Bracon (Palpibracon) delibator Haliday, 1833

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 : 112-117

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2012.21
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:993FCC8B-F8B1-42DD-B776-CA8435E08112
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3858859
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F8008D0E-FFEA-FF85-0528-4CF1FA9CFCC5
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scientific name	Bracon (Palpibracon) delibator Haliday, 1833
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Treatment

Bracon (Palpibracon) delibator Haliday, 1833 View in CoL

Figs 54 View Fig A-M, 55A-G, 56G-I

Bracon delibator Haliday, 1833: 263 View in CoL (in key). Further data after Van Achterberg (1997: 31): type locality: Portmarnock, near Dublin, Ireland; ♀ lectotype (designated by Van Achterberg) in National Museum of Ireland, Dublin; not examined.

Bracon anthracinus Nees, 1834: 81 View in CoL ♀ (type material: at least two ♀♀, destroyed), type locality: “prope Sickershausen” ( Germany).

Bracon delibator View in CoL – Shenefelt 1978: 1479 (as valid species, literature up to 1904).

Braco anthracinus View in CoL – Wesmael 1838: 54 ♀♁ (first reviser, according to Wesmael: “Je possède l8 femelles et 6 mâles ...”), locality: “environs de Bruxelles ” (17 ♀♀ + 6 ♁♁) and “environs de Liège” (1 ♀) ( Belgium), material currently existing: 17 ♀♀ + 5 ♁♁ in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, one ♀ specimen designated as the neotype (present designation) of Bracon anthracinus Nees sensu Wesmael. Further View in CoL specimens represent the following species (det. J. Papp 2006): (1) 14 ♀♀ (1 ♀ missing metasoma; however, on name label by Wesmael with the sign “ ♀ ”) + 4 ♁♁: B. anthracinus View in CoL jun. name = B. delibator View in CoL sen. name; (2) 1 ♀: B. variator Nees, 1811 View in CoL ; (3) 1 ♁: B. parvulus Wesmael, 1838 View in CoL ; (4) 1 ♀: Dolichogenidea sp?, D.?gracilariae Wilkinson, 1940.

Bracon anthracinus View in CoL – Szépligeti 1901: 270 (in key, in Hungarian); 1904 (1901): 190 (in key, in German). Bracon (Glabrobracon) anthracinus View in CoL – Fahringer 1927: 300 (♀), 310 (♁) (in key) and 436 (redescription), assigned to “Section Glabrobracon ”. — Telenga 1936: 143 (♀), 153 (♁) (in key), 180 (redescription) (in Russian) and 345 (♀), 355 (♁) (in key, in German). — Papp 1968: 375 (in key) and 380 (redescription). — Tobias 1986: as valid species 130 (in key, in Russian). — Tobias & Belokobylskij 2000: as valid species 139 (in key, in Russian).

Designation of the ♀ neotype of Bracon anthracinus View in CoL

(First label, printed) “Coll. Wesmael”; (second small label, printed) “2076”; (third label) “ Braco anthracinus ♀ (handwritten) / dét. C. Wesmael” (printed); fourth label is the neotype card and fifth label is with the actual name B. delibator Haliday. The neotype is in good condition: micropinned by mesosoma (pin fairly thick).

Material examined

111 ♀♀ + 67 ♁♁ from twenty-seven countries: Palaearctic Region. IRELAND: 1 ♁. ENGLAND: 2 ♀♀ +1 ♁ from three localties. SCOTLAND: 1 ♁. SWEDEN: 1 ♀. FRANCE: 2 ♀♀ from two localities. GERMANY: 10 ♀♀ from 9 localities. SWITZERLAND: 1 ♀ + 2 ♁♁ from three localities. CZECH REPUBLIC: 2 ♀♀ from two localities. SLOVAKIA: 3 ♀♀ from three localities. HUNGARY: 41 ♀♀ + 30 ♁♁ from 67 localities. ROMANIA (Transsylvania): 6 ♀♀ + 4 ♁♁ from seven localities. SPAIN: 4 ♀♀ + 3 ♁♁ from five localities. ALGERIA: 1 ♀. ITALY: 3 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from four localities. CROATIA: 4 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from four localities. MACEDONIA: 2 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from three localities. SERBIA: 3 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from three localities. BULGARIA: 4 ♀♀ + 3 ♁♁ from five localities. GREECE: 7 ♀♀ + 5 ♁♁ from 10 localities. TURKEY: 2 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from four localities. SYRIA: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. UKRAINE: 1 ♀. ARMENIA: 4 ♀♀ + 4 ♁♁ from four localities. MONGOLIA: 2 ♀♀ from two localities. KOREA: 2 ♁♁ from one locality. — Nearctic Region. CANADA: 2 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from three localities. U.S.A.: 3 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from four localities.

Description of the ♀ neotype of Bracon anthracinus (conspecific with B. delibator Haliday , sen. syn.)

( Fig. 54 View Fig A-J)

LENGTH. Body 2.8 mm long.

