Bracon (Glabrobracon) nigriventris Wesmael, 1838

Papp, Jenő & Xviii, Budapest, 2012, A revision of the Bracon Fabricius species in Wesmael’s collection deposited in Brussels (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 21, pp. 1-154 : 61-64

Bracon (Glabrobracon) nigriventris Wesmael, 1838

Figs 28 A-J; 29A-F

Braco nigriventris Wesmael, 1838: 36 ♀ (type material: 1 ♀), type locality: “environs de Bruxelles ” ( Belgium), ♀ holotype (“j’ai pris une seule femelle de cette espèce” Wesmael l.c., present designation) in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels; examined.

Bracon indubius var. 1. Szépligeti, 1901 a: 264 (in key) and 278 (description) (in Hungarian); 1904 (1901): 178 (in key) and 182 (description) (in German) ♀ ♁, paralectotypes (1 ♀ + 1 ♁) locality: (1) 1 ♀: Hungary, Pilismarót (Hym. Typ. No. 1437), (2) 1 ♁: Budapest, Gellérthegy (Hym. Typ. No. 1438).

Bracon laticeps Telenga, 1936: 175 (in key), 293 (description) (in Russian) and 378 (in key), 401 (description) (in German) ♀, type locality: “ Krim, Jalta” ( Ukraine), assigned to Section Orthobracon .

Bracon lencoranus Telenga, 1936: 172 (in key) and 279 (description) (in Russian) and 374 (in key), 399 (description) (in German) ♀, type locality: “Transkaukasien, Lenkoranj” ( Azerbaijan), assigned to Section Orthobracon .

Ichneumon (Bracon) palpebrator Ratzeburg, 1844: 47 ♀♁ (type material: several ♀♀ and ♁♁), type locality:Borutin, Oberschlesien ( Germany), ♀ lectotype (designated by Papp 1971b: 282) in Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Müncheberg; synonymized by Papp l.c.).

Bracon persimilis Telenga, 1936: 149 (in key), 209 (description) (in Russian) and 351 (in key), 390 (description) (in German) ♀, type locality: “Nord-Kaukasus, Kisljar” (European Russia: Daghestan). Bracon subornatus Szépligeti, 1901: 263 (in key), 277 (description) (in Hungarian); 1904 (1901): 175 (in key), 180 (description) (in German).

Bracon nigriventris – Szépligeti 1901: 265 (♀, in key, in Hungarian); 1904 (1901): 177, 179 (♀, in key, in German).

Bracon (Orthobracon) nigriventris – Fahringer 1926: 272 (♀, in key), 406 (redescription), assigned to “Section Orthobracon ”.

Bracon (Lucobracon) nigriventris – Papp 1969a: 322 (in key) and 329 (taxonomic notes). — Shenefelt 1978: 1641 (literature up to 1974). — Tobias 1986: 147 (in key). — Tobias & Belokobylskij 2000: 162 (in key, synonyms).

Bracon indubius var. 1 – Papp 2004: 176 (synonymization of the full series: seven ♀♀ + four ♁♁).

Bracon laticeps – Shenefelt 1978: 1621 (as synonym of B. lautus Szépligeti after Tobias 1961: 171). — Tobias 1986: 147 (in key, as synonym of B. nigriventris ).

Bracon lencoranus – Shenefelt 1978: 1501 (as valid species). — Tobias 1986: 147 (in key, as synonym of B. nigriventris ).

Ichneumon (Bracon) palpebrator – Shenefelt 1978: 1609 (as valid species, literature up to 1971).

Bracon persimilis – Shenefelt 1978: 1580 (as valid species, literature up to 1936). — Tobias 1976: 69 (in key) and 1986: 147 (synonymization in key).

Bracon subornatus – Fahringer 1927: as valid species 262 (in key) and 423 (redescription), assigned to “Section Orthobracon ”. — Telenga 1936: as valid species 172 (in key), 279 (redescription) (in Russian). — Papp 1969a: 329 (synonymization). — Papp 2004: 181 (“identity” with B. titubans Wesmael ) and 2008: 1789: citations, type locality, ♀ lectotype designation.

