Bracon (Bracon) pectoralis var. fumigatus ( Szépligeti, 1901 )

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 (21), pp. 1-154 : 74-75

Bracon (Bracon) pectoralis var. fumigatus ( Szépligeti, 1901) (= var. maculatus Papp, 1968 )

Material examined

25 ♀♀ + 14 ♁♁ from 14 countries: ENGLAND: 1 ♀. GERMANY: 1 ♀. HUNGARY: 9 ♀♀ + 3 ♁♁ from seven localities. ROMANIA (Transsylvania): 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. SLOVENIA: 1 ♀. BULGARIA: 1 ♁. ALBANIA: 1 ♀. GREECE: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. SPAIN: 3 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from five localities. ITALY: 3 ♀♀ from three localities. ALGERIA: 5 ♁♁ from five localities. EGYPT: 1 ♀. CYPRUS: 2 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from one locality. TURKMENISTAN: 1 ♀.

Deviation from the nominate form

Ground colour of body testaceous with brown, dark brown to black(ish) pattern laterally on mesoscutum, prosternum, mesosternum, propodeum, laterally from scutellum (or axille) and (partly) coxae + trochanters. ♀ ♁: 2.5-4 mm long. - Distributed in the western Palaearctic Region.

Taxonomic position

Within the subgenus Bracon s. str. the species Bracon pectoralis is nearest to the albanic form of B. luteator Spinola (Palaearctic Region) viewing their somewhat less transverse head in dorsal view, long ovipositor sheath and reddish yellow to testaceous corporal colour. The two species are distinguished by the following features:

1 (2) Tergites 2-3 of equal length, second tergite at most a bit longer than third tergite and anterolaterally without a pair of fields; first tergite broader behind than long, distinctly broadening posteriorly ( Figs 33G; 34A; 35F). Temple in dorsal view rounded to more rounded ( Figs 33A; 35A). Hind femur broadening distally ( Figs 33C; 35 B-C). Femora yellow. ♀: 3-4.5 mm, ♁: 2.6-3.6 mm .......................................................................................................... B. (B.) pectoralis Wesmael, 1838

2 (1) Second tergite 1.2-1.3 times longer than third tergite and antero-laterally with a pair of faintly distinct fields with weak sculpture; first tergite somewhat longer than broad behind, weakly broadening posteriorly; sculpture of tergites 2-3 slightly less dense ( Fig. 34E). Temple in dorsal view moderately rounded ( Fig. 33J). Hind femur nearly evenly broad or, less frequently, just broadening ( Figs 34F). Femora more or less blackish to black. ♀ ♁: (2.2-) 2.5-5.5 mm .............. B. (B.) luteator Spinola, 1808

Bracon pectoralis is also near to the species B. (B.) mesasiaticus Tobias ( Uzbekistan) viewing their testaceous body colour and transverse weak furrows on hind part of tergites 3-7; the two species are separated by the following marks keyed:

1 (2) Temple in dorsal view rounded; eye less long, (1.25-)1.3 times as long as temple ( Fig. 33A). Forewing: marginal cell (or vein R 1) reaching tip of wing ( Fig. 33E). First tergite broadening posteriorly, tergites rugose-rugulose ( Fig. 33G). Body testaceous with a few to more ( var. fumigatus ) dark coloured pattern. ♀: (2.8-) 3-4.5 mm, ♁: 2.6-3.6(-4) mm .... B. (B.) pectoralis Wesmael, 1838

2 (1) Temple in dorsal view strongly rounded; eye almost twice as long as temple ( Fig. 35J). Forewing: marginal cell (or vein R 1) approaching tip of wing ( Fig. 35K). First tergite parallel-sided and as long as broad behind ( Fig. 26B). Tergites rugulo-granular ( Fig. 35L). ♀: 3-3.2 mm ........... ......................................................................................................... B. (B.) mesasiaticus Tobias, 1957

Bracon pectoralis is near to the Nearctic ( U.S.A.) species B. (B.) mellitor Say considering their common features: testaceous body colour, strongly downcurved claw and weak transverse furrows on hind part of tergites 3-7; the two species are distinguished as follows:

1 (2) First tergite as long as broad behind, its pair of spiracles near to middle of tergite, scutum postero-laterally with a pair of rather transverse keels ( Fig. 26C). ♀: tergites 2-3 granularly sculptured ( Fig. 26C), rarely second tergite anteriorly with rugulo(-rugose) elements ( Fig. 26D); ♁: tergites 2-3 rugulose, less frequently rugulose-granulose. Eye in dorsal view 1.5 times longer than temple ( Fig. 34B). Basal lobe of claw not pointed ( Fig. 34C). Hind femur not broadening posteriorly, 2.9-3 times as long as broad medially ( Fig. 34D). Hind tibia and all tarsi brown to blackish. ♀: (3.5-)4-4.5(-5) mm, ♁: 3-3.5(-4) mm ...................................... B. (B.) mellitor Say, 1836

2 (1) First tergite one-fifth broader behind than long, its pair of spiracles less near to middle of tergite, scutum without transverse pair of keels. Females: tergites 2-3 rugose-rugulose ( Fig. 33G; ♁: tergiteds 2-3 with striate elements ( Fig. 34A). Eye in dorsal view 1.2-1.25 times longer than temple ( Fig. 33A). Basal lobe of claw somewhat pointed ( Fig. 33D). Hind femur broadening posteriorly, 3.3-3.5 times as long as broad distally ( Figs 33C; 35 B-C). Hind tibia yellow, tarsi brownish. ♀: (2.8-) 3-4.5 mm, ♁: 2.6-3.6(-4) mm .......................................................................... B. (B.) pectoralis Wesmael, 1838