Aleiodes cruentus (Nees, 1834)

van Achterberg, Cornelis, Shaw, Mark R. & Quicke, Donald L. J., 2020, Revision of the western Palaearctic species of Aleiodes Wesmael (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Rogadinae). Part 2: Revision of the A. apicalis group, ZooKeys 919, pp. 1-259 : 1

Aleiodes cruentus (Nees, 1834) Figs 196-198 , 199-211 , 212-216

Rogas cruentus Nees, 1834: 212; Shenefelt 1975: 1222; Zaykov 1980a: 112; Kotenko 1992: 96.

Rogas (Rogas) cruentus ; Tobias 1976: 85, 1986: 80 (transl.: 130).

Aleiodes (Neorhogas) cruentus ; Papp 1985a: 156-157 (neotype designation), 1987b: 35, 1991a: 83; Belokobylskij 1996: 6; Riedel et al. 2002: 106.

Aleiodes (Chelonorhogas) cruentus ; Chen and He 1997: 39; Belokobylskij 2000: 32.

Aleiodes cruentus ; Bergamasco et al. 1995: 5; Belokobylskij et al. 2003: 398; Papp 2005: 176.

Rhogas cruentus ab. nigricans Fahringer, 1932: 238; Papp 1991a: 83 (invalid name).

Rhogas cruentus ab. basalis Hellén, 1927: 22 (invalid name).

Rhogas cruentus ab. nigromaculata Hellén, 1927: 22 (invalid name).

Rhogas cruentus ab. rufofasciata Hellén, 1927: 22 (invalid name).

Rogas dorsalis Herrich-Schäffer, 1838: 154; Shenefelt 1975: 1222 (as synonym of A. cruentus ); Papp 2005: 176 (id.).

Rogas affinis Herrich-Schäffer, 1838: 124 (key only); Shenefelt 1975: 1174-1175 [neotype designated below]. Syn. nov.

Aleiodes affinis ; Belokobylskij et al. 2003: 398.

Type material.

Neotype of A. affinis here designated, ♀ (RMNH), "Museum Leiden, Nederland, Melissant (ZH), [at light], 10.viii.1980, K.J. Huisman". It is important for nomenclatorial stability to fix our interpretation of A. affinis because the types of Braconidae described by Herrich-Schäffer are lost (Horn and Kahle 1935-37; the first author could not find any specimen in ZMB), the original description is rudimentary and there are very similar species in Europe. The specimen from Netherlands is selected because it fits best the original description, Netherlands is relatively close to the probable German (but unknown) type location and it is in good condition. Another complication is that the neotype of A. cruentus by Papp (1985) is an old male from uncertain origin in the Gravenhorst Collection (Wroclaw).

Additional material.

Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy (including Sicily), Moldova, Netherlands (FR: Ried, GE: Beusichem; Heerde; Voorst (Twello), LI: Thorn, NB: Eindhoven; Tilburg (Kaaistoep), OV: Buurse; Hasselt, ZH: Lexmond; Melissant; Middelharnis; Oostvoorne, ZL: Oostkapelle), Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, [Mongolia]. Specimens in ZJUH, BZL, FMNH, HSC, IKC, MSC, MTMA, NMS, NRS, RMNH, SDEI, ZSSM. Widespread in the region but rather sporadic. The specimen (CMIM) from which Morley (1915) recorded this species as new to Britain has been examined and proves to be A. alternator (Nees). A further specimen in CMIM recorded by Lyle (1919) as A. cruentus has been examined and belongs to A. diversus ( Szépligeti), q. v., as do another three British specimens in ZJUH and one in NMS, and there is no evidence that A. cruentus has ever occurred in Britain.

Biology.