Designation of the ♀ holotype of B. nigriventris

(First label, printed) “ Coll. Wesmael ”; (second label, printed) “2050”; (third label) “ Braco ♀ / nigriventris mihi” (handwritten) / “dét. C. Wesmael ” (printed); (fourth label, printed red) “ Type ”; (fifth label with my handwriting) “ Belgique / Bruxelles / VII, leg. Wesmael ” (above on label) “teste J. Papp / 1987” (reverse on label); sixth label is the holotype card. Holotype is in fairly good condition: (1) micropinned on a thick needle hence mesosctum partly and scutellum entirely invisible; (2) flagelli damaged; (3) right middle leg glued separately on the polyporus stage; (4) tarsomeres 2-5 of left middle and tarsus of right hind legs missing.

In the Wesmael Collection under the name label Bracon nigriventris there is a second ♀ specimen with three labels similar to that of the first three labels of the holotype. However, it does not represent the syntype specimen considering Wesmael’s own statement (1838: 37) “J’ai pris une seule femelle de cette espèce...”. I labelled accordingly this specimen (“non Type”).

Material examined

36 ♀♀ + 32 ♁♁: ENGLAND: 4 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from two localities. DENMARK: 1 ♀. FRANCE: 4 ♀♀ + 5 ♁♁ from one locality. GERMANY: 3 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from three localities. SLOVAKIA: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. HUNGARY: 17 ♀♀ + 13 ♁♁ from 21 localities. ROMANIA (Transsylvania): 1 ♀. ITALY: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. CROATIA: 1 ♁. MACEDONIA: 1 ♁. KOSOVO: 1 ♁. BULGARIA: 2 ♀♀ from two localities. TURKEY: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. ARMENIA: 1 ♀ + 3 ♁♁ from three localities. MONGOLIA: 2 ♁♁ from one locality.

Redescription of the ♀ holotype of Bracon nigriventris ( Fig. 28 A-H)

LENGTH. Body 3.3 mm long.

FLAGELLI. Deficient, right flagellum with 10 and left flagellum with 14 flagellomeres (according to the original description antenna with 28 antennomeres). First flagellomere twice as long as broad apically.

HEAD. In dorsal view ( Fig. 28A ) less transverse, 1.6 times as broad as long, eye 1.5 times as long as temple, temple rounded, occiput weakly excavated. Oral opening fairly large, its horizontal diameter 1.5 times as long as shortest distance between opening and eye ( Fig. 28B ). Head polished.

MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.4 times as long as high. Propodeum polished, only above lunule with short rugae ( Fig. 28C ).

LEGS. Hind femur three times as long as broad distally ( Fig. 28D ). Claw of hind tarsus moderately curved and its basal lobe of usual size ( Fig. 28E ).

WINGS. Forewing as long as body. Pterostigma ( Fig. 28F ) 3.3 times as long as wide and issuing r from its middle, r just shorter than width of pterostigma, second submarginal cell less long, 3-SR 1.3 times longer than 2-SR, SR1 straight, twice as long as 3-SR and reaching tip of wing; 1-R1 1.5 times as long as pterostigma. First discal cell subquadrate, 1-M twice as long as m-cu, 1-SR-M just bent and 1.3 times as long as 1-M ( Fig. 28G ).

TERGITES. First tergite ( Fig. 28H ) a bit broader behind than long, beyond pair of spiracles subparallelsided, scutum behind rugulose, tergite laterally from scutum with crenulae. Tergites 2-3 of equal length, second tergite 2.9 times and third tergite 3 times as broad as long, suture between them bisinuate, subcrenulate. Second tergite antero-medially longitudinally striate, otherwise together with further tergites polished ( Fig. 28H ). Ovipositor sheath long, as long as hind tibia + basitarsus combined.

COLOUR. Antenna dark brown. Head rusty brown, cheek and clypeus brownish yellow, palpi pale brownish yellow. Mesosoma rusty brown, mesoscutum, scutellum and mesopleuron blackish. Tergites 1-2 vivid brownish yellow, scutum anteriorly with faint brownish suffusion; further tergites darkening

brown. Legs brownish yellow; coxae, femori and tibiae with faint brownish tint. Wings subhyaline, pterostigma and veins light brown.

