Pristaulacus compressus ( Spinola, 1808 )

Published, First, 2007, Revision of the Palaearctic species of Pristaulacus Kieffer, 1900 (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae), Zootaxa 1433, pp. 1-76 : 23-27

Pristaulacus compressus ( Spinola, 1808)

( Figs. 7, 27, 47, 67, 84, 100, 101, 104, 106, 108, 110, 113, 118)

Aulacus compressus Spinola, 1808: 48 (♂).

Aulacus obscuripennis Westwood, 1841: 537 (♀).

Aulacus patrati: Magretti, 1882: 300 (nec Audinet-Serville, 1833).

Pristaulacus Schlettereri Kieffer, 1903: 457 (♀, ♂).

Aulacus (Pristaulacus) holtzi Schulz, 1906: 130 (♂) (syn. nov.).

Aulacus Beckeri Tournier, 1911: 41 , nomen nudum (syn. nov.).

Aulacus plurimaculatus Tournier, 1911: 41 , nomen nudum (syn. nov.).

Aulacus transversostriatus Tournier, 1911: 41 , nomen nudum (syn. nov.).

Tetraulacinus holtzi: Kieffer, 1912: 364 .

Pristaulacus schlettereri: Kieffer, 1912: 382 .

Pristaulacus compressus: Kieffer, 1912: 385 .

Pristaulacus compressus: Hedicke, 1939: 6 .

Pristaulacus schlettereri: Hedicke, 1939: 15 .

Tetraulacinus holtzi: Hedicke, 1939: 17 .

Aulacostethus schlettereri: Györfi, 1964: 50 .

Pristaulacus compressus: Smith, 2001: 281 .

Material examined. ITALY: ♂ labelled: “ Aulacus compressus gains Spinola, tres rare, attention auf ailes

