Hoplocryptus bellosus (Curtis, 1837)

Verheyde, Fons, Hoekstra, Paul, Libert, Pierre-Nicolas, Meijer, Hilco, Ketelaere, Augustijn De, Vandaudenard, Thibaud, Belgers, Dick & Brosens, Edwin, 1880, Two hundred and five ichneumonid wasps reported for the first time in Belgium and the Netherlands (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 122, pp. 1-142 : 58-59

Hoplocryptus bellosus (Curtis, 1837) (Fig. 25)

Hoplocryptus spp. have a rather flat clypeus, with a distinct median tooth on the anterior margin. In contrast to Enclisis spp. , the second tergite has distinct punctures and (at least) the apical tergite has a white spot ( TOWNES, 1970a; SCHWARZ [2013], draft key). Although the genus, with some training, can be recognised by habitus, the identification of species is a very challenging and difficult task, with only few exceptions.

Hoplocryptus bellosus closely resembles H. melanocephalus (Gravenhorst, 1829) . Both species have a reddish mesosoma with a white scutellum. The metasoma varies from completely black to black with some tergites reddish (Fig. 25). Therefore, additional characteristics are necessary: H. bellosus has a weakly granulated mesoscutum (not shiny) and the ovipositor sheath is slightly shorter than the hind tibia (index 0.8–0.9). Additionally, the third segment of the antennae measures 4.6–5.0× its width ( SCHWARZ, 2007). Both species were observed on flowering umbellifers in the summer months and are often found in the vicinity of gardens, where they are searching for aculeate hosts in twigs or other nesting material.

First report of the species and the genus for the Netherlands; unconfirmed in Belgium.

MATERIAL EXAMINED:

THE NETHERLANDS: • 1 ♀; Wageningen (GE); 51°57’59”N 5°40’24”E; 7/vii/2018; D. Belgers leg.; field observation in skylight; M. Schwarz det. (ObsID: 159601039); Fig. 25 .