Probably univoltine, certainly overwintering as a mummy. Collected June-August, often at light and including around Dianthus barbatus harbouring larvae of the noctuid Hadena confusa (Hufnagel) (H. Schnee/Germany). In Austria it has been collected up to 2000 m. Only one reared specimen seen, from H. confusa [FMNH], the adult emerging in June in the year following host mummification. Extensive rearings of this host in various parts of Britain in recent years by one of us (MRS) has not produced A. cruentus , strengthening the view that it does not occur in Britain. The predominantly dark mummy seen (Fig. 198 ) is stout, rather short and weakly swollen dorsally, and has a paler and moderately strong lateral keel. The cocoon is substantially silk-lined and occupies most of the host’s abdomen (approx. 2nd-7th abdominal segments). The mummy probably forms underground, albeit from penultimate instar hosts, and the somewhat reflexed and sideways twisted head suggests that it is not or scarcely stuck down; the caudal segments are also somewhat recurved ventrally. Although oviposition has not been witnessed, the somewhat laterally compressed apex of the female’s metasoma appears to be an adaptation for attacking the host at rest or feeding within the seed capsules of its food plants ( Dianthus , Silene , etc.).

Molecular data.

MRS558 (France), MRS624 (Germany), MRS625 (Germany).

Diagnosis.

Maximum width of hypoclypeal depression (0.5-)0.6-0.7 × minimum width of face (Fig. 206 ); OOL of ♀ coarsely punctate and 0.5-0.8(-1.0) × diameter of posterior ocellus; ventral margin of clypeus (rather) obtuse apically and not protruding (Fig. 208 ), but sometimes intermediate; length of eye 1.5-1.9 × temple in dorsal view; lobes of mesoscutum densely finely punctate, with interspaces approx. equal to diameter of punctures; precoxal area with some rugae medially; vein cu-a of fore wing vertical; surroundings of veins M+CU1 and 1-+2-CU1 largely glabrous; vein r of fore wing 0.3-0.4 × vein 3-SR (Fig. 199 ); vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.8-1.1 × vein 2-CU1 (Fig. 199 ), rarely shorter; hind tarsal claws with conspicuous dark brown pecten (Fig. 205 ); 1st tergite widened apically; 2nd tergite 0.7-0.9 × as long as wide (Fig. 202 ), its colour variable, often reddish; head black; vein 1-M of fore wing brownish; wing membrane subhyaline; 4th-6th tergites of ♂ with long setae, but flattened and narrowly glabrous medially.

Description.

Neotype of A. affinis , ♀, length of fore wing 7.3 mm, of body 10.2 mm.

Head. Antennal segments of ♀ 61, length of antenna 1.2 × fore wing, its subapical segments rather robust; frons largely smooth and shiny, but rugulose near stemmaticum; OOL 0.6 × diameter of posterior ocellus, and coarsely punctate, interspaces approx. equal to diameter of punctures; vertex mainly densely punctate, shiny; clypeus coarsely punctate-rugose; ventral margin of clypeus thick and not protruding forwards (Fig. 208 ); width of hypoclypeal depression 0.6 × minimum width of face (Fig. 206 ); length of eye 1.9 × temple in dorsal view and temple rather long and densely setose (Fig. 207 ); vertex behind stemmaticum punctate-rugose; clypeus near lower level of eyes; length of malar space 0.2 × length of eye in lateral view (Fig. 208 ).

Mesosoma. Mesoscutal lobes densely and finely punctate, with satin sheen; precoxal area of mesopleuron with some rugae medially, rather densely punctate anteriorly and posteriorly; metapleuron mainly sparsely punctate, shiny; scutellum rather weakly punctate and slightly convex; propodeum evenly convex and coarsely rugose, medio-longitudinal carina complete and straight.

Wings. Fore wing: r 0.4 × 3-SR (Fig. 199 ); 1-CU1 horizontal, as long as 2-CU1; r-m 0.7 × 3-SR; 2nd submarginal cell rather short (Fig. 199 ); cu-a vertical, straight; 1-M slightly curved posteriorly; 1-SR wide; anterior half of subbasal and of subdiscal cells largely glabrous. Hind wing: basal half of marginal cell slightly widened, but apical half wide, apical width of cell 2.5 × width at level of hamuli (Fig. 199 ); 2-SC+R subquadrate; m-cu short and obsolescent; surroundings of M+CU and 1-M glabrous; M+CU:1-M = 75:47; 1r-m 0.8 × 1-M.

