Meteorus limbatus Maeto, 1988

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 : 58

Meteorus limbatus Maeto

Fig. 75 , 104

Meteorus limbatus Maeto, 1989:581 . Holotype ♀, (Type No. 2655, Kyushu Univ.) Japan: Bonto, Akkeshi , Hokkaido, 10.vii.1977, K. Yamagishi —examined.

Diagnosis: Meteorus limbatus is very similar to M. abscissus in size and structure but the long scattered setae on the clypeus are quite distinct from the dense, short setae of M. abscissus .

Studied material: ~ 10 specimens.

Description: Size 3.5–5.0 mm. Antennae with 29–31 articles, all articles longer than wide. Length of eye is more than double the length of temple in dorsal aspect; eyes large, slightly convergent and protuberant; width of face equal its height; OOL=1.5; clypeus equals the width of face, not distinctly divided from face, smoothly arched, tentorial pits distinct; length of malar space 0.75 times basal width of mandible; mandibles slender and twisted. Precoxal sulcus deep and moderately wide. Petiolar tergum apically 1.8–2.3 times longer than wide; dorsope present, laterope deep; ventral folds of petiolar tergum not joined, dorsal aspect with distinct striae; ovipositor straight, thick; length of ovipositor 1.8 times that of petiolar tergum; propodeum with no carina, reticulate and smoothly velved. Fore wing m–cu slightly antefurcal; pterostigma brown with lighter boarder. Hind coxa rugose; tarsal claws with a toothed lobe. Colour dark brown with yellow distinct markings. Ocellar area and neck dark. Propodeum, petiolar tergum, precoxal sulcus and mesoscutum dark, scutellum yellow. Dark specimens are known from northern Japan. Male unknown.

Distribution: Palearctic. Country records: France; Italy; Japan; Norway; Sweden; United Kingdom.

Biology: We found one specimen within the SMTP and it was caught in July. This specimen was caught in an alder wood ravine .

Figures

FIGURES 73–78. Characters used in key to species. 73) lateral view of the head of M. abscissus, 74) lateral view of the head of M. ictericus, 75) lateral view of the head of M. limbatus, 76) dorsal view of the head of M. nixoni, 76) dorsal view of the head of M. corax, 78) dorsal view of the petiolar tergum of M. sulcatus.

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