Euura acutifoliae ( Zinovjev, 1985 ), 2015

Liston, Andrew D., Heibo, Erik, Prous, Marko, Vårdal, Hege, Nyman, Tommi & Vikberg, Veli, 2017, North European gall-inducing Euura sawflies (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae, Nematinae), Zootaxa 4302 (1), pp. 1-115 : 90

Euura acutifoliae ( Zinovjev, 1985)

Pontania (Eupontania) acutifoliae Zinovjev, 1985: 14 –16. Described: ♀, ♂, larva, gall, recorded host: Salix acutifolia . Holotype, ♀, ZIN [not examined]. Type locality: Russia, Gor'kiy.

Nematus (Pontania) acutifoliae: Zhelochovtsev (1988) .

Eupontania acutifoliae: Vikberg & Zinovjev (2006) .

Euura acutifoliae: Liston (2015) .

Pontania acutifoliae daphnoides Zinovjev, 1993a: 47 –49. Described: ♀, ♂, gall, recorded host: Salix daphnoides ssp. daphnoides . Holotype, ♀, SMF [examined]. Type locality: Switzerland, Valais, Ursental , Realp. Syn. nov.

Eupontania acutifoliae daphnoides: Vikberg & Zinovjev (2006) .

Pontania acutifoliae daphnoides forma baltica Zinovjev, 1993a: 38. Infrasubspecific and therefore unavailable name.

Eupontania acutifoliae baltica Vikberg & Zinovjev, 2006: 260 –261. Described: ♀, ♂, gall, recorded host: Salix daphnoides var. pomeranica . Holotype, ♀, ZIN [examined]. Type locality: Russia, Sestroretsk (north-west of St Petersburg). The name baltica is preoccupied in Euura by Pteronus balticus Enderlein, 1908 . Syn. nov.

Notes on types and taxonomy. P. acutifoliae . Examined: 3♀, 1♂ paratypes (SMF). E. acutifoliae baltica . Examined: 1♂ paratype (SMF).

Morphological differences between acutifoliae and daphnoides are exhibited mainly in the relative dimensions of the antenna, ovipositor and compound eyes ( Zinovjev, 1993a). The two segregates are associated with different host Salix species that are considered to be closely related. Introgression between these willow taxa is widespread in the Baltic Region, with the hybrid populations often referred to as S. daphnoides var. pomeranica . The sawfly taxon described as E. acutifoliae baltica is associated with willow populations in this introgression zone, and has morphological characters intermediate to the populations treated as acutifoliae acutifoliae and acutifoliae daphnoides ( Zinovjev, 1993a) . We interpret the existence of this intermediate form, which occurs widely and commonly in the area of host introgression, as indicating that there is no significant reproductive barrier between the sawfly populations on "pure" populations of each of the parent host species. Although geographic differentiation of the sawfly populations obviously exists, we do not consider that these should formally be accorded subspecific status. Accordingly, we treat these three nominal taxa as synonymous.

Variability. Female: Body length: 4.0– 6.8mm. Male: 3.8–6.1mm. Variability related to geographic provenance is discussed in detail by Zinovjev (1993a). Total number of specimens examined: 17.

Genetic data. The short BOLD COI barcode sequence will not separate acutifoliae from the other eleven North European species with closely similar barcodes ( acutifoliae , arcticornis , brevicornis , etc.).

Bionomics. Host plants: Salix acutifolia ( Zinovjev 1985) , Salix daphnoides ( Zinovjev 1993a) . Biology: Zinovjev (1985, 1993a).

Distribution. Central and northern Europe, including Finland (Vikberg & Zinovjev 2006), Russia, and Ukraine ( Zhelochovtsev & Zinovjev 1995). Occurrence in Sweden: no records, but should be looked for where its hosts occur.