, P. gerula belongs to the same BIN cluster (BOLD:AAK9450) as P. abietina, P. compressa, P. decipiens, P. pseudodecipiens, P. saxesenii, and possibly P. robusta (Fig. 5). Maximum distance within the BIN is 2.18% and minimum between species distance is 0.00%. The nearest neighbour to BOLD:AAK9450, diverging by minimum of 3.92%, is BOLD:ACO1401 ( P. euxantha). Based on nuclear data (one specimen and TPI), the nearest neighbour is 1.2% different ( P. abietina).

Host plants.

Picea sp. ( Beneš and Krístek 1979), P. pungens Engelm. (Kula et al. 2016).

Distribution and material examined.

West Palaearctic. Specimens studied are from Estonia, France, Germany, Slovakia, and Sweden.