super. Spinola”/…unreadable…/ Syntypus /ex coll. Guérin-Mèneville/coll. Gribodo/Museo civico di Genova” ( MCSN); 2♀ (without data), coll. P. Magretti ( MCSN). GERMANY: Landskrone, Heppingen (Bad Neunahr), 1♀, 1883 ( ZFMK); Neuenahv (? poorly readable), 2♀ ( DEI); Saxonia, Hunzel. 1♀ ( ZMUC); 1♀ (without data) coll. Konow ( DEI); 1♂ (without data) ( DEI); Wiesbaden, VIII.1887, 2♀, 1♂ ( ZMHB); Hallgarten, 12.VI.1927, 1♀, “Oestrich Winkel, Rheingau, auf Vitis vinifera L.” ( AEIC); German., 1♂, Klug ( ZMHB); Deutschland, 2♀ ( ZMHB). AUSTRIA: Burgenland, Neusiedrersee dist., 20.VIII.1960, 1♂, G.J. Kerrich leg. ( BMNH); Linz, 12.VII.1890, 1♀ ( ZMHB). SWITZERLAND: Gimel, Jura, coll. Maerky, 1♀ ( MHNG); Onex, 30 Iuin, 1♂ ( MHNG); Martigny, 24.VII.(18)78, Coll. Tournier, 1♀ ( MHNG). RUSSIA: Samara, VII.29, 1♀, A. Seyrig ( MNHN); VIII.29, 1♀ ( MNHN); VII.30, 1♀ ( MNHN). POLAND: holotype ♀ of Aulacus obscuripennis Westwood, 1841 labelled “Polonia, Waga/11512, obscuripennis /Type/ obscuripennis Westw. /Zool. Mus. Berlin” ( ZMHB). UKRAINE: Kharkov province: 3♀, 9♂ ( ZIN); Khar’k.(ovskoi) g.(ubernii), Baban, 23.VI.1883, 1♀, 1♂, Shevyrev leg. ( ZIN); Salov Kut, bliz’Kharkova, 1.VII.(19)07, 1♀, B.ll’in leg. ( ZIN); Kuryazh, 27.VI.1895, 1♂, coll. Yaroshenko ( ZIN). CZECH REPUBLIC: central Bohemia, Týřovice, 1– 8.VII.1980, 1♂, Régl leg. ( OLML). BULGARIA: Ivanski, b. Schumen, 15–30.VII.1969, 1♀, 1♂, Dr. Wallis ( DEI); south-west of Pirin, Melnik, m 700, 15.VI.1990, 1♀, Taeger & Menzel leg. ( DEI); Arkutino, s. Burgos, 20.VI–2.VII.1970, 1♀, Dr. Wallis leg. ( DEI); Sandanski, 12.VII.1972, 1♂, W.J. Pulawski leg. ( DEI); Barakii, Orisore, 10.VII.1935, 1♀. ROMANIA: Agigea, 4.VII.1968, 1♀, C. Nagy leg. ( AEIC); Limaru, 6.VII.1965, 1♀, C. Nagy leg. ( AEIC); Jurrlofea, 17.VII.1964, 1♀, C. Nagy leg. ( AEIC). JUGOSLAVIA: Srbija, Kolubara R., Drazevac, VII.1979, 1♀, L. Mihajlovic leg. ( BMNH); Srbija, Zajecar, VII.1979, 3♀, L. Mihajlovic leg. ( BMNH); VIII.1979, 1♀, L. Mihajlovic leg. ( BMNH). FRANCE: Mout, Moutiers (Savoie), coll. O. Sichel, 1867, 1♀ ( MNHN); Var, Cavalaire, 1♀ ( MNHN); Aragn t, bois de suprus, 1♀, coll. J. Pérez, 1915 ( MNHN). ITALY: Alto Adige, Meran (= Merano), 1♀ ( ZMHB); Veneto, Conegliano (Treviso), VI.1930, 1♀ ( CPTO); Piedmont, Torino hills, 1♂, 1♀, Mourglia leg., ex larva, from wood of Acacia sp. , collected 30.III.1973, emerged 3.VII.1973 ( MRSN); Piedmont, Aisone (Cuneo), 22.VIII.1986, 1♀, Scaramozzino leg. ( MRSN); Piedmont, Tigliole ( AT), 1–31.VIII.1982, 2♀, from Malaise trap ( MRSN); 20.VII–7.VIII.1995, 1♀, G. Pagliano leg. ( DBAC); Parco (?), 10.VII.1916, 1♀ (“Leccio”= from wood of Quercus ilex ?) ( MSNP); 21.VII.1916, 1♂, 1♀ ( MSNP); Emilia-Romagna, Scardavilla wood (Forlì), V.1984, 1♀, G. Sama leg., ex larva, from wood of Quercus sp. containing Xylotrechus antilope (MSNP) ; Emilia-Romagna, Pineta San Vitale (Ravenna), 2♂, Campadelli leg., ex larva, from wood collected 10.III.1996, emerged 22.V.1996 ( MRSN); Emilia-Romagna, Pineta S. Vitale (Ravenna), 1♂, G. Campadelli leg., from wood collected 10.III.1996, emerged 3.VI.1996 ( MSNP); 1♀, from wood collected 10.III.1996, emerged 10.VI.1996 ( MFNB); 1♂, ex larva, from wood collected 30.III.1996, emerged 26.V.1996 ( DBAC); 1♀, ex larva, from wood collected 7.IV.1996, emerged 15.VI.1996 ( MFNB); 1♀, ex larva, from wood collected 21.IV.1996, emerged 7.VII.1996 ( MSNP); 1♂, ex larva, from wood collected 28.IV.1996, emerged 3.VI.1996 ( MFNB); 17.IV.1989, 1♀ ( MSNP); Emilia-Romagna, Solarolo (Ravenna), V.1987, 1♂, G. Campadelli leg. ( MSNP); Emilia-Romagna, Filo (Ferrara), 1♂, R. Fabbri leg., from wood of Ficus carica collected 6.III.1992, emerged 29.VII.1992 ( MSNP); Emilia-Romagna, Bosco di Panfilia, S. Agostino (Ferrara), 20.VII.1995, 1♀, from Malaise trap ( MCFS); Emilia-Romagna, Ferrara, Comacchio, Lido delle Nazioni, 29.VI.1989, 1♂, Pantaleoni leg., on flowers of Allium porrus (MCFS) ; Emilia-Romagna, Pineta Classe (Ravenna), 19.VII.1985, 1♀, 1♂, Campadelli