Macroteleia Westwood, 1835

Notton, David G., Popovici, Ovidiu A., Achterberg, Cornelis Van, Rond, Jeroen De & Burn, John T., 2014, Parasitoid wasps new to Britain (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae, Eurytomidae, Braconidae & Bethylidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 99 (99), pp. 1-20 : 4-6

Genus Macroteleia Westwood, 1835

Two species of Macroteleia were recorded from Britain by Notton (2006) and a third species is reported here. Since limited British material is currently available, further variation, particularly in colour, may be encountered. Provisional synonymy between M. minor and M. brevigaster is discussed below. Numerous Palaearctic species of Macroteleia are catalogued by Johnson (1992) and more have been described since ( Kozlov & Kononova 1987, 1990; Kononova & Petrov 2003), although a number of old names have not been accounted for by recent authors, so some further synonymy may yet occur. The host relations of the British species are unknown, although other species of Macroteleia are solitary parasitoids of the eggs of bush crickets ( Orthoptera : Tettigoniidae ) ( Muesebeck 1977).

Key to females of British Macroteleia

1. Gastral tergite 3 with lateral areas not defined; body less elongate ( Fig. 10 ): exposed part of apical tergite 1.4–1.6 times as long as wide; postmarginal vein 1.4–1.6 times as long as marginal (body black; scape red-brown; legs red-brown, all coxae darkened) …………… Macroteleia brevigaster Masner, 1976

- Gastral tergite 3 with lateral area on each side defined by a longitudinal carina; body more elongate ( Figs 4 , 7 ): exposed part of apical tergite 2.2–2.6 times as long as wide; postmarginal vein 1.7– 2.3 times as long as marginal ………………………………………………………………………2

2. Gastral tergite 3 transverse, 1.2 times as wide as long; exposed part of apical tergite 2.2 times as long as wide; postmarginal vein 1.7 times as long as marginal (body black; scape dark brown with base orange-brown; legs orange-brown, mid and hind coxae darkened) ……………………………………………………… Macroteleia atrata Kozlov & Kononova, 1987

- Gastral tergite 3 as long as wide; exposed part of apical tergite 2.6 times as long as wide; postmarginal vein 2.3 times as long as marginal (body dark brown to black above, yellow to yellow brown below; scape yellow-brown; legs including coxae yellow) ……………… Macroteleia bicolora Kieffer, 1908

Figures

Figs 10–12. Macroteleia brevigaster Masner, 1976, ♀. 10. Dorsal habitus. 11. Lateral view. 12. Fore wing. Specimen numbers BMNH(E)968239 and BMNH(E)968240. Scale bars all 1 mm. © Natural History Museum, London.

Figs 4–6. Macroteleia atrata Kozlov & Kononova, 1987, ♀. 4. Dorsal habitus. 5. Lateral view. 6. Fore wing. Specimen number BMNH(E)968238. Scale bars all 1 mm. © Natural History Museum, London.

Figs 7–9. Macroteleia bicolora Kieffer, 1908, ♀. 7. Dorsal habitus. 8. Lateral view. 9. Fore wing. Specimen number BMNH(E)938241. Scale bars all 1 mm. © Natural History Museum, London.