Bracon (Glabrobracon) exhilarator Nees, 1834

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 : 117-122

Bracon (Glabrobracon) exhilarator Nees, 1834

Figs 57 A-L, 58A-J, 59A-C

Bracon exhilarator Nees, 1834: 83 ♀♁ (type material: several ♀♀ and ♁♁, destroyed), type locality: “prope Sickershausen” ( Germany).

Braco satanas Wesmael, 1838: 30 ♀♁ (type series: “15individus”: 8 ♀♀ + 7 ♁♁), type locality:“environs de Bruxelles ” ( Belgium), ♀ lectotype (and nine ♀ + seven ♁ paralectotypes, present designations) in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels; examined.

Bracon striolatus Thomson, 1894: 1835 ♀, type locality: “Yddinge i Skåne ” ( Sweden), ♀ lectotype (designated by J. Papp in 1969) in Zoologisk Museet, Lund; examined.

Bracon exhilarator – Szépligeti 1901: 269 (in key, in Hungary); 1904 (1901): 179 (in key, in German) as “Br. exhilator”.

Bracon (Glabrobracon) exhilarator – Fahringer 1927: 263 (♀), 275, 306, 310 (♁) (in key) and 383 (redescription), assigned to “Section Orthobracon ” and “Section Glabrobracon ”. — Telenga 1936: 170 (♀), 177 (♁) (in key), 271 (redescription) (in Russian) and 373 (♀), 380 (♁) (in key, in German). — Tobias 1986: 129 (in key, in Russian). — Tobias & Belokobylskij 2000: 136 (in key, in Russian).

Bracon satanas – Thomson 1894: 1834 (as synonym of B. exhilarator ). — Szépligeti 1901: as valid species 266 (in key, in Hungarian) and 1904 (1901): as valid species 179 (in key, in German). — Fahringer 1927: 383 (as synonym of B. exhilarator ). — Telenga 1936: 271 (as synonym of B. exhilarator ). — Papp 1969b: 198 (as synonym of B. exhilarator ). — Shenefelt 1978: 1632 (as synonym of B. exhilarator ).

Bracon striolatus – Marshall 1888: 165 (listed in “Espèces de Bracon douteuses ou imparfaitement décrites”). — Szépligeti 1901: as valid species 266 (in key, in Hungarian) and 1904 (1901): 179 (as synonym of B. satanas ). — Fahringer 1927: as valid species 264 (♀, in key), 421 (redescription), assigned to “Section Orthobracon ”. — Telenga 1936: as valid species 170 (♀), 177 (♁) (in key), 272 (redescription) (in Russian) and 373 (♀), 380 (♁) (in key, in German). — Papp 1969b: 198 (as new synonym of B. exhilarator ). — Shenefelt 1978:1632 (as synonym of B. exhilarator after Papp l.c.).

Designation of the ♀ neotype of Bracon exhilarator

(identical with the ♀ lectotype of Bracon satanas Wesmael ): (first label, printed) “ Coll. Wesmael ”; (second label, printed) “2036”; (third label) “ Braco ♀ / satanas mihi” (handwritten) “dét. C. Wesmael ” (fourth label, red) “Type”; fifth label is with the locality Bruxelles after Wesmael , sixth label is the lectotype card and seventh label is the neotype card (the labels 5-7 were attached by me). -- Neotype (or lectotype) is in good condition: (1) micropinned (pin thick); (2) right flagellum deficient, i.e. with 10 flagellomeres; (3) right hind leg (except coxa + trochanter) missing; (4) left hind wing torn and edificient medially.