leg. ( MRSN, MFNB); 25.VII.1985, 1♂ ( MRSN); 27.VII.1985, 1♀ ( MRSN); Emilia-Romagna, Mantova, Marmirolo, Riserva Naturale Bosco di Fontana, 14.VI.1998, 5♀, Mason & Tagliapietra leg., Malaise trap ( GGCP); 14.VII.1998, 1♀ ( GGCP); 20.VII.1998, 3♀ ( GGCP); 28.VII.1998, 3♀ ( GGCP); 11.VIII.1998, 1♀, 1♂ ( GGCP); 18.VIII.1998, 2♀ ( GGCP); Tuscany, Firenze, 1♂, coll. E. André, 1914 ( MNHN); Tuscany, Follonica, VIII.1978, 1♀, Arveda leg. ( MRSN); Latium, parco Marcigliana, loc. Casal Boccone, 14– 21.VI.2000, 3♂ ex larva, from wood of Ulmus sp. containing Chlorophorus pilosus glabromaculatus and Exocentrus punctipennis, A.B. Biscaccianti leg. ( CTOC); Abruzzo, L’Aquila, 15–31.VII.1993, 1♀, Di Marco leg. ( MRSN). SLOVENIA (?): Winden, Bgld., 8.VII.1959, 2♂, H. Priesner ( ZMUC, USNM). MOROCCO: Haut Atlas, Tizi n’Test, m 2000, VII.1986, 1♀, G. Sama leg., ex larva, from Chlorophorus pilosus (MSNP) ; VI.1983, 1♀, ex larva, G. Curletti leg. ( MRSN); 1.VII.1988, 1♀, ex larva, emerged together with Chlorophorus pilosus, G. Sama leg. ( DBAC); VII.1989, 1♀, ex larva, from Chlorophorus sexguttatus, G. Sama leg. ( DBAC); Tizi-Papil (without other data), 1♀, ex larva, obtained together with Chlorophorus sexguttatus, G. Sama leg. ( DBAC). TURKEY: holotype ♂ of Aulacus (Pristaulacus) holtzi Schulz, 1906 labelled “Type/B.M. Type Hym. Aulacus (Pristaulacus) holtzi Schulz, 1906 /Asia minor Gulek Taur. Cilic. 1897 Holtz/Schulz Coll. 1908-157/spec. typ./ Aulacus (Pristaulacus) holtzi Schulz ♂, W.A. Schulz det.” ( BMNH); Mersin Gulek, m 1000, VII.1981, 1♀, G. Sama leg., ex larva, from wood of Paliurus sp. containing Chlorophorus varius ; Camalan, G. Sama leg., 1♂ ex larva, collected 5.VI.1981, emerged 15.VII.1981, from wood of Paliurus sp. containing Chlorophorus varius (MSNP) ; “Turcia”, 1♀ ( ZMUC); 15 km W Refahye, W of Erzincan, m 1600, 7.VII.2000, 1♂, M. Halada leg. ( OLML); Erdemli, Aslanli, 31.V.2001, 1♂, L. Snizĕk leg. ( OLML); vil. Adana, Cicekli env. (25 Km N di Adana), 50 m, 3–5.VII.1998, 1♂, J. Bezdĕk leg. ( OLML). LEBANON: Chouf prov. Barouk, m 1300, 6♀, 5♂, from Quercus calliprinos , emerged 10–30.VI.2000 together with Chlorophorus yachovi, P. Rapuzzi leg. ( DBAC); Chouf prov. Barouk, m 1000, 2♀ from Quercus calliprinos , emerged 10–30.VI.2000 together with Chlorophorus yachovi, P. Rapuzzi leg. ( DBAC); Akkar prov., Fnaideq, m 1400, 1♂, from Quercus cerris , emerged 20.V–10.VI.2001 together with Chlorophorus yachovi, P. Rapuzzi leg. ( DBAC); Jbail prov., Machnaka, m 1300, 2♂, from Quercus calliprinos , emerged 10–30.VI.2000 together with Chlorophorus yachovi, P. Rapuzzi leg. ( DBAC). SYRIA: Dj. Ansariyah, Slunfah, m 1200–1300, 2– 6.VI.2000, 1♀, emerged together with Chlorophorus dinae, G. Sama leg. ( DBAC); 2–6.VI.2000, 1♂, from Quercus sp. , emerged V.2001 together with Chlorophorus dinae, G. Sama leg. ( DBAC); 2–6.VI.2000, 2♀, from Quercus sp. , emerged 4–10.VI.2001 together with Chlorophorus dinae, G. Sama leg. ( DBAC); same locality, 2–6.VI.2000, 1♀, from Quercus cerris , emerged 1.VII.2000 together with Chlorophorus dinae, G. Sama leg. ( DBAC); 2–6.VI.2000, 1♂, from Carpinus sp. , emerged 23.VI.2000 together with Chlorophorus dinae, G. Sama leg. ( DBAC); Saladin, Castel area, 16–18.V.2002, 1♀, emerged together with Chlorophorus dinae, Ole Mehl leg. ( ZMUC). IRAQ: 12.VI.1969, 1♀, M.E. Knopf, C.I.E. ( BMNH); loc. Tarmyya, 4.VI.1956, 1♀, host: apple, coll. Khfiri ( BMNH). Specimens without geographic data: 1♀, without data, sub Aulacostethus proximus? (Kieffer, 1905) , R.W. Crosskey det. ( BMNH); 2♀ (unreadable label), 18– 19.VII.1903, coll. R. von Stein ( BMNH); 3♀, 1♂ without data, coll. O. Sichel, 1867 ( MNHN); 1♀ without data, R. Brullé det. ( MNHN); 1♂ without data, coll. J. Pérez, 1915 ( MNHN); 1♀ without data, coll. J. De Gaulle 1919 ( MNHN); 1♀ (unreadable label), 1883 ( ZMHB); 1♂ (unreadable label), coll. Wüstnei ( ZMUC); 2♀, VI.1876 and VI.1878, coll. Tournier, sub “ transversostriatus Tourn. i.l.” ( MHNG).

