Diplazon multicolor (Gravenhorst, 1829)

Klopfstein, Seraina, 2011, A review of the Diplazontinae of Mongolia (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Zootaxa 2790, pp. 35-53 : 36-37

Diplazon multicolor (Gravenhorst, 1829)

( Fig. 1 )

This species has previously been synonymized with Bassus annulatus Gravenhorst and Bassus deletus Thomson , but actually represents a distinct species (stat. rev.). It has been reported from the Western Palaearctic region and from India ( Yu et al., 2005). I here provide a diagnosis and short description which are based on the Mongolian specimen and on additional specimens from Hungary, Switzerland and France.

Material examined. Mongolia - Central aimak, Ulan-Baator, Bogdoul, 1600–1750m, 10.06.1966 (1ɗ). Hungary - B.-Széplak, Tóközpuszta 14.–6.07.1953, leg. L. Móczár (1Ψ); Nagyenyed 14.09.1906 (1Ψ); Kõszeg, leg. Méhely (1Ψ); Budapest, leg. Bartkó (1Ψ); Budapest, leg. Szépligeti (1ɗ); Betlen, leg. Kiss (1ɗ); Nyirség, Bátorliget 28.06.–3.07.1949, leg. Kaszab et Székessy; ÖrSz. Miklós 25.06.1918; Szászkézd, leg. Silbernagel (1Ψ) (all HNHM). Switzerland – Geneva, Satigny, Peney, V.1885 (2ɗ, 2Ψ), 19.07.1885 (1ɗ), 25.07.1889 (2ɗ), 31.07.1884 (1Ψ), 29.08.1876 (2Ψ), leg. Tournier ( MHNG). France – Rhônes-Alpes, Ain, Le Reculet, 8.08.1884, leg. Tournier (1ɗ) ( MHNG).

Diagnosis. D. multicolor can be distinguished from the other species of the genus by its small size, the exceptionally low number of flagellomeres, the largely black face in most males and the stout second tergite ( Fig. 1 B). From D. annulatus , it differs further by the dorsoventrally depressed metasoma of the female and from D. deletus deletus (Thomson, 1890) by the distinct punctuation of the face and frons.

Description. Fore wing length 3.4–4.4 mm; head coriaceous, more smooth and distinctly punctate on middle of the face, frons and vertex; face broad ( Fig. 1 A), parallel margined, protruding below antennal scrobes; clypeus with apical lobes angulate, with a moderate median emargination, weakly coriaceous; upper tooth of mandible shallowly bidentate; 15 or rarely 14 flagellomeres. Mesosoma polished, strongly punctate on mesoscutum, mesopleurum and metapleurum; mesoscutum broader than long, notauli short and deep; propodeum fully carinate, petiolar area rugulose; fore wing with areolet open, 2–3 hamuli on costellan fold of hind wing. Metasoma ( Fig. 1 B) dorsoventrally depressed, progressively narrowed after segment 4; petiole rectangular, wider than long, with a pair of strong submedian carinae arising at the base and converging to the deep transverse impression at apical 0.25, striate between the carinae; second tergite of metasoma 1.7–2.1 times as wide as long, rugulo-punctate basal to the deep transverse impression and smooth and punctate behind it, with the spiracle on the dorsal part; third and fourth tergite with distinct transverse impressions, smooth and punctate basally and polished apically; rest of abdomen polished and obscurely punctate. Ovipositor sheaths about 0.3 times as long as hind tibia, stout and laterally compressed, almost fully enclosing ovipositor at apex.

Colouration. Female - black with yellow markings on clypeus, mandible, inner orbital bar, shoulder marks, tegula, subtegular ridge, hind corner of pronotum, large spot on scutellum, post-scutellum; front and middle legs yellow and red, hind femora red; black to red-brown on coxae, with apical yellow spot most prominent on front coxae, trochanters yellow at apex, hind tibia basally dark, white on middle 0.4 and brown to red-brown on apex, tarsi brown. Metasoma dark brown, usually white on hind margin of petiole, often marked with red behind transverse impressions on second and third tergite. Male - As female, face usually black with yellow inner orbital bars, but sometimes with yellow central facial patch. Pale markings of the metasoma often reduced in males.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Diplazon multicolor. A. Face. The dotted line parallel to the inner eye margins denotes the border of the yellow coloration. B. Metasoma. The transverse depressions on tergites 1 to 4 are indicated, the sculpture is however omitted. Scale bars = 1 mm.