Macroteleia bicolora Kieffer, 1908

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 : 7

Macroteleia bicolora Kieffer, 1908

Figs 7–9

Identification

This specimen was identified to genus using the key by Masner (1980) but it did not agree with either of the two previously known British species of Macroteleia ( Notton, 2006) . The identity of the species was confirmed by the second author, who has examined the type and compared it to published descriptions ( Kieffer 1908, 1914, 1926; Kozlov 1987; Kononova & Kozlov 2008). Johnson (1992) catalogued numerous Palaearctic species of this genus and more have been described since ( Kozlov & Kononova 1987, 1990; Kononova & Petrov 2003), although many of the older species have not been reinterpreted recently, and it is possible that the name M. bicolora will turn out to be a synonym.

Material examined

ENGLAND: Hants, Botley Wood, SU 5409, ♀, 31 Jul. 2007, Malaise trap, K. J. Wheeler ( BMNH).

Distribution

This species was originally described from Italy by Kieffer (1908), and its distribution includes: Northern Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia (Northern Caucasus), Ukraine ( Kononova & Kozlov 2008) and Denmark ( Buhl 1999). It is recorded here as new to Britain.

Biology

The biology of this species is poorly known; however, the habitat at the Botley Wood Local Nature Reserve and SSSI is an extensive area of varied woodland, scrub and grassland with rides and ancient droveways of high conservation significance for invertebrates managed by Hampshire County Council/ Natural England.

Figures

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.