Records from literature. Spinola (1808), Westwood (1844), Schletterer (1889), Jaroschewsky (1890), Semenow (1892a, b), Schulz (1906), Lichtenstein & Picard (1918), Györfi (1964), Oehlke (1983, 1984), Pagliano (1986), Kozlov (1988), Madl (1988, 1990), Šedivý & Č apek (1988), Campadelli (1998), Turrisi (2000, 2006b), Hilszczaṅski (2002).

Type locality. “Habitat in montibus Orerii” ( Spinola 1808).

Notes on type material. Aulacus compressus was described on the basis of only the male. The number of type specimens was not stated in the original description ( Spinola 1808: 48). In MCSN (Gribodo coll., ex Spinola coll.) I have found only one male with a handwritten label by Spinola, and an additional red label “ syntypus ”. Another type specimen is stored in MRSN, not examined (Pagliano 2005, in litteris).

Redescription. ♀. Length (excluding ovipositor): 10.6 mm; fore wing length: 7.8 mm.

Colour black, except: mandible extensively blackish with median part dark red; maxillo-labial complex dark brown; antenna blackish with ventral surface of A1 dark red; legs blackish, with tibiae and tarsi red orange, hind tibia darker; wings hyaline, with veins and stigma brown; fore wing with a wide subrectangular brown spot below stigma, as wide as length of stigma and an irregular brown spot on the apex of D2; metasomal segments 1–4 extensively red orange with petiole and apex of metasoma blackish. Setae: whitish in most part, except brown on vertex and on upper half of frons, and yellow gold on mandible.