ANTENNAE. Short, as long as head, mesosoma and tergites 1-2 combined and with 19 antennomeres. Flagellum indistinctly attenuating, first flagellomere 2.25 times and penultimate flagellomere 1.85 times as long as broad ( Fig. 54A View Fig ).

HEAD. In dorsal view transverse ( Fig. 54B View Fig ), 1.8 times as broad as long, eye just longer than temple, temple rounded, occiput weakly excavated. Eye in lateral view twice as high as wide and as wide as temple, temple beyond eye evenly wide ( Fig. 54C View Fig ). Horizontal diameter of oral opening 1.5 times as long as shortest distance between opening and eye ( Fig. 54D View Fig ). Maxillar palp long, its penultimate segment one-fifth longer than ultimate segment ( Fig. 54E View Fig ). Cheek in frontal view slightly more converging ( Fig. 54D View Fig ). Head polished.

MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.3 times as long as high, polished. Notaulix indistinct. Propodeum polished.

LEGS. Hind femur 3.8 times as long as broad somewhat distally ( Fig. 54F View Fig ). Claw downcurved and with distinct albeit small basal lobe ( Fig. 54G View Fig ).

WINGS. Forewing somewhat longer than body. Pterostigma ( Fig. 54H View Fig ) fairly wide, 2.5 times as long as wide and issuing r proximally from its middle, r 0.85 times as long as width of pterostigma; 3-SR slightly longer than 2-SR; SR1 straight, 2.2 times as long as 3-SR and approaching tip of wing. First discal cell fairly high, 1-M twice as long as m-cu, 1-SR-M 1.3 times as long as 1-M ( Fig. 54I View Fig ).

TERGITES. First tergite ( Fig. 54J View Fig ) 1.25 times as long as broad behind, beyond pair of spiracles subparallelsided, margin of scutum smooth and less narrow. Third tergite almost 1.5 times longer than second tergite, suture between them distinct, bisinuate and smooth ( Fig. 54J View Fig ). Every tergite polished. Hypopygium pointed, ovipositor sheath long, i.e. somewhat shorter than body or as long as hind femur + tibia + tasus combined.

COLOUR. Body and antenna blackish with brownish tint, tergites brownish black. Palpi dark brown. Legs proximo-distally blackish, dark brown to brown. Wings subhyaline, pterostigma and veins light opaque brown.

Variable features of the 14 ♀♀ of Bracon anthracinus identified by Wesmael (in Wesmael’s Collection, Brussels) ( Fig. 54 View Fig K-M)

Similar to the ♀ neotype. Body 2.8-3 mm long. Antenna with (18-)19-20 antennomeres. Head in dorsal view 1.8-1.9 times as broad as long. Penultimate segment of maxillar palp one-fifth to one-sixth longer than ultimate segment ( Fig. 54K View Fig ). Hind femur 3.6-3.8 times as long as broad distally ( Fig. 54L View Fig ). Pterostigma (2.2-)2.5-2.6 times as long as wide. First tergite 1.2-1.3 times as long as broad, beyond pair of spiracles usually subparallel- to parallel-sided or with converging sides ( Fig. 54M View Fig ). Ovipositor sheath more or less shorter than body. Body black to blackish with faint brownish tint.

Features of the four ³³ of Bracon anthracinus identified by Wesmael (in Wesmael’s Collection, Brussels)

Similar to the ♀. Body 2-2.8 mm long. Antenna with 16-19 antennomeres. Head in dorsal view 1.8-2 times as broad as long. Fore wing: 3-SR 0.9 (1 ♁) as long as to slightly longer than 2-SR (3 ♁♁). First tergite 1.3 times as long as broad behind, beyond pair of spiracles either parallel- (3 ♁♁) or convergingsided (1 ♁).

Variable features of the ♀♀ (111 ♀♀) ( Figs 54J View Fig ; 55 View Fig A-D; 56G-I)

Body (2-) 2.2-3 mm long. Antenna with 16-22(-24) antennomeres, flagellomeres 1.8-2 times as long as broad. Temple in dorsal view more rounded ( Fig. 56G View Fig , 13 View Fig ♀♀). Forewing: second submarginal cell either long: 3-SR 1.5 times as long as 2-SR ( Fig. 56H View Fig , 6 View Fig ♀♀) or short: 3-SR as long as 2-SR ( Fig. 56I View Fig , 2 View Fig ♀♀); first discal cell somewhat less high, 1-M 1.8-1.9 times as long as m-cu ( Fig. 55A View Fig , 3 View Fig ♀♀). First tergite long, 1.33 times as long as broad behind ( Fig. 55B View Fig , 14 View Fig ♀♀). Tergites 2-3 variably transverse, usually second tergite 3-3.5 times and third tergite 2.5-3 times wider behind than long (cf. Fig. 54J View Fig ); exceptionally either tergites more transverse: second tergite 4-4.5 times and third tergite 3.7 times as broad as long ( Fig. 55C View Fig , 6 View Fig ♀♀); or third tergite 1.7-1.9 times longer than second tergite ( Fig. 55D View Fig , 11 View Fig ♀♀). Ovipositor sheath as long as hind femur + half tibia (16 ♀♀).

