Aleiodes martini, Shaw, Scott R., Marsh, Paul M. & Talluto, Miranda A., 2013

Shaw, Scott R., Marsh, Paul M. & Talluto, Miranda A., 2013, Revision of North American Aleiodes (Part 9): the pallidator (Thunberg) species-group with description of two new species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Rogadinae), Zootaxa 3608 (3), pp. 204-214 : 205

ALEIODES PALLIDATOR SPECIES-GROUP

Included Species: pallidator (Thunberg) 1822 , Europe, introduced into North America; lymantriae (Watanabe) 1937 , new combination, Japan, introduced into North America; indiscretus (Reardon) 1970 , new combination, India, introduced into North America; martini new species, Florida; xanthoclypeus new species, Canada and northern U.S.A.

Distinguishing Characters. Eyes and ocelli large ( Figs 1 , 6 , 10 , 13 , 18 ), diameter of lateral ocellus greater than ocell-ocular distance, lateral ocellus width usually at least 2x wider than ocell-ocular distance; malar space shorter than basal width of mandible ( Figs 5 , 9 , 17 ); hind wing vein RS sinuate ( Figs 4 , 16 ), marginal cell narrowest in middle or near apical 2/3 distance from wing base; tarsal claws either entirely pectinate ( Fig. 12 ) or with strong pre-apical spines along base of claw ( Fig. 3 ); koinobiont parasitoids of Lymantriidae caterpillars ( Figs 23–28 ).

Comments. The pallidator species-group was defined and discussed by Fortier and Shaw (1999). Species of this group are seldom collected as commonly as those of many other Aleiodes species-groups; however, they are very distinctive because of their exceptionally large ocelli ( Figs 1 , 6 , 10 , 13 , 18 ). This is a small group of species, most of which are known to attack Lymantriidae caterpillars ( Figs 23–28 ). Three Old World species have been released in North America as potential biological control agents for the gypsy moth ( Fig. 24 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Aleiodes indiscretus (Reardon). Figure 1. Head and ocelli, dorsal view. Figure 2. Mesosoma, lateral view. Figure 3. Hind tarsus and claws. Figure 4. Hind wing venation showing sinuate RS vein.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Aleiodes lymantriae (Watanabe). Figure 5. Head and clypeus, anterior view. Figure 6. Head and ocelli, dorsal view. Figure 7. Pterostigma and fore wing venation. Figure 8. Metasoma, dorsal view.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Aleiodes martini Shaw & Marsh, sp. nov. Figure 9. Head and face, anterior view. Figure 10. Head and ocelli, dorsal view. Figure 11. Habitus, lateral view. Figure 12. Hind tarsus and claws.

FIGURES 13 – 16. Aleiodes pallidator (Thunberg). Figure 13. Head and ocelli, dorsal view. Figure 14. Mesosoma, lateral view. Figure 15. Habitus, lateral view. Figure 16. Hind wing venation showing sinuate RS vein.

FIGURES 17 – 22. Aleiodes xanthoclypeus Shaw & Marsh, sp. nov. Figure 17. Head and clypeus, anterior view. Figure 18. Head and ocelli, dorsal view. Figure 19. Habitus, lateral view. Figure 20. Head and mesosoma, lateral view. Figure 21. Pterostigma and fore wing venation. Figure 22. Metasoma, dorsal view.

FIGURES 23 – 28. Mummified host caterpillar remains. Figure 23. Dasychira sp. parasitized by A. indiscretus. Figure 24. Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth caterpillar) parasitized by A. lymantriae. Figure 25. Dasychira sp. parasitized by A. pallidator. Figure 26. Leucoma salicis (satin moth caterpillar) parasitized by A. pallidator. Figure 27. Orgyia leucostigma parasitized by A. pallidator. Figure 28. Olene grisefacta parasitized by A. xanthoclypeus.