Head ( Figs. 7, 27), from above, 1.3x wider than long, shiny; occipital margin straight; temple, from above, moderately developed, a little shorter than eye length, moderately convergent posteriorly and regularly rounded; occipital carina wide, lamelliform, as wide as diameter of an ocellus; POL:OOL= 1.1; ocellar area 2.0x wider than long; frons with moderately coarse, deep, and dense punctures (distance between punctures 1– 2x diameter of a puncture), less coarse and dense on vertex and on temple; clypeus with coarse, superficial, and dense punctures; malar area with moderately coarse, deep, and dense punctures; occipital area polished; mandible polished and shiny, with coarse and deep punctures on base and in middle; antenna length 0.9x as fore wing length; A3 6.0x longer than wide; A4 10.5x longer than wide, and 1.6x longer than A3; A5 9.5x longer than wide, and 1.4x longer than A3; following antennomeres progressively shorter; A14 dorsoventrally compressed, with rounded apex, 2.2x longer than wide. Setae: erect, moderately long, and dense on most parts of frons, vertex and temple; recumbent, moderately long, and dense on lower and lateral parts of frons and on clypeus; recumbent, short, and moderately dense on malar area; semierect, moderately long, and dense on A1; setae length of temple as long as diameter of an ocellus.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 47) coarsely sculptured; pronotum areolate rugose with two well-developed teeth on each lateroventral margin; propleuron polished and shiny, with fine, superficial, and scattered punctures (distance between punctures 3–5x diameter of a puncture); prescutum triangular, shiny, weakly concave in middle, irregularly rugose to transverse carinate; mesoscutum transverse carinate, with anterior margin, in lateral view, regularly rounded ( Figs. 47, 106); notaulus moderately deep and wide; scutellum transverse carinate, except the posterolateral parts, areolate rugose; mesopleuron areolate rugose, except the upper third, foveolate; metanotum longitudinally carinate, rugose in middle; propodeum areolate rugose, with base longitudinally carinate; ventral parts of mesosoma extensively areolate rugose; fore wing with vein 2-rs+m short; fore coxa polished, shiny, with fine, superficial, and scattered punctures; mid coxa extensively transverse carinulate punctate, with base transverse striolate punctate; hind coxa ( Fig. 67) shiny, transverse carinate, with part of ventral surface punctate, and moderately coarse, deep, and scattered punctures (distance between punctures about 3x diameter of a puncture); trochanters polished, shiny, irregularly punctate, with fine, superficial, and scattered punctures on fore trochanter, coarser, deeper, and more dense on mid and hind trochanters; femora dull on dorsal surface, shiny on ventral surface; fore and mid femora with moderately coarse to coarse, moderately deep, and dense punctures on dorsal surface, fine, superficial, and scattered on ventral surface; hind femur very finely transverse striolate, with coarse, deep, and dense punctures on dorsal surface, less dense on ventral surface; inner spur of mid and hind tibiae slightly longer than outer spur; hind basitarsus 9.3x longer than wide, and 1.2x longer than tarsomeres 2–5; claw with four well- developed teeth. Setae: erect, short, and scattered on dorsal surface, semierect to recumbent, moderately long, and dense on anterior, lateral and ventral parts, erect, long, and scattered on hind surface of propodeum; erect, long, and moderately dense on propleuron, with setae length 0.6–0.7x fore pretarsus length; semierect, moderately long, and moderately dense on fore and mid coxae; erect, long, and moderately dense on dorsal surface of hind coxa, semierect, short and more dense on ventral surface; erect, moderately long, and moderately dense on trochanters; recumbent, short, and dense on dorsal surface of femora, erect, longer, and scattered on ventral surface, except on hind femur, with setae of the same length.

Metasoma moderately compressed laterally, pyriform in lateral view; petiole elongate, slender, 3.2x longer than wide; segments 1 and 2 polished and shiny; following segments with regular, fine, and moderately dense punctures; S7 with coarse, deep, and dense punctures; T8 with very fine, superficial, and very scattered punctures; ovipositor 1.3x longer than fore wing length; valvula 3 of ovipositor with apex slightly acute. Setae: segments 1 and 2 glabrous; recumbent, short, and moderately dense on following segments.

ď. Length: 9.7 mm; fore wing length: 7.6 mm. Colour, structure, and setae like ♀, except: antenna length 0.8x fore wing length; A3 2.9x longer than wide; A4 4.8x longer than wide, and 1.6x longer than A3; A5 as long and wide as A4; A13 subcylindrical, with apex rounded, 5.0x longer than wide; hind basitarsus 7.5x longer than wide; petiole 3.6x longer than wide; metasomal tergites, except 1 and 2, very finely sculptured, with fine, superficial, and moderately dense punctures, and recumbent, short, and moderately dense setae, except the latero-apical parts; genital capsule ( Fig. 84) with apex of paramere rounded, cuspis wide and strongly curved, lower apex of digitus very long and narrow.

