Ophion scutellaris Thomson, 1888

Johansson, Niklas & Cederberg, Björn, 2019, Review of the Swedish species of Ophion (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ophioninae), with the description of 18 new species and an illustrated key to Swedish species, European Journal of Taxonomy 550, pp. 1-136 : 95

Ophion scutellaris Thomson, 1888

Figs 10A , 16A

Ophion scutellaris Thomson, 1888: 1192 .

Ophion longicornis Brauns, 1889: 92 .

Ophion stigmaticus Morley, 1915: 271 .

Material examined

Lectotype, ♀, of Ophion scutellaris ( MZLU); syntype, ♂, of Ophion longicornis ( ZMHB); lectotype, ♀, of Ophion stigmaticus ( BMNH); 161 ♀♀, 54 ♂♂ ( Sweden); 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂ ( Estonia); 8 ♀♀, 11 ♂♂ ( Norway).

Diagnosis

Fore wing length 15–19 mm. Antenna in both sexes with 60–71 flagellomeres. First flagellomere 4.0–4.5 times as long as wide. Central flagellomeres 2.0 times as long as wide. Head in females narrowed behind eyes. Temples more buccate in males. Face in anterior view slightly narrower than in O. wuestneii . 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 elongate, about 3.5 times as long as wide. Ramellus distinct, reaching about 0.3 times the width of the discosubmarginal cell ( Fig. 16A ). Radius sinuous. Mesopleuron polished and weakly punctate. Interstices between punctures about 1.5–2.0 times their diameter. Pleurosternal angles obtuse, well defined, obviously anterior to sternal angles. Scutellum with distinct lateral carinae (as in Fig. 6C ). Propodeum shagreened-coriaceous, often quite shiny with anterior transverse carina partly absent laterally. Posterior transverse carina often widely interrupted centrally. Area superomedia usually absent, only weakly indicated posteriorly ( Fig. 10A ). Hind trochantellus shorter than wide in dorsal view. Hind femur strongly elongate about 9.0 times as long as wide (as in Fig. 16C ). Sclerotised part of first sternite ending distinctly posterior to spiracle. Inner spur of hind tibia as long as 0.3 times metatarsus.

Colour

Body testaceous. Mesoscutum, especially in males frequently with three brownish longitudinal stripes. Head with inner and outer orbits yellow. Mandibular teeth black. Ovipositor sheath testaceous, concolourous with posterior metasomal segments.

DNA barcode

The DNA barcode sequences of four Swedish specimens of Ophion scutellaris are available at the BOLD systems database (www.boldsystems.org, BIN. BOLD: AAW9169. Specimen codes: STI-NJBC: 126–129).

Ecology

Ophion scutellaris occurs in early spring, sometimes as early as late March, and is active to early June. It has been reared from Noctuidae larvae which overwinter in their larval stage ( Brock 1982).

Distribution in Sweden

A common species in Southern and Central Sweden.

Remarks

The series under the label “ Ophion scutellaris ” in the Thomson collection in the ZMLU contains at least four different Ophion species. Apart from the lectotype only one specimen belongs to O. scutellaris .

Figures

Fig. 10. Generalized carination of propodeum in females, posterodorsal view. A. Ophion luteus (Linnaeus, 1758)/O. scutellaris Thomson, 1888/O. obscuratus Fabricius, 1792. B. O. costatus Ratzeburg, 1848. C. O. brocki Johansson sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008633). D. O. confusus Johansson sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008637). E. O. crassicornis Brock, 1982. F. O. artemisiae Boie, 1855. G. O. ellenae Johansson sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008655). H. O. perkinsi Brock, 1982. I. O. ocellaris Ulbricht, 1926. J. O. areolaris Brauns, 1889. K. O. dispar Brauns, 1895. L. O. tenuicornis Johansson sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008743). M. O. longigena Thomson, 1888. N. O. brevicornis Morley, 1915. O. O. forticornis Morley, 1915.

Fig. 16. A–B. Right fore wing. A. Ophion scutellaris Thomson, 1888. B. O. wuestneii Kriechbaumer, 1882. C–D. Right hind femur of female, lateral view. C. O. wuestneii. D. O. inclinans Johansson sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008667). E–F. Head, anterior view of female. E. Ophion kevoensis Jussila, 1965. F. Ophion broadi Johansson sp. nov. paratype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008950).

Fig. 6. A–D. Scutellum, dorsal view. A. Ophion luteus (Linnaeus, 1758). B. O. areolaris Brauns, 1889. C. O. inclinans Johansson sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008667). D. O. dispar Brauns, 1895. E–H. Firsttergite, lateral view.E. O.inclinansJohanssonsp.nov.,holotype,♀ (NHRS-HEVA000008667). F. O. dispar. G. O. artemisiae Boie, 1855. H. O. luteus. I–J. Shape of male parameres, lateral view. I. Ophion sp. cf. pseudocostatus Meyer, 1935. J. O. artemisiae.