Aleiodes seriatus, (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1838)

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 : 113-114

" Aleiodes seriatus ( Herrich-Schaeffer, 1838) " sensu lato Figs 328, 329-340

Rogas seriatus Herrich-Schaeffer, 1838: 156-12 , Fig. [type series lost].

Aleiodes seriatus ; Papp 1991: 107; Belokobylskij et al. 2003: 399.

Aleiodes vittiger Wesmael, 1838: 112 ; Shenefelt 1975: 1185; Papp 1991: 107; Belokobylskij et al. 2003: 399 (as synonym of Aleiodes seriatus ) [examined].

Rogas kuslitzkyi Tobias, 1976: 88 , 223-224; 1986: 83 (transl.: 137).

Aleiodes kuslitzkyi ; Belokobylskij et al. 2003: 399 (as synonym of Aleiodes seriatus ).

Diagnosis.

Antennal segments of ♀ (35 –)44– 50, of ♂ (42 –)48– 53; length of malar space of ♀ 0.3-0.4 × (of ♂ 0.25 times) height of eye in lateral view (Fig. 338); OOL 0.8 × diameter of posterior ocellus; temple narrow (Fig. 339); surroundings of veins 1-M and 1-SR of fore wing more or less infuscate (Fig. 329); inner apex of hind tibia with comb (Fig. 340); metasoma of ♀ maculate (Fig. 331; less so in males); fourth tergite of ♀ pale (ivory) yellowish latero-posteriorly, in ♂ usually infuscate or this tergite uniformly pale brown; base of hind tibia usually narrowly dark brown; length of hind femur of ♀ 5.1-6.5 × its width (of ♂ up to 8 x); fourth tergite gently folded laterally, without acute lateral crease or this only anteriorly developed, although rarely present as a simple, non-lamelliform crease to apex of tergite; precoxal area, epicnemial area and propodeum laterally, rugose; fourth tergite superficially transversely rugulose or aciculate; setose part of ovipositor sheath 0.6 × as long as hind basitarsus. The patterning of the metasoma is characteristic but very variable in extent (Figs 328, 331).

Notes.

We include this taxon only in outline, because DNA evidence (Quicke & Shaw, unpublished) suggest that an aggregate of two species in Europe and another in the Russian Far East currently going under this name remains unresolved. This will be addressed in a future paper (van Achterberg, Shaw & Quicke, in prep.), but here we include Aleiodes seriatus sensu lato in the key because the aggregate is morphologically isolated (within the region covered), easily recognised and does not fall logically into any of the species groups represented. The aggregate is very widespread in Europe, and at least one segregate is associated with Lithosiini ( Erebidae : Arctiinae ).