Bracon (Glabrobracon) nigricollis Wesmael, 1838

Papp, Jenő & Xviii, Budapest, 2012, A revision of the Bracon Fabricius species in Wesmael’s collection deposited in Brussels (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 21, pp. 1-154 : 58-60

Bracon (Glabrobracon) nigricollis Wesmael, 1838

Fig. 27 A-L

Braco nigricollis Wesmael, 1838: 19 ♀ (type material: 1 ♀), type locality: “environs de Liège” ( Belgium), the single ♀ syntype (“Je ne posséde qu’une femelle de cette espèce,” Wesmael l.c.) is not present in Wesmael’s Collection (Brussels), supposedly lost.

Bracon nigricollis – Szépligeti 1901: 263 (♀, in key, in Hungarian); 1904 (1901): 176 (♀, in key, in German).

Bracon (Lucobracon) nigricollis – Fahringer 1927: 251 (in key) and 363 (redescription, ♀), assigned to “Section Lucobracon ”. — Telenga 1936: 173 ♀ (in key), 285 (redescription) (in Russian) and 376 (in key, in German). — Shenefelt 1978: 1622 (literature up to 1953).

Material examined

11 ♀♀ + 4 ♁♁: BOHEMIA: 1 ♁. HUNGARY: 5 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. ROMANIA: 3 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from one locality. ITALY: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. CYPRUS: 1 ♀. GEORGIA: 1 ♀.

Redescription of Bracon nigricollis Wesmael (3 ♀♀) ( Fig. 27 A-H)

Introductory remark to the redescription

Owing to the absence (or loss?) of the syntype ♀ three ♀♀ were selected from among the eleven ♀♀ examined (see before); their collection data are identical: 3 ♀♀ (+ 1 ♁), Romania, Iaşi, ex Rhopobota unipunctana Haworth , 20 August 1993, leg. et educ. I. Andriescu. The three ♀ (and one ♁) specimens matching in all respects to the original description by Wesmael (l.c.). Designation of a neotype out of the three ♀♀ was disregarded bacause the present state of the ♀♀ in question are not appropriate for it. Furthermore, a few specific features of them are not manifested uniformly.

LENGTH. Body 2.2-3 mm long (2.2: 1 ♀, 2.8: 1 ♀, 3: 1 ♀).

ANTENNAE. As long as three-fourths of body and with 23 (1 ♀) and 25 (1 ♀) antennomeres. First and penultimate flagellomeres twice as long as broad, flagellum faintly attenuating.

HEAD. In dorsal view transverse ( Fig. 27A ), 1.9 times (1.87: 1 ♀, 1.9: 2 ♀♀) as broad as long, eye 1.5- 1.6 times (1.5: 2 ♀♀, 1.6: 1 ♀) longer than temple, temple rounded, occiput weakly excavated. OOL twice longer than POL. Eye in lateral view 1.5 times as high as wide and 1.5 times wider than temple, temple beyond eye evenly wide ( Fig. 27B , see arrows). Oral opening: its horizontal diameter one-sixth longer than shortest distance between opening and eye (cf. Fig. 22B ). Head polished, face above (or around antennal sockets) finely coriaceous.

MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.6 times as long as high, polished. Notaulix weakly distinct, around its hind meeting rugulose. Propodeum polished, around lunule with short fine striae ( Fig. 27C ).

LEGS. Hind femur 3.6 times as long as broad distally ( Fig. 27D ). Claw downcurved and with a distinct basal lobe ( Fig. 27E ).

WINGS. Forewing somewhat longer than body. Pterostigma ( Fig. 27F ) 3-3.6 times as long as wide (3: 1 ♀, 3.3: 1 ♀, 3.6: 1 ♀) and issuing r proximally from its middle, r just shorter than (1 ♀) to as long as (2 ♀♀) width of pterostigma. Second submarginal cell long, 3-SR 1.3-1.5 times as long as 2-SR (1.3: 1 ♀, 1.4: 1 ♀, 1.5: 1 ♀); SR1 straight, 1.4-1.6 times as long as 3-SR (1.4: 1 ♀, 1.5: 1 ♀, 1.6: 1 ♀) and reaching tip of wing. First discal cell: 1-M 1.8-1.9 times longer than m-cu (1.8: 2 ♀♀, 1.9: 1 ♀), two veins not parallel, 1-SR-M 1.5 times as long as 1-M ( Fig. 27G ).

TERGITES. First tergite ( Fig. 27H ) 1.0-1.25 times as long as broad behind (1.0: 1 ♀, 1.14: 1 ♀, 1.25: 1 ♀), sides beyond pair of spiracles faintly concave and either parallel (2 ♀♀) or somewhat converging posteriorly (1 ♀); margin of scutum finley crenulated, lateral part of tergite with rugulo-striolae (2 ♀♀), otherwise tergite polished. Second tergite transverse, 2.8 times as broad behind as long laterally and somewhat longer than third tegrite; suture between tergites 2-3 weakly bisinuate, finely crenulated. Tergites polished, second tergite antero-medially finely strio-rugulose ( Fig. 27H ). Tergites 3-4 behind (i.e. before hind margin) with a transverse weak sulcus finely crenulated (1 ♀, Fig. 27K ). Hypopygium concealed, oviposior sheath two-thirds to three-fourths as long as metasoma (or clearly to somewhat shorter than hind tibia).

