Aleiodes reticulatus (Noskiewicz, 1956)

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 : 107-110

Aleiodes reticulatus (Noskiewicz, 1956) stat. rev. Figs 302-304, 305-315

Rhogas reticulatus Noskiewicz, 1956: 176 (examined).

Aleiodes reticulatus ; Shenefelt 1975: 1181; Papp 1991: 96 (as synonym of Aleiodes arcticus ).

Type material.

Holotype, ♀ (PAN), "[Poland], 15/1 [19]48 Itame fulvaria Vill. 1.II.[19]49", " Rhogas - ♂ reticularis [sic] Nosk.", "Holotyp. (lgz. pnedui)", "Holotypus ♀ % Rhogas reticulatus Nosk. 1956 . Papp 1983 ". Paratypes: 1 ♀ (glued on same card as holotype, with one emerged mummy of geometrid (compatible with Macaria sp.) with same labels and " Aleiodes ♀ arcticus Th. det. Papp J., 1983", "Syntypus Rhogas reticulatus Noskiewicz 1954 "; 2 ♂ "15/1/ [19]48 Karczewski Jędrzejów 15.xii.48", " Rhogas - ♂ reticularis [sic] Nk", "Allotypus Rhogas ♂ reticulatus Nosk. 1956 . Papp 1983 ", " Aleiodes ♂ arcticus Th. det. Papp J. 1983", "Syntypus Rhogas reticulatus Noskiewicz, 1954 ".

Additional material.

2 ♀, 2 ♂ (3 ZISP, 1 NMS), *Belarus, Zubky, 120 km W of Minsk, ex Macaria wauaria on Ribes nigrum , em. 1-8.v.1984 (Silvanovich); 1 ♀ (SDEI), *Germany, Mecklenburg, Fürstenberg, 21.v.1888 (Konow); 1 ♂ (SDEI) Germany, Mecklenberg, Kalkhof, 30.iv.1890 (F.W. Konow); 1 ♀ (NMS) Germany, Saxony, Tharandt, Fichtenwald, 18.v.1980 (Walter); 2 ♂ (NMS), Poland, Pomeranian, Czarne, ex Macaria brunneata on Vaccinium myrtillus , coll. 24.v.2014, mummies 27.v.2014, em. 27.iii.2015 (M.R. Shaw); 1 ♂ (ZISP) *Russia, Voronezezhskij zapovednik ex geometrid [host mummy compatible with Macaria wauaria ] on Ribes nigrum , 18.iv.1950 (Donvar); 1 ♀ (ZISP) Russia, Rostchino, NW of St Petersburg, 15.vi.1966 (V.I. Tobias). In addition several mummies were obtained from Macaria brunneata larvae collected from Vaccinium myrtillus in Polish conifer forests in v. 2014, both at the type locality (Kielce: Jędrzejów, Lasków forest), and also at Ruciane-Nida (Warmian-Masurian) and Biebrza (Podalaskie), but the adults failed to develop (mummies in NMS).

Molecular data.

MRS808 (Poland KU682262, CO1).

Biology.

The type series was reared in Poland from the ennomine gemetrid Macaria brunneata (Thunberg) (3 ♀, 3 ♂) feeding on Vaccinius myrtillus - and supposedly also Arctia caja (Linnaeus) (1 ♂) collected from the same plant, but we discount that as a presumed error (the specimen can no longer be found in PAN, its supposed depository). It is not surprising to add Macaria wauaria (Linnaeus) (4:1 [Belarus]; Silvanovich) and another possibly from this host (Russia) to the known host range, especially as these two Macaria species both overwinter in the egg stage (unlike many others). From material recently obtained from Macaria brunneata in the type locality and five other sites in Poland (M.R. Shaw), it is clear that Aleiodes reticulatus is a regular univoltine parasitoid of Macaria brunneata feeding on Vaccinium myrtillus growing as understory in conifer forests especially on infertile sandy soils (on one of the German specimens “Fichtenwald” translates as spruce forest), flying in early spring (April and May) which is no doubt why it has remained poorly understood until now. The small mummy (Fig. 303) forms at about the end of May and is firmly glued to a twig of the foodplant well below the crown, or frequently on twigs and conifer needles in the litter. It is brownish grey, with a dark brown posterodorsal patch corresponding to the site of eventual adult emergence, and rather short, broad and dorsally elevated. After summer diapause Aleiodes reticulatus overwinters as a prepupa (without defaecation but with well-formed eyes: ascertained by opening a mummy with living contents in December).