Designation of the nine ♀ and seven ³ paralectotypes of Bracon satanas

Labels 1-5 are identical with those of the lectotype except the second label with numbers 2036-2038; sixth labels are the paralectotype cards and seventh labels are with the actual name B. exhilarator (labels 6-7 are attached by me). One ♀ and one ♁ are representing the nominate form. Varieties by Wesmael (l.c.): var. 1: one ♀ + three ♁♁, var. 2: four ♀♀, var. 3: two ♀♀ (the var. 3. in Wesmael’s labels are “var. 2.”, certainly a slip of pen). One ♀ paralectotype is Habrobracon hebetor (Say, 1836) (= H. brevicornis Wesmael, 1838 ). One ♁ paralectotype (“var. 1.”) is Bracon (Lucobracon) sphaerocephalus Szépligeti and two ♁ paralectotypes (“var. 1.”) are B. (Lu)?subhylobii Tobias, they are labelled accordingly. -- The paralectotypes are in good condition: (1) micropinned (pin thick); (2) flagelli partly deficient or missing.

Material examined

147 ♀♀ + 52 ♁♁ from twenty-four countries: SCOTLAND: 9 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from ten localities. ENGLAND: 15 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from thirteen localities. DENMARK: 4 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from three localities. NORWAY: 1 ♁. SWEDEN: 6 ♀♀ + 3 ♁♁ from nine localities. FINLAND: 7 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from eight localities. FRANCE: 1 ♀. BELGIUM: 2 ♀♀ from two localities. THE NETHERLANDS: 4 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from four localities. GERMANY: 9 ♀♀ + 4 ♁♁ from twelve localities. SWITZERLAND: 4 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from five localities. AUSTRIA: 5 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from six localities. BOHEMIA: 3 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from three localities. SLOVAKIA: 9 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from six localities. HUNGARY: 36 ♀♀ + 11 ♁♁ from fortyone localities. ROMANIA (Transsylvania): 7 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from six localities. ITALY: 2 ♁♁ from two localities. BULGARIA: 5 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from six localities. TURKEY: 1 ♀. EUROPEAN RUSSIA: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. GEORGIA: 2 ♁♁ from two localities. ARMENIA: 1 ♁. MONGOLIA: 7 ♀♀ + 4 ♁♁ from eleven localities. KOREA: 12 ♀♀ + 6 ♁♁ from thirteen localities.

Description of the ♀ neotype of Bracon exhilarator Nees (identical with the ♀ lectotype of B.

satanas Wesmael) ( Fig. 57 A-K)

LENGTH. Body 3.6 mm long.

ANTENNAE. As long as body and with 33 antennomeres. First flagellomere 2.2 times, further flagellomeres faintly attenuating so that penultimate flagellomere 1.75 times as long as broad ( Fig. 57A).

HEAD. In dorsal view transverse ( Fig. 57B) almost 1.9 times as broad as long, eye almost 1.7 times as long as temple, temple rather receded, occiput weakly excavated. Eye in lateral view 1.5 times as high as wide and almost 1.3 times wider than temple ( Fig. 57C, see arrows). Horizontal diameter of oral opening 1.5 times longer than shortest distance between opening and compound eye; cheek converging ( Fig. 57D). Head polished.

MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.25 times as long as high, polished. Notaulix weakly distinct. Propodeum along medio-longitudinal line with rugae-rugulae, carina indistinct, otherwise polished ( Fig. 57E).

LEGS. Hind femur 2.8 times as long as broad distally, almost parallel-sided ( Fig. 57F). Claw fairly thick, less curved and its basal lobe small ( Fig. 57G).

WINGS. Forewing as long as body. Pterostigma ( Fig. 57H) four times as long as wide and issuing r just proximally from its middle, r a bit longer than width of pterostigma. Second submarginal cell long and narrowing distally, 3-SR one-sixth (or 1.3 times) longer than 2-SR; SR1 straight, almost twice as long as 3-SR and reaching tip of wing. First discal cell fairly wide, 1-M 1.5 times as long as m-cu; 1-SR-M bent and almost 1.5 times as long as 1-M ( Fig. 57I).

