Heterischnus coloradensis (Cushman)

Claridge, Brandon, 2021, Revision of Nearctic Heterischnus Wesmael, 1859 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae, Phaeogenini), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 85, pp. 57-79 : 57

Heterischnus coloradensis (Cushman)

Figs 4 , 5 , 6

Ischnopsidea coloradensis Cushman, 1920: 253. Holotype: ♀ [USNM]. Not examined.

Diagnosis.

Heterischnus coloradensis (Cushman) is chromatically and morphologically similar to H. huardi but can be distinguished from the latter and other Nearctic species by a combination of the following: 1) male clypeus dark reddish-brown to black; 2) flagellomeres 10/11-12/13 dorsally white in female; 3) supra-antennal area rugulose-punctate; and 4) first lateral area of propodeum rugulose-punctate.

Description.

Female (Fig. 4 ). Body length: 6.8-8.7 mm. Fore wing length: 4.2-5.1 mm.

Color. Head black. Mandible yellowish-white with brown apex. Antenna dark brown with flagellomeres 10/11-12/13 dorsally white. Mesosoma black with following areas white: occasionally anterior margin of pronotum (25% of specimens), posterior 0.2 of dorsal margin of pronotum, usually subalar prominence (60% of specimens), and tegula. Fore and middle legs light brownish-red except for tarsomere 5 brown. Hind leg brownish-red except for basal 0.1 of tibia white, apical 0.2 of tibia brown, tarsomeres brown. Metasoma black to dark brown. Wing membrane clear; basal 0.1-0.2 of wing with veins white, remaining sections brown.

Head. Clypeus smooth, basally with fine punctures separated by 0.5-1.0 × their diameter becoming less dense apically; ventral margin with sublateral apical projections subobsolete to obsolete. Malar space 1.5-2.0 × basal mandibular width. Supraclypeal area rugulose-punctate. Gena smooth, coarsely punctate with punctures separated by 0.2-1.5 × their diameter. Supra-antennal area rugulose-punctate. Vertex smooth, finely punctate with punctures separated by 0.5-2.0 × their diameter. Antenna with 32-34 flagellomeres.

Mesosoma. Mesonotum smooth, with punctures separated by 0.5-2.0 × their diameter. Scutellum smooth, finely punctate with punctures separated by 1.0-2.0 × their diameter. Mesopleuron densely, coarsely punctate with punctures confluent to separated by about 0.5 × their diameter becoming more sparse dorsally; tendency in some specimens to form lateral rugulae. Speculum coarsely punctate dorsally, smooth ventrally. Ventral division of metapleuron rugulose-punctate. Dorsal division of metapleuron with a few scattered punctures. Propodeum overall rugulose-punctate with areola and posterodorsal face rugulose; carination complete. Tarsal claws simple.

Metasoma. Postpetiole rugulose-punctate. T2 length 1.0-1.2 × posterior width. T2-7 granulate with dense, shallow punctures; punctation becoming sparser and indistinct posteriorly. Gastrocoelus rugulose-granulate. Thyridium distant from T2 anterior margin by 0.5-2.0 × thyridial length.

Male (Fig. 5 ). Body length 6.8-9.1 mm. Fore wing length: 4.3-5.6 mm. As in female except for: yellowish-white markings on mesosoma more extensive.

Material examined.

Paratype: USA • 1♀; Colorado, Larimer Co., Forrester’s; 19.vii.1895; C. F. & N. E. Baker; USNM paratype 22850 .

