Meteorus kyushuensis Maeto, 1988

Stigenberg, Julia & Ronquist, Fredrik, 2011, Revision of the Western Palearctic Meteorini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), with a molecular characterization of hidden Fennoscandian species diversity 3084, Zootaxa 3084 (1), pp. 1-95 : 58

Meteorus kyushuensis Maeto

Fig. 103

Meteorus kyushuensis Maeto, 1988:328 . Holotype ♀, (Type No. 2567, Kyushu Univ.) Japan: Gokanosho, Kumamoto Pref., Kyushu 14.v.1980, K. Ohara [L.T.]—examined.

Diagnosis: In Huddleston’s key this species runs to M. hirsutipes , and it also groups with this species in our key. The main characters separating these species are the claws (long and slender in M. hirsutipes , of ordinary length in M. kyushuensis ) and the clypeus (very flat and wide in M. hirsutipes , flat but not at all wide in M. kyushuensis ).

Studied material: 5 specimens.

Description: Size about 3.0–4.5. Antennal articles 23–24. Head broad, rounded behind eyes. Length of eye 1.4–1.7 times temple. Ocelli small, OOL=2.6–2.8. Eyes small, only slightly convergent. Malar space about 0.7 times basal breadth of mandible. Face not protuberant, twice as broad as high. Clypeus 0.65 as wide as face, distinctly divided, punctuate. Tentorial pits indistinct. Mandibles stout, not twisted. Precoxal sulcus narrow. Propodeum convex, rugose and with weak carina; excavate medially. Petiolar tergum 1.5 times longer than wide apically; dorsope distinct; ventral folds of petiolar tergum not joined. Ovipositor very long, 4.5 times length of petiolar tergum. Ovipositor very weakly curved downward, length of ovipositor sheaths 2.0 times petiolar tergum, and 0.95 times fore wing. Hind coxa punctuate or reticulate–punctate; tarsal claws with simple but somewhat thickened at base. Colour black to brown; antennae, head, prothorax and legs yellow–brown; the head is yellowish–brown to orange, except for occiput and frons. Male similar to female except antennae 28 articles, malar space 0.9 times basal width of mandible and length of eye 1.3 times length of temple.

Distribution: Japan; Sweden.

Biology: In Japan M. kyushuensis is recorded as a parasitoid of the larvae of the fungus beetle Neotriplax lewisi ( Coleoptera : Erotylidae ) ( Maeto, 1988a). We found 4 specimens within the SMTP and they were caught from July to September in an Alder wood ravine and in a 15 yr old spruce plantation.

Figures

FIGURES 80–133. Anterior view of the head of Meteorus species (except for M. politutele, which is depicted in lateral view).