TERGITES. First tergite ( Fig. 57J) 1.2 times as long as broad behind, evenly broadening posteriorly, scutum behind uneven-rugulose, margin of scutum crenulate. Second tergite 2.3 times as broad as long laterally, antero-medially with longitudinal striateform sculpture, otherwise together with further tergites polished. Tergites 2-3 of equal length, suture between them weakly bisinuate, smooth. Hypopygium less pointed, ovipositor sheath somewhat shorter than hind tibia ( Fig. 57K).

COLOUR. Ground colour of body dark brown to black. Palpi brown. Antenna dark brown. Tegula brown. Second tergite latero-posteriorly with a pair of brownish yellow maculae. Distal two-thirds of fore femur and tibia yellow. Proximal third of hind tibia brownish yellow. Tarsi yellow with brownish fumous tint. Wings subfumous, pterostigma and veins brown.

Redescription (or variabilities) of the eight ♀ paralectotypes of B. satanas (junior synonym of B.

exhilarator) ( Figs 57F, L; 58 A-C)

Similar to the ♀ neotype of B. exhilarator . Body 3-4.1 mm long (3: 2 ♀♀, 3.2: 1 ♀, 3.6: 3 ♀♀, 4: 1 ♀, 4.1: 1 ♀). Antenna with 26 and 32 antennomeres. Temple rather rounded (2 ♀♀, Fig. 57L). Propodeum with a weak medio-longitudinal carina ( Fig. 58A). Hind femur 2.8-3.1 times as long as broad medially or distally ( Figs 57F; 58B). Pterostigma issuing r clearly proximally from its middle (1 ♀, Fig. 58C). First tergite 1.2-1.3 times as long as broad behind. Legs with much light colour (“var. 3” by Wesmael): brownish yellow: fore leg (except coxa), middle and hind tibiae; rusty brown: middle and hind femora.

Redescription (or variabilities) of four ³ paralectotypes of B. satanas ( Fig. 58A, E-G)

(further three ♁ paralectotypes representing three other species, see designation of the paralectotypes) Similar to the ♀ types. Body 2.8-3.8 mm long (2.8: 1 ♁, 3: 2 ♁♁, 3.8: 1 ♁). Antenna somewhat longer than to as long as body and with 38 (1 ♁), 31 (1 ♁) and 30 (1 ♁) antennomeres. Propodeum with carina (2 ♀♀, cf. Fig. 58A) or only around lunule with short rugae ( Fig. 58E). Hind femur 3.3 times as long as broad dorsally (1 ♁, Fig. 58F). First tergite parallel-sided (1 ♁) and 1.5 times as long as broad behind; second tergite less transverse, 1.6 times as broad behind as long laterally; third tergite somewhat shorter than second tergite, suture between them almost straight ( Fig. 58G). Corporal colour similar to the nominate form.

Variable features of the ♀ (147 ♀♀) ( Figs 8B; 12C, F; 49A; 58 I-J; 59A-B)

Body 3.4-4 mm long, usually 3.5-3.8 mm, long. Antenna with 23-37, usually with 27-34, antenomeres. Head in dorsal view (1.7-)1.75-1.85 times as broad as long (cf. Fig. 8B), temple somewhat receded (6 ♀♀, cf. Fig. 49A). Propodeum polished with more or less distinct carina to rugo-rugulosity of variable extent ( Fig. 58H, cf. Fig. 12C). Pterostigma 3.3 times to 4 times as long as wide, issuing r just from its middle (cf. Fig. 12F). Fore wing: second submarginal cell fairly long, 3-SR 1.3-1.5 times as long as 2-SR ( Fig. 58 I-J). First tergite less narrowing anteriorly, rugosity of second tergite of variable extent and strength ( Figs 57J; 59A); third tergite rugulose basally (18 ♀♀, Fig. 59B). Ovipositor sheath more or less longer than hind tibia. Second (and third) tergite(s) more or less brownish to yellow. Femora and tibiae variably brownish to brownish yellow.