Intraspecific variation. Examined: 106♀, 58♂. Length: 8.8–14.2 mm (♀); 8.9–13.4 mm (♂); fore wing length: 6.6–9.5 mm (♀), 6.7–8.8 mm (♂); ovipositor length: 1.1–1.3x longer than fore wing length. Due to the abundant material examined from the entire distribution range, it is possible to describe in some detail the intraspecific variation of morphological characters. Pristaulacus compressus is a moderately variable species as regard colour and sculpture of some parts of the body. Oehlke (1983) indicated some geographical differences of some characters of the head between the central European and Mediterranean specimens, with the latter having a wider head, coarser punctures, and darker setae. On the basis of my research this geographic variation is not confirmed. The colour of the setae is light and the punctures are fine, superficial, and scattered also in some of the Mediterranean specimens, while the shape of head does not run into different categories in northern and southern specimens. On the other hand, the specimens from the Oriental part of the range ( Turkey, and especially Lebanon and Syria) have the occipital carina wider (1.5x diameter of an ocellus), punctures of head very coarse, very deep, and also very close each other. These specimens are otherwise similar in all other morphological features compared to specimens from the western part of the range; therefore, I include them under the same species. The length of the body does not vary according to distribution, and it does not show a clinal variation. The dark brown spot below stigma on fore wing is often present, but it is absent only in a very few specimens; however, it can vary from large to very small, with intermediates. This variation of colour does not show geographic clinal variation. The other dark spots on the fore wing (on B and between SB and SD1) are frequently absent in about 50% of the specimens examined or strongly reduced in size. One ♀ from Switzerland is remarkable for its light colour, with the labial and maxillary palpi, antennae, most of the legs (coxae darker), valvula 3 of ovipositor, and veins of wings, light yellow orange, metasoma extensively yellow orange, and fore wing with a weakly-evident yellow spot below stigma. The light red orange colour of the hind tarsus does not vary significantly in the material examined; thus, it is a very good diagnostic feature in both sexes.

Distribution. Spain, France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Russia, Ukraine, Iraq (*), Morocco, Turkey, Syria (*), Lebanon (*).

Remarks. In the world catalogue of Aulacidae ( Smith 2001) , the three nomina nuda introduced by Tournier in 1911 (see previous synonymic list) are listed as Aulacus . I have examined the original material of Tournier’s collection (MHNG), identified by Tournier (original handwritten labels), and I can establish that the three taxa, all nomina nuda, must be ascribed to Pristaulacus compressus , of which they become new synonyms (syn. nov.).

Aulacus (Pristaulacus) holtzi Schulz, 1906 was described from one specimen (♂) ( Schulz 1906), from Turkey (type locality: “Gülek, im cilicischen Taurus”), and it was redescribed by Kieffer (1912). This specimen (examined) clearly belongs to P. compressus , although it has a wider occipital carina and stronger punctation, as stated in all the specimens from Turkey of P. compressus . In my opinion Aulacus (Pristaulacus) holtzi is synonym of P. compressus (syn. nov.).

Aulacus obscuripennis Westwood, 1841 (type locality: “ Polonia, Waga”, holotype in ZMHB, examined) was considered by Pagliano (1986) as synonym of P. compressus but without any comments, especially with regard to type material. The examination of the type specimen of A. obscuripennis allows confirmation of this synonymy on the basis of the congruence of the chromatic pattern and especially characters of the exoskeleton.

Biology. Hosts: Xylotrechus arvicola (Olivier, 1795) ( Coleoptera , Cerambycidae ) and Xiphydria longicollis (Geoffroy, 1785) ( Hymenoptera , Xiphydriidae ) (Šedivý & Č apek 1988; Campadelli 1998). I add: Xylotrechus antilope (Schönherr, 1817) , Chlorophorus dinae Rapuzzi & Sama, 1999 , Chlorophorus glabromaculatus (Goeze, 1777) , Chlorophorus yachovi Sama, 1996 , Chlorophorus pilosus (Förster, 1771) , Chlorophorus sexguttatus (Lucas, 1849) , Chlorophorus varius (Müller, 1766) , Exocentrus punctipennis Mulsant & Guillebeau, 1856 ( Coleoptera , Cerambycidae ). Flowers visited: Allium porrus L. ( Liliaceae ).