Ophion forticornis Morley, 1915

Johansson, Niklas & Cederberg, Björn, 2019, Review of the Swedish species of Ophion (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ophioninae), with the description of 18 new species and an illustrated key to Swedish species, European Journal of Taxonomy 550, pp. 1-136 : 66-67

Ophion forticornis Morley, 1915

Fig. 10O

Ophion forticornis Morley, 1915: 270–271 .

Ophion baueri Habermehl, 1930: 114–115 .

Material examined

1 ♀, 1 ♂ ( Sweden).

Diagnosis

Fore wing length 13 mm. Antenna with 49 flagellomeres. First flagellomere 3.5 times as long as wide. Central flagellomeres about 1.2 times as long as wide. Temple strongly buccate. Head in lateral view temple 0.9 times as long as compound eye. Head in dorsal view with distinct gap between lateral ocellus and compound eye. Gap about 0.5 times ocellar diameter. Malar space about 0.1 times as long as mandibular base in female and about 0.1–0.2 times in male. Mandibular gape right-angled, with internal angles. Wing membrane clear. Ramellus distinct, reaching 0.2–0.3 times the width of the discosubmarginal cell. Mesopleuron shiny, or sometimes weakly shagreened, with quite weak punctures, space between punctures about equal or slightly larger than their diameter. Epicnemial carina, in antero-ventral view, with pleurosternal angles slightly anterior to sternal angles. Pleurosternal angles rounded, obtuse. Scutellum with lateral carinae absent. Propodeum with carination very strong. Posterior transverse carina forming four prominent spines at junctions with longitudinal carinae ( Fig. 10O ). Hind trochantellus shorter than wide in dorsal view. Legs normal with hind femur about 6.0 times as long as wide. Sclerotised part of first sternite ending distinctly posterior to spiracle. Inner spur of hind tibia as long as 0.3 times hind metatarsus.

Colour

Body testaceous with rich pale pattern on mesoscutum, mesopleuron, head and scutellum (as in Fig. 7 A–B). Mandibular teeth black.

Ecology

This species occurs in early summer, May–early June, in sand dune areas. Brock (1982) lists a possible rearing through Actebia praecox ( Linnaeus, 1758) .

Distribution in Sweden

Very rare, only known from a couple of specimens from sand dunes in Southern Sweden. Only one recent record from Koster, an island on the West coast of Sweden.

Figures

Fig. 10. Generalized carination of propodeum in females, posterodorsal view. A. Ophion luteus (Linnaeus, 1758)/O. scutellaris Thomson, 1888/O. obscuratus Fabricius, 1792. B. O. costatus Ratzeburg, 1848. C. O. brocki Johansson sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008633). D. O. confusus Johansson sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008637). E. O. crassicornis Brock, 1982. F. O. artemisiae Boie, 1855. G. O. ellenae Johansson sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008655). H. O. perkinsi Brock, 1982. I. O. ocellaris Ulbricht, 1926. J. O. areolaris Brauns, 1889. K. O. dispar Brauns, 1895. L. O. tenuicornis Johansson sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008743). M. O. longigena Thomson, 1888. N. O. brevicornis Morley, 1915. O. O. forticornis Morley, 1915.

Fig. 7. A–D. Occipital carina posterior view. A. Ophion confusus Johansson sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008637). B. O. mocsaryi Brauns, 1889. C. O. ocellaris Ulbricht, 1926. D. O. areolaris Brauns, 1889. E–G. Hind trochanter and trochantellus dorsal view. E. O. slaviceki Kriechbaumer, 1892. F. O. obscuratus Fabricius, 1798. G. O. costatus Ratzeburg, 1848. H–I. Mandible ventral view. H. O. obscuratus. I. O. slaviceki. J–K. First tergite, aberration O. artemisiae Boie, 1855. J. Dorsal view. K. Lateral view. L–M. Head in posterior view showing generalized shape of occipital carina. L. O. obscuratus. M. O. variegatus Rudow, 1883. N–O. Central flagellomeres in males. N. O. obscuratus. O. O. variegatus.