Meteorus densipilosus Stigenberg, 2011

Stigenberg, Julia & Ronquist, Fredrik, 2011, Revision of the Western Palearctic Meteorini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), with a molecular characterization of hidden Fennoscandian species diversity 3084, Zootaxa 3084 (1), pp. 1-95 : 52

Meteorus densipilosus Stigenberg sp. nov.

Fig. 79B , 95

Diagnosis: The clypeus of Meteorus densipilosus is unique within Meteorus in being flat and having a sinuate ventral margin with a median notch similar to that of M. cis . The setose face, straight ovipositor, and distinct carinae on the propodeum are also good characters that distinguish it from related species. In Huddleston’s (1980) key, M. densipilosus runs to M. brevicauda , but there are distinct differences. While M. brevicauda belongs to the smallest of the Meteorus species (less than 3.5 mm), M. densipilosus is larger at about 5 mm. M. densipilosus has a distinct malar space (0.5 times basal width of mandible) while M. brevicauda hardly has any space at all between the eye and the mandible. The ovipositor is also longer in M. densipilosus (2.0 times petiolar tergum) than in M. brevicauda (1.5 times petiolar tergum). In our key, this species groups with M. eklundi , but it is clearly separated from the latter based on the number of antennal articles (28 in M. densipilosus and only 22-25 in M. eklundi ).

Studied material: 1♀. Holotype: 1♀ SE. Sm. Nybro kommun. Bäckebo. 24.viii–12.ix.2005. (leg. SMTP), NHRS – HYME 4936 , DNA 7 .

Description: Body 5.2 mm, fore wing 3.47 mm.

Head: Length of eye 0.9 times length of temple in dorsal aspect; eyes small, protuberant, not converging; width of face 1.7 times its height; OOL=2.5, ocelli only slightly protruding; vertex smooth, convex but with a ridge running towards face; face striate medially, the striae running to clypeus forming ridges; clypeus as wide as face, not distinctly divided from face and flat with ventral border sinuate seen from dorsal view; length of malar space 0.5 the times basal width of mandible; mandible stout, not twisted; hypostomal carina wide; antennal articles 28; 3rd antennal article 4.75 times longer than wide; 4th antennal article 3.2 times longer than wide; all antennal articles longer than wide.

Mesosoma: Precoxal sulcus wide.

Wings: Fore wing: r/3–SR=0.6; C+SC+R/SR1=1.48; m–cu antefurcal; pterostigma dark brown with light dorsal border. Hind wing: 1–M/cu–a=1.6.

Legs: Hind coxa rugose; hind femur 5 times longer than wide; tarsal claws slender without lobe.

Metasoma: Petiolar tergum 1.85 times longer than wide apically, 4.5 times fore wing; dorsope present; ventral folds of petiolar tergum not joined; ovipositor slender and straight, length of ovipositor sheaths 2.0 times petiolar tergum and 0.45 times fore wing; propodeum convex, reticulate rugose and with 2 distinct transversal and one medial longitudinal carina; propodeum not strongly excavate medially.

Colour: Black except: yellow patch between eye and posterior ocelli; gena dark brown; clypeus and palpi yellow; antennae brown; petiolar tergum black and metasoma dark brown; legs yellow.

Distribution: Sweden.

Biology: The specimen was caught in a Malaise Trap in late August – early September in southern Sweden. The locality, Grytsjöns naturreservat, mostly consists of an old aspen forest in boulder terrain.

Etymology: The name densipilosus refers to the dense setosity on the head, being composed of the words densi (Latin, meaning thick), and pilosus (Greek, meaning hairy).

Figures

FIGURE 79. Habitus images of the seven new species described in this paper. A) Meteorus artocercus, B) M. densipilosus, C) M. eklundi, D) M. longipilosus, E) M. sibyllae, F) M. stenomastax, G) M. subtilisulcus.

FIGURES 80–133. Anterior view of the head of Meteorus species (except for M. politutele, which is depicted in lateral view).