Gasteruption undulatum (Abeille de Perrin, 1879)

Bogusch, Petr, 2021, The genus Gasteruption Latreille, 1796 (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae) in the Czech Republic and Slovakia: distribution, checklist, ecology, and conservation status, Zootaxa 4935 (1), pp. 1-63 : 54-55

Gasteruption undulatum (Abeille de Perrin, 1879)

Figs. 226–235 .

For synonymy see van Achterberg & Talebi (2014).

Diagnosis: Body length of both sexes is 8–11 mm, ovipositor is 1.8–3.1 mm long. Species with a short ovipositor, and ovipositor sheath with a black apex, 0.8–1.5× as long as third tibia. Head quadratic, matte with a very fine sculpture, contrasting with the shiny mesonotum, which is coarsely rugulose. Third tibia globular and widened, with yellowish circular spot subbasally, tarsi reddish or light brown.

Distribution: ( Fig. 235 ): West-Palaearctic species. Occurs in most of Europe, especially widespread in central and south Europe. Recorded from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France + Corsica, Germany, Greece, Hungary (doubtful by Madl & Mitroiu 2019 but I have personal records in my collection), Italy + Sardinia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine ( Šedivý 1958; Madl 1990; Pagliano & Scaramozzino 2000; van Achterberg 2013; Strumia & Pagliano 2014; van Achterberg & Talebi 2014; Žikić et al. 2014; Ceccolini 2016; Madl & Mitroiu 2019, Wiśniowski 2020, and personal records). Recorded in Asia from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan ( van Achterberg & Talebi 2014, Özbek 2020, and personal records).

Šedivý (1958) recorded this species both from the Czech Republic (only Moravia) and from Slovakia under the synonym G. bidentulum, the same author later synonymised this species by G. assectator ( Šedivý 1989) . However, it is certainly a valid species, and thus it is necessary to study the distribution and ecology of this species separately from G. assectator . It is a common species, occurring especially in the warmest regions of both countries and is not recorded in higher altitudes. Recorded from 16 localities until 1990 and 18 after 1990, both in Bohemia and Moravia. In Slovakia, it was recorded from 21 localities, while seven localities are known until 1990 and 14 after 1990 ( Tab. 2). The species is probably spreading and getting more numerous, especially in warmer regions in the south of both countries, where it locally forms strong populations. A new species for Bohemia.

Biology: Recorded from June to September. Hosts are unknown and will likely be parasitising nests of smaller bees of the genus Hylaeus (Colletidae) and family Megachilidae . Adults visit flowers of plants of the family Apiaceae , in our observations it is numerous on Falcaria vulgaris . Wall (1994) reported occurrences on flowers of Dorycnium herbaceum (Fabaceae) .

Conservation: Species restricted to warmer regions but in these parts of both countries it is not rare and locally numerous. Biology is not well-known, so it is necessary to study especially the hosts of this species. Red List Category: LC—least concern ( Tab. 2).

Figures

FIGURE 235. Distribution map of Gasteruption undulatum in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Full circles represent distribution after 1990 and empty circles distribution until 1990.

FIGURES 226–234. Gasteruption undulatum (Abeille de Perrin, 1879). 226—female, lateral habitus, 227—male, lateral habitus, 228—female, lateral head, 229—female, frontal head, 230—female, dorsal head, 231—female, lateral mesosoma, 232—female, dorsal mesosoma, 233—female, third leg, 234—female, pronotal teeth. Scale bars represent 1 mm.