Megarhyssa vagatoria (Fabricius, 1793)

Verheyde, Fons, Hoekstra, Paul, Libert, Pierre-Nicolas, Meijer, Hilco, Ketelaere, Augustijn De, Vandaudenard, Thibaud, Belgers, Dick & Brosens, Edwin, 1880, Two hundred and five ichneumonid wasps reported for the first time in Belgium and the Netherlands (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 122, pp. 1-142 : 115

Megarhyssa vagatoria (Fabricius, 1793) (Fig. 61)

Megarhyssa vagatoria is a predominantly orange species. In contrast to Megarhyssa perlata (Christ, 1791) its antennae are darker and the yellow spots on the metasoma are often smaller ( HORSTMANN, 1998a; Fig. 61). The males have black apical tergites. It was one of the first species to colonize our countries, following its host Tremex fusciscornis (Fabricius, 1787) and searching for suitable birches and beeches ( VERHEYDE et al., 2020a). It seems to have somewhat more difficulties to colonize the western parts of Flanders, but it is known to be present in the northern parts of France near Lille (LIBERT et al., 2021).

First report for Belgium; confirmed in the Netherlands.

MATERIAL EXAMINED:

BELGIUM: • 5 ♀♀ 2 ♂♂; Mol , Vito bossen en De Bleken (AN); 51°12’49”N 5°04’19”E; 5/vi/2011; L. Peeters leg.; field observation, oviposition on Betula sp. ; C. Thirion, P-N. Libert & F. Verheyde det. (ObsID: 54999773) . • 8 ♂♂; Lommel , Sahara ( LIB); 51°15’10”N 5°17’12”E; 18/v/2012; L. Peeters leg.; field observation; F. Verheyde det. (ObsID: 68550530) . • 3 ♂♂; Arendonk , Rode Del (AN); 51°20’00”N 5°07’48”E; 22/v/2012; W. Machielsen leg.; field observation; F. Verheyde det. (ObsID: 68666823) . • 1 ♀ 15 ♂♂; Postel , Ronde Put (AN); 51°17’24”N 5°09’58”E; 28/v/2012; P. vds leg.; field observation; F. Verheyde det. (ObsID: 68823525) . • 1 ex.; Lommel , Balimgronden ( LIB); 51°12’00”N 5°16’43”E; 23/v/2020; G. Loos leg.; coll. GL; field observation; F. Verheyde det. (ObsID: 197963318) […] .

THE NETHERLANDS: • 1 ♀; Reusel , Reuselse Moeren (NB); 51°18’57”N 5°08’51”E; 14/v/2011; F. Neijts leg.; field observation; J. Ravoet & F. Verheyde det. (ObsID: 54494614) . • 3 ♀♀; Ospel , Grote Peel (LIN); 51°19’50”N 5°47’47”E; 9/vi/2011; S. Gubbels leg.; field observation, oviposition on Betula sp. ; J. Ravoet & F. Verheyde det. (ObsID: 55010399) . • 1 ♀; Leersum , Leersumse Veld (UT); 52°02’19”N 5°25’43”E; 27/v/2012; T. Vernooij leg.; field observation, oviposition on Betula sp. ; F. Verheyde det. (ObsID: 70092184) . • 1 ♀; Bladel , Cartierheide (NB); 51°19’56”N 5°16’13”E; 28/v/2012; H. Berkhoudt leg.; field observation, oviposition on Betula sp. ; J. Ravoet & F. Verheyde det. (ObsID: 68870632) . • 17 ♀♀ 6 ♂♂; De Reusel , Reuselse Moeren (NB); 51°18’47”N 5°09’02”E; 21/vi/2012; L. Peeters leg.; field observation, oviposition on Betula sp. ; I. Raemakers & F. Verheyde det. (ObsID: 69323725) […] .