Diagnosis.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig. 311); OOL twice diameter of posterior ocellus; mesoscutum, orbita and malar space black; precoxal sulcus granulate; trochanters, trochantelli and pterostigma largely black(ish); mesoscutum with a fine longitudinal carina on mesoscutum medio-posteriorly and more or less anteriorly, but sometimes absent; 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. 305); vein r of fore wing 0.9-1.1 × as long as vein 3-SR (Fig. 305); vein 1-SR of fore wing slightly angled with vein 1-M; all femora and tibiae dark reddish brown; fore and hind femora moderately stout (Figs 313-314); fourth metasomal tergite curved posteriorly in dorsal view (Fig. 308), its lateral crease distinct and following tergites more or less retracted (Fig. 302); length of fore wing 3.9-4.7 mm.

Description.

Redescribed ♀ (NMS) from Zubky (Belarus), length of fore wing 4.7 mm, of body 5.1 mm.

Head. Apical antennal segments missing, remaining 37 segments, length of antenna about as long as fore wing, its subbasal segments about 1.2 × as long as wide; frons mainly superficially granulate and with some rugae anteriorly, weakly shiny; OOL twice diameter of posterior ocellus and granulate as is vertex, with satin sheen; clypeus weakly convex, narrow and coriaceous; ventral margin of clypeus thick and depressed (Fig. 312); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.4 × minimum width of face (Fig. 311) and face mainly coriaceous with some rugulae dorsally and long setae; length of eye 1.1 × temple in dorsal view and temple sub-parallel-sided behind eye (Fig. 315); occiput behind stemmaticum granulate and occipital carina nearly complete ventrally and narrowly interrupted dorsally; clypeus near lower level of eyes (Fig. 311); length of malar space 0.6 × height of eye in lateral view; eyes somewhat protruding (Figs 311-312, 315).

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes largely granulate-coriaceous, matt and medio-posteriorly rugose, middle lobe with a complete longitudinal carina, but weakly developed anteriorly (Fig. 306); notauli narrow, rather shallow and 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 finely rugose; medially metapleuron granulate and with some rugae, rather shiny; mesosternal sulcus narrow and rather shallow; mesosternum rounded posteriorly; scutellum moderately convex, shallowly impressed medio-anteriorly, mainly granulate and non-carinate laterally; propodeum rather directly lowered posteriorly and granulate-rugose, median carina complete, without tubercles.

Wings. Fore wing: r nearly as long as 3-SR (Fig. 305); 1-CU1 oblique, 0.3 × as long as 2-CU1; r-m 0.8 × 2-SR, and 0.9 × 3-SR; second submarginal cell rather short (Fig. 305); vein M+CU1 of fore wing apically above level of vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 305); vein 1-SR of fore wing slightly angled with vein 1-M; cu-a slightly oblique, not parallel with CU1b; 1-M nearly straight posteriorly. Hind wing: apical half of marginal cell slightly widened apically (Fig. 305); 2-SC+R short and longitudinal; m-cu present, pigmented; M+CU:1-M = 25:14; 1r-m slightly oblique and 0.6 × as long as 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws setose; hind coxa granulate-coriaceous, with satin sheen and nearly reaching apex of first tergite; hind trochantellus 1.8 × longer ventrally than wide; length of fore and hind femora 5.3 and 4.5 × their width, respectively (Figs 313-314); inner apex of hind tibia without comb; length of inner hind spur 0.4 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite 0.7 × as long as wide posteriorly, convex and latero-posteriorly non-lamelliform; first–second tergites finely and densely irregularly rugulose and with median carina (Fig. 308); medio-basal area of second tergite absent; second suture medium-sized, deep and distinctly crenulate; third tergite with median carina (but obsolescent posteriorly), third–fourth tergites very finely rugulose-coriaceous; fourth tergite convex medially and apically; fourth tergite with sharp lateral crease; remainder of metasoma largely retracted; ovipositor sheath truncate apically and moderately setose.

Colour. Black (including coxae); palpi basally, tegulae, pterostigma, veins, trochanters, middle and hind femora dorso-apically and more or less trochantelli dark brown; remainder of palpi and legs brown; wing membrane slightly infuscate, especially near basal veins.

Variation. Antennal segments of ♀ 40(1), 41(1), 43(1), 44(1); of ♂ 40(1), 42(1), 43(3), 44(3); male has shape of head just like the examined specimens of true Aleiodes arcticus but females have the temple slightly longer and more narrowed; mesoscutum black but one ♀ vaguely brownish near origin of notauli; pale parts of legs brown or orange brown; mesopleuron black or more or less brownish.

Note.

This species is very close to Aleiodes arcticus but, in addition to small morphological differences, the fact that Aleiodes reticulatus is a lowland species while Aleiodes arcticus is boreo-alpine is also regarded as significant.