Variable features of the ³ (52 ³³) ( Figs 57H; 58G, I-J; 59C)

Body 3-4 mm long.Antenna longer than body and with 27-39,usually 30-36,antennomeres.Flagellomeres (1.5-)2-2.3 times as long as broad. Head in dorsal view (1.6-)1.7 ( Fig. 59C) to 1.8 times as broad as long. Hind femur 2.7-3 times as long as broad distally. Fore wing: second submarginal cell long as in ♀ ( Figs 57H; 58 I-J). First tergite frequently (sub)parallel-sided and 1.3-1.5 times longer than than broad behind and second tergite less broad ( Fig. 58G). Either second tergite or second and third tergites brownish yellow. Legs more or less with brownish to yellow pattern.

Hosts

COL. Curculionidae : Omphalapion hookeri Kirby. — LEP. Tortricidae : Acleris rhombana Denis & Schiffermüller. — DIPT. Scatophagidae : Nanua (=Amaurosoma) sp., Tephritidae : Platyptera poeciloptera Schrank. Every host needs to be confirmed.

Distribution

Palaearctic Region, a frequent to common species in Europe.

Taxonomic position

Within the subgenus Glabrobracon the species Bracon exhilarator Nees is nearest to B. curticaudis Szépligeti and B. terebella Wesmael viewing their short ovipositor sheath and less sculptured to smooth tergites; the three species are distinguished by the following features:

1 (2) Propodeum medio-longitudinally with a more or less distinct carina, otherwise propodeum rugorugulose to variable extent ( Figs 57E; 58A, E, H). Claw with weak basal lobe and moderately curved ( Fig. 57G). Pterostigma less wide, 3.3-4 times as long as wide, second submarginal cell relatively narrow ( Figs 57H; 58 I-J). Female and ♁ tergites 1-3 as in Figs 57J; 58G; 59A. Black, tergites 2-3 laterally with brownish to brownish yellow maculae of variable extent. Legs blackish to brown with much yellowish pattern. ♀ ♁: 3-4 mm ................................................ B. (Gl.) exhilarator Nees, 1834

2 (1) Propodeum without medio-longitudinal carina, at most above lunule with a short keel ( Figs 48E; 59D). Claw with basal lobe and clearly curved ( Figs 50A; 59E). Pterostigma wide, 2.3-2.6 times as long as wide, second submarginal cell relatively wide ( Figs 48G; 59B). The distinction of B. curticaudis and B. terebella see at the latter species ............................................................ ..................................... B. (Gl.) curticaudis Szépligeti, 1901 and B. (Gl.) terebella Wesmael, 1838

Taxonomic remark

Bracon exhilarator resembles B. longicollis ; however, the latter species is assigned to the subgenus Bracon s. str., i.e. tergites 1-4 to 1-7 with sculpture of variable strength. Sometimes the rugo-rugolosity of the tergites of B. longicollis extremely weakens so that beyond the (second or) third tergites the metasoma is either chagreened-uneven or smooth; i.e. these specimens are transitional to the subgenus Glabobracon . These weakly sculptured specimens of B. longicollis are hard to separate from B. exhilarator (the ovipositor sheath of both species are short):

1 (2) Claw downcurved and with large basal lobe ( Fig. 18F). Second tergite medially rugose, laterally rugo-rugulose, third tergite rugulose to uneven ( Figs 18I; 20A, K). Hind femur thickening, i.e. its contour somewhat less parallel ( Figs 18E; 19B, D). Cheek in frontal view weakly converging ( Fig. 18C). Black with much light colour on head, meso- and metasoma. ♀ ♁: 3-5 mm ................ ......................................................................................................... B. (B.) longicollis Wesmael, 1838

2 (1) Claw weakly curved and with small basal lobe ( Fig. 57G). Second tergite with longitudinal striateform sculpture, third tergite smooth ( Figs 57J; 58G; 59A). Hind femur less thickening, i.e. its contour nearly parallel ( Figs 57F; 58 B-C, F). Cheek in frontal view converging ( Fig. 57D). Black with less light pattern on tergites 2-3. ♀ ♁: 3-4 mm .............................. B. (Gl.) exhilarator Nees, 1834