COLOUR. Scape and pedicel ochre, flagellum brownish black, first 3-4 flagellomeres ventrally fainlty ochre. Head and mesosoma black, face with ochre suffusion. Cheek and temple below brownish, mandible yellow, palps pale yellow. Vertex near to eyes with a pair of faint rusty maculae. Tegula yellow (2 ♀♀) or brownish yellow (1 ♀). First tergite black with faint brownish tint. Further tergites yellow, second tergite antero-medially with a blackish macula (2 ♀♀) or tergites medially with a blackish streak (1 ♀). Legs yellow, coxae brownish. Wings subhyaline, pterostigma and veins light brownish.

Variable features of the ♀ (8 ♀♀) ( Fig. 27 I-K)

Similar to the three ♀♀. Body 2.6-2.8(-3) mm long. Antenna with 23-26 antennomeres (23: 1 ♀, 24: 2 ♀♀, 25: 3 ♀♀, 26: 1 ♀). Head in dorsal view less transverse, 1.7 times as broad as long (1 ♀, Fig. 27I ). Oral opening: its horizontal diameter one-sixth to one-fifth longer than shortest distance between opening and eye. First tergite 1.25 times longer than broad behind (3 ♀♀, Fig. 27J ). Tergites 3-4 behind (i.e. close before hind margin) with a transverse, very weak sulci finely subcrenulated (2 ♀♀, Fig. 27K ). Ovipositor sheath long, as long as hind tibia. First tergite yellow, scutum blackish (1 ♀).

Description of the ³ (4 ³³) ( Figs 27L ; 29G )

Similar to the ♀. Body 2.8-3.2 mm long (2.8: 1 ♁, 3: 2 ♁♁, 3.2: 1 ♁). Antenna somewhat longer than body and with 28-33 antennomeres (28: 1 ♁, 30: 2 ♁♁, 33: 1 ♁), flagellomeres 2-2.2 times longer than broad. Head (1.7-)1.9 times as broad as long (1.7: 1 ♁, cf. Fig. 29G ; 1.9: 3 ♁♁). First tergite like in ♀ or somewhat broadening posteriorly (1 ♁, Fig. 27L ). Metasoma vivid yellow (1 ♁).

Hosts

New host: Rhopobota unipunctana Haworth (Lep., Tortricidae : Eucosmini), host taken in Iaşi ( Romania: Moldavia), 20 Aug. 1993, leg. et educ. 3 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ by I. Andriescu. — Three known hosts needed to be confirmed ( Shenefelt 1978: 1622): LEP. Incurvariidae : Lampronia fuscatella Tengström ; Momphidae : Mompha subbistrigella Haworth and Tortricidae : Cydia discretana Wocke.

Distribution

Belgium, Bohemia, Hungary, Romania, Italy, Cyprus, Georgia; after Shenefelt (1978: 1622): The Netherlands, France, Germany.

Taxonomic position

Bracon (Glabrobracon) nigricollis Wesmael is nearest to B. (Gl.) conjugellae Bengtsson ( Sweden, Hungary), a few features are distinctive between the two species:

1 (2) Head in dorsal view less transverse, 1.7-1.75 times as broad as long; temple moderately rounded, eye 1.4-1.5 times longer than temple ( Fig. 29G ). Firts tergite 1.4-1.5 times longer than broad behind, beyond pair of spiracles with slightly converging sides; second tergite slightly longer than third tergite ( Fig.29H ). Hind femur broadest medially( Fig.29I ).Ovipositor sheath longer than hind tibia.Metasoma vivid yellow, medially with dark brown streak. ♀ ♁: 3.2-3.4 mm .... B. (Gl.) conjugellae Bengtsson, 1924

2 (1) Head in dorsal view more transverse, (1.7-)1.9 times as broad as long; temple rounded, eye 1.8-1.9 times longer than temple ( Figs 27A, I ). First tergite at most 1.25 times longer than broad behind, beyond pair of spiracles with parallel sides; second tergite distinctly longer than third tergite ( Figs 27 H-J). Hind femur broadest distally ( Fig. 27D ). Ovipositor sheath shorter than (or at most as long as) hind tibia. Metasoma yellow,second tergite antero-medially with a blackish macula or medially with blackish streak. ♀: 2.2-3 mm, ♁: 2.8-3.2 mm ........................................................... B. (Gl.) nigricollis Wesmael, 1838

Figures

Fig. 27. Bracon (Glabrobracon) nigricollis Wesmael, 1838 (A-H, J-L: ♀, I: ♁). A. Head in dorsal view. B. Head in lateral view. C. Posterior third of propodeum. D. Hind femur. E. Claw. F. Distal part of right forewing. G. First discal cell of right forewing. H. Tergites 1-3. I. Right half of head in dorsal view. J. First tergite. K. Tergites 3-4. L. First tergite.

Fig. 22. Bracon (Foveobracon) megapterus Wesmael, 1838 (A-I: ♀ lectotype, J-L: ♀). A. Head in dorsal view. B. Head in frontal view. C. Propodeum. D. Hind femur. E. Claw. F. Distal part of right forewing. G. First discal cell of right forewing. H. Tergites 1-3. I. Hind end of ovipositor apparatus. J. Second tergite. K. Hind femur. L. First discal cell of right forewing.

Fig. 29. — A-F. Bracon (Glabrobracon) nigriventris Wesmael, 1838 (A-B, D-E: ♀, C, F: ♁). A. Head in dorsal view. B-C. Distal part of right forewing. D-E. First discal cell of right forewing. F. Tergites 2-3. — G-I. Bracon (Glabrobracon) conjugellae Bengtsson, 1924, ♀ paralectotype. G. Head in dorsal view. H. Tergites 1-3. I. Hind femur.