Usiini

Gibbs, David, 2011, 2960, Zootaxa 2960, pp. 1-77 : 7-9

Usiini morphology

The following topological illustrations of Usiini body plan and anatomy are based on a generalised species of Parageron . This genus appears to be less modified than Usia but all the structures found in Usia are present in Parageron . In Usia the male genitalia tend to be more complex, particularly the epandrium, gonocoxites and gonostyli show a great variety of modifications. However, the female genitalia are usually simpler than in Parageron with the furca rarely strongly sclerotised.

Ecology. Data so far suggests that all Micrusia are spring and early summer species with no records to date from August to December. The earliest individuals occur in the lowlands of Israel and presumably North Africa, emerging in January. Most records in these regions are in February to April, a little later in Europe, emergence pro- gressively later at higher latitudes and altitudes. In Europe, April, May, and June are the most productive times to find Micrusia , very rare examples being found in March ( U. versicolor ) and as late as July ( U. pusilla and U. novakii ). In June, nearly all records in southern Europe are from relatively high altitudes.

Micrusia are most readily found by sweeping flower-rich areas or searching the flowers themselves. They seem to utilise a wide variety of relatively open flowers including pink Convolvulus , blue Campanula , Linum , white Cistus and a range of yellow composites. Sometimes numerous individuals can be found in a small area, often with several insects attending a single flower (pers. observ.).

Almost nothing is known of the host relationships of Micrusia and there are no published rearing records. However, two specimens of U. versicolor in the collection of the late David Greathead are labelled “parasite in Locust/ Usia versicolor ♀, vanEmden det. 1939/ ANTI-LOCUST, Research Centre, Reg. No. 323”. Unfortunately there are no locality data attached and none could be found in the archives of the Anti-Locust Research Centre in BMNH, London .