Cymodusa australis (Smits van Burgst)

Vas, Zoltán, 2022, Contributions to the taxonomy, identification, and biogeography of the Palaearctic species of Cymodusa Holmgren (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae), Zootaxa 5162 (3), pp. 268-276 : 272-273

Cymodusa australis (Smits van Burgst)

Casinaria australis Smits van Burgst, 1913

Pseudocymodusa ancilla Seyrig, 1927 syn. nov.

Taxonomical remarks. Pseudocymodusa ancilla was included in Cymodusa by Aubert (1959, 1963); later it was synonymised with Cymodusa australis by the same author ( Aubert 1969). Dbar (1985) agreed with Aubert’s treatment in his revision, he also considered Cymodusa ancilla a junior subjective synonym of Cymodusa australis . However, Horstmann (1992) removed it from synonymy, without any argument to support its valid specific status. Several years later Horstmann (2013) pointed out some minor differences to distinguish Cymodusa ancilla from Cymodusa australis ; however, this comparison was only applicable for males. Based on the present examination of large samples (100+ specimens), the extremely minor differences given by Horstmann (2013) were not consistent either for males or for females. The main character to separate the females of these species was considered the absent median section of the anterior transverse carina in Cymodusa ancilla . However, the careful examination of the holotype female specimen of Cymodusa ancilla revealed that Seyrig (1927) wrongly stated that the median section of the anterior transverse carina is absent and area basalis and area superomedia are not separated in the holotype specimen. The median section of the anterior transverse carina is clearly present in the holotype, only slightly lower than the adjacent longitudinal carinae, therefore area basalis and area superomedia are distinctly separated. [It is worth to note that Seyrig (1927) also failed to recognise the otherwise present pilosity of the eyes, as pointed out by Aubert (1959).] Since it turned out that the median section of anterior transverse carina is present in the holotype of Cymodusa ancilla , similarly to Cymodusa australis , and no other reliable and consistent morphological difference were found to distinguish these species, Cymodusa ancilla is considered again a junior subjective synonym of Cymodusa australis .

Diagnosis. Cymodusa australis exhibits considerable intraspecific variability in size and colouration of legs (however, on a morphological basis it was not possible to delimit reliably distinguishable subgroups due to the overlapping character states). Females of the species can be distinguished from the other Palaearctic species of the “australis” species group (sensu Dbar (1985)) by the following. Ovipositor sheath 0.8–0.9× as long as hind tibia. Propodeal carination as in Figs 7–8 ; note that costulae are often obsolescent distally but proximally always discernible, area superomedia is never conspicuously elongate, and area petiolaris is always wide. Nervellus intercepted by the spectral discoidella. Tegula yellowish, metasoma black, second and often third tergites with posterior margins reddish, hind femur orange to dark brownish, hind tibia orange to brownish, basally with a paler spot (which is variably distinct but always discernible), subbasally and apically more or less darkened. The identification of males is often difficult, only the typical males can be identified reliably, since the males of some, more or less similar species are unknown, and males lack several important specific characters of females such as convergence of eyes and ovipositor length. Body length ca. 4.5–7.5 mm.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Morphological details of Cymodusa species. 1–5, Cymodusa irata sp. nov.; 1, habitus (holotype); 2, head, female; 3, areolet; 4, propodeum; 5, head, male; 6, Cymodusa nigra Šedivý, propodeum; 7–8, Cymodusa australis (Smits van Burgst), propodeum, variations.