Variable features of the ♀ (36 ♀♀) ( Figs 28D, G, I ; 29 B-F)

Body 3-3.5 mm, usually 3.1-3.3 mm, long. Antenna with (23-)26-31 antennomeres, flagellomeres exceptionally subcubic (1 ♀). Head in dorsal view (1.6-)1.7-1.8 times as broad as long, eye 1.3-1.5 times longer than temple, temple less rounded to rounded ( Fig. 9F ). Hind femur 2.8-3.1 times as long as broad medially ( Fig. 28D, I ). Fore wing: pterostigma 3-3.4 times as long as wide, second submarginal cell of variable length, 3-SR just longer than to 1.4 times as long as 2-SR, SR1 more or less approaching to reaching tip of wing ( Fig. 29 B-C, see arrow). First discal cell less high ( Fig. 29 D-E) to high ( Fig. 28G ), i.e. 1-M less than twice to more than twice longer than m-cu. Tergites 2-3 medially rugorugulose ( Fig. 29F ). Ovipositor sheath long, as long as hind tibia + hind tarsus combined (5 ♀♀). Body black with more or less brownish, light brownish to yellowish pattern.

Variable features of the ³ (32 ³³) ( Figs 29 B-C; 30E; 38G-H)

Similar to the ♀. Body (2.8-) 3.1-3.3 mm long. Antenna with (30-)34-36 antennomeres. Head in dorsal view as in ♀, exceptionally 1.55 times as broad as long and eye just longer than temple (cf. Fig. 30E ). First tergite slightly to (exceptionally) 1.4 times as long as broad behind (cf. Fig. 38 G-H). Variable features of the fore wing like in ♀ ( Fig. 29 B-C). Body usually black, blackish to brownish black with less light coloured pattern.

Hosts

COL. Cerambicidae: Plagionotus floralis Pallas. Curculionidae : Hylobius excavatus Laicharting. Pissodes castaneus De Geer (= P. notatus Fabricius ), P. piceae Illiger , P. pini Linnaeus.

Distribution

Palaearctic Region, in Europe frequent (in its southern half) to less frequent.

Taxonomic position

Bracon nigriventris is nearest to B. larvicida Wesmael and B. titubans Wesmael , the distinction of the three species is presented at B. titubans . B. nigriventris is also near to B. fuscicoxis Wesmael , their distinction is given at B. fuscicoxis .

Figures

Fig. 28. Bracon (Glabrobracon) nigriventris Wesmael, 1838 (A-H: ♀ holotype, I: ♀, J: ♁). A. Head in dorsal view. B. Head in frontal view. C. Propodeum. D. Hind femur. E. Claw. F. Distal part of right forewing. G. First discal cell of right forewing. H. Tergites 1-3. I. Hind femur. J. First tergite.

Fig. 29. — A-F. Bracon (Glabrobracon) nigriventris Wesmael, 1838 (A-B, D-E: ♀, C, F: ♁). A. Head in dorsal view. B-C. Distal part of right forewing. D-E. First discal cell of right forewing. F. Tergites 2-3. — G-I. Bracon (Glabrobracon) conjugellae Bengtsson, 1924, ♀ paralectotype. G. Head in dorsal view. H. Tergites 1-3. I. Hind femur.

Fig. 9. Bracon (Lucobracon) erraticus Wesmael, 1838 (A: ♀ paralectotype, B-E: var. 1, ♀ paralectotype, F-G: var. superciliosus (Wesmael, 1838), ♀ holotype). A. Hind femur. B. Head in dorsal view. C. Hind femur. D. Distal part of right forewing. E. First tergite. F. Head in dorsal view. G. Distal part of right forewing.

Fig. 30. — A-E. Bracon (Lucobracon) turolus Papp, 1984, ♀ holotype. A. Distal part of right forewing. B. First discal cell of right forewing. C. Hind femur. D. Tergites 1-3. E. Head in dorsal view. — F. Bracon (Glabrobracon) orbus Papp, 1981, ♀ holotype, distal part of right forewing.

Fig. 38. Bracon (Glabrobracon) picticornis Wesmael, 1838 (A, E-F, H: ♀ / ♁, B: ♀ paralectotype, C-D: ♁ paralectotype, G, I: ♀). A. Head in dorsal view. B. First tergite. C. Hind half of head in dorsal view. D. First tergite. E-F. Hind half of head in dorsal view. G-H. First tergite. I. Tergites 2-3.