Bracon (Bracon) alutaceus SZÉPLIGETI

Papp, J., 2008, A revision of the Bracon (subgenera Bracon s. str., Cyanopterobracon, Glabrobracon, Lucobracon, Osculobracon subgen. n., Pigeria) species described by SZÉPLIGETI from the western Palaearctic Region (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Braconinae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 40 (2), pp. 1741-1837 : 1747-1749

Bracon (Bracon) alutaceus SZÉPLIGETI ( Figs 24-40 )

Bracon alutaceus SZÉPLIGETI 1901a: 184 (in key) and 272 (description) (in Hungarian), 1904 (1901): 159, 162 (in key) and 172 (description) (in German) (syntype series one female), type locality: "P.-Maróth" = Pilismarót ( Hungary), female lectotype in Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum, Budapest; examined. — FAHRINGER 1927: as valid species 233 (in key) and 1928: 312 (redescription), assigned to "Section Striobracon ". TELENGA 1936: as valid species 159 (in key) and 235 (redescription) (in Russian), 361 (in key, in German). PAPP 1968: 193 (as valid species in key) and 197 (taxonomic comment). SHENEFELT 1978: 1464 (as valid species, literature up to 1974). TOBIAS 1986: 129 (in key, as synonym of B. longicollis WESMAEL , in Russian). PAPP 2004: 171 (as valid species, type designation and depository).

Bracon (Orthobracon) pallidalatus TOBIAS 1957: 495 (description, in Russian) (type series 22 females), type locality: Kamisin (European Russia), female holotype ("type") and 21 paratypes in Zoological Institute, Sankt Petersburg; one female paratype (in Museum Budapest) examined. — TOBIAS 1961: 168 (synonymization with B. alutaceus ). SHENEFELT 1978: 1464 (as synonym of B. alutaceus , literature up to 1961).

Bracon pygmaeus NIEZABITOWSKI 1910 (nec PROVANCHER 1880): 62 (18) (description) (syntype series?), type locality: "Rytro" or "Żegiestów" ( Poland), syntype series supposedly deposited in Zakład Ekologii i Ochrony Środowiska WSP, Kielce, Poland); not examined, the junior synonymy of B. pgmaeus is supposed albeit not confirmed lacking authentic specimen. — TELENGA 1936: 250 (as synonymy of B. polonicus FAHRINGER )

Bracon (Striobracon) polonicus FAHRINGER 1927: 240 , 252 (in key), 333 (description); new name for B. pygmaeus NIEZABITOWSKI 1910 nec PROVANCHER 1880.

T y p e d e s i g n a t i o n: Designation of the female lectotype of B. alutaceus : (first label, printed) " P. Maróth / Szépligeti" ( Hungary); second label is my lectotype card, third label is with the inventory number 320. - Lectotype is in good condition: (1) micropinned, micropin pierced basal part of right wings; (2) right antenna deficient apically and with 22 antennomeres, (3) left fore wing glued on a separate small card attached to the pin.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d (34 + 4): Hungary: 17 from 17 localities and 1. Serbia (Voivodina): 1. Czech Republic: 3 + 3 from 4 localities. Slovakia: 1. England: 2 from 2 localities. Sweden: 2 from 2 localities. Denmark: 1. Germany: 1. Austria: 1. Poland: 1. Bulgaria: 1. Cyprus: 1. Europian Russia: 1 paratype from the type locality Kamisin. China ("Turkestan"): 1.

R e d e s c r i p t i o n of the female lectotype of B. alutaceus: Body 3.1 mm long. Antenna (left antenna) about as long as body and with 31 antennomeres. First flagellomere clearly twice as long as broad, further flagellomeres indistinctly attenuating so that penultimate flagellomere twice as long as broad ( Fig. 24 ). - Head in dorsal view ( Fig. 25 ) less transverse, 1.76 times as broad as long, eye clearly twice as long as temple, temple strongly rounded, occiput weakly excavated. Eye in lateral view 1.5 times as high as wide somewhat ventrally, eye one-fourth wider than temple ( Fig. 26 , see arrows). Oral opening as wide horizontally as shortest distance between opening and compound eye ( Fig. 27 ). Head polished, face laterally subrugulose.

Mesosoma in lateral view 1.6 times as long as high, polished. Notaulix faintly distinct. Propodeum striate, anteriorly uneven to smooth, medio-longitudinal keel distinct ( Fig. 28 ). - Hind femur fairly thick, 2.6 times as long as broad medially ( Fig. 29 ). Claw downcurved, its basal lobe distinct ( Fig. 30 ).

Fore wing as long as body. Pterostigma ( Fig. 31 ) less wide, 3.3 times as long as wide and issuing r from its middle; 3-SR 1.38 times as long as 2-SR, SR1 straight, 1.7 times as long as 3-SR and reaching tip of wing; 1-R1 1.6 times as long as length of pterostigma. First discal cell less high, 1-M 1.66 times as long as m-cu, 1-SR-M 1.3 times as long as 1-M ( Fig. 32 ).