Legs. Tarsal claws with conspicuous and robust dark brown pecten (Fig. 205 ); hind coxa largely punctate; hind trochantellus robust; length of hind femur and basitarsus 4.3 and 5.2 × their width, respectively; length of inner hind spur 0.5 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. First tergite rather flattened, as long as wide apically; 1st and 2nd tergites with medio-longitudinal carina and largely coarsely longitudinally rugose, but posterior quarter of 2nd tergite irregularly rugose and no median carina; medio-basal area of 2nd tergite triangular and rather distinct (Fig. 202 ); 2nd suture deep medially, shallow laterally and crenulate; 2nd tergite 0.7 × as long as wide (Fig. 202 ); anterior 0.7 of 3rd tergite densely and finely punctate, remainder of metasoma largely smooth; 4th and apical half of 3rd tergite without sharp lateral crease; ovipositor sheath wide, with rather long setae and apically rather rounded (Fig. 197 ).

Colour. Black; posterior half of mesoscutum, scutellum largely, apical rim of 1st tergite and basal rim of 2nd tergite reddish brown; fore coxa, bases of middle and hind coxae blackish; apex of hind tibia, telotarsi, hind tarsus, palpi, veins and pterostigma dark brown; tegulae and remainder of hind tibia pale yellowish; remainder of legs reddish brown; wing membrane subhyaline.

Variation. Vein 1-CU1 of fore wing 0.8-1.1 × as long as 2-CU1; mesoscutum, scutellum, metanotum, 1st and 2nd metasomal tergites are most often entirely reddish or orange brown but variably partly blackish, in particular 1st tergite sometimes with dark medial patch; pronotum and mesopleuron black or reddish dorsally; parastigma narrowly dark brown or yellowish brown; coxae entirely reddish to entirely dark brown. Antennal segments: ♀ 53(1), 55(1), 56(3), 57(5), 58(9), 59(9), 60(10), 61(9), 62(3), 63(1), 65(2), 67(1). ♂ 60(6), 61(7), 62(2), 63(5), 64(3), 65(1), 66(1), 67(5), 69(1). The males have on average approx. three more antennal segments than females. Males are very similar but often darker than females, 2nd tergite 0.9-1.0 × as long as basal width of tergite and apical tergites type 1 and (usually) type 2, with fringe present in the latter (Fig. 215 ); hind femur at most apically blackish, and hind tibial spurs sometimes blunt.

Distribution.

*Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, *Greece, Italy, *Moldova, Mongolia, *Netherlands, Norway, *Romania, Slovakia, *Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine.

Notes.

An examined female (NMS) from Albania (Mt Mali me Gropa, above Shengiergi, 1400 m, 13.viii.2019, MV light, C.W. Plant) has a CO1 sequence (MRS940) 3 % different from A. cruentus (19 differences in 626 bp of overlap) and although superficially similar in colour is clearly distinct in having OOL shorter (0.5 × lateral ocellus), a smaller hypoclypeal depression (0.5 × width of face), slenderer hind femur (5 × as long as wide), and several other differences. It may be A. parvicauda (Tobias, 1985) described from Afghanistan, but it has more (64; 58-60 in type series) and somewhat more elongate antennal segments than described for A. parvicauda , as well as other small deviations. Additional material as well as comparison with the type series of A. parvicauda are needed to settle the status of the Albanian species.

Figures

Figures 196 - 198. Aleiodes cruentus (Nees), ♀, Germany, Markkleeberg, but 198 from Finland, Maentyharju 196 habitus lateral 197 ovipositor sheath lateral 198 mummy of Hadena confusa (Hufnagel).

Figures 199 - 211. Aleiodes cruentus (Nees), ♀, Germany, Markkleeberg 199 wings 200 mesosoma lateral 201 mesosoma dorsal 202 metasoma dorsal 203 fore femur lateral 204 hind femur lateral 205 outer hind tarsal claw 206 head anterior 207 head dorsal 208 head lateral 209 base of antenna 210 apex of antenna 211 hind tarsus lateral.

Figures 212 - 216. Aleiodes cruentus (Nees), ♂, Hungary, Harsbokorhegy, but 213 - 215 from Germany, Markkleeberg 212 habitus lateral 213 1 st- 3 rd metasomal tergites dorsal 214 4 th- 7 th metasomal tergites lateral 215 id. dorsal 216 basal antennal segments.