Aleiodes artesiariae, van Achterberg, Cornelis & Shaw, Mark R., 2016

van Achterberg, Cornelis & Shaw, Mark R., 2016, Revision of the western Palaearctic species of Aleiodes Wesmael (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Rogadinae). Part 1: Introduction, key to species groups, outlying distinctive species, and revisionary notes on some further species, ZooKeys 639, pp. 1-164 : 47-49

Aleiodes artesiariae sp. n. Figs 76-77, 78-88

Type material.

Holotype, ♀ (NMS, Edinburgh), "France, Olonne, ex Macaria artesiaria , mummy coll[ected] on Salix repens , vi.1984, N. Hall".

Biology.

Apart from the host (determined as a result of adults of Macaria artesiaria (Denis & Schiffermüller) ( Geometridae ) being reared from caterpillars morphologically corresponding to the mummy and collected at the same time), nothing is known of the biology of this species. The holotype was excavated (fully formed but dead) from the mummy more than a year after it had been collected in apparently freshly made condition on a twig of its foodplant.

Diagnosis.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3 × minimum width of face (Fig. 84); OOL 2.4 × diameter of posterior ocellus; mesoscutum, orbita and malar space yellowish brown; precoxal sulcus largely granulate; trochanters, trochantelli and pterostigma largely dark brown or black(ish); mesoscutum without a longitudinal carina medio-posteriorly; apical half of marginal cell of hind wing parallel-sided or slightly widened; vein M+CU1 of fore wing apically above level of vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 78); vein r of fore wing about 0.7 × vein 3-SR (Figs 76, 78); vein 1-SR of fore wing angled with vein 1-M (Fig. 78); all femora and tibiae dark brown; fore and hind femora moderately stout (Figs 87-88); fourth metasomal tergite curved posteriorly in dorsal view (Fig. 81), lateral crease distinct and following tergites more or less retracted; length of fore wing about 3 mm. Very similar to Aleiodes reticulatus (Noskiewicz) but the latter differs by the black mesoscutum, the reddish or yellowish brown femora and tibiae, the less slender fore and hind femora (Figs 313-314 vs 87-88) and by having vein 1-SR of fore wing linear with vein 1-M (Fig. 305 vs 78).

Description.

Holotype, ♀, length of fore wing 2.9 mm, of body 3.6 mm.

Head. Antennal segments 33+ (incomplete), length of antenna at least as long as fore wing, its subapical segments somewhat longer than wide; frons mainly superficially granulate, moderately shiny; OOL 2.4 × diameter of posterior ocellus and granulate as vertex, with satin sheen; clypeus moderately convex, narrow and coriaceous, 0.4 × width of face; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig. 84); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.3 × minimum width of face (Fig. 84) and face mainly coriaceous with some rugulae dorsally and long setae; length of eye 1.8 × temple in dorsal view and temple sub-parallel-sided behind eye and narrowed posteriorly; occiput behind stemmaticum granulate and occipital carina absent ventrally and complete (but irregular) dorsally; clypeus partly up to lower level of eyes (Fig. 84); length of malar space 0.4 × height of eye in lateral view; eyes slightly protruding (Figs 84-86).

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely granulate-coriaceous, matt and medio-posteriorly rugose, middle lobe without a longitudinal carina; notauli narrow, shallow and very finely crenulate; prepectal carina narrow lamelliform medio-ventrally, not reaching anterior border of mesopleuron; precoxal area of mesopleuron granulate; mesopleuron above precoxal area (except large smooth and shiny speculum) granulate, but dorsally rugose; medially metapleuron granulate, rather shiny; mesosternal sulcus narrow and rather deep, without longitudinal carina posteriorly; mesosternum rather angulate posteriorly; scutellum moderately convex medially and depressed laterally, mainly granulate and largely non-carinate laterally; lunula moderately wide; propodeum rather directly lowered posteriorly and granulate-rugose, median carina complete, without tubercles.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.7 × 3-SR and linear with 3-SR (Fig. 78); 1-CU1 oblique and widened, 0.25 × as long as 2-CU1; r-m 0.8 × 2-SR, and 0.7 × 3-SR; second submarginal cell rather small and square (Fig. 78); vein M+CU1 of fore wing apically above level of vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 78); vein 1-SR of fore wing angled with vein 1-M; cu-a subvertical, not parallel with CU1b, straight; 1-M straight posteriorly. Hind wing: apical half of marginal cell slightly widened apically (Fig. 78); 2-SC+R medium-sized and longitudinal; m-cu present and slightly pigmented.

Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa granulate-coriaceous, with satin sheen; hind trochantellus 2.2 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.4 and 5.2 × their width, respectively (Figs 87-88); inner apex of hind tibia without comb; length of inner hind spur 0.35 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite 0.7 × as long as wide posteriorly, convex and non-lamelliform latero-posteriorly and basally; first–second tergites finely and densely irregularly rugulose and with median carina (Fig. 81); medio-basal area of second tergite absent; second suture narrow, deep and finely crenulate; third tergite superficially coriaceous and with median carina (except posteriorly), third–fourth tergites very finely rugulose-coriaceous; fourth tergite convex medially and apically, shiny and with sharp lateral crease; remainder of metasoma largely retracted; ovipositor sheath truncate apically and moderately setose.

Colour. Black (including coxae, middle and hind trochanters); palpi, tegulae, pterostigma, veins, first and second tergites and remainder of legs dark brown; malar space, orbita, mesoscutum (but middle lobe somewhat infuscate medio-anteriorly), scutellum laterally, pronotum, mesopleuron (except postero-ventrally) yellowish brown; wing membrane slightly infuscate.

Etymology.

From the specific epithet of its host.

Distribution.

*France.