First tergite strongly broadening posteriorly ( Fig. 33 ), 1.25 times as broad behind as long, evenly broadening posteriorly; scutum behind rugose, laterally with striate elements, lateral margin of scutum crenulate, lateral part of tergite rugose. Second tergite 2.7 times as broad behind as long and a bit longer than third tergite. Second tergite antero-medially rugose, otherwise rugulose; further tergites with somewhat weakening granulo-rugulosity ( Fig. 33 ). Suture between tergites 2-3 distinct, almost straight, smooth ( Fig. 33 ). Ovipositor sheath short, as long as hind tarsomeres 1-4 + half of 5th tarsomere combined.

Ground colour of body reddish yellow. Scape brownish yellow, flagellum brown. Palpi yellow. Propodeum and first tergite entirely, second tergite medially black. Median spots of tergites 3-5 brown to light brown. Legs yellow, fifth tarsomeres brownish. Wings subhyaline, pterostigma and veins opaque light brown.

Variable features of the females (34): Similar to the female lectotype. Body (2.8-)3- 3.3(-4) mm long. Antenna with (27-)31-38(-40) antennomeres. Head in dorsal view (1.65-)1.7-1.78 times as broad as long ( Fig. 34 ). Sculpture of propodeum restricted medially. Hind femur 2.5-2.7 times as long as broad medially ( Fig. 35 ). Pterostigma somewhat wide ( Fig. 36 ), three times as long as wide; second submarginal cell long, 3-SR 1.35-1.4 times as long as 2-SR. First tergite rarely as long as broad behind. Second tergite sometimes distinctly longer than third tergite ( Fig. 38 ). Sculpture beyond first tergite rarely clearly weakening posteriorly ( Fig. 38 , left half in figure) or second tergite with stronger sculpture ( Fig. 38 , right half in figure). Ovipositor sheath as long as hind tibia or hind tibia + hind basitarsus combined. Pterostigma usually yellow. Black pattern of body more or less diminishing, i.e. ground colour of body more reddish yellow or, less usually, blackish to black pattern more extending ( var. polonicus FAHRINGER ).

R e d e s c r i p t i o n of the males (4): Similar to the female. Body 2.5-3 mm long. Head in dorsal view ( Fig. 34 ) 1.66 times as broad as long. Hind femur 2.9-3.3 times as long as broad medially ( Fig. 35 ). Pterostigma 3.3-3 times as long as wide; r as long as width of pterostigma, second submarginal cell narrow hence relatively long, 3-SR 1.28 times length of 2-SR ( Figs 36, 39 ). First tergite narrow, somewhat longer than broad behind, second and third tergites less wide ( Fig. 40 ).

H o s t: unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Europe, China ("Turkestan").

R e m a r k: Within the subgenus Bracon the species Bracon alutaceus SZÉPLIGETI is nearest to B. fulvipes NEES , viewing the sculpture of the tergites and propodeum, the alar venation and colour of the body, they are distinguished by subtle features not easy to recognize: 1 (2) Propodeum striate ( Fig. 28 ). First tergite of female somewhat broader behind than

long ( Fig. 33 ), rarely as long as broad behind. Claw curved ( Fig. 30 ). Head in dorsal

view 1.7-1.8 times as broad as long, eye not protruding ( Figs 25, 34 ). Second

submarginal cell of fore wing usually long, 3-SR 1.35-1.4 times as long as 2-SR

( Figs 31 , 39 ). Pterostigma yellow, rarely light brown.: (2.8-)3-3.3(-4) mm,:

2.5-3 mm .................................................................... B. (B.) alutaceus SZÉPLIGETI 1901 2 (1) Propodeum rugose ( Fig. 41 ). First tergite as long as broad ( Fig. 42 ) or, less

frequently, more or less longer than broad behind. Claw less downcurved ( Fig. 43 ).

Head in dorsal view 1.8-1.9(-2) times as broad as long, eye usually somewhat

protruding ( Fig. 44 ). Second submarginal cell of fore wing usually less long, 3-SR

1.2-1.3 times as long as 2-SR ( Fig. 45 ). Pterostigma brown to dark brown.: (2.5-

)3-4.5(-5) mm,: 2.5-3.5(-4) mm ......................................... B. (B.) fulvipes NEES 1834

Figures

Figs 24-35. Bracon alutaceus S24-33 24 th th 25 ZÉPLIGETI 1901 (lectotype: Figs): () flagellum: first, second, 29 and 30 flagellomeres, () head in dorsal view, (26) head in letaral view, (27) ventral half of head in frontal view, (28) propodeum, (29) hind femur, (30) claw, (31) distal part of right fore wing, (32) first discal cell, (33) tergites 1-3, (34) head in dorsal view:, (35) hind femur:.

Figs 36-45. Bracon alutaceus SZÉPLIGETI 1901: (36) pterostigma with first section of radial vein (r):, (37) hind femur:, (38) tergites 2-3 with indication of different sculpture:, (39) distal part of right fore wing, (40) tergites 1-3:. - Bracon fulvipes NEES 1834: (41) propodeum, (42) first tergite:, (43) claw, (44) head in dorsal view:, (45) distal part of right fore wing:.