Non-type material: USA • 1♀; California, Modoc Co. 1 mile N of Stough Reservoir ; [41.5767, -120.2538], 15.vi.1963; UCDC • 1♀; California, Modoc Co., Cedar Pass ; [41.5623, -120.2688]; 29.vi.1955; D. L. Dahlsten; UCDC • 1♀; California, Nevada Co., Sagehen Cr. near Hobart Mills ; [39.4342, -120.2048]; 15.vii.1964; M. E. Irwin; UCRCENT529785 • 1♀; Colorado, Grand Co., Phantom Valley, Rocky Mountain National Park ; 9400 ft; [40.2833, -105.8505]; 16.vi.1948; H., M., G.,D. & J. Townes; EMUSENT00000417 • 1♀, 3♂♂; Colorado, Routt Co., Steamboat Springs ; [40.4857, -106.8309]; 6.viii.1948; H., M., G.,D. & J. Townes; EMUSENT00000722, EMUSENT00000132, EMUSENT00000207, EMUSENT00000073 • 1♂; same collection data as preceding; 5.viii.1948; EMUSENT00000345 • 1♂; Idaho, Oneida Co., 3 mi. S of Roy Summit ; [42.2635, -112.7653]; 6.vii.1972; G. F. Knowlton; EMUSENT00000137 • 1♂; Idaho, Blaine Co., 9 mi. SW Bellevue ; [43.3353, -114.2901]; 28.viii.1965; J. S. Buckett; UCDC • 1♀; Idaho, Boise Co., Idaho City ; [43.82813, -115.8341]; 9.vi.1978; H. & M. Townes; EMUSENT00000777 • 3♀♀; same collection data as preceding; 13.vi.1978; EMUSENT00000258, EMUSENT00000317, EMUSENT00000225 • 1♀♀; same collection data as preceding; 14.vi.1978; EMUSENT00000192 • 2♂♂; Idaho, Custer Co., nr. Stanley ; [44.2161, -114.9353]; 2.viii.1978; H. & M. Townes; EMUSENT00000253, EMUSENT00000206 • 1♂; same collection data as preceding; 7.viii.1978; EMUSENT00000288 • 2♂♂; same collection data a preceding; 8.viii.1978; EMUSENT00000719, EMUSENT00000297 • 1♀; Idaho, Oneida Co., Rock Creek ; [42.4320, -114.3054]; 17.vii.1972; G. F. Knowlton; EMUSENT00000138 • 1♂; same collection data as preceding; 6.vii.1972; EMUSENT00000224 • 1♂; Montana, Madison Co., 16 miles S. of Cameron ; [45.0604, -111.6656]; 18.vii.1971; UCDC • 3♀♀; Montana, Gallatin Co., Bozeman ; [45.6771, -111.0428]; 30.vi.1978; R., B. & C. Dasch; EMUSENT00000629, EMUSENT00000056, EMUSENT00000194 • 4♀♀; same collection data as preceding; 7.vii.1978; EMUSENT00000193, EMUSENT00000077, EMUSENT00000566, EMUSENT00000357 • 1♂; Nevada, Elko Co., Elko ; [40.8385, -115.7628]; 21.viii.1964; F. S. Buckett; UCDC • 1♀; Nevada, Elko Co., Tuscarora ; [41.3146 -116.2233]; 5.vi.1978; H. & M. Townes; EMUSENT00000393 • 1♀; Nevada, Storey Co., Virginia City ; [39.3093, -119.6499]; 14.vi.1951; W. J. Wall; UCDC • 1♀; Oregon, Union Co., Mt. Emily ; [45.4379, -118.0913]; 03-11.vi.1987; T. R. Torgersen, EMUSENT00000420 • 1♀; Utah, Box Elder Co. Willard Peak.; 9000 ft; [41.4210, -112.0561]; 25.vii.1960; G. E. Bohart; EMUSENT00000347 • 2♀♀; Utah, Cache Co., Black Smith Fork Canyon ; [41.6278, -111.8040]; 1-6.vii.1964; W. J. Hanson; EMUSENT00000391, EMUSENT00000108 • 1♀; Utah, Cache Co., North Logan ; [41.7706, -111.8045]; 25-31.v.1983; C. R. Nelson; EMUSENT00000030 • 1♂; Utah, Cache Co., Tony Grove ; 2290 m; 41.8884, -111.6571; 18.v.-1.vi.2019; B. Claridge; Malaise trap; EMUSENT00000547 • 1♀; Utah, Cache Co., Tony Grove Canyon ; [41.8902, -111.6371]; 25.viii.-2.ix.1976; W. J. Hanson; EMUSENT00000026 • 1♂; Wyoming, Albany Co., Pole Mountain ; 41.22, -105.45; 13-20.vii.2013; Malaise trap, ungrazed short grass prairie; L. Haimowitz, H, Aguirre; EMUSENT00004739 .

Distribution and biology.

Collecting dates span mid-May to early September, although the greatest number of records are from July and August. Heterischnus coloradensis occurs from the Rocky Mountains west to the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Range (Fig. 6 ). Throughout its range, H. coloradensis is sympatric with H. huardi . No host information is known.

Comments.

In addition to the examined paratype, a specimen that was compared with the holotype by Henry Townes was examined.

Figures

Figure 4. Heterischnus coloradensis (Cushman) female A habitus B mesosoma, lateral view C head, frontal view D head, dorsal view E propodeum, dorsolateral view. Scale bars: 5.0 mm (A); 1.0 mm (B-E).

Figure 5. Heterischnus coloradensis (Cushman) male A habitus B head, frontal view. Scale bars: 5.0 mm (A); 1.0 mm (B).

Figure 6. Distribution of Heterischnus coloradensis (Cushman).