Ophion wuestneii Kriechbaumer, 1892

Fig. 16 B–C

Ophion wuestneii Kriechbaumer, 1892a:232–233 .

Material examined

Holotype, ♂ (ZMUC); 14 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂ (Sweden).

Diagnosis

Fore wing length 12–13 mm. Antenna in both sexes with 55–60 flagellomeres. First flagellomere 4.0–4.5 times as long as wide. Central flagellomeres 1.5 times as long as wide. Head in female narrowed behind eyes, temples slightly more buccate in male. Face in anterior view relatively wide. Malar space about 0.2 times as long as mandibular base in female and about 0.3 times in male. Mandibular gape right-angled, with internal angles. Wing membrane clear. Pterostigma about 3.0 times as long as wide. Ramellus short or absent (Fig. 16B). Discocubitus evenly curved. Radius sinuous. Mesopleuron polished and weakly punctate. Interstices between punctures about 1.5–2 times their diameter. Pleurosternal angles obtuse, well defined, obviously anterior to sternal angles. Scutellum with distinct lateral carinae. Propodeum slightly coriaceous, often quite polished with anterior transverse carina partly absent laterally. Posterior transverse carina often widely interrupted centrally. Area superomedia absent, only weakly indicated posteriorly. Hind trochantellus shorter than wide in dorsal view. Hind femur strongly elongate, about 8.0–9.0 times as long as wide (Fig. 16C). Sclerotised part of first sternite ending distinctly posterior to spiracle. Inner spur of hind tibia 0.3 times as long as hind metatarsus.

Colour

Body testaceous. Head with inner and outer orbits yellow. Mandibular teeth black. Mesoscutum often with brownish areas. Ovipositor sheath testaceous.

DNA barcode

The DNA barcode sequences of three Swedish specimens of Ophion wuestneii are available at the BOLD systems database (www.boldsystems.org, BIN. BOLD: ACS3763. Specimen codes: STI-NJBC: 17, 89, 90).

Ecology

Nothing is known about the hosts of this species. It is active during spring and early summer from late March to early June.

Distribution in Sweden

Rare in the southern parts of the country. Only known from a handful of localities but probably overlooked.

Remarks

Ophion wuestneii might be confused with smaller specimens of O. scutellaris, but is easily separated by the characters given in the key.