Variable features of the ³³ (67 ³³) ( Figs 55 View Fig E-G; 56G)

Body 2-3 mm long. Antenna with (15-)16-20 antennomeres, flagellomeres 1.9-2.2 times as long as broad. Temple in dorsal view more rounded ( Fig. 56G View Fig , 4 View Fig ♁♁ (♀!)). First tergite long: 1.3 times as long as broad behind and with parallel sides ( Fig. 55E View Fig , 6 View Fig ♁♁) or 1.5 times longer than broad behind ( Fig. 55F View Fig , 8 View Fig ♁♁); pair of spiracles of first tergite exceptionally medially ( Fig. 55E View Fig , 2 View Fig ♁♁). Third tergite hardly longer than second tergite ( Fig. 55G View Fig , 2 View Fig ♁♁). Maxillar palp yellowish (1 ♁), tergites 1-3 brownish (2 ♁♁).

Hosts

COL. Apionidae :! Omphalapion buddebergi (Bedel) . Curculionidae : Ceutorhynchus campanulae Fabricius , Hylobius piceus DeGeer , Miarus campanulae Linnaeus. Phalacridae :! Olibrus aeneus Fabricius. — LEP. Tortricidae : Cydia strobilella Linnaeus. — DIPT. Agromyzidae :! Napomyza lateralis Fallén. Tephritidae :! Terellia serratulae Linnaeus , Urophora cuspidata Meigen.

Distribution

Holarctic Region, frequent to common.

Taxonomic position

The four species assigned to the new subgenus Palpibracon are highly similar to each other, they are distinguished by a few and rather subtle features, see key:

1 (2) Tergites 2-3 equal in length ( Fig. 56A View Fig ), tergites usually polished, less usually more or less uneven to (sub-) rugulose. Ovipositor sheath at most as long as metasoma. Forewing: second submarginal cell long, 3-SR 1.4-1.5 times as long as 2-SR ( Fig. 56B View Fig ). Face wide, twice wider than high, cheek in frontal view converging ( Fig. 56C View Fig , see arrows). Body and legs brownish yellow to yellow, pterostigma opaque yellow. ♀ ♁: (2.1-) 2.5-4 mm ............................ B. (P.) mongolicus Telenga, 1936

2 (1) Tergite 3 more or less longer than tergite 2 ( Figs 54J View Fig ; 55H View Fig ; 56D View Fig ), first (and second) tergite(s) at most exceptionally uneven to subrugulose. Ovipositor sheath more or less longer than metasoma. Forewing: second submaginal cell short, 3-SR 1.2-1.3 times as long as 2-SR ( Figs 54H View Fig ; 55I View Fig ; 56E View Fig ). Face less wide, i.e. less than twice as wide as high. Body and legs black to dark brown.

3 (4) Third tergite 1.8 to 2 times longer than second tergite ( Fig. 56D View Fig ). Forewing: SR1 ending before tip of wing ( Fig. 56E View Fig ). Maxillar palp short, just as long as height of head, its penultimate segment slightly longer than ultimate segment ( Fig. 56F View Fig ). ♀: 2-3 mm ................... B. (P.) tenuiceps ( Muesebeck, 1925)

4 (3) Third tergite 1.2-1.3 times, exceptionally 1.4 times, longer than second tergite ( Figs 54J View Fig ; 55H View Fig ). Forewing: SR1 more or less approaching tip of wing ( Figs 54H View Fig ; 55I View Fig ). Maxillar palp long, as long as to longer than height of head, its penultimate segment clearly longer than ultimate segment ( Figs 54E, K View Fig ; 55J View Fig ).

5 (6) Maxillar palp long: distinctly longer than height of head, its penultimate segment 1.4-1.5 times longer than ultimate segment ( Fig. 55J View Fig 1-2 View Fig View Fig ). Cheek in frontal view slightly less converging ( Fig. 55K View Fig ). Forewing: SR1 slightly and usually less approaching tip of wing, pterostigma 2.8-3.2 times as long as wide ( Fig. 55I View Fig ). ♀ ♁: 2.5-3.5 mm .................................... B. (P.) atrator Nees, 1834

6 (5) Maxillar palp less long: about as long as height of head, its penultimate segment at most one-fifth (1.25 times) to one-sixth (1.2 times) longer than ultimate segment ( Figs 54E; 54K View Fig ). Cheek in frontal view slightly more converging ( Fig. 54D View Fig ). Forewing: SR1 slightly and usually more approaching tip of wing, pterostigma (2.2-)2.5-2.6 times as long as wide ( Fig. 54H View Fig ). ♀ ♁: (2-) 2.2-3 mm. (= B. anthracinus Nees, 1834 ) ...................................................................... B. (P.) delibator Haliday, 1833