Hepiopelmus WESMAEL

A. M, 2011, Illustrated key to the genera of the subtribe Amblytelina of Palaearctic (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae, Ichneumonini), Linzer biologische Beiträge 43 (1), pp. 597-711 : 633-634

3. Hepiopelmus WESMAEL

Hepiopelmus WESMAEL 1844 - Nouv. Mém. Acad. Sci., Bruxelles 18: 111.

Type species: ( Ichneumon leucostigmus GRAVENHORST ) = melanogaster GMELIN.

Hepiopelmus: HEINRICH 1974 - Ann. Zool. Wars. 31 5: 410-412.

Hepiopelmus: RASNITSYN 1981 - Opr. Faun. SSSR 3 (3): 568, 618, 620.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Palaearctic, Oriental Region (highland).

I n t r o d u c t i o n:

A considerable unsclerotization of front sternites, usually 2-4th, of abdomen is characteristic for the species of the genus. Mesonotum is densely punctured, dull, scutellum is high elevated above postscutellum. Propodeum is without apophysises and distinct teeth, area basalis, at least of European species is with tooth (denticle). Middle field of postpetiolus is not striated, smooth, impressed in middle, at place of impression with indistinct punctures to wrinkled in males. Distinctly impressed gastrocoeli with distinct short thyridia are characteristic to the genus. Hypopygium of males is without narrow long process.

M o r p h o l o g y:

F l a g e l l u m: Long, slender, strongly attenuated and pointed toward apex, behind middle not widened; in males ribbed ventrally with distinct tyloides.

H e a d: Head contour from front rather strongly uniformly narrowed downwards, vertex from lateral almost straightly sloping behind ocelli; temples from above strongly roundly to almost straightly narrowed behind eyes, long; mandibles normal, upper tooth longer than lower one; middle field of face slightly elevated and separated by slight impressions from clypeus and lateral fields.

T h o r a x: Mesonotum moderately convex, usually longer than width, notauli only just marked at base, surface of mesonotum punctured, dull in European species; sternauli in European species developed up to middle of mesopleurae; scutellum high elevated above postscutellum, laterally not carinated, with smooth dorsal surface, steeply sloped to postscutellum. Hind margin of metanotum with projections. Propodeum angle-shaped with complete set of carinae (sometimes lateral carinae of basal area not developed); horizontal part of propodeum sorter than area posteromedia in middle; basal area of palaearctic species with tubercle; area superomedia approximately square or narrowed backwards; areae dentiparae at apices without apophysises or teeth; spiracles long, slit-shaped.

L e g s: Long and rather slender. Hind coxae of females without scopa.

W i n g s: Areolet pentagonal; nervulus interstitial or postfurcal; radius straight or slightly sinuous at apex.

A b d o m e n: From above oval, amblypygous. Postpetiolus as described in introduction, smooth, not striated. Gastrocoeli big, deep with distinct thyridia; surface of tergites 2-3 densely and delicately punctured to delicately wrinkly-punctured at middle part of

2nd tergite. Sternites 2-4 usually unsclerotized on the larger part; hypopygium ventrally with slightly elongated rounded apex. Hypopygium of males with extended apex.

C o l o r a t i o n: Apical light pattern of abdomen absent. European species from almost completely black ( H. melanogaster GMELIN ) to black with rich yellow spots ( H. variegatorius PANZER ).

S i z e: Palaearctic species 13-17 mm.

B i o l o g y a n d e c o l o g y:

H o s t s: For two species of genus from the literature the following data about hosts are known: H. melanogaster (GMEL.) – Philudoria potatoria L. ( Lasiocampidae ), Simyra albovenosa GOEZE (Noctuidae) ; H. variegatorius (PANZ.) – Spilarctia lutea HUFN. ( Arctiidae ) (RASNITSYN 1981).

S p e c i e s c o m p o s i t i o n a n d a b u n d a n c e: The genus is presented in region of researches by only one mass species – H. melanogaster (GMELIN) . Abundance of this species in the nature (quantity of the collected individuals / quantity of revealed species of a genus) leads it to the 2nd place according to indicator of abundance among Amblytelina and on 10th place among genera of Ichneumoninae St. in the region (74 individuals / 1 species of genus). Ratio of females: males in the nature is 1:4.

B i o t o p i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n: The genusis presented in the majority of the forest ecosystems and very rare in open ones (personal plots). 86 % from total number of collected specimens are focused on coniferous forests – pine forests (49 %) and spruce forests (37 %). In leaf wood and mixed forests they are being met individually, completely being absent in birch forests. In the greatest quantity it is presented in wood sorrel spruce forests (Piceetum oxalidosum) and polytric pine forests (Pinetum pleuroziosum).

S e a s o n a l a c t i v i t y a n d h i b e r n a t i o n: Activityof H. melanogaster ’ females is observed from the middle of June to the middle of September with peak of activity in August. Dynamics of seasonal activity of males has similar character with peak in July-August. Activity of females in the early spring and in the late autumn, as in the species hibernating at a stage of imago is not registered. Despite of considerable abundance of a species in the nature, hibernating females of Hepiopelmus was not possible to find, even in characteristic for the species ecosystems. These facts indicate that species of the genus do not hibernate as adult.